Here's one reason why this district needs a new Congressman.
My current one cost me $2,255.
That's how much more money I owe because Joe (the) Pitts (R-16) sided with Bush and increased the fixed interest rates for student loans.
With friends like these...
More atrocities - and a happy solution - below the fold...
Back in the Dark Ages of triangular GOP rule, Congress decided it would be a great idea to reduce the deficit by screwing college students and bulldozing middle class in the process.
With the swipe of Bushie's pen, (aided by Pitts's approval, of course) every student with loans instantaneously owed more to the needy lenders on Wall Street.
Fast forward a year. Democrats take control of Congress and voilà!- the College Cost Reduction and Access of 2007 saves the day, cutting interest rates in half. It came too late for me, but at least future students were spared from loan hellfire.
But you'll never guess who voted AGAINST the bill.
Yes, Pitts sided with the loan companies to place a heavier financial burden on middle class students.
And it doesn't stop there. The Santorum of the Congress* also voted against silly things like:
*Banning torture! (So did McCain!)
*S-CHIP!
*Medicaid benefits! - Good thing this district doesn't have poor or elderly people - oh wait - we do!
*FAIR FREAKING PAY - That's why he's such a hit with the ladies!
*Banning Illegal Wiretapping - I miss those collect calls from al Qaeda :(
*Emergency Unemployment Insurance
*Mental health parity
*Consumer protections from credit card companies & oil companies
Like every obedient Republican, he pals around with Sarah Palin and fears the devilish works of Satan ACORN. He accused them of encouraging predatory lending. (Don't laugh too loud; you'll wake the neighbors!)
He's not all bad, though. Pitts voted against the bailout, decrying it as socialism. It's a good thing he also opposed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which created this mess in the first place.
Oh wait - he didn't! Whoops!
If you are like me, you are probably ill with outrage over Pitts. We don't call him the Santorum of Congress for nothing. He's the assisant minority whip (aka Roy Blunt's partner in crime) in the House. The GOP just loves his "pro-life" stances. He thinks this district is one big happy Republican family and wants to keep it that way.
But there is a cure for that sick feeling your stomach! His name is Bruce A. Slater! He's a progressive Democrat who's determined to fight for We the People instead of We the Greedy:
I am positive I can bring to Congress the self-reliant, success-oriented work ethic that mirrors the goals of my friends and neighbors of the 16th Congressional District. For too long, our district has been represented by a career politician out-of-touch with his constituents. I am eager to return to the service of my country and to help solve the great challenges we face in the years ahead.
While working the phones to invite people to one of Bruce's fundraisers, an ordinary-looking man in plain clothes rushed into the room. He greeted me thoughtfully, shook my hand, thanked me for my work, then hurried into another room in our campaign headquarters.
I looked at the picture in Bruce Slater's display....he looked awfully similar to the man who was just here...
I had just met the candidate without even realizing it. He's just that humble.
Bruce isn't a typical politician. He's just an average Joe guy that wants to represent the will of the people.
Unlike the Kentucky-born Pitts, he was raised in this district and understands that three-word solutions (Drill, baby, drill, anyone?) will not solve any of our problems. Slater, a contractor who specializes in restoration, has those dyed-in-the-wool progressive credentials held by every good Democrat. He opposes the Iraq War and warrantless wiretapping. He's pro-union and endorsed by NOW. In fact, his platform can be succinctly summmarized by these two points:
- End the War in Iraq
- Spend all that money HERE
Afew weeks ago, Kos created a new goal for liberals. It's not enough to win this year: we need to crush the conservative spirit. In these parts, that means rewarding Republithugs like Pitts with an early retirement.
Now, you won't see Pitts on the TeeVee or hear about this campaign from the MSM. He's a quiet little bugger, and the district is rated "Safe Republican." But make no mistake about it - we're snidely slipping away from his slithery hold.
Exhibit A!
Turnout for Political Events in Lancaster
Candidate | Expected | Actual |
---|
Obama | 5,000 | 15,000 |
Palin | 10,000 | 8,000 |
Palin has strong support amongst local Democrats
In a county that went for Bush 66-34, Senator Obama overflowed a park, but Palin couldn't even fill our minor league baseball stadium?
Internal polling done by a state senate campaign (whose district includes some of the reddest parts of the 16th) shows Obama and McCain within the margin of error. Is this crazytalk? We are either witnessing the apocalypse - or, slightly more likely - the progressive liberal movement taking root in deep red soil.
Here is the part where I ask for money & volunteers
Bruce, like Barack, believes in people-powered campaigns. He doesn't accept money from PACs or lobbyists.
Pitts got $68,000 from PACs.
In the last fundraising quarter alone (Q3).
Conoco Phillips, Verizon, eBay, Eli Lilly, ExxonMobil, NRA - all of them have generously filled Pitts's royal coffers. Pitts has already raised over one million dollars for this campaign just from PACs alone, not including individual donors.
Needless to say, Bruce would appreciate it enormously if you could drop a few coins in his kitty.
And if you needed more motivation, Pitts blew off a woman who wanted funding for bone marrow failure disease, an illness that afflicts her and killed her husband.
What you can do!
- Contribute :-)
- If you reside in or near Pennsylvania's 16th District, BECOME A VOLUNTEER. We don't want you - we NEED you to make persuasion calls, write letters to the editor, and work the polls on Election Day. If you don't have time to volunteer, try to find time! It's critical for Obama to have progressive support in Congress.
- Stop by our office in Lancaster to pick up a yard sign (FREE!) While you're there, feel free to purchase that "Alaska/Russia" pin as well.
- Tell your friends about Slater and encourage them to support ALL the Dems on the ballot.
- VOTE for Slater on Election Day!
*The Santorum of Congress has not provided any man-on-dog quotes yet, sorry