How would your name like to be on the wall of Al Franken's office?
In recognition of your support, we're going to have a wall in our new headquarters devoted to listing the names of people who chipped in to help us open the doors. We're going to call it the "Wall Of People Who Gave Money To Help Us Open This Office." (The consultants wanted to go with "Al's Pals" or the "Wall of Heroes," but I like my idea better.)
If you can help, even with just a few dollars, we'll add your name to the "Wall Of People Who Gave Money To Help Us Open This Office." It's a powerful statement about our people-powered campaign. And every day, when our staff, interns, volunteers, and I walk by that wall, we'll be reminded that this campaign belongs to so many people who have helped to build our organization.
That's right, Al Franken's U.S. Senate campaign, after gaining (aside from steam) a slew of endorsements from some of Minnesota's top Democrats and raising over $1.3 million in the second half of the first quarter, is opening an new office and needs your help.
Al is running for Paul Wellstone's seat, held by Norm Coleman, and people are taking this to heart. The campaign email went out about an hour before this diary was posted, and in that timeframe Al has raised $6,718 from 124 donors - that's more than 2 donors and $110 a minute. He's raising this kind of money because he's the real deal and real Minnesotans know it:
Some of Minnesota's top elected officials know it as well:
Rebecca Otto was elected as Minnesota’s 18th State Auditor in 2006. She is a former small business owner, school board member, and state Representative (from the Stillwater area) named "New Legislator of the Year" in 2004 by the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees. A former environmental science teacher whose home is powered by her family’s own wind turbine, she has been called "the greenest politician in Minnesota."
"After having spent the last year with Al on the campaign trail, I know that he will never be afraid to speak his mind or vote his convictions in Washington. Al will always value principle over politics."
Hopefully, you've heard enough to want to build the headquarters and see your name on the wall.
And, if you don't care about being on the wall, you can always try ActBlue ... though I'm sure that anyone with the sense to appreciate the humor in the "Wall Of People Who Gave Money To Help Us Open This Office" will want their name on such a legendary wall (or, removable office supply board with names on it attached to wall so that Al doesn't have a fight with the building manager).
Now, I'm going to address one point of contention really quickly. Some bloggers have said that people without ties to Minnesota should stay out of this primary. I don't think that's the case. I know Al will be a great Senator, not only for Minnesota but for America as well. He will be an energetic spokesperson for the Democratic Party, and a person capable of delivering our message to people who aren't already involved in politics. He will be an invaluable Democrat, willing to tell the truth on the Senate floor.
There were times in the past 7 years when even big, tough, 6'6" guys like me tear up ... and so often it is about how fleeting our freedoms have become. And in spite of all of this, Al stands up for the truth.
Almost everyone in politics - and all of the presidential candidates - have had disingenuous moments during our long, national nightmare. And so has Al, but you gotta love the guy for calling himself out on his own faults. We don't see that enough. I think Al's the kind of guy likely to bring back the openness and truthfulness of the "sunshine" period we had after Watergate. He really gives me hope for the country, and that's why I don't think we can pass up this opportunity.
Oh, and with your help, he's going to beat Norm Coleman and secure our Democratic majority in the Senate. I guess that's important to mention ;-)
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