I can't believe it. We did it (Eyes getting watery). $20,000 raised for Ben Chandler..
We raised $20,000 in 24 hours (many people commented that they were mailing checks, instead of donating online). Tomorrow I will post my take on everything we did, and what this means for the strength and influence of the netroots movement.
Great job everyone. What we have accomplished is the realization of those three simple but immensely powerful words that have driven this campaign from the start:
Yes. We. Can.
This is a repost from yesterday's defense fund for Congressman Chandler. To refresh, Congressman Chandler came under fire on Tuesday for endorsing Senator Obama. You can read more about this below the fold. But today is a new day! And we still need to hit that 20K mark to show all those uncommitted Super Delegates that We, at least, are not uncommitted. We are committed to every superdelegate who endorses the next president of the United States. So let's do this! Let's get to that $20,000 mark! $20,000 people!
Also, you can email Ben Chandler's office to show your support (Thanks to Mark Warner is God and Oslo for bringing this to our attention!)
Press Sec:
stephanie.pepper@mail.house.gov
Legislative Director:
jim.creevy@mail.house.gov
Chief of Staff:
denis.fleming@mail.house.gov
Every penny we raise here sends a clear message to undeclared Super Delegates who want to support Barack Obama. We are behind you 100%. Once you declare, we will not simply tally a notch on a chalkboard and forget about you. This is what happens to Obama's Superdelegates when they are attacked, no matter where they are from. We do not ignore our redstate candidates. We do not pick and choose who is important based upon where we will win. We see the value in every state in this nation, and we have the back of every Democrat in each one. That is the Democratic Party we represent. That is the Change that we are bringing to this country in November. We are all Democrats, and we all have the same goals. If one of us is under fire, we are all under fire.
Let us never forget that.
[Update] Politico's Ben Smith has updated his report on this remarkable effort for Ben Chandler. He now is reporting the current (for now!) $18,000+ total. Thanks again for the heads up InsultComicDog!
Here's what we have raised today.
8:40 AM - $2,500.00
11:15 - $4,000.00
12:15 PM - $5,000.00
12:40 - $6,000.00
1:45 - $7,000.00
2:30 - $8,000.00
3:20 - $9,000.00
4:10 - $10,000!!!!
4:50 - $11,000.00
5:18 - $12,000.00
6:21 - $13,000.00
7:04 - $14,000.00
7:50 - $15,000.!!!!
4:00 AM (7AM EST) - $17,500.00
5:30 AM - $18,000.00
7:10 AM - $19,000.00
8:09 AM - $19,500 (Not including mailed checks!)
You can view the running tally here. I cannot express my pride in the Democratic Party right now, and my pride in the netroots in particular. What we are doing here today is nothing short of extraordinary. We truly are part of something historic. no words.... just...wow.
-------------------------------
Yesterday Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler had the courage to come out in support of Barack Obama, despite the long odds against him winning the state's primary. This was an embarrassment to the Hillary campaign that an elected SD would put the reputation with his own constituents at stake to support the candidate he believed would make the better candidate and the better president.
Today Representative Chandler is feeling the heat for this endorsement. According to Poltico Chandler's phone has been ringing off the hook since yesterday receiving numeros vitriolic complaints, many with offensive racial slurs, about his endorsement of Senator Obama. As of 2:30 PM yesterday, he had received 300 phone calls opposing his decision and only 5 calls in support.
We need to take action on this. Call Representative Chandler's office (especially if you are a Kentucky resident) and let him know that you support his decision to endorse the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!
D.C. Office for federal legislation issues or Washington, D.C. tours:
1504 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202)-225-4706
Fax: (202)-225-2122
Press Contact:
Stephanie Pepper
Phone: (202)-225-4706
Fax: (202)-225-2122
DONATE TO BEN CHANDLER'S CAMPAIGN TO SHOW SUPPORT TO ALL OBAMA SUPERDELEGATES
I just spoke with the campaign manager for Congressman Chandler. She said that their website will be up and running within the week, and there will be a link for donations. In the meantime, we can donate to him via his ActBlue page or by mailing him physical donation checks to the following address:
Chandler for Congress
PO Box 12678
Lexington, KY 40583
We need to show all superdelegates that Supporting Barack Obama for President not only poses no risk to them, but will ultimately benefit them in real terms. We can only do this through our donation efforts.
[Update x2] Wow, the rec list. I am always so happy to see how we at Kos respond immediately and decisively - it's reflective of the candidate we support. I would like to use this rec'd diary to drop an early plug for a voter registration website that a group of us across the country are starting - VoteZip.org. It's not ready to be launched officially yet, but I thought I'd give everyone on Kos a heads up. Please check it out and tell us what you think.