I don't know about you, but the campaign being run by Rick Weiland for South Dakota's open U.S. Senate seat is one of the most inspiring I've seen in a long time — not just because Weiland is promising his first act in the Senate will be to introduce a constitutional amendment designed to reign in big money and get it out of our election and political processes, not only because he supports a true progressive agenda, not only because he is running a grass roots, people powered, small donor campaign but also because he seems to be the man of the moment.
Rick Weiland seems to be capturing the spirit and desires of a large portion of the country right now who are fed up with big money, with a Wall St and 1% focused economy and who are ready to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work to make the changes they want to see happen.
And, his campaign is doing this in a most refreshing way. He's doing retail, face-to-face politics the way it is done in South Dakota - comparatively politely and respectfully. What a concept, and just what America could use, don't you think?
And if he doesn't make it to the senate, I'd like to see him enter the 2016 presidential Democratic primary race to get his message, ideas and spirit front and center in the Democratic Party.
I encourage you to visit his Facebook page to get a flavor of the campaign:
Rick Weiland Facebook Page
And here is a debate video that can give you a sense of why campaigning in South Dakota is such a breath of fresh air:
A Polite Political Debate? What a Concept.
Weiland speaks about the voters wanting similar things and being more similar than they are dissimilar - we all have families, we all want the best for them, and we can differ in our opinions on how to best accomplish those things and we can do it respectfully.
I think this is what they call Midwestern nice - the country could use a big dose of Midwestern nice as an anti-dote to Tea Party anger and rage, don't you agree?
The press is highlighting Weiland's similarities with earlier progressives - George McGovern and Teddy Roosevelt:
Weiland finished his speech with a few quotes from the Ken Burns documentary about the Roosevelt dynasty. “Teddy Roosevelt was a populist, an economic populist, and that’s where we connect with Republicans and independents.” Then Weiland grabbed his cutaway Taylor guitar, which had been strategically placed between him and a lyric sheet. Smiling widely, he launched into his version of the old folk song “Big Wheel,” with a setting-appropriate chorus: I can’t run a $9 million campaign but I don’t have EB-5 to explain and heyyyy-ey! No one’s bought me!
Let's keep the momentum going in this race. Let's make this race the focal point of the Democratic party - no just to win a seat and hold on to the Senate. But to show the Democratic Party, this is how we want a campaign to be run. This is the type of campaign we will respond to, donate to, make calls for and knock on doors for. This is the message and these are the policies we want to be at the core of the Democratic Party.
Use the link below to learn more about how Weiland is hoping to win his Senate race, and also to donate to his campaign:
Here's Kos on why this campaign matters
Finally, what's a campaign without a battle hymn, and here's Rick Weiland's:
Heyee, no one owns me!
How does this song figure in Weiland's campaign? He adopted it and added his own lyrics for a campaign song and video ... the song Wagon Wheel, made popular by Old Crow Medicine Show and Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish was a collaboration between Bob Dylan and an old, unfinished song of his and the Old Crow band:
Old Crow Medicine Show Wagon Wheel
Here's Dylan's old unfinished version
Who was one of Dylan's inspirations? Woody Guthrie. Who was Woody Guthrie? The singer/song-writer who sang about the plight of the down and out during the Depression, or in other words, a lot of folks in South Dakota, and the country. And the folks Teddy Roosevelt was trying to protect from big business and a Wall Street run amuck - Roosevelt saw something like the Great Depression on the horizon, but it took the actual depression to get people to understand just how bankrupt the Republican party and its "ideas" truly were - after that, it was Teddy's cousin Franklin who cemented progressive policy, that has up to now, more or less, helped keep big business and big money at bay ... but for how long?
This is why it is important to support Rick Weiland's campaign — because this land is your land and this land is my land - but if we don't fight for it, we're going to lose it:
This Land is Your Land
Or, if you prefer:
Bruce Springsteen's Version of This Land is Your Land
10:24 AM PT: From the comments, more on why Rick Weiland, and his campaign, is so important for the Dem party:
Weiland win more valuable to Progressives than any (1+ / 0-)
other race (especially among those now polling competitively) --over and above highlighting the fact that small contributions go farther in small states)-- because:
1. Weiland’s positions would continue to be more Progressive than positions of most other Democrat Senators;
2. Elizabeth Warren’s early and lonely endorsement of Weiland would look like genius;
3. Harry Reid’s & DSCC’s prolonged hostility to Weiland’s candidacy would be further exposed as arrogant and either selfish or stupid (probably both);
4. Mike Rounds’ loss due to corruption and testimony-stalling would incentivize all officeholders and candidates to reduce these types of destructive actions;
5. The prospects of every underfunded actual and potential Democratic candidate would benefit from a positive feedback loop of more respect from everybody -- including Progressive donors and volunteers;
6. The likely influence on the result by votes from South Dakota’s Native American voters would benefit from a positive feedback loop of more encouragement to everybody (including – most importantly – themselves and Native Americans in other states) to respect their votes.