Well, my candidate for the Presidency has suspended his campaign. In doing so, he told supporters like me we still have work to do. To me, this now means continuing to fight for the ideals of this party, and getting candidates elected to the Congress who share one thing with John Edwards, a backbone.
Enter Lt. Col. Andrew Horne, our best chance to shed the disgusting hypocrisy of Mitch McConnell. Andrew Horne shares a lot in common with the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. I want to share a little with you about him this morning.
First on Trade, Andrew Horne also believes that we simply must enact fair trade that preserves high paying American jobs:
We need to be doing more to create and protect Kentucky jobs. My opponent is the #1 proponent of unregulated trade. The result has been thousands of Kentucky jobs lost to Mexico and China. We need "Fair Trade." That means supporting enforceable agreements and a trade balance that puts America first.
He also would fight for universal healthcare:
We need to secure universal health care for all American citizens. It is absolutely immoral that nearly 50 million Americans and over 50,000 Kentucky children have been left uncovered. This is more than a moral obligation; it’s also good for business. A healthy workforce is more productive and expanding health care can save Kentucky’s small businesses millions of dollars in insurance costs.
As an Iraq War veteran, he is determined to bring our forces home:
As I said when I began this campaign: "While Mitch McConnell carried George W. Bush’s water on Iraq – I carried a rifle in Iraq." This war in Iraq was recklessly conceived, incompetently executed and now costs a quarter of a trillion dollars yearly. We need to bring our combat forces home with a responsible redeployment and rebuild our alliances with the international community. Here in America, we have bridges collapsing and our veterans’ hospitals are in a disgraceful state of disrepair. It’s time to focus on fixing our own country. We need to be investing American resources at home and not in Iraq.
He is also opposed to the risky scheme of privitizing Social Security:
Social Security is one of the most efficient and successful programs we’ve ever had. There’s no sense in gambling on the futures of our elderly and vulnerable. We must protect Social Security for all citizens. I strongly oppose any efforts to privatize Social Security. Keeping Social Security truly universal and financially solvent can be accomplished without undermining its basic structure.
http://andrewhorne.org/...
Horne has led a distiguished live in the private sector and the military:
Andrew Horne was born to working, middle-class parents, who for 30 years owned and operated a series of small businesses in Louisville, including Horne Cleaners and Clubfit International, a golf equipment and supply store. Just before graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and, soon after commencement, headed to Parris Island, S.C. for boot camp. Horne worked his way through the University of Louisville, and in 1983 became the first in his family to graduate from college. He later earned a degree from U. of L.'s Brandeis School of Law, after fulfilling his six year active duty contract with the Marines.
After tours overseas in both operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, Horne retired this year from the Marines as a lieutenant colonel.
Horne, his wife Stephanie, and their two children are members of Louisville's Christ Church United Methodist, where he's taught Sunday School. Horne serves as the spokesperson for the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky, leading the Wounded Warriors program which provides resources and relief to those suffering from this "signature" wound of the Iraq war. He also has been active with the Toys for Tots campaigns, the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky, Boy Scouts of America, Junior Achievement and Boys' State of Kentucky. He is a member of the Louisville Bar and American Bar associations. He previously served as a Senior Advisor to VoteVets.org , a pro-military group that supports Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans running for office.
He sums it up nicely here, sounding like a certain former Senator who had it right in an ongoing primary:
Washington is broken and our Senator, Mitch McConnell, is fully complicit in this culture of corruption. He works against Kentucky’s interests and rewards his big money donors with his votes...big business, large insurance companies and lobbyist friends. Our jobs are being outsourced, McConnell shows no leadership on immigration, and instead works for his friends in China.
http://andrewhorne.org/...
He has been endorsed by VoteVets:
How badly do you want to send Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, packing? Pretty bad, right? Now, how badly would you love to see an Iraq War Marine be the guy who takes McConnell's place? If you're like me, the very idea of that has you pretty pumped.
Well, I have some good news for you. Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (Ret.), a Marine who served in both the current war in Iraq and Desert Storm, has launched his campaign to beat Mitch McConnell and take this government and country back for the people. The Louisville Courier-Journal wrote of the promise Andrew holds in an editorial this weekend, saying, "Mr. Horne is a serious man, and his candidacy should be taken seriously," and "He would be a credible alternative to the incumbent."
http://andrewhorne.org/...
It is plain to see that Lt. Col. Andrew Horne is just the man we need to replace Mitch McConnell with. However, with McConnell's huge war chest of special interest money, we face an uphill battle. National Democrats, please help!!! With an effort like the one that dispelled Lieberman from our party, we can Ditch Mitch with Lt. Col. Andrew Horne!! Please consider an investment in the defeat of McConnell and help bring us closer to the 60 Senator we need. We simply can't do this without your help:
http://andrewhorne.org/...
The fight definately goes on!!!