Crossposted from MichiganLiberal.com
Dear Friends,
Today, I am proud to announce that our campaign has just received the endorsement of General Wesley Clark.
Gary Peters is a uniquely qualified leader with the experience, character, and judgment that we need in Washington right now. From the Navy Reserve to the state Senate, Gary Peters has made a career out of taking action to solve problems, and that's what he'll do as the Congressman from the 9th District.
I don't need to tell this community that General Clark knows what grassroots and netroots campaigning is all about. The Draft Wes Clark movement in 2003 made history, and since then, General Clark and WesPAC have been working nonstop to support other Democrats who believe that we need to act now to bring our troops home from Iraq, strengthen our national security, and provide the best possible care for our veterans.
I'm honored to have General Clark's support in this race, and I'm looking forward to working with him after I get to Washington.
This weekend, our campaign also received the formal endorsement of Blue America PAC. For two hours on Saturday afternoon, I joined the community on Firedoglake for a live chat about everything from the FISA vote in the House to how we're going to create jobs here in Michigan.
The timing of these two endorsements - from the online grassroots and from one of our nation's most respected military leaders - could not be more appropriate. On Wednesday, President Bush will be here in Southeast Michgian to raise money for the State GOP. The event is just a few miles outside the 9th District, and Congressman Knollenberg's name isn't being used, but there's no question why the President is coming here at this particular juncture.
Over the past eight years, Congressman Knollenberg has been one of President Bush's most loyal supporters in the House - voting with him over 90% of the time - on everything from health care, to jobs, to the war in Iraq.
And for every one of those past eight years, Michigan has lost jobs. That's the kind of record that's hard to run away from - and in a year when voters are looking for change, it's going to take a lot of money to defend incumbents who are still calling for more of the same.
The other reason why President Bush is coming here on Wednesday is because of you. Your support, and the support we've gotten from across the netroots community, has shown Congressman Knollenberg and the Republican party that they can't take this district for granted anymore.
Michigan's 9th District used to be considered a safe Republican seat - and then the Cook Political Report moved us from "Likely Republican to "Lean Republican," the Lansing State Journal rated this district a "tossup," and Congressional Quarterly put us on their list of the top-ten best-funded challengers in the entire country.
That happened because of you, and with the end of the fundraising quarter approaching on June 30th, we have the chance to do it again.
If you want to show Congressman Knollenberg and President Bush that they can't spend eight years undermining our economy and then expect to buy their way out at the last minute - please click here to support our campaign on ActBlue.
Thank you again for your support,
Gary Peters