Lois Murphy could use some Kossack support right now.
From now until Saturday, Democracy for America is holding an online vote to determine which Congressional candidate will be the first one DFA endorses for the 2006 campaign cycle. All of the ten candidates in the final list are good Democrats that we should support in whatever way we can. I voted for Lois in the DFA poll for reasons explained below and I hope you will, too.
Lois is the Democrat who almost defeated Jim Gerlach, an entrenched disciple of Karl Rove, last year in the closest Congressional race in the nation. Despite starting out with almost no name recognition, Lois came within 6400 votes (49% to 51%) of defeating the incumbent. She jumped into the 2006 race early this year determined to finish what she started in 2004: retiring Tom Delay's lap dog, Jim Gerlach. The race is considered a toss-up this year because Lois is running again.
Last year, Lois was one of the
dKos 8 and the
Dean Dozen. She was endorsed by
MoveOn, EMILY's List, NARAL, Women's Way, the
Women's Campaign Fund, and the
National Women's Political Caucus. She is one of only two candidates currently approved by
Atrios in the 2006 campaign (the other is
Louise Slaughter).
Just before election day last year, Lois was attacked by Gerlach with some of the most ruthless and disgusting ads ever aired. With outright lies and suggestive images, they implied that she supported the Taliban. They included references to Taliban rapes and murders and implied that voting for Lois would be supporting the Taliban and the crimes they committed. I can tell you that seeing those ads was physically nauseating. Rove and Gerlach are peas in a pod.
In July, Gerlach invited Karl Rove to headline a fundraiser. Rove raised over $100,000 for him. Gerlach is also a card-carrying member of Tom DeLay's House of Scandal and has received more than $30,000 from DeLay. That's more than anyone else in the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation. Gerlach has also contributed more than $2,000 to Tom DeLay's legal defense fund to help thwart the wheels of justice from holding DeLay to any ethical standards. Gerlach also received more than $35,000 from oil and gas interests.
By contrast, Lois has years of experience of honest public service and is committed to returning honesty, competence and compassion to government. Read her biography and DFA statement.
Please take a moment to vote for Lois at the DFA site and help turn Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation blue.