Tonight we witnessed a landmark vote for our generation, 220-215. Never again will people be turned down from health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. Never again will Americans go bankrupt due to health care crisis. Never again will our health care be based on our continued employment. Never again will we stand by and watch our neighbors die from lack of access to affordable health care.
This was an historic day that we've worked towards for decades, and now we are one step closer to achieving total victory. We now wait for the Senate version and then the process to combine them into the final law.
Last night's election results were less a referendum on the Democratic Party, and more a referendum on incumbents and limitless campaign spending. Exit polls showed that the number one concern of voters was the economy and jobs, and the voters themselves said that their vote was not about the performance of the President. The candidates pouring money into their own campaigns, spending millions of dollars to win, only reminded the voters of the vast gap between the rich and poor in America. In several races, those spending the most, did not win. Here in Texas, in the race for Houston Mayor, Annise Parker came in first after being outspent 5:1 by her challenger. While the latest poll averages from realclearpolitics.com show that the President's approval is still high at 51.4%, the approval of Congress is only at 24.8%, and of those polled only 38.8% think that America is on the right track. At this time of economic hardship, high unemployment, and job insecurity, the voters across the country voted out incumbents, those seen as contributing to our economic conditions, and voted for change.
These election results offer hope and inspiration to those of us challenging long-time sitting Republican incumbents with their own large war chests, such as Lamar Smith. Americans are ready for a change, ready for Representatives who will take action and represent their interests, not the special interests. It is time for Representatives to find solutions to our most critical issues, create and grow jobs, and put our country back on the right track. That is precisely what I will do when I am elected in 2010.
If you feel that your voice isn't being heard, if you are tired of the failed policies of Lamar Smith, and if you have a vision for a better tomorrow, then please join me in taking action to win in 2010. Go to my website, http://www.laineyforcongress.com, and contribute to my campaign, join our team, add your endorsement and spread the word that we have a winnable race in Texas Congressional District 21.
In what can't be considered anything other than a very slow start for a campaign, Democrat Lainey Melnick raised less than $13,000 in the last quarter, spent just over $10,000 and has $2,435.33 in cash on hand in her bid to defeat incumbent Republican Lamar Smith. Even worse, nearly half of the amount posted as raised in her 3rd Quarter FEC filing is from "in-kind" contributions.
That's in comparison to the over $1 million cash on hand Lamar Smith had on his last report. James Arthur Strohm is the Libertarian candidate.
TX-21 was already an unwinnable race before this report. It's even more so now. That's not to say that candidates shouldn't run, I was and am a subscriber to the 2005 "Run Everywhere" caucus. Candidates have proven, as John Courage did in 2002 and 2006 in this very district, that one can run in seats they know they will likely not win but can use their campaign to build the party and assist other candidates running (as Courage did in 2006 redirecting his efforts to help Valinda Bolton get into office after TX-21 was redistricted in the middle of the election into the atrocious seat it is now).
Melnick already faced concerns over an early email list mishap which spammed her list relentlessly for a couple days. TX-21 is no TX-10 and this report shows Lainey Melnick is no Jack McDonald on the fundraising front. That's two unfortunate strikes already in a district that doesn't require three strikes to be called out.
The saying goes, "For evil to triumph, all is needed is for good men to do nothing." Of course, I would modify that to include us all, men and women.
Due to Lamar Smith's 22 years of inaction, our community has suffered. Our public school system is lagging behind the rest of the world. Our natural resources are dwindling. Our economy is struggling. Our infrastructure is crumbling. Our military continues fighting without a plan for victory or exit. Our health care system continues to flounder under the weight of increasing costs. And our climate continues to change.
The time has come for someone to represent our community who will take action, someone who will fight for your interests rather than the special interests. That is precisely what I will do as your representative.
This election is about far more than simply saying no to Lamar Smith...It's about our future. And so, my question to you is: what vision for tomorrow do you have? Is it a vision of better roads and better schools?; A vision of safety, security, and prosperity for you and your loved ones? Is it a vision in which we put people before politics?... Or is it a vision of inaction and status quo? If you're tired of the failed policies of Lamar Smith, and if you have a vision for a better tomorrow, then join me in taking action to win in 2010!
How can you take action?
1. Donate $100, up to a maximum of $2400 per individual, or whatever your own financial circumstances allow, before the end of our first reporting period on September 30th: http://www.actblue.com/page/lm...
3. 10 in 2010. Find 10 friends and ask them to support my campaign, then follow through and make sure that they go out and vote.
4. Spread the word. Suggest my Facebook Fan Page to all of your friends. Forward this email to all of your contacts. Post all our events and pages to your social network. Come to our Environmentalists for Lainey Melnick House Party hosted by Robin Rather and Melinda Taylor: http://www.actblue.com/page/en...
Democrat Lainey Melnick filed her papers earlier this week to be a candidate in 2010's election for U.S. Congressional District 21, a district currently represented by Lamar Smith. Her kickoff event is planned for Wednesday, the day the Special Session is set to start. From her press release:
Lainey Melnick will kick off her campaign with her official announcement for the 21st District Congressional seat on July 1st at the Shoreline Grill, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. CHAMPS quartets from Anderson and Westlake High Schools will play live and other entertainers are expected. Advance tickets are available at actblue.com/page/lmkickoff.
"We need a representative in Congress who actually represents us." says Ms Melnick, "We face enormous challenges with the economy, health care, energy, and education to name only a few. We can't afford to play partisan politics. We need a Congressman willing to vote for the people instead of a political party if we are to return to stability, prosperity, and our position as a global leader."
