As anyone who's read my diaries knows, I've been stumping for Steve Sinton, Democratic candidate for the GA-06 House seat. This diary updates a recent appearance Steve made and catalogs the crowd's overwhelmingly positive reaction, particularly juxtaposed to his opponent, the one-term, do-nothing Bushbot Tom Price.
Props go out to the East Cobb Democratic Alliance, East Cobb Dems, from whose blog this material was lifted. The author has graciously agreed to a wider distribution.
Steve's current challenge is to raise funds against the Price behemoth. Price was apparantly a receipient of much DeLay/Abramoff/Reed largesse, and it's up to us individual donors to bridge the significant gap.
Please show Steve some love here: Steve's Campaign Website, and enjoy the comments here:
I think you'll agree that the comments posted below demonstrate how Steve's campaign is being driven by a people-powered movement. Please help spread the news!
Craig K. Allen, 7/10/06 - 6th District Congressional Race is Heating Up
After watching the AARP forum July 6, I'm convinced more than ever that Steve Sinton, the Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District, can win in November. His delivery was fact-based and confident. And, he has the issues on his side, issues that he understands and is well-versed in.
Steve connected with the audience of about 120 people more so than Price, who played to the partisans in the crowd and spouted really tired platitudes. Tom Price, and many incumbent Republicans, are still trying to campaign with the lie that the war in Iraq is the war on terror. Of course, Price may be playing to the few Republican primary voters who still believe that. Price has a pretty scrappy opponent in John Konop, who was also at the AARP forum.
Tom Price said he wasn't for the status quo. But he was forced into that position by Steve Sinton and John Konop. Tom Price, as a political climber (and damn proud of it to hear him brag), is the status quo. He's a Bushite through and through.
Steve said the country is going in the wrong direction and wondered who's looking out for us in Washington. He suggested that it's not Tom Price and it's not the other elected, entrenched Republicans. This idea resonated throughout the room. Steve Sinton said he'll be our lobbyist in Washington and - guess what? - one person can make a difference in that town. Applause happily ensued.
Tom Price, amazingly for a surgeon/politician, said one person can't really make a difference - that you have to build consensus. (Reminded me of Saturday Night Live's Debbie Downer.) This fell flat at the forum because we all know who Tom Price has been building consensus with. That other Tom - the not-gone-yet Tom Delay! Price believes in absolute Republican control in Congress. He doesn't believe in consensus. No debate is allowed and no amendments either from the Democrats on important legislation. That's why it's very important that Democrats win this election.
As a final observation, I sensed that the independent voters in the room were looking for an alternative to what the Republicans have given us the past six years. They don't want platitudes and they don't want somebody like Price mouthing the failed Bush line. I believe the fresh voice of Steve Sinton can persuade a large majority of undecided voters (some of them Republican) that they should send him to Washington. And this is great news, not only for Democrats, but for anyone with a little common sense who votes for the person and not the party.
I also got the feeling that Steve Sinton is going to work very hard to get elected and then work just as hard to serve the District (and the country) once in office. We owe him our utmost support.
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A response From Steve's Campaign Headquarters:
To All Supporters of Steve,
Please know that yesterday's event at the AARP Town Hall Meeting was a huge success for him. Is was attended by Steve, Tom Price and John Konop, and approximately 150 6th District Residents.
Many of you were there, and nothing bolsters him like looking into the audience and seeing his friends and supporters. Many, many thanks to each of you!
After the event, he had Senior Ladies asking for his autograph. It was fun to watch! When the event was over, we had multiple people sign up to volunteer! Of course, the primary measure that he did well, every woman there wanted to make certain he had a plate of food to take with him - a true sign of Southern acceptance!
In my personal calculations, Steve won most if not every swing vote in the room. A gentleman wearing a Tom Price badge walked up to Steve after the event and hugged him and wished him well. I would have thought I was seeing things, but Bruce and several other people witnessed it too! It was covered by 920 WGKA radio. Once the podcast is complete, we will send it out to each of you.
Below are three different e-mails we received from people who were in attendance. I ask that each of you do what you can to get these in the blogs, out to your fellow dems, and in the hands of as many people as possible. Let's please take advantage of getting out the message!
