The last 10 days have been a whirlwind of extraordinary, inspirational, and eye-opening events for our campaign to defeat Rick Santorum in 2006. Let me zero in on three of these activities to highlight why I believe we're on the winning track--a course that Pennsylvanian Democrats have not experienced in a full-term U.S. Senate race since 1962.
This morning I sat down with Ginny Schrader, who ran for congress in 2004 with the on-line community supporting her every step of the way. Though Ginny lost to Michael Fitzpatrick (R-8th, PA), she learned a great deal that she is happy to share with me. As "outsider candidates" we see eye to eye on many strategic and tactical questions. Without revealing the specifics of our conversation, let me just say that my estimation of Ginny's political savvy and insight soared in the time it took to consume a hamburger and side salad.
Update [2005-4-12 0:44:54 by Chuck Pennacchio for US Senate]: It's 12:45 at campaign HQ, and Chuck just went home for the night. Please keep recommending the diary so its easier for him to find and respond to your comments/questions in the A.M. -- Tim (ttagaris)
As some of you may have read across the blogosphere (
HERE --
HERE &
HERE), last week I met the leaders of the progressive future who will help restore a Democratic majority rule in both Pennsylvania and the United States.
Let me explain.
After a Friday's worth of meetings with press, university, labor, and members of the social justice community, I met Pittsburgh's top progressive organizers at a downtown reception where we ate nachos and talked politics (SheaBrianna wrote beautifully about the evening in her piece, "Honey, there is a Senate candidate in our Shower). The day's activities, combined with the evening's exchanges with pro-democratic, reform-minded Democrats lifted me into the stratosphere...especially as I learned of their collective desire to organize, execute, and deliver our Senate campaign to victory--a victory based on principle, passion, and grassroots participation. I think they picked up on my subtle hint when I suggested that Pennacchio for Pennsylvania is a campaign based on "You advancing Opportunity, Unity, Respect, and Security"--in other words, the campaign is "YOURS."
As a 32-year community organizer and campaign veteran, reaching the heights that I did in Pittsburgh and, the following day, in Erie, Butler, Crawford, and Mercer counties is no small accomplishment. Particularly moving to me was the Saturday night assembly of 50-plus concerned students, professors, and citizens who braved a major snowstorm (on a day when Pope John Paul II and the men's NCAA semifinal hoop contests competed for attention) to meet up at the Penn State-Erie campus. One woman fought the elements for 90 minutes (from Jamestown, PA) to reach the Behrend College campus in Erie (You can read her story here.)
Following another week, and weekend, of campaign activities, I continue to hear, feel, and touch the passion for progressive and populist politics. Speaking truth to power is far more than a simple slogan; it is a way of life far too many Democrats have gotten away from.
Nowhere have I discovered the hunger for historical accuracy and political punch more insatiable than among a regional convention of six hundred 15-to-18-year-old members of the Junior Statesmen of America--a gathering that took place two days ago in Philadelphia. Following the second in a series of Pennacchio for Pennsylvania Philly organizing sessions (First-person account with pictures HERE), from 12-2, I made my way to the Doubletree Hotel on South Broad Street.
Little did I realize that I was riding into a hotbed of extremely bright, well-versed, politically-primed teens. I only had a small hint of what was to come. As the keynote speaker I was permitted one hour to address foreign policy and my Senate candidacy, and to take questions from the crowd. I chose to talk for 20 minutes in order to allow 40 for Q & A. Well, I stuck to the 20 but the Q & A went on for 55 minutes--55 minutes of sometimes raucous and contentious queries.
Without pulling any punches, I told the Mid-Atlantic high school gathering that their futures hung in the balance; that Republican extremists have hijacked the majority party; that congressional Democrats had to fight for core progressive principles; and that I would often stand alone against unconstitutional war resolutions, for new public education dollars while repealing "No Child Left Behind," against GOP usurpations of court power, and for pro-democracy reforms.
Every one of these declarations met with a standing ovation from a core group of Pennacchio for Pennsylvania supporters positioned down front, near the speaking podium. At the same time, I upset a handful of Democratic partisans when I compared our party's "whiffle ball" performance to the GOP's "hard ball" successes, while the young Republicans did not appreciate my pointing out obvious--and embarrassing--facts on Social Security, pre-Iraq War deceptions, and current attacks on minority rights (filibuster), women's rights, and workers' rights.
I take from the Junior Statesmen of America meeting a renewed hope for our future because we adults can--and must--connect in a meaningful way to tomorrow's leaders. We can break through the present polarized climate--and shatter the stalemate--with conviction, conscience, and consistency. In fact, we have no choice but to do exactly that.
Ten days that shook my life, reenergized our campaign, and clarified, yet again, the stakes involved in Pennsylvania's 2006 United States Senate race...and why I believe we are on the winning track.
By leading with organization on the ground, we are doing what we must to break the streak of fourteen consecutive full-term U.S. Senate losses in Pennsylvania. While much of the establishment Democratic Party remains silent or ambiguous on statewide and national issues of importance, our collective voice continues to grow with each day. Indeed, returning the voice of the people to the political process is the only way we can effectively "speak truth to power," and defeat Rick Santorum in 2006.
Best,
Chuck Pennacchio
http://www.chuck2006.com
Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania