I have staked a lot of my money, some of my time and all of my most fervent wishes to the end that, two weeks from next Tuesday, Ilya Sheyman will be nominated to run as the Democrat in the race for US Congress in my home district.
The race has numerous candidates, but only two have the money and other resources to mount a real district-wide contest for this nomination, progressive, Ilya Sheyman, and faux progressive, Brad Schneider. The stark choice for Democrats, who have now begun early voting, is between a genuine, unwavering progressive with backbone and a record of working hard to advance progressive candidates and causes, and, on the other hand, BS, a middle age businessman who claims to be a lifelong progressive.
As one might expect, BS is a little weak on the facts, here and the aggressive mail campaigns now underway have sharpened this. Here are images of high quality, large mail pieces received by this likely Democratic primary voter. They tell an interesting story.
The first mailer was from Mr. Sheyman and, on the front, posed the somewhat provocative proposition that actions speak louder than words.
That statement comes from two things. First, Mr. Sheyman began this race, as he has lived his life, as a progressive with the spine, wits and determination to stand up and fight for the middle class that has so long been under siege by the 1% and their minions. By contrast, Mr. Schneider's website, for months, said little more about real issues and real policy than brief platitudes, while his site said he was visiting around the district to find out what was important. At the same time, Mr. Schneider was collecting large contributions and, temporarily, out raising and self funding against Mr. Sheyman. As a life long progressive, Mr. Sheyman already knew what was important. The second thing was an early poll in the district showing that likely Democratic primary voters want a progressive candidate, but were largely undecided about who that candidate was.
So Mr. Sheyman's mailer followed with an inside spread detailing a life of progressive work, struggle and accomplishment that would be notable for someone twice Mr. Sheyman's age.
Left Side:
Right Side:
In a matter of days, Mr. Schneider took the bait, with a mail piece claiming to be a "lifelong progressive".
Well, that lifelong progressive stuff is demonstrable BS, and Mr. Sheyman has now answered it with a heaping helping of the truth.
Front:
Back:
The other two pages of this last mailer offer a 100% positive message about Ilya Sheyman's progressive commitment and accomplishments.
When a Blue Dog, self funding, businessman Democrat who gives support to right wing Republican nut bags, and claims to be a life long progressive, well, that's just BS.