I ran against Duke Cunningham in 2004, even though he was a powerful Republican in a Republican leaning district, because I felt so strongly that our country was being lead in the wrong direction. Although we didn't win, we created a groundswell of grassroots support and energized a progressive community here in the 50th district. I'm so thankful for to all the grassroots supporters. It was humbling to see them work last week to get my name atop the DFA online poll. They are amazing.
I declared my candidacy for 2006 before the Cunningham scandals broke. I knew we had to continue to build our movement in this district. Now everything has changed. Because of his scandals, Duke isn't running again and we have an open seat election or possible special election. We took this fight on in 2004 when no one thought we had a chance. Now we have an incredible opportunity to win. It's an example of why it's so important to run strong campaigns in every district.
We are ready to take this challenge on in 2006, or before. There is an increasing chorus calling for Cunningham to resign immediately.
My campaign recently released a web commercial that denounces the culture of corruption in Washington and challenges the Republican candidates to call for Duke to Resign.
www.busbyforcongress.org
A progressive group in San Diego is circulating an online petition to have Duke resign.
North County Unity Coalition is circulating petitions for Duke to resign, have a member of Congress file an ethics complaint and for him to be removed from his Intelligence Committee post.
Common Cause is circulating a petition demanding Cunningham step down from his post on the Intelligence Committee.
Citizens for Responsibility in Washington (CREW) has called on Cunningham to resign. They have also, to no avail, called on a member of Congress to initiate a complaint with the ethics committee.
Two local columnists have called for a resignation. They have also done a nice job in summing up the case against Cunningham. This was John Van Doorn:
The embattled congressman cannot possibly be working on behalf of North County, simply because he hasn't the time. He is far too busy fending off the very serious assorted charges of wrongdoing on a vulgar scale, and so he should quit now. North County deserves more in a congressman than absence.
Added to all of the charges is a simple and awful fact: He won't explain himself, as he once promised to do. He won't deign to tell the people who sent him to Washington what he's been up to. Whatever is going through his head has led him additionally to the commission of the worst kind of crime for an elected public man: the disdain of silence.
At this stage, one can only plead: Do what you must to try to save yourself, Mr. Cunningham. But get out of the way.
We should be asking ourselves if it's ok for Cunningham to continue doling out funds on the Appropriations Committee or dealing with national security on the Intelligence Committee. I don't believe so. Nor should he be allowed to stay in Congress simply to raise money for his Legal Defense Fund.
Duke needs to be forced to resign - it's the right thing to do. It also creates a special election where Democrats have a serious chance to take back a seat from Republicans. We've already seen Paul Hackett come so close in a district that is much more Republican than California's 50th district.
The progressive community has done an amazing job of holding Republicans accountable for the culture of corruption in D.C. Let's keep it going. Sign the petitions and keep the drum beat pounding.
We will continue to run a strong grassroots campaign. Their efforts to secure the DFA endorsement will give us the extra momentum to turn the heat up on Cunningham, force him to resign, and give America another glimpse at the Republican Party falling apart with a special election against a corrupt Republican in the national spotlight.
You can find the DFA vote here. I'd be humbled by your support, but there are plenty of other great Dems there and I promise to keep fighting either way!
Francine Busby
Candidate for Congress - CA50
www.busbyforcongress.org
Cross-posted from earlier this week at MyDD.