Al Franken asked me for money today and I said no. I received many calls from his campaign during his first campaign for the Senate and was a big supporter. I read his books and he talked like a progressive. So I donated. And I was happy to do it. Not this time.
When the nice lady said hello, I said "You're calling me to donate, right?" She said yes. I started to say something and she said "Wait a minute, I'm going to the comments page to write this down." I said "Recently when Edward Snowden revealed what the NSA is doing, Al Franken said that the NSA isn't spying on Americans and that the programs were good and kept us safe. That's not true and until Al Franken corrects that statement, he's not getting a dime from me". Her response? "I appreciate your honesty. Some people just don't care." My response? "He should care". She thanked me and hung up.
This is the first of many conversations I will be having in the months before the 2014 elections with every Democratic candidate who calls me, emails me or sends me a letter asking for money. How do they feel about what the NSA is doing? What is their position on this Administration's war on whistleblowers? Will they vote in favor of legislation to declassify the FISA court opinions? The answers they give me and their track record on these issues will determine who I donate to. Senators Wyden, Merkeley and Udall are at the top of my support list. I know where they stand. The rest of them? It's time to step up.