Received this e-mail today from Iraq War Veteran Kevin Strouse (D. PA-08) who is looking to unseat Tea Party Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R. PA-08) next year:
Mike Fitzpatrick is really starting to sweat:
Since we launched our campaign to represent PA’s 8th Congressional district, our grassroots supporters have stepped up -- BIG TIME.
Seriously, national Republicans are so scared that we could unseat Fitzpatrick and make this district blue again that they’ve even launched paid ads against me.
But that doesn’t mean we can sit back. Our next critical fundraising deadline is at midnight, and we’re still $550 short of our grassroots goal. Will you help put us over the top?
MIDNIGHT DEADLINE: Chip in $3 or more right now to help us take on Mike Fitzpatrick and win this race:
https://secure.actblue.com/...
We can’t fall short -- not if we want to seriously compete with Fitzpatrick.
Let's go,
Kevin
You can click here to donate:
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Here's a little more info Strouse:
http://www.politicspa.com/...
Political newcomer Kevin Strouse just received a sure sign that national Democrats see him as the top contender in the 8th district. He has been named one of the DCCC’s first eight ‘Jumpstart’ candidates.
Strouse, an Iraq war veteran and former CIA officer, is challenging to incumbent Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) in Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district.
The newly-formed program, launched by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, “provides early financial, communications, operational and strategic support to help high-tier candidates get a head start in these highly-targeted races.” The DCCC stated the initiative is meant to be a launching pad that is “based on the quality of the candidate and the viability of the district.”
Strouse’s candidacy has previously been compared to fellow Iraq War army vet Patrick Murphy, who represented the 8th district from 2007 to 2011 and twice sparred with Fitzpatrick. Murphy has been a vocal supporter of Strouse, going as far as to say he felt Strouse has a better chance to defeat Fitzpatrick than he initially did in 2006. - Politics PA, 5/9/13
Pennsylvania Republicans may have gerrymandered the congressional map to make Fitzpatrick's district safer for the GOP but the DCCC is determined to get rid of him next year and I believe that Strouse can avenge Patrick Murphy's 2010 loss and give Tea Party Fitzpatrick the boot. You may remember that Fitzpatrick made this outrageous statement last year during the 2012 election:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a Tea Party favorite who in 2010 unseated the first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress, was caught on video at a fundraiser last week telling supporters why Obama should not be re-elected.
“Finally the third reason is … the things that the president may do in a second term," Fitzpatrick says in the video. "When he left the microphone on in Russia, we all heard what he said … left unrestrained, without the inhibitions of the next election -- he’d have flexibility, he said, flexibility to do what he wants to do. Whether it’s trade away … the secrets of our national intelligence, to, what he could do to the United States Supreme Court in the next four years."
Fitzpatrick was referring to remarks Obama made to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, which he intended to be private but were picked up by a live microphone. Obama said he would have 'more flexibility' in missile defense negotiations after the 2012 elections, but the comments did not appear to touch on classified secrets the president might consider sharing with Russia.
The video of Fitzpatrick was provided to The Huffington Post by CREDO SuperPAC as part of its “Take Down the Tea Party Ten” campaign, which aims to oust 10 Tea Party-affiliated members of the House of Representatives.
The group called Fitzpatrick "the ultimate embarrassment" in a statement to HuffPost. "This isn’t the first time Fitzpatrick has peddled a wild conspiracy theory. Last year, Fitzpatrick questioned whether the government orchestrated the downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating." - Huffington Post, 4/19/13
If you'd like to get involved with Strouse's campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.kevinstrouse.com/