(pico is unable to post here today, so he emailed it in from his undisclosed location. The content is his; any typos or other defects are undoubtedly mine. --melvin)
Jerry Northington, aka dkos user possum, is running for public office and needs our support. Currently his district of Delaware is represented by pro-war Republican Mike Castle.
Who is Jerry Northington? In his own words:
I am a husband, father, stepfather, worker, consumer, gardener, Vietnam veteran, war protester, and so much more.
This "war protester" part has been an especially strong thread in Jerry's career, and makes up the central plank of his proposed platform.
With the tide of popular opinion turning against the war, it's easy for political candidates to pay lip service to notions of withdrawal and diplomatic solutions. Is Jerry one of those candidates? I'll let you decide - here's what he wrote in April of last year:
The actual number is higher in total days, but our local peace group has now stood vigil on more than 200 Friday nights. And we won't even count the Saturday mornings and other special days when we marched or stood vigil against the war in Iraq. The first of the Friday night vigils started even before the actual invasion. With a single exception for dangerous travel conditions, the group has been in place every Friday night since the inception.
In fact, it was at a war protest that I first met Jerry in person: a jovial, intelligent man whose stance on the war is informed by his own distinguished service in Vietnam. Though he had made protests in Delaware a regular part of his activism, he drove down to D.C. to lend his voice to the thousands who marched on the Capitol to demand an end to this sham of a war.
Though Jerry has worked as a passionate advocate against the war in Iraq, he is no single-issue candidate. At dkos alone you can browse through his discussions of energy policy, women's reproductive rights, homelessness, and torture, and you'll find him to be a well-informed candidate with thoughtful approaches to the issues most important to the progressive platform.
He isn't afraid to tackle discussions about morality and legality at their most basic level.
In the course of this blogathon, other diarists who can speak with more expertise on these individual issues will write on Jerry's behalf. My gig is literature, and while that's not the most politically pressing area, Jerry's history of diarying here provides us with a lot of insight about the kind of Congressman he will make:
What kind of writer is Jerry Northington? For one, he is a consummate storyteller, and if you haven't read his Down Home series, you're missing out on one of the most enjoyable reading experiences at dailykos. Jerry takes you into his childhood and spins tales that involve the pleasures of simple living and the joys of family and food. Sometimes the memories are not so bright, since the history of America is intertwined with the history of segregation and human rights abuses.
Even less bright are his memories of Vietnam. At first he shared these recollections with some trepidation (understandably so), but he eventually developed them into a second series, In Country. These are unglamorous, detailed accounts of daily life among the ragtag group of soldiers that made up his company. They are also, in my opinion, required reading.
This diversity of content is well and good, but most importantly Jerry understands the power of language to influence and affect our world: many of his diaries begin by introducing a widely understood term (like "justice" or "freedom"), then going to the dictionary to get closer to its basic meaning. When we're faced with an administration that has corrupted language to the point that would make a Carroll or an Orwell turn in his grave, this return to the basics is like a splash of cold water. If we want to discuss justice, let's first remind ourselves what justice really means. If we want to discuss freedom, let's first remind ourselves what freedom really means. It's a refreshing return to maturity in the face of nearly 8 years of Executive (and, let's face it, Congressional) verbal contortionism.
If this kind of approach is appealing to you, if you believe in the mission of the site to elect more and better Democrats, if you want someone who can advocate for you in Congress on issues that are key to a progressive agenda, then I encourage you to read more about Jerry's run at his website. And then, if you are so moved, please consider donating to or even volunteering with Jerry's campaign.
For 4 evenings, we're raising money on DailyKos for Jerry Northington, or possum, who is running in Delaware. possum's primary is this September. possum is a Vietnam Vet and veterinarian who will provide our caucus with a much better Democrat!
Please ogle the merchandise at Seneca Doane's DE-AL: Possum photo auction rebooted; need your help! and bid at NION: Jerry "Possum" Northington PHOTO AUCTION FUNDRAISER PAGE!
I'm sorry I couldn't be here for the blogathon, but many thanks to melvin for posting this on my behalf. And Kossacks, please support Jerry Northington in his bid for Congress - he's a quality candidate with a history of activism and a passion for justice. --pico