This is going to be a short diary, but one I feel compelled to write.
I want to explain why I support Jack Conway for Senate. Even more important, I want to explain why YOU should, as well.
And I want to answer the critics from earlier today.
There are people here at Daily Kos who believe Jack Conway does not deserve our support. Here are their two complaints, in a nutshell:
- Jack favors extending the Bush tax cuts, including the ones for the wealthy.
- Jack doesn't favor cap-and-trade.
- Because of these two positions, he does not deserve our support.
There are some nuances to both 1 and 2 (he favors extending the tax cuts for a few years, not indefinitely, and he has some worries about the implementation of c-and-t), but they are accurate statements as far as they go. I disagree with Jack on both of them.
Nevertheless, I disagree with #3 as vehemently as possible. Jack Conway deserves every Kossack's support, and here is why:
- He is a life-long Democrat in a red state, and doesn't run from it.
- He is a progressive on the large majority of issues, and will stand up for progressive positions in the Senate.
- He has already taken on corporate power as Kentucky AG, and will continue to do so in the Senate.
These are great reasons on their own. But here is one of the biggest reasons everyone here should support Jack, and support him strongly:
We have a chance to PICK UP A SEAT FROM THE REPUBLICANS and PREVENT MITCH MCCONNELL FROM BECOMING MAJORITY LEADER!!
OR -- we can SEND RAND PAUL TO THE SENATE!
I know I'm shouting -- but good God, people, have you lost your minds? The Senate hangs in the balance, and you're going to play the Purity Card over TWO ISSUES?!?
This isn't a choice between a Blue Dog and a moderate, common-sense Republican, if there were still such. This is a choice between a solid Democrat and a mush-brained amalgam of Ayn Rand, Glenn Beck, and Jim DeMint. Whom do YOU want in the Senate???
This ain't patty-cake, and it isn't an academic exercise, either. This is about having a chance to even get progressive bills to the floor, or having to put up with a new low in programming -- "Mitch In Charge."
I'm supporting Jack Conway -- with my money, with my time, and with my vote. What about you?