I will wager that unless you live in Virginia, you have heard nothing about the race in Virginia's 10th congressional district between the 30 year incumbent, Frank Wolf, and Jeff Barnett. I want to tell you why Jeff is our kind of candidate, why I think he could pull off the most under-the-radar upset in the nation (which could preserve the Dem majority), and why this plea for contributions could be critical to his success.
More below the fold
The 10th congressional district extends in an 80 mile strip, from the West Virginia border to McLean, VA. When Frank Wolf took office in 1980, the district was quite different. It has changed, but Frank has not. This district voted for President Obama in 2008.
I say Jeff Barnett is our kind of candidate because he reminds me of those we supported early on, a military background, and yet either center-left or progressive, kind of in the mold of Joe Sestak or Jim Webb(but much more progressive than Webb). Jeff retired as a full Air Force colonel after a 26 year career, which significantly included being Chief of Staff to the UN peacekeeping mission in Croatia, a strategic planner for the Secretary of Defense, and serving on a task force to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. As a civilian, he worked for Alvin ("Future Shock") Toffler advising Fortune 500 companies to introduce technology to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and increase competitiveness. Jeff supports strong Wall Street reform, a woman's right to choose, repeal of DADT, and renewable energy. Check out his issues in detail. Before I lose you, I want to mention this...the DCCC is offering NO financial support to Jeff's campaign. Is this a surprise? It's a big mistake. Jeff's message is getting across, there is an anti-incumbent attitude, and our canvassers are reporting Republicans ready to vote for Jeff. The Fairfax County Times endorsed Jeff Barnett, after 28 years of endorsing Frank Wolf!
Before I lose you, let me make my point:
The campaign has raised $54K on Act Blue, but it's not enough to run critical TV ads....or, possibly, even be able to afford GOTV night-before door hangers! And the ad is READY TO GO. Take a look at it, I think it is very effective and could make the difference.
Please consider contributing to Jeff on Act Blue to help the campaign air this add.
If you wish, stop right here. I detest long diaries. But in case you want more information, I'll include an LTE that I have submitted for publication. Feel free to skip unless you are really, really into it and/or or, hey, you're from Virginia.
MAJOR UPDATE: Thank you to the commenter who questioned the measly $54K raised and how much a TV ad costs. I checked with the Barnett campaign who advises me that they stopped using ActBlue a while ago due to high commissions, and have raised more than $500K, a very respectable amount. Secondly, yes, if they are able to run a TV ad, they would cut the video to 30 seconds or less. The full scale version is only run as a web video. The site they use to raise funds is here.
To The Editor:
(Suggested Headline: Don't Take the 10th For Granted)
We have a critical election on Nov,. 2 here in the 10th congressional
district. The incumbent sits back, does very little in the way of
public appearances, and turns down, misses, or is late for campaign
debates with his Democratic opponent, Jeff Barnett. In other words, he
takes your votes for granted. Endorsements come and go, but THE ONLY
ENDORSEMENT THAT COUNTS IS THAT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE 10TH ON NOVEMBER
2.
Wolf's 8 page mailer is instructive. His agenda is "Stopping
Government-Run Health Care." I ask all voters to consider whether
they support the disbandment of Medicare, the largest government run
healthcare system. The goal should be "to keep what works." When a
family member gets cancer and their insurance company cancels their
policy THAT DOESN'T WORK. When you lose your job and you can't get
covered due to pre-existing conditions, THAT DOESN'T WORK. The new
healthcare law makes those practices illegal - but YOU want to keep
those practices, Frank. We don't buy it.
"Working To Reduce Our National Debt." Sorry but that does not ring
true. Declaring you are concerned about the deficit after having
voted for $500 billion in tax cuts and $400 billion in increased
spending for Medicare Part D drug coverage, which is totally unfunded,
is the height of hypocrisy. We don't buy it.
The mailer says you "believe that all of our children
should....receive and excellent education." Really? Then why did you
Just Vote NO on a bill that includes $10 billion in funding to save
teachers’ jobs, which would have averted the layoffs of 140,000
teachers nationwide, including several thousand in Virginia? We don't
buy it.
Congressman, why did you Just Vote NO on tax credits for renewable
electricity and on enforcing limits on carbon dioxide global warming
emissions? Could that be why your mailer says NOTHING about
protecting the environment? We don't buy it.
Finally, why did you and your wife accept funding from the the ultra
right wing secretive religious organization that owns the "C Street
House" in D.C., known as "The Family," for trips around the world for
prayer breakfasts, and declare on your government travel orders that
"I have determined that all of the expenses listed above were
necessary and that the travel was in connection with my duties as a
Member or officer of the U.S. House of Representatives." Really? Part
of your duties? Looks like you and Christine O'Donnell both need to
get yourselves a copy of the First Amendment.
As The Fairfax County Times said when they endorsed Jeff Barnett (the
FIRST time in 28 years they did not endorse Wolf), this is a matter of
voting for either "the safe choice" or "the better choice." Jeff
Barnett has shown the energy, intelligence, and innovative thinking to
lead the 10th into the future. His 26 years as an Air Force officer,
including Chief of Staff to the UN peacekeeping mission in Croatia,
as a strategic planner for the Secretary of Defense, and his
experience in advising Fortune 500 companies on preparing for the
future gives me confidence he is the right man for the job. For
details of his issues, go to www.jeffbarnettforcongress.com.
"Just Vote No" has been Frank Wolf's mantra since the election of
President Obama. That is not enough. Don't take us for granted, Frank
Wolf. It's time to "just vote Yes" for a new representative for the
10th: Jeff Barnett on November 2!
I could include a second LTE that I have submitted, but I believe in neither water boarding nor long diaries, so I'll spare you all. Please consider helping the cause and saving the Democratic Congress! Thanks!