Urgent: The Democrats' 60th vote at risk (email from MoveOn)

[HughMoran]

Dear MoveOn member,

In 11 days, we could lose progressive hero Ted Kennedy's Senate seat—and with it, any hope for passing major progressive legislation this year.

A new poll Tuesday showed Democrat Martha Coakley's lead in the special election to succeed Kennedy is at the edge of the margin of error, and the non-partisan Cook Political Report now says it's very competitive.1 And today, some of the people behind the infamous Swift Boat and racist Willie Horton ads are spending $400,000 on a new attack ad. Republican Scott Brown and his extreme right-wing supporters are significantly outspending Coakley on TV.2

A Republican victory here would be a catastrophe—Democrats would lose their 60th vote in the Senate, health care could die, and the Republicans could block pretty much anything they want.

We can't let a right-winger take over Ted Kennedy's seat because not enough progressives are paying attention. Coakley urgently needs help before it's too late. Your contribution in the next 24 hours will help her expand her all-out campaign for victory. Can you contribute $200 to Coakley's campaign right away?

https://pol.moveon.org/give/coakley_martha.html?id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=3

Martha Coakley will carry on Ted Kennedy's progressive legacy. In endorsing Coakley, Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy's wife, said, "My husband fought for healthcare reform for more than 40 years. Martha Coakley shares those critical beliefs." Coakley has also been outspoken against restrictions in the bill on women's right to choose.3

As Massachusetts Attorney General, Coakley was aggressive in challenging the Wall Street titans who helped bring on the financial crisis, and she recovered tens of millions of dollars for taxpayers and victims of Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and UBS for their deceptive activities.4 She'll be a strong fighter in Washington for tough regulations on the financial industry.

And Republican Scott Brown? He's a "free enterprise advocate"5 who thinks the system works just fine. But he's giving Coakley a serious challenge. He promised, "As the 41st senator I can stop a lot of this stuff in its tracks....I can actually force them to go back to the drawing board."6 And there are rumors that the Republican Party and the Club for Growth will also begin attack ads on Coakley soon.

And the race is further confused by the presence of a 3rd candidate, named Joe Kennedy, who isn't related to Ted Kennedy, but is a tea-party extremist. Martha Coakley needs our help to cut through the clutter and get her message out—on TV, at the doors, and on the phones.

At this moment, when Ted Kennedy's greatest goal in life is within reach, we cannot afford to let Republican extremists snatch away his legacy. Can you help with an urgent contribution of $200? Click here:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/coakley_martha.html?id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=4

Thank you. Sincerely,

–Adam, Kat, Wes, Daniel, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1 "Election 2010: Massachusetts Special Senate Election," Rasmussen Reports, Jan. 5, 2010. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85948&id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=5

"Massachusetts Senate: Looking for a Massachusetts Miracle," The Cook Political Report, Jan. 7, 2010. http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/5698

2 "Brown decries conservative group's anti-Coakley ad," Associated Press, Jan. 7, 2010. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85949&id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=6

"Secrets of the American Future Fund," The Iowa Independent, Aug. 19, 2008. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85950&id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=7

"Massachusetts Senate: Looking for a Massachusetts Miracle," The Cook Political Report, Jan. 7, 2010. http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/5698

3 "Coakley basks in political bplessings," The Boston Globe, Jan. 8, 2010. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85951&id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=8

4 Martha Coakley, U.S. Senate, accessed Jan. 8, 2010. http://www.marthacoakley.com/about/Issues/details/21

5 Scott Brown, United States Senate, accessed Jan. 8, 2010. http://www.brownforussenate.com/issues

6 "Health bill at issue in Mass. Special," Politico, Jan. 7. 2010. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85952&id=18510-3949571-KHEqVzx&t=9

I dunno why, but I think :popcorn:

[LynneSin]

1. Have we thoroughly debunked the '60 votes' ages ago

I mean seriously, we need to stop thinking of Joe Lieberman as a 'team player'

nuff said

[HughMoran]

2. True. Though 59 + 1 infant is better than 58 + 1 infant & 41 psychos.

:shrug:

[Love Bug]

3. We could have 70, no 80, no 90 votes and the current crop of Dems would STILL find

an excuse to fuck things up.

[NightWatcher]

4. the Myth of 60 is a copout because they know it's unattainable

dont blame us, we cant get 60 votes so I'm gonna vote with the credit card, insurance............

it takes 50+1, not 60, not 66, not 75

[Lemonwurst]

5. I will be voting Coakley a week from Tues.

It's a tricky voting day, being the first workday following a holiday weekend. That may contribute to an overall low voter turnout.

But make no mistake, Repubs in MA, already stinging from years of rebuke, will be there in force - if for no other reason than to feel better about themselves.

Coakley should win easily, but I'm actually a little nervous. If enough people think "oh yeah, she's got it sewn up", that could actually throw the election.

What I am surprised about is the apparent lack of national attention on this very important Senate race. Particularly after what happened in NY-23 for a congressional seat. It might be because Scott Brown is perceived as a moderate, and has no problem saying he supports womens' reproductive rights.

Yet he's also made no bones about wanting to be a team player for the rest of the obstructionist R's in the Senate, and we ABSOLUTELY do not want that to have even sliver of a chance of happening.

[tabbycat31]

6. K&R

Unfortunately I can't get my MA family members to vote for Coakley, but I'll keep this kicked for motivation.