Alright, alright!! Enough! I know you've heard about this Lane Siekman guy who thinks he's going to unseat me but let me tell you something: My name may be Rep. Luke Messer but I'm telling you, I haven't made a mess! but I voted for HR 2775, which means NO to preventing a default but that's because Obamacare is such a mess! It's a BFD!
Freshman Rep. Luke Messer won 59% of the votes in 2012 to be elected to represent Indiana's 6th Congressional District, which has a PVI of R+12 per the Cook Political Report so the district has traditionally been difficult for the Democratic Party.
On the other hand, as the satirical photo caption above indicates, Messer did vote NO on HR 2775 on October 16, 2013, which prevented a U.S. default and brought the U.S. government back in operations. Now the question is: Will the November 4 election in IN-06 become a referendum on Congressman Messer's mess with his NO vote to prevent U.S. default, a referendum on anti-Republican sentiment OR is Congressman Messer just one of those GOP "Representatives" who will be easily elected given tradition in IN-06?
Regardless of what the eventual outcome will be, Democratic Candidate Lane Siekman seems to be determined to change course in IN-06.
For any of you living in IN-06 or nearby, tomorrow evening Siekman will be holding a fundraiser in Aurora, IN where you get a chance to meet and greet him. Details on the event tomorrow are as follows:
https://www.facebook.com/...
Join Lane for a fundraiser at the Great Crescent Brewery in Aurora, Indiana.
315 Importing Street, Aurora IN. 47001
Cash Bar, soft drinks and appetizers!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Registration Link is as follows:
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Bronze: $10 ea.
Silver: $20 ea.
Gold: $30 ea.
Platinium: $100 ea.
Something to note: This isn't the first time Lane Siekman has run for Congress. He
actually started to run in IN-06 back in 2012 but had an uphill battle then because then because Rep. Mike Pence was retiring from Congress to run for Governor of Indiana and the primary race was crowded on both the Democratic and Republican side then.
In 2014, it may be an easier time for Lane Siekman to become a Democratic Candidate in IN-06 given 2012 Republican Candidate Luke Messer is now freshman Rep. Luke Messer so there's no open race unpredictability this time around.
Siekman's also pretty fired up and also reached out on Daily Kos back in 2011 when he was preparing a 2012 run for Congress then before the Democratic primary race got crowded. Here's what Siekman had to say then:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
I’m Lane Siekman… and I’m running for the U.S. Congress… I’m from Rising Sun, Indiana down in Ohio County along the Ohio River. I’m a Fifth generation Hoosier… I have been married to my wife Robin for 29 years… We have 3 children; the twins are 21 this year… my daughter Allison is a Senior at Ball State University studying history and political science and my son Brenden is a Senior or Firstie at the United States Military Academy at West Point… my youngest, Carly will be entering the 7th grade at Rising Sun next Fall… Robin works as a Neonatal Nurse at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati and I practice law in Rising Sun.. I’m proud of my family, where I come from, I’m proud to be a Democrat, and I have been very blessed in my life…
In 2008, We elected Barack Obama, an African American as President… and we almost elected a woman… and Indiana turned Blue for the first time in my adult life….
But then something happened… The Election of 2010 was an eye opener… We let cable news talking heads dictate the issues; We allowed corporate money disguised as “grass roots” attack Democratic success, … and we as a party let this nation down…. We stayed home… We lost…and when Democrats lose… the whole nation loses…
More on Lane Siekman's commentary on Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Radical elements of the Republican Party captured the Indiana State House…. and the U.S. House of Representatives…. Then they dusted off every radical goal and put it on the agenda… In Indiana, they tried to dismantle Indiana’s public school system and deprive working men and women of their rights to earn a decent wage. Only a courageous effort by the Democrats to break the quorum staved off total destruction…
In Congress, they ignored creating jobs and instead focused on the deficit. An issue that they had conveniently forgot about for eight years under President George W. Bush. Never mind that Bush took a budget surplus of $236.2 billion (Congressional Budget Office) and turned it into a trillion-dollar deficit just eight years later. They attacked the stimulus bill and Healthcare bill while ignoring Bush’s costly tax cut and the ongoing expense of fighting two wars or not to mention the recession ushered in by the failed politics and Wall Street buddies of Bush.
When Democrats lose.. It’s the middle class that loses… It’s the sick, It’s the elderly, and It’s working men and women that lose out…
But today, we have a fresh opportunity and a clear responsibility with this new District to send a message to the people…. … It’s time for Democrats to stand up and fight….
It’s time for Democrats to stand up and fight…. To fight to protect Medicare. The Republican budget makes radical changes to Medicare and raises costs for Seniors. The plan also immediately reopens the "donut hole" in Medicare’s drug coverage for current recipients. But the real impact is on those of us that are age 54 and under, We swap comprehensive coverage for with a “voucher” or “premium support” to buy private health insurance. Maybe these people have been watching "Extreme Couponing" too much. This voucher is not expected to keep up with increasing costs and shifts thousands of dollars in medical costs onto the individual. I am 50 years old and have spent 30 years paying into this system and cannot afford to start saving enough now for that extra expense when or "if" I retire.
So needless to say, Siekman's pretty fired up and definitely more progressive than he is a blue dog Democrat. Here's what fellow Kossack Aldous had to say in his comment on Siekman's diary:
* [new] Are you a Blue Dog Democrat? (0+ / 0-)
I'm sick and tired of Democrats not holding together cause of members losing their backbone. We could have done a lot of good when we had both house and senate to reverse Bush's policies.
So what do you intend to do to change our direction, Lane?
by Aldous on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 07:47:33 PM PDT
Siekman responded back to the comment:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
* [new] Blue Dog? (2+ / 0-)
I'm not into labels. I listen to problems and look for solutions. I wasn't in office when Democrats had both houses but it appears to me that once in Washington, our Representatives tend to overlook their primary responsibility to look out for their constituents back in the districts.
Step 1 - Address the economy. We are facing a double dip recession if we don't don't expand the middle class by setting the groundwork for improving jobs and wages. help low income wage earners with tax exemptions. Action to save failing state and local governments. Work programs for the long-term unemployed. Amend bankruptcy laws to keep people in their homes.
Step 2 - Protect Social Security and Medicare by dealing with it realistically combined with fine tuning the healthcare legislation.
Step 3 - Get big money out of politics, repeal the Citizens United decision and make the impact of money in our government more transparent...maybe not the Disclose Act but people need to know who is paying those lobbyists.
Revised Step 1 - get elected.....
Lane Siekman Democrat for Congress IN-06
by laneforcongress on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 08:29:23 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
Regardless of what you think about Lane Siekman, one thing is for sure. He's got fire in his belly and if he wants to repeal the Citizens United decision, all the better as the Democratic Party will need all the help it can get to reverse course from Citizens United.
Here's Siekman on the Issues per his website:
http://www.lanesiekman.com/
Supports Public Education
For Raising Minimum Wage and Expanding the Middle Class
Investing in Infrastructure to Create New Jobs
Protecting and Preserving Social Security
Standing up for Veterans
If you are looking to support Lane Siekman and get involved in his campaign, links are below:
Lane Siekman for Congress:
http://www.lanesiekman.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/...
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Our goal is to strengthen the liberal & progressive Democratic community through information, outreach and to also help promote legitimate Democratic candidates regardless of fundraising numbers or attention in the news.
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