Angie Paccione considering a run against Marilyn Musgrave...

[RobertDevereaux]

As you may know, Marilyn Musgrave is the right-wing extremist who first proposed the anti-gay Family Marriage Amendment to the US Constitution. We Coloradans almost defeated her in 2004, but almost ain't good enough, and Musgrave continues to pander to the bigotry of her base and disgrace the rest of us.

Now, with Angie Paccione, we have a much better chance of unseating the odious Ms. Musgrave in 2006. Angie is wonderful. I've met her several times at breakfast forums. She's our State Rep, and even when the Repukes held the majority, she managed to have six bills passed. Now that the Dems control the legislature, she's a fast-rising star. Her views are refreshingly progressive, despite being a born-again Christian (don't ask me how that works, but it does!). She's pro-choice, gay-friendly, and her heart is in the right place on all the issues we hold dear.

At this stage, Angie has just announced an exploratory committee, as stated below, and is asking for funds. It would be great if DUers from all over the country showed the strength of our resolve to toss the bigoted Musgrave out of Congress and replace her with a true representative of all the people.

Here's yesterday's announcement from the Larimer County Dems' newsletter:

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1. Angie Paccione files Exploratory Committee

From Angie Paccione:

It is official. I have filed an exploratory committee to "test the waters" for a potential candidacy in the 4th Congressional District.

The purpose of the exploratory committee is to fund polling and research in the 4th to determine if Musgrave is beatable, how she can be beaten, and if I am the best candidate for the job. I will need to raise a lot of early "seed money" to fund these projects and short term volunteers as well. I believe that whoever ultimately is the Democratic candidate must begin a campaign right away... this committee will let me make an early decision to run or, if the research indicates, to allow someone else to run.

Please send contributions (large or small! max $2000) to:

Angie Paccione Congressional Exploratory Committee
P.O. Box 1292
Fort Collins, CO 80522
or call my home number... 970-495-0407
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As this is still exploratory, there is no website set up for contributions, alas, but anything you can send the old-fashioned way would mean much indeed!

Angie's website is www.angiepaccione.com

Thanks,
Robert

[janx]

1. Thanks for posting this!

I'm south of you but will try and keep up with what's happening.

[nevergiveup]

2. Thanks so much for this info......

I watched Musgrave on Larry King some time ago and she was so arrogant and hateful. If Paccione decides to take on this evil witch I will be supportive.

[Joebert]

3. Woohoo!

I'm in Loveland, so we have it twice as bad. Musgrave AND Welker.

From what I've read, she's pretty fantastic.

I will say that she never responded to an email inquiry I made, but other than that, I'm happy to see somebody who might go for it.

[KarenS]

4. Kick !! AND Yeah !!

ol Marilyn has to go this time!!!

I don't know anything about Angie Paccione, but I'll be doing some reading :)

[election_2004]

5. What's her platform on LGBT issues?

I know that in a conservative district like Musgrave's, it wouldn't be safe for her to outright support same-sex marriage.

But does she have a position on civil unions for same-sex couples?

[TaleWgnDg]

7. Paccione's stance on same-sex marriage appears to be favorable

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Paccione's stance on same-sex marriage appears to be favorable . . .

1.) google search words: Paccione "Human Rights Campaign"

a.) http://www.rmpn.org/weblog/archives3/issues/GLBT%20Issues/ (as retrieved on Jun 2, 2005 11:43:24 GMT)

b.) (This is not a quote from Paccione but is this blog saying what Paccione said (without quoting Paccione), "Rep. Paccione is half-black, and reminded lawmakers that interracial marriage used to be illegal. She said denying gay people the right to marry is no different.")
http://billandkent.com/blog/archives/cat_gay_marriage.htm

2.) google search words: Paccione "gay marriage" OR "same sex marriage"

a.) http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/04/040205coloBan.htm

b.) "Denver, CO: State Representative Angie Paccione (D-Fort Collins) released the following statement today concerning Rep. Lundberg’s gay marriage resolution. Rep. Paccione is an Evangelical Christian and has traveled the world doing ministry.

" 'When we talk about marriage, there is both a civil issue and a sacred issue. The state has purview over the civil side - the state should not tell the church when and who to confer with the sacrament of marriage. At the same time, the church should not tell the state how to confer the civil rights of marriage.

" 'There was a time in this country when states decided that interracial marriage was not allowed. I’m a product of an interracial union. The state and US Constitution is about protecting individual rights, not about preventing 'certain' people from having access to rights. It is not acceptable to prevent legal citizens from access to the rights of all citizens.' "
http://coloradohousedems.com/content/view/127/43/



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edited to add: map of Fourth Congressional District of Colorado


Fourth (U.S.) Congressional District of Colorado


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[TaleWgnDg]

6. U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave is an extremist! . . .

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U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R, CO) is an off-the-wall extremist! A self-centered, hateful, self-righteous nuteroo! Colorado get RID of radical Musgrave! Get rid of Musgrave and her religion-into-law/politics bullsh*t.

FYI, who may be running AGAINST Musgrave?

(Democrat) Angie Paccione, Colorado State Representative, District 53, may be running against Musgrave for Musgrave's U.S. Representative seat. This seat is U.S. Congressional District # 4 (Colorado).


Angie Paccione www.angiepaccione.com (exploratory website)

Also, here's smart-vote.org on Angie Paccione (Democrat, CO): (1) Paccione's interest group rating: http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=MCO16449 . . . and . . . (2) Paccione's bio: http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=MCO16449

[Joebert]

8. 518 days until Election 2006

I sure hope she's on the ballot for it.

If she decides to do it, she's got a donation, and I'll volunteer as well.

[TaleWgnDg]

9. Welcome to DU, Joebert!!

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:hi:

BTW, I am from Massachusetts and I just heard about her too. I wish her well, as well as I hope she can stick to her convictions that she has, so far, verbalized. Indeed.
http://coloradohousedems.com/content/view/127/43

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[Ian David]

10. I'll see if I can donate some money. Don't tell Mrs. Iandb1. n/t

[Writer]

11. I've met Angie Paccione, and I didn't really like her.

She didn't even bother introducing herself, although I was volunteering at a Democratic booth. She just nonchalantly tossed some literature on the table and took off, saying here are some of my cards. I only later pieced together that it was Angie. Didn't even stop to talk. She seemed so unprofessional.

She doesn't have the "image" that Coloradoans dig - a waspy, maternal figure with proper Christian pretense (i.e., the 700 Club make-up and hair.) Yes, it sucks to focus on this, but the right image makes a good candidate.

Musgrave is a disgusting politician. I have been push-polled by her campaign on taxation. She's a political image with no substance, almost as bad as Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I would love to see her gone, but I don't think Angie has what it takes.

To oust Musgrave, CO Dems need to run a conservative Dem such as Salazar.

Writer.