Hi Kossacks,
This is Stephen Yellin, at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, New Jersey, part of the 7th Congressional District currently being improperly represented by Mike Ferguson. The New Jersey DFA organization is hosting a candidates forum for Linda Stender, the Democratic candidate to take on Ferguson in November. Stender, a three-term Assemblywoman from Fanwood (Union County) announced her candidacy in December, and so far is the leading candidate for the general election. I'll be covering the forum live as it happens, from a computer right next to the stage. Already the room is filling up with volunteers, DFA activists and important guests, such as Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06). Let's get started!
Update [2006-3-11 13:17:31 by MrLiberal]:The moderator for this event is Nathan Rudy, who's website
http://www.dumpmike.com is a major part of the offensive on "Fergie". Nathan founded Blue7thPAC to coordinate anti-Fergie efforts, and is now helping to lead the charge for Linda (
http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com) as the campaign continues. I mention Nathan because he himself is a Kossack, "narudy". Go Nathan!
Update [2006-3-11 13:29:2 by MrLiberal]: Just a little background on Ferguson: He was first elected in 2000 as a "moderate" Republican, illegally using $600,000 of his CEO Dad's money to squeak past Democrat Maryanne Connelly for a Republican open seat. Ferguson is the #1 recipient of Tom DeLay money, with roughly $57,000 in donations since he was first elected. In return, Ferguson has given over $10,000 to DeLay's Texas efforts, aiding and abetting the GOP "culture of corruption" that we love to hate. In addition, Ferguson has recieved a $1,000 donation from Jack Abramoff.
[Update] The RVCC DFA leader has just introduced Rosie Efthim, one of the executive board members of the NJ DFA. She's a wonderful lady, who I've known to be an excellent organizer. She now introduces Hunterdon County Dem Chairman Dave DelVecchio, Somerset County Dem Chairman Elia Pelios and NJ State Committee Treasurer Janice Kovach, all of whom are in attendence. Rosie gives an explanation of what DFA's mission is and what needs to be done to take the US back in 2006 and beyond. She's now talking about what the "real American" coalition is; that coalition is the many parts that will take back Congress in 2006 (there's loud applause for that).
Update [2006-3-11 13:41:22 by MrLiberal]: Rosie now brings the crowd to its feet (literally) with a litany of "If you're ___, stand up!" Everyone stands, everyone applauds. Now Rosie introduces Nathan, who goes ahead with his introductions (including Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowlaksi), and talks about what Blue7th and DumpMike are all about. They started it after the 2004 elections, in order to make sure that the district (and the country, by their efforts) would turn blue in 2006 and stay that way in the future. Nathan says that the answer to recapturing a swing district is to scour the land for Democrats everywhere, uniting them together and making sure national Democrats know that the 7th can be won. Now Nathan goes on to describe how Democrats are slowly gaining in blood-red counties such as Somerset and Hunterdon - counties that Mike Ferguson relied on heavily to get 57% in both 2002 and 2004.
Update [2006-3-11 13:41:22 by MrLiberal]: Nathan's hammering away at Ferguson's deception about his voting record. For example, Ferguson's voted four times for drilling in ANWR and three times against it; however, he only talks about the three votes against ANWR, so he can claim to be an environmentalist. Blue7th and its members are now bombarding the newspapers with letters every week, pointing out misconceptions like these to the voting public. "But it's more than that," he points out. "Turning NJ-07 blue" means taking over school boards, council seats, county seats, etc. that will lead to a Congressional seat going our way.
Update [2006-3-11 14:8:26 by MrLiberal]: Nathan now introduces Congressman Pallone to a standing ovation. Pallone begins to talk about the importance of the grassroots in getting Linda Stender elected, as well as helping to turn this country around. As to making a difference, he tells us how the 15-seat gap that we need to overcome WILL be overcome, and he pointed out Iraq, the Dubai debacle and the prescription drug disaster as examples of the issues in our favor.
"The Republicans are running away from the President, but we're not going to let them do that," Pallone says. He goes on to tie Bush and the GOP to the Enron-style governing they have cast on our nation, pointing out that only with all of our efforts can we show the nation the differences between the GOP rhetoric and the GOP reality.
