Just before Obama took the stage and surprised the crowd last night, he took a few moments to remind folks that this election is not just about the White House. On the eve of his speech it's clear Obama realizes how important it is to increase our Democratic numbers in the Senate if we want to see a progressive agenda take shape. More below the fold.....
Full disclosure, I am the netroots director for OR-Sen candidate Jeff Merkley
Here's the video of Barack Obama backstage talking about the need to increase our numbers in the Senate:
Right now, we have a razor thin majority of 51-49 in the Senate. While we have been able to push through a few good bills, most notably the 21st Century GI bill, many of our crises have yet to have been dealt with. The Iraq War continues on because we couldn't get sixty votes in the Senate to overcome a Bush veto. We failed to pass significant climate change legislation and have yet to invest the way we need to in alternative forms of energy. We failed to address our current health care crisis and we have the highest number of people joining the unemployment ranks since 2003.
Barack Obama knows that he needs a strong supporting cast to push his agenda through Congress. So, while many people have spent enormous amounts of time focusing on the Presidential race (which no doubt you should) we also need to put our energy in electing Democratic challengers to the Senate.
Obama needs Jeff Merkley, Mark Begich, Al Franken, Andrew Rice, Rick Noriega, Scott Kleeb and many more Democratic challengers to win in November if we want to enact real reforms. If you live in state where there's a Senate seat up for grabs, consider volunteering. Even if you live in state where there isn't a contested race to focus on, it doesn't mean that you can't be involved. If the emergence of netroots organizing has taught me anything, it's that when more of us work together to get the message out, if we work to raise money for Democratic challengers, if we continue to challenge the MSM's talking points, we can make a difference.
Here in Oregon, I'm part of a campaign to put a progressive Democrat into the Senate. Jeff Merkley is running to oust Republican Gordon Smith and put much needed backbone into the Senate. Merkley opposed the war from the start, is an advocate of UHC, will work tirelessly to create a new energy economy and combat global warming and will always protect our civil liberties. Having someone like Jeff Merkley in the Senate to help usher through the Employee Free Choice Act rather than Gordon Smith who will move to block it just as he did last year, is exactly what Obama needs.
Last night at the Democratic Convention, OR-Sen candidate Jeff Merkley was given the opportunity to address the convention. Check it out:
"My Opponent Talks like Barack Obama, but he votes like George Bush"
Here in Oregon, Republican Gordon Smith is trying to portray himself as a moderate Democrat, attempting to latch on to Obama's popularity in hopes of keeping his Senate seat. We've been seeing the same strategy employed by other incumbent Republicans like Chris Shays. The truth is, no matter how hard they try to fool their constituents into believing they are moderate, independent minded Republicans, they will not support Obama's agenda if they are reelected.
No matter where you are, you can help elect Jeff Merkley and strengthen the progressive voice in the Senate. I set up an Act Blue Page for Kossacks where you can donate to Jeff Merkley. And, make sure to keep an eye on the contested Senate races across the country in states like Minnesota, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Carolina, Alaska and Mississippi. I'm ready for a new President, a new cabinet and finally....some serious movement in the Senate.