Also - Tom, Bruce, Thomas, Sander, RuthE, Melanie, Vince, Judy, and everyone else that was there, please help us get the word out to your groups!
Each of you make this endeavor worth the hard work Steve is putting into winning this election so he can take your voice to Washington and make certain it is heard. I believe his conviction, passion and desire to be your advocate was apparent yesterday. He is running for all of you. It shows. He really cares.
Many thanks to each of you. You are indeed the best!
Angela
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And reactions from the crowd:
OH MY WORD --- IT WAS GRAND. IT WAS A SEMINAL EVENT -- IT WAS AMAZING. THE MOMENT STEVE TOOK THE MIKE IN HAND AND WALKED AROUND TO WORK THE ROOM, HE HAD IT. PRICE KNEW HE WAS RUNNING FROM BEHIND AND SO DID KONOP. ALL THEY COULD DO WAS FOLLOW STEVE OUT THERE AND IT WAS OBVIOUS NEITHER OF THEM WAS NEARLY AS COMFORTABLE OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM. THE ROOM KNEW IT, TOO. THEN, OH GOODY, PRICE STUCK HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH BY TELLING THESE VERY TRADITIONAL AMERICANS THAT "ONE MAN" CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD -- DUG HIS HOLE DEEPER BY ASSERTING THAT ANY ONE WHO THOUGHT ONE PERSON COULD AFFECT CHANGE WAS CRAZY. THE ROOM TENSED UP AND THEN STEVE GOT UP AND SAID ONE MAN COULD CHANGE THINGS AND HE WAS THE MAN, IT WAS WONDERFUL AND THEN HE USED IT AGAIN IN HIS CLOSING LIKE A MANTRA AND EVERY PHRASE SOUNDED LIKE A COFFIN NAIL. STEVE DID NOT CONCEDE A SINGLE POINT AND WHEN THE AUDIENCE BOOED PRICE I THOUGHT I HAD DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN.
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HE MADE US PROUD!
To whom and what do I refer? The what is The Debate or Town Hall Meeting today sponsored by the AARP in NE Cobb. The who is our Democratic candidate STEVE SINTON! Jerry Hulshult, Vince Exeley and myself were among a room of what at a glance seemed to be a lot of well-off elderly people from NE East Cobb County known as a well-to-do suburb for sure. Even the Senior Center is a lovely facility that was obviously built from lots of money. So I didn't expect much support for Steve when he spoke. There were many Tom Price supporters there and some for John Konop as well. But folks, when Steve spoke with such a friendly and kindly yet clear and booming voice making point after point that resonated with the audience, the applause was overwhelmingly Democratic and against Tom Price! There were probably about 80 people there altho I am not good at estimates, I started counting and stopped at 54 and many others filled the seats as it went along.
Let me share with you the best moment for me - Steve answered a question from the audience stating the thing to do to make changes was to send HIM to Congress. He said he wants to be the man of the people to stand up to get things changed.
Then Tom Price stood to say, "That isn't how Washington works. One man cannot change it, you need coalitions and blah blah blah."
Then a couple of other questions and Steve's turn and he said, "I so disagree with Mr. Price that one man can't make a difference. He needs to see "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and they are running it on cable all the time. One man can most assuredly make a difference if he has the guts, willingness and determination."
Well, the substance thereof anyway. It was a great thing to say.
Tom Price did not come off well to his own supporters. John Konop blasted him on his record and his support of legislation that has gotten us into this mess. All Price did was comment that he didn't see how it did any good to point fingers and blame people for the past.
You guys, STEVE SINTON is a great candidate for us. I never want to hear that Cherokee County didn't support a Democrat candidate said again. We need people to run so desperately to give choice and alternatives to Republicans, we MUST support these courageous men and women that are running with a D next to their name.
I hope you won't miss other debates or Town Hall meetings or Candidate Forums, because if you haven't seen STEVE SINTON in action yet, you are missing out.
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I second your summary at the Town Hall Meeting sponsored by the AARP. Steve was easily the most articulate and broad-based respondent. His command of the issues is obviously impressive. He certainly has the quality to become an outstanding congressman and spokesman for the Democratic philosophy of government-fiscal prudence and social balance(fairness).