Low enthusiasm? Try a likely breaking Democratic fundraising success for the Michigan 2nd congressional district. Help him break that record! He's so, so close. Send a little message to the conservatives we're coming after them, and nowhere is safe.
But don't let that spoil a good narrative. A couple days ago the Grand Rapids Gazette published the financial fundraising haul of various congressional candidates. Sticking with the favored theme that West Michigan is Conservo-Stompin-Grounds (**Roar** ...or whatever it is sound a GOPasaur makes), they just sort of made stuff up. Such as:
Republican Bill Huizenga: "$529,999"
Democrat Fred Johson: "Oh gosh, let's say, like, $650...yeah. That looks about right. And print!"
The truth wouldn't just buck the notion that people aren't interested in a Dem Candidate in West Michigan. It would cast some questions on the narrative that in 2010 everybody hates Democrats.
The truth is, Fred Johnson's campaign is likely to break a fundraising record in 2010 -- topping over $115,000 raised for a Democrat in the Michigan 2nd congressional district for the first time ever. Breaking even the 2008 numbers.
Help out this true progressive! He's working for the middle class.
At the local debatesJohnson kept bringing the narrative back to the Middle Class, even as his Republican and Hoekstra-Clone opponent, Bill Huizenga, kept trying to move it away to the standard Republican talking points, lofty ideas with nice, shiny words like:
"no abortion even in the case of incest and rape"
and
"I got over 129,000 from ultraconservative Political Action Committees, like the American Bankers Association and the Family Research Council, the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, and big oil companies!"
Okay. He didn't say that. He was too busy defending his ACTUAL REAL LIFE Friend Erick Prince of Blackwater Securtiy/Xe whose sister, Betsy DeVos piles on the campaign cash for him.
We already know right from the gate who Bill Huizenga is working for. We already know because we've already seem him in action. We already know because when he held public office in the state of Michigan his ONE legislative "accomplishment" was to sponsor and pass a law that blocked OVERTIME benefits for some Michigan workers.
Even as Muskegon and Holland are starting to see actual jobs in the renewable wind energy industry, Huizenga says it's not a viable energy source...an attitude likely to freeze this new industry in its infancy.
And this is the guy the Narrative says West Michigan wants, or West Michigan needs...shamelessly and without editing, research, or questions they just blindly slip into the narrative and report on it.
Meanwhile Fred Johnson has been pounding the pavement getting small contributions from regular people who REALLY NEED West Michigan to succeed. Small donations here and there, one by one, each one making Johnson more and more answerable to the people on the ground.
Fred Johnson is a prior Marine captain who served his nation proudly even after he'd been beaten by police officers in his home town because of his race.
He's worked 9 to 5 factory jobs and knows what it's like to try to make a living in West Michigan as a regular, hardworking person.
He went to college, and earned his PhD and became a US History Professor at Hope College, and is an author who has written on the subject of education, and co-authored a book about the life and times of Tupac Shakur.
Fred Johnson IS the American story. He worked his butt off every step of the way for everything he's got, and now he wants to make sure that opportunity exists for our kids, and our kids' kids.
Give this guy some love. Help him break a record. Show the conservatives, nowhere is safe.
(I am a professional blogger for the Fred Johnson campaign)