It takes a few more dollars. It takes the extra effort. It takes a phone call, a letter, a door knock, a television ad, a mailing and a conversation. It is disappointing to admit but American politics are geared through money. Money is usually what buy’s elections because it has the power to reach people and deliver a message to places that people cannot even reach, simply through the media. The message the public should hear is simple: The Democrats are better than the Republicans. Instead, the public is hearing the voices of the big corporations that are looking to exert their influence in unfair ways in order to dump as many Democrats as possible from Congress this fall. We may have a history of tax and spend, but our candidates outshine most all Republican candidates by the things we actually represent. Equal rights for all, protection of women’s rights, stem-cell research expansion, education promotion, social-security protection, middle class fortification, clean energy creation and of course, jobs, here in the United States. These are stark differences from candidates on the other side running for office this year.
To highlight the possibilities to voters this November:
CA: Carly Fiorina (R-CA) was CEO of Hewlett Packard. Fiorina outsourced 33,000 jobs and was named one of the 20 WORST CEO’s of all time by Portfolio magazine. Fiorina was subsequently fired, and accepted a $42 million dollar golden parachute. The stock price halved and profits decreased. Fiorina also said she would allow people on the no fly list to purchase guns and along with Jim Inhofe would work to weaken the EPA. She has been endorsed by Sarah Palin among others.
MO: Oh Roy Blunt (R-MO). Blunt just needs to get out of Washington. He argued against adults with pre-conceived medical conditions to get health care. He has taken more money from lobbyists than any member of congress. After voting against the stimulus bill, he took personal credit for projects it had saved and jobs it had created. He is also a leading voice in the ‘repeal healthcare’ debate in Washington. He has been part of the GOP house leadership, another reason why Democrats would love to defeat him.
WI: Ron Johnson (R-WI) is one of the more interesting candidates this cycle. Johnson called social security "a giant ponzi scheme" and once said he was glad that global warming existed. He has continued to voice praise for drilling for oil in Lake Michigan even during the BP oil spill. He also is heavily invested in BP and told a radio show host while on his show that "it was not the right time to beat up on BP." This first time candidate’s radical opinions have no place in D.C. Russ Feingold has been a progressive leader, he deserves to be re-elected.
CO: Ken Buck (R-CO) a tea-party favorite, won the primary against a more moderate candidate. Buck’s extremist ideas have no place in American politics. He has made the oddest comments like weaning out student loans because of American students dependency on the loans. He also has said that the progressive liberal movement is a larger threat to the United States than Al Qaeda. He of course would oppose a woman’s right to choose and would ban abortions even in the case of rape or incest. Just in these few sentences, I hope you see how extreme Buck really is for Colorado.
PA: Pat Toomey (R-PA) is a republican re-run. We thought it was the end of his time in politics after Arlen Specter defeated him in the GOP primary in 2004, but he is back! Toomey is a former president of the extremist conservative group Club for Growth that has supported right wing candidates for public office. He also identifies himself as a carbon copy of Sen. Rick Santorum who was ousted in 2006 for his support of ultra conservative policies. Toomey opposes Wall Street reform and he voted to give loans and benefits to corporations that ship American job overseas and he would of course support privatizing social security. Let’s send Joe Sestak to the upper chamber of Congress.
Keep in mind; these are only some of the Republicans. Some others have spoken of repealing the voting rights act, one has recently dressed as a Nazi and others have voiced praise for invoking more religion and Christian principles in textbooks.
These stark differences may not even reach the voters however. They may not know what our candidates represent and what the other side will try and push if elected. Outside groups are flooding the airwaves in order to defeat as many Democrats as possible. The public really only hears "This person voted with Nancy Pelosi 94% of the time" instead of "this person voted for the health care overhaul which enabled 32 million new people to get health coverage for the first time." The differences have never been clearer. We have a dangerous tea party looking to take over our government and implement their radical extremist ideas on our country. I am 20 years old right now, doing a semester abroad in Europe. I made sure one of the first things I did once I came here was to find a way to vote absentee, how ever much it cost to mail. I hear the news of how the tea party is advancing and cannot let that happen. There is not much I can do from over here, except reach out through the internet. Therefore, I ask you to just give $5.00 to one candidate on our ActBlue page in order to battle against the false smears and unfair attacks that are airing on television sets around the country. This extra $5.00 can go along way in reaching a few more voters through a phone bank, knocking on a few more doors, or just getting another commercial on television highlighting the differences that voters can distinguish when they enter the polling booth on Nov. 2nd.
I have chosen candidates in tough races around the country. I believe these candidates are really out for the good of the people and hope you will support them.
When I wake up on November 3rd, I want the headlines on my computer and the Wall Street Journal downstairs to not say "Republicans take Congress after outside groups spend millions around the country." I want to see "Democrats maintain majorities after voters see clear differences between candidates."
Make it happen, it is still in our reach, do not get discouraged, do not give up, just another $5 could push someone over the finish line and keep our majorities in congress safe for another two years. We have made much progress already, why turn back now?
I like President Obama’s example: The GOP wants to take back control of the ‘car.’ If they do, however, they are bringing all their friends with them in the front seat, lobbyists, corporations and all the buddies that have donated to them this cycle. They will take the car in reverse. Is it ironic that when we want to go forward, we put the car in Drive (Democrats) and backwards Reverse (Republicans)? I think not.
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