Happy Friday, all!
Since yesterday Sestak, too, has weighed in on the issue of tax cuts, today, and like every other issue under the sun, there's a stark contrast between him and his Republican opponent, who of course thinks that the extremely wealthy people need more favors at the expense of the country's balance sheet:
Pennsylvania's Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate is criticizing the decision by Senate Democratic leaders to delay a vote on extending soon-to-expire tax cuts until after elections in November.... Sestak's opponent, Republican Pat Toomey, wants all of the tax cuts to be extended permanently.
--- AP/Centre Daily Times
There was also a great biographical write up about our guy by Pennsylvania AP, excerpts, thoughts and action items below the fold.
A great write up on Sestak illustrates exactly why we need this man to become the next Senator from Pennsylvania and shows that I'm not just being alliterative in calling him the Admirable Admiral.
I encourage you to read the whole thing; this is the kind of thing you probably want to send around to people looking for more information on Sestak:
He's also an unusual military man: He earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. from Harvard University during his 31 years in the Navy. He commanded an entire aircraft battle group in war — something only a few Navy admirals do — after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His reputation as a hard worker and superb analyst preceded him in the Navy: He was asked to create the Navy's anti-terrorism unit and was picked to serve on President Bill Clinton's National Security Council. ---AP/KDKA
Or this anecdote, on how his experiences have shaped his policy decisions:
But his world view opened up when, listening through the hospital room curtain to the conversations on the other side, he heard another family without insurance answering hours of questions from hospital staff before they could get help for their toddler son who had been diagnosed with leukemia that morning.
"I remember looking up at my wife when I heard the words, 'but you don't have health care,' and all I could think of was how fortunate we were," Sestak said. That day — even though his daughter spent it desperately sick from chemotherapy and her survival wasn't guaranteed — stuck out in Sestak's memory when he decided to run for Congress to repay the country and advocate for health insurance for everyone. -AP/KDKA
His website also says his views on LGBT discrimination stem directly from his time in the service.
But as qualified, energetic, and progressive as he is, Sestak can't win this without your help.
Here again, are the important to-do items:
- Donate (I set up a new ActBlue page, it seems to me this series ought to be able to get at least 50 contributors - my email actually got us several new donors!)
- Canvass or Call --- getting out the vote is critical. You can also go to their contact us page --- they just opened four new offices!
- Send email (link takes you to the diary yesterday with a template) or call or talk in person with those you know in Pennsylvania about this race.
- And, if you are in Pennsylvania, plan to vote, and bring as many people with you as possible.
Let's see if we can do better than 10 comments before this scrolls away. And, if you can spare a rec, I'll take that too!
Other diaries in the series:
#6 - Sestak v. Toomey on crime
#5 - Mobilizing Pennsylvania's Progressives
#4 - Why is dKos advertising for a Tea Party Republican?!
#3 - Obama's other engagement today
#2 - Lies, Damn Lies, and Pat Toomeys ads
#1 - Let's do better than the teabaggers in DE. Seriously, people, fight for it
Thanks for reading, and I'll be canvassing tomorrow so I'll let you know how it goes on Monday!!