This morning started off early as John was able to do a short interview with WIXN-1460AM in Dixon. Danette Dallgas-Frey knows her business. John had his say about the Voters pledge and we went off to meet some of the fine Dixon populace in a local bookstore. There we enjoyed conversation and exchanged views with folks from both sides of the aisle. Time to head to the riverfront. Did I mention the heat was enough to think eggs would cook pavement? The humidity was so thick that fish were trying to swim up out of the water. It was what has become a typical day blogging for John Laesch.
As we rolled up we spotted a small group waiting for John presentation. We recognized one as he climbed into his vehicle and drove away. A Mr. Marvin Williams. Someone who's been on
Rep. Hastert's payroll. Hell yes!! And he left behind as he drove away two congenial young women. They were most definitely interested in what Mr. Laesch had to say.
One videotaped John's presentation whilst the other snapped cameraphone pics one after another. John is a handsome man no doubt, but sorry ladies, he's taken.
There was also a quiet historian there. At least I assume he was a historian. He kept himself busy studying the text located at the rear of the Lincoln Monument we were speaking under. He hung around to hear John's speech. He offered a correction to a reference John made about the statue afterwards. A rather tall man he lumbered away, plowing a path through the heat and humidity.
You might recognize the photo on the right as Mr. Hastert, where he was getting out of a hybrid car and into a SUV. The one on the left is our historian.
The Voters First Pledge was the reason we had come to the Petunia Capital. It goes like this:
The Voters First Pledge
It's time to clean up Congress.
The public is losing faith in Congress. With so much pressure to fundraise to win and keep their offices, politicians focus on donors rather than the people they are supposed to represent. Too many politicians appear to care more about what lobbyists and powerful interests think than they do about the pressing problems faced by most Americans.
Voters are tired of "politics as usual." We want solutions that improve fairness in campaign fundraising and allow new voices and ideas to be heard. We want an end to the headlines about scandals involving the powerful interests and lobbyists in Washington. We want more public reporting of the relationships between lobbyists and the people we elect to serve our interests.
Powerful interests and lobbyists spend millions of dollars to gain access to our elected officials, and are rewarded with billions of taxpayer dollars in return. Potential leaders of tomorrow who refuse to play this game or don't have access to millions can't get a start in politics today.
It's time to clean up Congress by putting voters first. For our nation's future, vision and voters should matter more than donors and their dollars.
In 2006, American voters are demanding real change that goes beyond empty slogans. To ensure that Congress is accountable to voters, we urge all candidates to sign the Voters First Pledge:
By signing below, I pledge to put voters before lobbyists by supporting legislation to:
1. Make Elections Fair.
Establish and enforce campaign spending limits by providing a set amount of public funding for all candidates who agree to take no private contributions.
2. Restore Accountability.
Pass and enforce meaningful new restrictions on gifts and travel from lobbyists and other powerful interests for members of Congress.
3. Protect Voters' Right-To-Know.
Require full disclosure on the internet of all lobbyists' contributions and any fundraising help members of Congress get from lobbyists.
Signature:
Print Name, State, Congressional District: _________
Date:
Please return via fax to 202-293-0202, or by mail to Public Campaign Action Fund, 1320 19th Street, NW, Suite M-1, Washington, DC 20036.
The Voters First Pledge is endorsed by Common Cause, Public Campaign Action Fund, Public Citizen, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
John put his signature on the paper and it was a pledge! How about that? Helllloooo value voter's .. your candidate is here!
The Pledge was covered this time by radio and newspaper who stayed and asked John to clarify a few points and positions. After they left a few Laesch supporters who had come to see John payed their respects to the candidate and hightailed it for air conditioning.
Then there was one young man left waiting patiently. Chris.
Here was a young man who did a little research, agreed with John's position and gave him a donation. His very first donation to any political party! He was quite proud to give John some hard earned cash. I think John was both humble and proud at the same time. Humble for receiving such a gift from one who's still in school and proud for representing and being believed in for what should be true and right in our governance and government.
My name is Jimi Moore and I am an event blogger for the Laesch for Congress campaign. I work and volunteer for John because I believe he can help set America back on a course far better than the one we are taking now.
John's website.
Crossposted at Fireside 14, a local political blog for Illinois' 14th Congressional District.