My name is Barry Welsh. For the past two cycles I have been the Democratic Party nominee for Indiana’s 6th Congressional District in opposition to Mike Pence.
I am once again on the ballot for the May 4th Indiana primary and for two reasons.
First, I was told a few days before it happened, that Evan Bayh was going to retire and that Mike was the chosen one from the Republican party to replace him which would leave the seat open and possibly give me a legit chance of winning, and second because the only other person that filed for the party nomination had run as a Republican in 2006 and a Libertarian in 2008 so he might as well be a tea bagger. I am NOT asking you for donations. I am not actively campaigning for the nomination here or in my district. I was going to be totally quiet and just give the voters a choice. I had considered withdrawing even if I won the primary with no activity. I was going to be silent through the process but after all that has happened to my fellow Democrats and in some cases, my friends in Congress, I cannot be silent.
Again, I am not asking for money. I am not asking for you to recommend this up. I am not on ActBlue this primary. I don’t have a website. I don’t have any delusions of winning. But God as my witness, I am now going to fight. The terrorism, and that is what it is, that is going on against Democratic members of Congress is beyond outrageous. It is beyond comprehension. It is beyond American, and that is the saddest thing to me. I cannot sleep. It is 1:40am my time as I write this, and I have tried to sleep but something calls me to action, even if it is just to voice this on this, my favorite site. I am going to send the following in fax format at 8:00am to Mike’s DC Office, followed by a phone call, and then I am going to release it to what ever media will accept it.
Congressman Pence, I have been your opponent for two cycles. I have treated you with the respect the office deserves and I like You as a person as you know. I poked fun at you for saying "Iraq is Like an Indiana Farmers Market in the summertime" while you wereWearing a flack jacket and helmet. Two things you don’t see people Wearing at Indiana Farmers Markets. But other than that, I have been Respectful and honorable in our political races. What your party and the extreme members of your party have and are currently perpetrating on your fellow Members of Congress is frightening. I call upon you to show True leadership and honestly speak out against the violence and stupidity that is being displayed. apologize for your parties behavior. I know you. I know you really don’t despise the senior citizens having the prescription doughnut hole closed. I know you don’t Begrudge people having access to healthcare regardless of pre-existing conditions. I know you don’t want infants and children to die because they can’t get health coverage, and if I am wrong, then shame on you. So I call upon you to stop carrying the mantel of a party, and start truly representing the people of your district. Be a leader. Be a man. Be a true Christian and do what is right. Come forward and put Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and your minority leader in their places, and if you do, you will earn my respect because you have lost it. As long as you are silent, I cannot be. Do what is right Mike, it is time, because otherwise someone is going to get hurt or killed, and then that will be on your head.
I have little doubt that my words will make a difference to Congressman Pence or anyone else, but at least maybe now I can sleep for a few hours, because I can be silent no more.
Peace to those that read this.
Barry Welsh
