Uploaded with ImageShack.us
In 2010, Congressman Joe Sestak left what many people believed was a safe seat to challenge Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary and then went on to face off Pat Toomey (R) in the general election. Sad to say the great Admiral lost to Wall Street's favorite congressman. We also lost the 7th district to Republican Pat Meehan who ran on a campaign to preserve and save medicare. Meehan pushed the lie that Obama had gutted medicare and painted himself as a defender of medicare. Meehan went on to beat his Democratic rival and Iraq War Veteran, Bryan Lenzt in the general election. As soon as Meehan was elected, one his first votes was for the Paul Ryan budget which would end medicare as we know it. Meehan would then go on to face his constituents at a very angry town hall meeting:
http://www.youtube.com/...
Meehan rode into victory thanks to the help of the Tea Party wave in 2010 and he has continued to be a part of the Republican obstruction. But this morning, the DCCC just put this race in the Red To Blue category because we have a great candidate running for this seat and his name is George Badey (D). Here's a little info from Badey's website:
George is a lawyer in private practice since 1982, representing working people and families. In his career, he has taken on some of the largest and most powerful institutions, including Big Tobacco, pharmaceutical giants and the insurance industry. In 2000, George was involved in the litigation in Florida surrounding the Presidential Election. To see clips from his participation in that case, click these links. CNN | ARTICLE As founder of his own law firm, George knows what it takes to run a business, meet a payroll, and provide health insurance for his employees. He knows that more needs to be done in Congress to help the economy, working people and small businesses.
George’s story demonstrates that the American Dream is alive and well, and he is running for Congress because he wants to keep it that way for future generations. Born and raised in South Philadelphia, George grew up in a row home and attended Philadelphia public schools. His father was a longshoreman and his mother a homemaker. After graduating as valedictorian of his class at South Philadelphia High School in 1975, he received an academic scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, George double majored, and in 1979 was awarded a bachelor’s degree in both political science and music. He went on to Villanova Law School and passed the Bar Exam on his first try in 1982. Ever since, George has represented the people, not the powerful. He has used his education and skills to level the playing field.
For the last 25 years, George has lived in Radnor Township, Delaware County. As the Chair of the Radnor Democratic Committee, he reached across party lines, and for the first time ever, Radnor Township, in the heart of the Main Line, is now governed by a Democratic majority. When his sons were younger, he coached little league baseball for nine years in the Radnor-Wayne Little League. Like their father, George’s two sons attended public schools. His son George graduated Radnor High School in 2009 and is now a junior at Villanova University, and his son Michael is in the Class of 2012 at Radnor High School.
Since the age of 13, in 1971, George has been a Mummer, and is a tenor saxophone player in the Fralinger String Band. In recent years, when the very existence of the Mummers Parade was threatened by City budget cuts, George founded and remains Chairman of the Board of “Save The Mummers,” an organization dedicated to preserve the tradition. Over a six day period shortly before the 2009 Mummers Parade, George and his organization raised over $200,000. He has demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills and resilience in the face of difficult circumstances.
George is not a career politician on the taxpayer payroll since the 1980's. George will not go to Washington to march in lockstep with the Tea Party, but will find solutions for all of us. The political career of one man can never be more important than the hopes and dreams of the 700,000 working people in this district. We need to restore true representation for our district this November.
Badey is a strong supporter of the middle-class and creating clean jobs and a clean environment. He also strongly supports a woman's right to choose and preserving Medicare and Social Security. Admiral Sestak has endorsed Badey in this race. The Philly suburbs have become bluer and bluer over the years and we have some great opportunities in both the PA-8th and PA-6th districts but if we're serious about putting the gavel back in Pelosi's hand, we need to remind the good people of the 7th District that Meehan was the one who voted to end medicare while Badey is the one who will protect it. Here's Badey's ActBlue page. You know what to do:
https://secure.actblue.com/...