Update [2006-3-11 14:8:26 by MrLiberal]: Pallone now endorses Linda as a person who people can truly support as a candidate, not just as the "anti-Ferguson". Linda now enters to a standing ovation, and thanks everyone for their efforts. She points out to applause that Pallone will be a Committee Chairman if we pick up "14 other seats" (including mine, clearly). She now goes on to talk about her family and her background. Her father, for example, landed on Normandy on D-Day and helped to liberate the concentration camp at Dachau. The values her family gave her, she says, are the values she's going to bring to Washington. "Bush took us to Iraq on a lie," she says to loud applause. She goes to decry the war for costing lives and Bush for denying funds for body armour.
She keeps it up, blasting Bush's "Medicare D - for Disaster" and Social Security murder attempts. "This is not the American I grew up to believe in," Stender declares. "As a member of Congress, I will not be a rubberstamp for the President!" Furthermore, she goes to make clear (her voice rising, and getting stronger with every phrase) that her values : a women's right to choose, stem cell research, real national security, and so forth. She finishes to loud applause from all concerned.
Update [2006-3-11 14:8:26 by MrLiberal]: Linda now takes questions from the audience. The first is from a "disenchanted Republican" who led the fight for the FDA hearings on Paxil. She asks, and gets, a promise from Linda to fight for drug legislation that will protect children from the types of drug problems that her daughter suffered from in 1998.
The next question comes from a Tewksbury, NJ voter that asks about small businesses. Linda: We need to look at ways of delivering health care for small businesses that allows for negotiating with drug companies over prices. Closing loopholes for big businesses outsourcing jobs overseas will also help with the problem.
The third question is from another Tewskbury voter that asks about a NPR report that 31 million Americans are living in hunger, and what Linda would do about it. Linda: We need to concentrate on restoring our social services that have been cut in exchange for tax giveaways. We also need to make sure that we alleviate poverty by restoring revenue for the lower and middle classes, and not just give them to the rich.
The fourth question is from a council candidate from North Bridge (a Hunterdon County town) who asks about the Bush wiretapping program. Linda: We need to do what we can legally to protect our nation, but with FISA in place the President's plan is not only illegal, but unecessary. The questioner also asks about Guantanamo Bay, to which Linda replies: "It's part of the constitutional, these civil rights - The Constitution is at stake in this election!"
The fifth question is from a man in Basking Ridge (a Somerset County town). He asks Linda about impeachment(!!!). Linda: "After the vote in 2007 to elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker, the next vote should be on impeachment" (Loud applause) She goes on to call the money going to Iraq for no-bid contracts "a disgrace" and says we need to balance a strong military with a strong country at home.
The sixth question is what can be done about Medicare Plan D. Linda: "I think dismantling it is the best way to fix it."
The 7th question is on Dubai and the security of our ports. Linda: "The way Dubai was done is and was the main cause of concern." She mentions that less than 5% of the containers are actually looked at, and says that the Iraq War took port money that could have been used for screening away from the ports.
The 8th question is from a college student on Iraq, on how the returning soldiers are suffering from "shell shock" from the war. Linda: "We need to budget money for healthcare for those veterans, whether it's their leg or their soul".
The 9th question is also about Congressman Conyers' resolution, and how the "culture of corruption" is driving all that we do, and asks Linda to pledge her support for the grassroots. She does, and makes it clear that building a "community consensus" is the solution for the problems in the 7th district and elsewhere.
The 10th question is from a Somerset County voter. She asks whether health care for DC leaders can be expanded to healthcare for all. Linda: "It's a question of doing better, both for our nation and for our future." She pledges to work for improved access to healthcare.
One of my fellow bloggers covering this event asks Linda to give a message to the blogs. Linda: "We must put our anger and disappointed and use that to make change. We need to change - change is the major message of my campaign." She mentions renewable energy efforts as a major focus of her campaign, along with making college and health care affordable, etc.
The next question is about prescription drugs, and how much they cost from an elderly woman. She also asks about the minimum wage - why haven't they raised it? Linda: "I've voted to raise in the NJ Legislature, and will vote to raise it in Congress as well."
Update [2006-3-11 14:58:44 by MrLiberal]: The forum now draws to a close, and Linda thanks everyone for attending to more applause. After hearing her today, I am confident that she will be my next Congresswoman. She is poised, articulate, a proud Democrat and a woman ready to fight for her country. She has the experience and voter base that her predecessors challenging Ferguson lacked, and will get the national support needed to win. Her website is still going up at http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com , but you can go ahead and contact the campaign if you want to help. Thanks!