In the Batman comics, Mayor Gordon would shine a special spotlight onto the clouds above Gotham City when he needed Batman's help.
I had a frisson of that feeling when I received an email from Howie, John, Digby and Jane that started out,
Dear friend,
You're on an email list.
It's an email list that's never been used before, never even been looked at before.
It's the list generated by Act Blue of all the generous women and men who have contributed to Blue America candidates over the past 2 years.
Your donation might have helped elect freshmen Mike Arcuri (NY), Bruce Braley (IA), Ben Cardin (MD), John Hall (NY), Paul Hodes (NH), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Joe Sestak (PA), Jon Tester (MT), or several others we helped put over the line.
Anyway, we never approached this list before because we've felt that it should only be used in the most extreme of circumstances.
If you've been reading Crooks & Liars, Firedoglake, Digby or DownWithTyranny in the last week, you know that we're attempting to match the insider and lobbyist contributions Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer are collecting for corrupt, reactionary Democrat Al Wynn-- $100,000-- with a drive for Donna Edwards.
Along with our allies at other blogs and the Color of Change, we've brought in $80,000. We want to ask you for the remaining $20,000. Not just you personally, because the $5 and $10, and $25 contributions add up very fast.
Will you consider going to the mat again -- this time for Donna Edwards?
Thank you for everything,
Jane, Howie, John and Digby
My response to the Batsignal was to give, generously, as if our freedom and country depends on it. We all need to pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor, just as our founding fathers did, to assure that freedom will not vanish from this country.