So I was on the phone with my Sis after work yesterday and the subject of the election came up. She told me she voted for Sen. Lincoln. After I picked my eyeballs up of the floor and popped them back in, I calmly asked her what the hell she was thinking. I was given the reasons that Sen. Lincoln had seniority and was bringing money to AR. After discussing the merits of corporate sponsorship and realizing that she had no real beef with Halter I let it go. That and I knew the outcome thanks to the info on this site. However, with the crafty moves from Sen. Lincoln today I had to bring it back up to her. It is just too important to me and our family, who are heavily involved in AR health care, to let this golden opportunity slip through our fingers. So instead of doing course work like I am supposed to be doing, I wrote her an email. See below for the details.
Megs,
You told me that you voted for Sen. Lincoln last night and I gave you a bit of a hard time for it. I know I am not in Arkansas any more but I still follow the action down there and I think I need to give you more of the full court press.
Some sources for you:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/...
I cannot stress enough how corporate owned she is. She fought for the AR consumer ONLY when she was forced to in a primary challenge. She expected to win and not need the derivative reform, but was forced to keep it at the last minute due to the run off. Does that tell you something about the character of this woman? She makes these stupid last stand actions, like when she stood on the Senate floor and declared anything that looked like a public option would get a filibuster from her, an alleged Democrat. And when it does not go her way, which the polls or constituents would tell her by the way, she has to back track to save her skin. Not because she feels personally but because she likes being corporate owned. Something that had a clear impact in AR and the rest of the country, that everyone agreed was a lynchpin of strong financial reform, she had to be forced to stick with it due to political realities. Something she authored! Those are not the actions of someone who can do good things for the people of the state, but the actions of someone who will do just enough to get by for one more election.
Let's talk demographics. Arkansas is one of the poorest states with some of the worst health coverage due to poverty and rural issues. We both know this and have seen it with the work of our parents. We grew up with this influence in our lives. The people that Mom and Dad showed us by example to help, those that need it most, are the very ones Sen. Lincoln votes against on a daily basis in D.C. Employee Free Choice Act. You and I both know people personally who get screwed over by Walmart and Tyson. The practices are unfair and intimidating. Blanch voted against them, her constituents. You have been to the free health clinics, you may have even been volunteered to work them like I was. At the time I didn't like it because it killed my Saturday, but I can look at it now and see the faces of the people north of the tracks who Blanche voted to deny health coverage to when she demanded the death of the public option. You know their faces and you know their names Meg.
This is not just a campaign but something that Halter actually lives. In almost every race he has run the establishment told him to go away. He has had to fight through the Arkansas good ol' boy machine to get where he is. You know what it can be like with that establishment and I just can't believe you would willingly perpetuate it. Please consider voting for Halter and send Blanche to her cushy new lobbying gig on K street. She may have seniority and she may have gotten some things to AR in the past, but she will rarely if ever do something that helps you, John, or your future children Megs. She voted against the stimulus bill, the same one that has helped pull us out of recession. The same one that may allow us to grow the economy 3% or more this year. Who was she thinking of then?
One last note on polling:
- In three weeks history shows the turnout will be about 1/3 less and it will be more activist based.
- Every poll I have seen shows that if Blanche runs against Boozman she loses in double digits.
- Halter is the only one that has a fighting chance against Boozman, a 10 year DC resident, by running the outsider progressive campaign. The matchup is perfect for a big D victory.
I have been watching this one for a long time and it is rare when you get the chance to put a progressive populist in where a corporate owned neocon used to be. Read what I sent, research some more, ask me if you have questions, and seize this opportunity!
Much Love,
Social Razor
P.s.-Tell friends and family to vote for him too! You know about half the state and have them on facebook so that could be the election right there! :)
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Obviously I signed it with my real name. Hopefully I will hear good news back! She is open minded and a decent human, so I have high hopes.