I'm heartened by the loud rejection of status-quo politics which Iowans- Democratic, Independent and Republican- registered at their caucuses last night. I'm betting my Senatorial candidacy in NC (and have from the day I entered the race) that the electorate is no longer willing to recycle politicos in and out of office. No longer willing to follow the lead of special interest groups. No longer willing to fall in line with political machines. The gilded revolving door-- open and shut by a political elite fueled by dollars and glib talking points bereft of personal conviction-- is about to be slammed in November. Slammed shut by the only people who matter, the only people who own our democracy and the only people who vote: us.
We're going to take back control of our democracy. It's long-past time we did so. Young voters, who have come of age in a more democratic internet era, are making their own choices and checking into the political process. They voted in Iowa. Seventy percent of Iowa Democrats voted for "change" candidates over the establishment favorite. And-- for the first time ever- a black man has taken center stage and in a state that is 90% white. So much for glass ceilings.
I am running for the US Senate in North Carolina. I'm not a status quo candidate. I'm a fresh face with a different voice. I come from the real world, not the jaded political world which has failed us. And I happen to be gay. People in NC-- contrary to conventional wisdom-- could care less. People in Iowa-- contrary to conventional wisdom-- cared less about Senator Obama's race or Senator Clinton's gender. They voted for change. Republican voters overwhelmingly supported Governor Huckabee and his plain-speak compassion on the volatile issue of immigration reform which ran against the headwinds of his own party's signature wedge issue.
Down here, we're a blue state with two red Senators. North Carolinians are a damned sophisticated lot. We're edgy and we're feeling disenfranchised. And, folks are getting on board of our campaign because they understand the difference between someone who is committed to putting the people first--- and a professional politician who values their own political ambition and special interests loyalties first and foremost.
Democracy is reasserting itself. I'll bet our founding fathers are smiling.
I sure am.
We need your support: every dollar, every vote and every volunteer will make the difference.
thanks,
jim