For the uninitiated, Blogosphere Day commemorates July 19, 2004, when the netroots came together for a day of massive fundraising for Ginny Schrader. The next year, the beneficiary was Paul Hackett. And who can forget last year's effort for Ned Lamont? This year, the organizers decide to recognize the contribution of ActBlue. Bowers explains:
Apart from channeling over $16,000,000 to Democratic candidates in 2006, about five times as much in direct contributions to Democratic candidates in than any other PAC, one of the things I most like about Act Blue is how it started small. Act Blue was not an operation that lined up several large progressive donors before its launch, but rather simply a great idea that a few enterprising, grassroots progressive activists decided to undertake on their own. As a result of their efforts, now anyone can raise money for whatever Democratic candidates they like, now the blogosphere can quantify its direct fundraising contributions to Democratic candidates, and now Democrats have been able to help eliminate their long-standing financial deficit against Republicans.
Supporting ActBlue this year will help build ActBlue to help us elect more Dems next year. But don't just take my word for it. Listen to them:
Harry Reid:
I am immensely proud that 17 of my Senate colleagues have joined me in using ActBlue to build our Democratic majority, and I expect many more to do so this election cycle....
Your investment in ActBlue builds resources for our best candidates, our best activists, and our best ideas -- and your contribution today makes the biggest difference as we pave the road to November 2008.
John Kerry:
The next 18 months will have a major impact on the future of our country and the world. We need to get moving to repair the damage of the Bush Administration, and the need to take action on the climate crisis grows more urgent by the day. I’m really excited about the possibilities we have for bringing about that change – and I’m excited about the partner we have in ActBlue to get it done.
Wes Clark:
Now on the 4th annual Blogosphere Day, it's time to invest in our infrastructure, and that means supporting ActBlue. This isn't just about 2008, 2010, or any specific election. It's about building support for activists, for new ideas, and for candidates from the local to national level. Supporting ActBlue not only strengthens the progressive movement, but it strengthens our democracy.
Dick Durbin
Today, on the 4th annual Blogosphere Day, we celebrate the many important ways that progressive blogs have changed our democracy for the better -- while also making sure we nurture and invest in the blogosphere, making it an even greater force for positive change in the months and years ahead. That's why I hope you'll support ActBlue.
Chris Dodd:
ActBlue has enabled the Democratic grassroots to come together and effectively support Democratic success -- their work deserves wide recognition for its value.
As a candidate who has benefited from ActBlue's work, I'm proud to donate on Blogosphere Day in support of ActBlue's continued efforts to provide tools that enable all Democrats a chance to succeed and help turn America "blue."
Ned Lamont:
With amazing success, ActBlue has grown to become an indispensable resource for new candidates who do not have the advantages of incumbency and institutional fundraising from the traditional powerbrokers, lobbyists, and PACs.... Our campaign would not have been possible without your support last year. And future underdog campaigns will not be possible without the opportunities for engagement that ActBlue provides.
Read many, many more testimonials at ActBlue and if you can, contribute.
If all that isn't inspiring enough, here's our own Tim Tagaris.