Our Primary is just 5 days away
Just Four months ago our district was a Lock for the Republicans. Vito Fossella, Bush clone, was preparing from a position of strength and money. No Democrat in elected office thought they could win or wanted to challenge the seat. We had a good progressive Democrat running, Steve Harrison, an original signer of the Responsible Plan for Iraq who had run a good, close race in 2006.
Then Vito Fossella imploded.
When arrested DWI in Virginia his alibi exposed his secret mistress and out of wedlock child. So Vito isn't running.
An amazing timidity caused all (R) office holders to refuse the opportunity to contest NY-13. Finally Frank Powers, a wealthy man who would self finance his campaign was chosen. Three weeks later he died.
Progressive Democrat, last Republican seat in New York City, ready to fall in the Obama Tidal Wave. Sounds great! Except..
Except for the machine.
They had other ideas.
Seems that there are a lot of people in Staten Island and Brooklyn who have NO Interest in a Progressive, Independent, Grass-Roots Democrat. Seems he might upset the apple cart.
So how do they stop Steve. The machine sets up a candidate, springs a surprise Borough meeting, schedules a vote before hearing from the candidates, allows a show of hands vote and "arranges" PAC money to flow to him. All to ensure a "go along get along" replacement for Congress who won't ruffle any feathers.
So here I am taking a break from phone banking for Harrison, and distributing literature for Harrison, trying to drum up some support for a real progressive. We have a primary on Tuesday September 9th. I know there are LOTS of phone calls yet to be made. The campaign has a phone from home setup and/or could use a few bucks.
Steve Harrison for Congress
The Republicans are giving this seat to us and the Permanent Government Machine is trying to elect the closest thing it has to a Republican and still call it a Dem win.
We Coulda had a Progressive, maybe we still can -- 4days left.