Upstate Fundraising NY-29

[PATRICK]

(I cut and pasted a letter that sums up the call to action for all on DU who want a better Congress. Upstate NY is again throwing strong progressive candidates into gerrymandered territory and this time we will win. It takes ungodly money to stop the refocusing of the GOP back to their now en threatened "safe" troll districts. That money should not and will not come from those usual suspects who will merely buy RINO's and the only alternative is us. Give to Obama and all your local races before the deadline tonight!!!!)

Eric Massa's e-mail:

You no doubt receive dozens of fundraising emails. I know I do and the volume seems to go up as the end of the quarter approaches. There are legions of consultants who tell campaigns what time of day to send out emails and what day of the week yields the best results. Don't send anything on Friday because voters are focused on the weekend, saving money for Saturday evening entertainment. Send emails on Monday morning when people are in a "serious" mood and more willing to focus on politics and the advice goes on, and on, and on.


So here's something really out of the box: an appeal actually written by the candidate, an appeal that you can sit down and read at your leisure. This letter comes straight from me, sitting at a keyboard telling you about who I am, why I am running, and why I need your help.


My name is Eric Massa. I am running for Congress to help start the long process of rebuilding this country after eight years of disastrous failures at all levels of the Federal government. A secret and failed energy policy, that is best summed up in a headline published by a supporter of my opponent in yesterday's Corning leader, screams "Drill here and now." A failed ability to stand up to President Bush allows for the continued assault on the Constitution with the vote to support domestic wiretapping - I opposed that. A total failure to stand up to President Bush has caused continual delays to rebuild this country after the largest natural disaster in the history of the United States. These are the headline events of our current administration, the headlines that I vow not to create.


I have made an unusual, and some would say self destructive, decision since the beginning of my political career to NOT accept corporate PAC funding. I feel very strongly that corporations should not have 51% of the vote in any decision, and that it is my responsibility to remain as objective as possible by staying clear of ties to special interests. It is these strong beliefs in the importance of the individual's voice over that of corporations that has led me to say no to hundreds of thousands in corporate cash. Any contributions that I feel represent what is wrong in politics, I donate to charity. I will only accept donations that reaffirm the positive aspects of politics. Many in power claim this decision cost me the election in 2006. The truth of the matter is that in 2006 we flat ran out of money.


Now we face a deadline of June 30th to show the world and the decision makers in the Democratic Party that this race is real. That we can learn from our mistakes, have the resources, the talent, and the candidate who is battle-scarred and campaign ready. It's already heating up, with my opponent calling me a "Pelosi socialist" (whatever that is). My family has already been targeted, and our campaign vehicle has been vandalized in the night. I know this is going to be a tough battle - one that will require close coordination with allies across the country. Right now nothing is more important than demonstrating early fundraising has been a success.


I, Eric Massa, personally ask for your new or continued support. I believe what we are doing is important - the decisions made in Congress are often matters of life and death and that such statement is not an exaggeration. Consider health care for a moment. With my opponent's opposition to SCHIP, many children here in the 29th Congressional District will not have the opportunity to see a doctor. The results are potentially disastrous. I know first hand. Now, ten years after a successful fight against a terminal diagnosis of cancer, I realize that being able to access health care is absolutely critical. I stand for and will fight for a single payer solution to the crisis that tens of millions of Americans face in a failing health care system.


The War in Iraq is yet another example of a life and death situation at the hands of our administration. The American presence in Iraq is the largest strategic blunder in the history of our Nation. I believe that the Responsible Plan for Iraq is the movement forward to a comprehensive solution.


The current legislature has also created an unfavorable trade situation. My own friends and neighbors advocate for and truly need Fair Trade and an end to the mutually assured destruction of run-away Free Trade. I vow to bring these diverse life experiences to Washington without bringing the baggage of corporate special interest campaign funding, but this is only possible with your help. The people of the 29th district, the people of this great Nation are first and foremost in my mind. You come before any corporation.


This is Eric Massa at the keyboard - as I have been for three years - posting over a hundred essays, opinion pieces and solution papers. I realize that money is tighter now more than ever. Gas in Corning, where I fill up, will soon hit $4.50 a gallon (and drilling our way into the Earth's core via ANWR is a folly of enormous proportions). Great candidates are running all across the country and we are all focused on making certain that Senator McCain remains an honored and respected Senator. I look forward to the day when a moving van carries the Obama family sofa to the living quarters of the White House. I will work around the clock to deliver this Congressional District to his election. Every dollar we spend here in rural Western New York, registering voters, getting out the vote, and building a great coalition for the Massa for Congress effort, will undoubtedly help the Presidential race. Not a single penny will be wasted.


So, I humbly ask for your help this critical weekend. I personally thank you and place myself in your debt. Thank you for taking the time to read this long and very unconventional appeal from rural Western New York State.

Sincerely,

Eric Massa
Commander US Navy (ret.)
Congressional Candidate, NY-29

[OswegoAtheist]

1. Please help Mr. Massa

I lived in *sigh* hEll-mira during the last election cycle, and, despite some heavy gerrymandering, Eric Massa came within a few tenths of a percent of victory.

Just to give you an idea of how rethug red the district is, his opponent, Randy Kuhl has been convicted of drunk driving, pointed two shotguns at his wife, was a notorious philanderer (now divorced), and is a grade-A asshole. He voted lockstep with * for his first term (04-06), and is nothing more than a rubber stamp for *. And yet the people of NY 29 continue to vote for him.

The gerrymandering that created the district is obvious, as the outline winds through rural areas to the reddest portions of Monroe county (Rochester, NY).

Eric Massa was also Special Assistant to Gen. Clark during his command at NATO. I have been supporting his campaign as much as possible, even though I (thankfully) moved away from hEll-mira this summer.

If you can help tip one of the closest races in the country (even the * administration used this district in it's list of the top ten critical races), that's one less vote for the Rethugs, and one more for the good guys, and it can be done with a minimum of donations! The area is so depressed economically, even a little bit of cash infusion can tip the scales!

Oswego "Samara Barend in '04" Atheist

[PATRICK]

2. "Footsore in '04 for Barend"

Has taken his fallen arches to the phone banks. It is VERY hard to communicate in such a widespread area but we are doing much better and better organized this time. The frustration of merely trying to break through raises hackles and GOP loyalty if Massa is too "tough" too "political" too "liberal". In order to deliver the simple message and the great progressive candidate(no corporate donations period!) every means on the ground and in the air must be taken.

Your donations ARE necessary. Kuhl's money comes from his bosses, his non-resident non-voter corporate base, and they will be pouring it in to buy their dwindling voice in Foggy Bottom.

Despite our gains, the undecideds who want charm and an easy vote make things dicey indeed even within the Dem base.

[BarenakedLady]

3. He's got my vote

:)