For those of you who don't know me, I am the Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado's Congressional District 6. I am running against Tom Tancredo. I recently finished reading "Crashing the Gates" and met Markos when he was here in Denver recently. His book inspired me not only to new thoughts but to real action. Last week I fired my high priced campaign consultant and moved in a bold new direction in my campaign, and the results have been amazing and electric. We are going to win a new way, Markos' way, and prove the value of the netroots.
But that is not the point of my post today. Today I want to open a discussion about how and where we fight as progressives.
The so called experts say I can't win. They say my district is too solidly republican and Tancredo will always win anyway. They say don't give money to a candidate in my district or in other districts like mine. They say only support candidates in districts we know we can win. I say that's a coward's philosophy! I say that's a loser's philosophy!
(Incidentally, if you are looking for someone to be more, um, diplomatic, or perhaps more politically correct, I'm not your guy--if you want to know what a candidate really thinks, them I'm the one)
Did you know that most of the Fighting Dems this year are in districts just like mine, supposedly unwinnable? So do we just abandon all these brave men and women who served their country for so long, and now want to serve it again?
I say we fight everywhere. I say we heed the words of Winston Churchill and defend every village, every town, and every city! I say we fight them on the beaches and in the landing grounds, and in the streets, and in the hills, and I say we never surrender.
And do you know why? Because we are right! And because most Americans agree with the things we believe in! And because America needs us to show courage and leadership and fight to get our Country back.
In the spirit Howard Dean and "Crashing the Gates" I've got a few questions of my own:
I want to know why the Democratic Party won't stand up against a war that is killing our young people, that is NOT making us safer, and that is opposed by over 60% of all Americans!
I want to know why we won't stand up against continued tax cuts to the super rich that are bankrupting America and creating the largest deficits in history.
I want to know when it became unpatriotic to serve your Country and okay to attack a veteran because of their service.
I want to know why we won't stand up and demand that America join every other industrialized nation on the face of the Earth in having health insurance for every man, woman, and child in this Country!
I want to know why we killed the idea of State's rights and local control and allowed a law like No Child Left Behind to rip control of our schools away from local school boards and give it up to bureaucrats in Washington.
I want to know why, in 2006, women are still second class citizens, still don't earn the same pay for a day's work that a man does, still don't occupy the seats of power that men do, and why we are still talking about who should control a woman's own body, when the answer is perfectly clear that every woman should have the absolute right to make her own choices about her own body!
I want to know why, in 2006, an African-American child, or a Hispanic child, or a poor child, or any other child that isn't white and middle class, still doesn't have access to the American Dream!
I want to know why, in 2006, when I turn on CSPAN, everyone in Congress and the White House looks just like me, and not like the rich diversity I see on the streets of America every day.
And I want to know why, in 2006, it's become okay to openly discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans, good people who work hard and pay their taxes and only want the same freedoms the rest of us take for granted!
Winston Churchill also said "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." I believe that is the true meaning of this election!
And I say we CAN win my district and send Tom Tancredo into retirement and I've got the poll results in CD6 to prove it! I say we CAN end the culture of corruption in Washington and hold this White House accountable.
And you know what? I don't care if you support me or not. I don't care if you give me a single dime. I'm not here today to ask for your money. I'm here today to implore you to fight the good fight and fight it everywhere. I'm here today to ask you not to give up on those of us who don't live in "safe" Democratic districts. I'm here today to inspire you to stand and deliver in every damn district there is, because it's ALL our Country, and it ALL matters!
So go support whoever you want. I won't even link to my website. You all know good candidates out there. Personally I love Angie Paccione (http://www.angie2006.com/...), who is running against Marilyn Musgrave, and Morgan Carroll (http://www.carrollcampaign.com/), who is in the Colorado State Legislature and who I believe will one day be the first female Governor of Colorado.
But support who you want, but don't feed me the coward's line anymore about not fighting in every district. I don't want a seat at that table! I want to be with the ones who charge in where even angels fear to tread!
Sincerely,
Bill G. Winter