Received two fundraising e-mails from two Senators I admire who are supporting Congressman Ed Markey's (D. MA) U.S. Senate bid. The first one comes from Senator Tom Harkin (D. IA):
Together you and I have made tremendous progress in raising awareness about the proposed cuts to Social Security known as the "chained CPI." I'm so proud of what we've accomplished, and I know that we will keep working to hold the line in the weeks and months to come.
But right now, we have a major opportunity to make that firewall even stronger. We need to make sure Ed Markey joins me in the Senate by winning the Massachusetts special election in less than two weeks.
Rep. Markey firmly opposes the chained CPI, and will stand with me to fight Social Security cuts that only serve to weaken the middle class. He is the kind of proven progressive we need more of in the Senate, and I hope you'll join me in supporting his campaign today.
Will you join me now and make an urgent contribution to Ed Markey's campaign?
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Ed's opponent, Gabriel Gomez, has vocally supported the chained CPI and believes we need to slash taxes even further for wealthy investment executives like him. And just like Scott Brown before him, he will be just one more reliable, conservative vote ready to grind the people's business to a halt.
In 2010, outside groups poured money into helping Scott Brown pull off an upset victory in Massachusetts as part of their strategy to derail health care reform. Now, again, outside groups have cut Rep. Markey's lead by 10 points, hoping to use this election as a springboard to slash Social Security and pursue other radical conservative priorities.
The challenges we face are too great to let that happen -- especially when we have a chance to elect a real progressive who will stand with me and with his fellow Massachusetts Senator, Elizabeth Warren, as we fight for the middle class.
Will you help stop the chained CPI by making an urgent contribution to Ed Markey's campaign now?
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Last year, progressives joined together to make sure Elizabeth Warren beat Scott Brown, and now she has joined me in the fight to put the middle class first.
Ed Markey is the partner Senator Warren and I need to keep fighting and winning for progressive priorities. But we also need your strong, progressive, grassroots support today to make sure Ed Markey wins on June 25.
He needs us to get his back.
Will you join me now and make an urgent contribution to Ed Markey's campaign?
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Protecting Social Security is going to take a huge effort -- both in the Senate and beyond. Having a strong, dedicated progressive like Ed Markey by my side will make a huge difference in winning that fight.
Thank you for doing your part by speaking up, speaking out, and showing your support for Rep. Markey today.
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Sincerely,
Tom Harkin
U.S. Senator
The other fundraising e-mail is from Senator Patrick Leahy (D. VT):
I don't want to take up too much of your Saturday, so I'll be brief. But with just 10 days left until the Massachusetts special election to replace John Kerry in the U.S. Senate, every minute counts.
As of right now, my friend and fellow progressive, Ed Markey, is leading in the polls -- but aggressive spending by right-wing special interests has cut his lead by 10 points since last month. And this race is too close for comfort.
Ed's running a great campaign, but he needs the kind of strong grassroots boost that Green Mountain PAC is known for to bring home a huge win.
Will you make an urgent contribution to Ed's campaign today -- just 10 days before the June 25 Massachusetts special election -- and help him deliver a huge win for progressives?
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Here are three key reasons why this special election is so important, not just for Massachusetts, but for the country:
1, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid: Republicans, including Ed's opponent, have made slashing these critical programs one of their top priorities. Ed Markey will stand beside me to make sure that never happens.
2, We've seen this before: In the 2010 Massachusetts special election, national conservatives rallied behind Scott Brown to win a big upset victory -- and slow down, and water down, health care reform. They're trying to do it again this year -- to try to stall immigration reform and add a vote for the radical Paul Ryan budget.
3. Elizabeth Warren: Helping Elizabeth Warren win last year took a huge grassroots effort, and it's amazing to see the impact she is already having in the Senate. We have the opportunity to strengthen her voice by electing a proven progressive leader to work with her -- not a conservative rubber stamp who will cancel out her vote.
Ed Markey needs to win, but we only have 10 more days to get him the support he needs to fight back against a mounting wave of outside attacks.
Will you make an urgent contribution to Ed Markey's special election campaign today -- with just 10 days left?
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Thank you so much for helping me send a real progressive to the U.S. Senate to fight for the middle class -- and preserve our strong Democratic majority.
Sincerely,
Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator
P.S. If you would like to volunteer for Rep. Markey's campaign in Massachusetts, click here to sign up!
https://docs.google.com/...
You can click here to sign up to help make calls to remind voters the to come out and vote for Markey on Tuesday, June 25th:
https://docs.google.com/...
Markey also picked up another local paper endorsement:
http://www.patriotledger.com/...
In his 37 years in Congress, Markey has proven to be a consummate legislator. While many Members of Congress introduce bills and offer amendments, Markey has the prowess to get his passed. He led the way in opening up the Internet to competition and has continued to ensure it remains a place for freedom via his Internet Freedom Preservation Act. Markey has been a vocal and persistent watchdog of the nuclear industry, and outspoken on all of Plymouth’s Pilgrim nuclear power plant’s shortcomings – though it’s far removed from his district. He’s authored and passed legislation to protect children online, and has consistently been an advocate, working with Republican leaders, for privacy for all.
With everything from his positions on personal privacy for medical and cellphone records, to his consistent votes against the reauthorization of The Patriot Act, Markey has advocated for the people. In the age of hyper technology where corporations and, as we’ve recently discovered, our own government routinely spy on us, Markey’s wonkinsh focus is vital to ensuring Constitutional rights are preserved as we sort out Spygate. Given his record as a vocal advocate for Massachusetts and consumers of every state, Markey is the better choice.
While door-to-door campaigning does not seem to come easily to Markey, his low profile on the campaign trail was an enormous disappointment to many across the state less familiar with him. But retail politics can’t trump political savvy and knowledge of the issues. We expect the intellectual reserve of the Senate will be a good fit for him and he for it, on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. - The Patriot Ledger, 6/15/13
By the way, look who's coming back to Massachusetts next week:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/...
With Election Day in the special Senate contest in Massachusetts closing in, and the polls relatively tight, another top Democrat will make the trek to the Bay State next week to try and keep the long-held seat in party hands.
Vice President Joe Biden will campaign for Rep. Ed Markey, a Markey campaign adviser confirms to CNN. The news was first reported by the Boston Globe.
Biden will become the fourth top draw Democrat to stump for Markey in recent days. First lady Michelle Obama headlined a fundraiser for Markey in Massachusetts two weeks ago. President Barack Obama campaigned for Markey in the Boston area earlier this week, and former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to team up with Markey at a rally Saturday in Worcester.
The vice president's trip to Massachusetts next week follows a fundraiser he and former Vice President Al Gore held for Markey in Washington on Tuesday, while the candidate was at a debate in Massachusetts. - CNN, 6/14/13
If you live in Massachusetts and would like to help out with GOTV efforts, you can go here:
http://www.edmarkey.com/