Disclosure: I work for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Hello, Daily Kos. It's wonderful to be back. I've been mostly away from the site as a user for some time, because I didn't want to abuse my old status as an editor to promote my position at the DSCC, but I've decided to write my first diary since I left the site today, for a cause that is of great personal importance to me.
Martha Coakley is running in a special election to replace - and protect the legacy of - Ted Kennedy in the Senate. While this is Massachusetts, this is shaping up to be a tight race- polls are showing us leading by a razor-thin two-point margin. This election will have national implications on health care and many other issues we care about, and the Republicans are focusing all of their efforts on this race.
This morning, the late Senator Kennedy's wife, Vicki Kennedy, sent a letter to Martha Coakley supporters urging them to contribute to the campaign. I am asking that each of you help us spread Vicki's message with the "Do It for Ted" campaign.
I've included the content of the email below the fold. On a personal note, I am a Massachusetts native, and Ted Kennedy was (and is) one of my political heroes. I cannot overstate the importance of this race in preserving his legacy as a progressive champion, nor the importance of acting now.
Senator Kennedy spent his life as a champion of the disadvantaged - it was largely through his efforts that major immigration reform was passed in the 1960s, and enabled my parents to make their lives in America in the first place. Please honor his legacy by helping elect Martha Coakley to the United States Senate.
From: Vicki Kennedy <office@marthacoakley.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Subject: A Message from Victoria Reggie Kennedy
To:
Dear Friend,
Throughout my husband Ted’s life, you were always there for him, for me and for the entire Kennedy family. We are tremendously grateful for your friendship and support in the past, and we ask you to stand with us now to support Martha Coakley in the crucial race to fill Ted’s remaining term.
This Tuesday, January 19 everything is on the line. The people of Massachusetts will decide who will be their next Senator, and we need Martha Coakley.
The importance of having a voice and a vote that you can count on in Washington has never been more evident than during this ongoing health care debate. And we’re going to need every vote again.
Ted fought for national health care reform for 40 years. He believed that every American deserved their chance at the American dream, but that as long as an illness or preexisting condition could bankrupt an American family, that great goal could never become a reality. We need Martha Coakley to continue our shared fight for national health reform, to reduce costs for businesses and families and increase coverage in Massachusetts and throughout this country. This race will be very close and we need you to get us to victory.
We have just 6 days to do the hard work of electing Martha Coakley so that we can continue the agenda that Ted made the fight of his life – reforming health care, ensuring equality and justice for all, protecting our seniors, and rebuilding our economy to allow everyone to prosper. That fight for working families cannot stop – not now, not when so much is at stake for Massachusetts and America. And that’s why I’m asking you to ensure that we are victorious this Tuesday.
Stand with me and support Martha Coakley by making a contribution of $35, $50, or whatever you can do today. My husband fought all his life to keep moving this nation forward -- now we must make it the fight of ours.
We need to do everything it takes to ensure our shared fight continues. I am asking you personally to do one more thing for Martha Coakley. We cannot do this without you.
With gratitude,
Victoria Reggie Kennedy
P.S. I know together we can keep fighting for our shared vision of the future. Please go online today to www.marthacoakley.com to make a difference.
Vicki Kennedy