For those who don't know me, I'm a political blogger and podcaster who covers Massachusetts politics. I thought I'd pop on DKos to ask help in recruiting a fantastic candidate to oust the Health-Care-Reform Backstabber, Congressman Stephen Lynch. Congressman Steve Lynch has done many things in his past to make him very unlikeable, but his vote against health care reform -- perhaps the signature issue of the entire Democratic Party -- was certainly the last straw. One simply can't be against health care reform and be a Democrat, as far as this blogger's concerned.
It's a good thing there's a progressive candidate ready to challenge him as we speak - and her name is Harmony Wu. There are a number of reasons to support Wu, and a number of reasons why Lynch needs to get gone, so let's look at the pros and pros of both propositions.
(Photo Source)
Wu's good, because
- She's proven to be an effective organizer and would be a fantastic campaigner;
- She's been an active member of her community and would be out there fighting for her constituents' best interests;
- As a college professor with her PhD, she has a great background for a Congresswoman and wouldn't be the typical politician;
- Finally, her students love her -- even if they think she's a tough cookie.
Lynch needs to go, because
- He has a history of being against the values of the Democratic Party, be it on the Iraq war, health care or choice, and he's a very recent convert on basic matters of glbt civil rights, whilst having a history of voting against domestic partnership benefits and hate crime protections before he was in DC;
- He's thrown a shiv in our back for what should be the last time;
- He's completely beatable in a Democratic Primary;
- Whoever beats him in that primary will hold that seat.
- If we don't hold our politicians accountable, what incentive will they ever have to listen to their rank-and-file constituents, instead of powerful interests (like, in this case, Cardinal O'Malley)?
Knowing that we're more likely to lose seats in 2010 than many of us would care to admit, it's important to send as many strong progressives to D.C. as possible. We need people who will fight for us, not look the other way while people suffer under inefficient and broken systems. Here's the
Draft Harmony Wu website -- and here's the Draft Harmony Wu
Facebook page. Please consider joining in the call to hold Representative Lynch accountable and putting someone in who will really look after the rank and file citizen in that congressional district.