Lainey, a grassroots leader, small business owner, mother and grandmother, is leaving her position as the Central Texas Regional Lead with Organizing for America to put full-time effort into the race. Her website, www.LaineyMelnick.com, already includes a long list of public supporters and endorsements.
Although Melnick is a political novice, her list of public supporters already includes some good Austin Democratic names, including Councilman Mike Martinez, and Councilman Chris Riley. Go view her website and check out her campaign. She has facebook and twitter accounts, but links to those are hidden in the bottom right-hand corner of the website, which is probably ineffective. That said, though, she's still off to a decent start for what will definitely be a very uphill battle.
Update by KT: I just noticed this in a Statesman post about Lainey's kick-off next week but there is apparently another Democrat looking at running in the primary. I haven't heard of him until now.
Separately, an Austin businessman who's been weighing a run for the Democratic nomination for the seat said the race might cost a challenger more than $1 million considering the district takes in two major media markets.
Tejas Vakil, 52, described himself as conservative on economic issues but less so on foreign policy and social issues. He said: "The issue is whether or not I can run a credible campaign."
Update by Michael (7:11 pm): When this post was written, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Councilmembers Mike Martinez and Chris Riley were listed as supporters on Melnick's website. We got a call by source knowledgeable about the mayor and councilmembers to strike out that part of the post for the time being. Since then, Mayor Leffingwell's name has been taken off of Melnick's public list of supporters, but the names of Martinez and Riley remain.
This post isn't actually about asking anyone to to pay off any campaign debts, it's a post to point out an action that illustrates good character. Many longtime readers will remember the story of John Courage.
John has a long and deep relationship with many of us here at Burnt Orange Report, starting with a personal friendship that pre-dates this blog's existence when he ran for Congress in the 21st District in 2002. That was right after the first round of redistricting after the census, when I was still in high school in Fredericksburg which was in the old 21st. John was the very first campaign I did anything for, manning his campaign booth at our county fair, and handing out literature at the polls on election day.
He ran again in 2006. That was under the new re-redistricted map, which actually made the 21st competitive as it had moved into Austin. But the Supreme Court reviewed it, and in order to correct injustices done to Hispanics on the border, made the 21st more Republican in the middle of an election. Matt was running that campaign, and rather than him or John quitting, they stayed on and directed their resources to helping down ballot which had the added effect of helping Valinda Bolton become a state rep instead.
John had been a Netroots candidate, with support from the blogs, Democracy for America, and Russ Feingold's PAC. He was one of the early and first examples of the growing force of the online progressive movement in Texas. Even after losing, he went on to form the True Courage Action Network which worked for good government, redistricting, and campaign finance reforms in the 2007 session.
He gave back and supported his friends. And even after all this time, hasn't forgotten sending out the rare email of support for an out of state candidate- Russ Feingold who is now up for re-election.
Friends and fellow Democrats,
Many of you have been great supporters of my 2002 & 2006 campaigns for the U.S. Congress and I will always be grateful for your support. Some of you may also know I have been and remain a strong supporter of other local and state Democratic Party activities and candidates. I rarely advocate sending our people and resources (especially financial resources) to out of state to support other candidates (an exception being the Barack Obama campaign). However I am going to recommend to you and to your fellow Democratic Party friends that you consider making a contribution to the re-election of a great Democratic Senator, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. Russ personally supported my 2006 campaign for Congress and came to Texas to help me.
I will always remember his kindness and support and want to do what I can to return the confidence he showed in me.
Russ is running for re-election and I don't know how tough his re-election race may be, but he is truly one of the progressive Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate. Listed below are just a few of the things people have said about Russ Feingold's leadership in the Senate over the recent past. I hope you will read these statements and then join me in making as substantial a contribution as you can to his re-election campaign.
You can go to the following link to make an online contribution. I would ask you to add .21 cents to your contribution to let to let the Senator's staff know that your contribution has come from my efforts as a former candidate for the Texas 21st Congressional District. Contribute to the Russ Feingold Campaign .
Democratically yours,
John Courage
If you want to give a small amount, say $10.21 (in remembrance of the 21st District Race Sen. Feingold helped John out in 4 years ago), that's cool.
But what's cooler is John Courage for remembering his friends and pointing out once more why we always supported him. Politics is a better place because of people like you.
Ugh, I'm so glad that Lamar Smith isn't my congressman anymore, but he is still the Lame-R that represents part of Austin, including most horrifically of all, The University of Texas and West Campus precincts.
Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) and Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) today made a friendly wager over the outcome of tonight's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl between No. 3 Texas (11-1) and No. 10 Ohio State (10-2). Smith, whose congressional district includes UT, bet Kilroy, who represents OSU, pecan pie and Amy's Ice Cream from Austin against chocolate buckeyes and Jeni's Ice Creams from Columbus.
First off, Lamar Smith only has the luxury of representing UT by this crazy ass re-redistricting map which split precincts and created new ones (with no voters in them) in order to reach into central Austin to grab the UT voters. Secondly, Lamar Smith isn't qualified to offer Austin's own Amy's Ice Cream in a wager with anyone as if he either a) was an Austinite or b) bled orange.
And of course, as we've learned previously, the University students don't care much for him anyways.
Let me start by saying, I do not like Lamar Smith. I have a building grudge against the man, especially since working on John Courage's campaign.
Lamar Smith is a hypocrite and a liar.
Back in 2006, before I was a featured writer and editor here, I vented about the fact that Smith supported Tom DeLay (while in Congress) and was willing to bribe him for a seat on the House Ethics Committee. The cost? $10,000 and once there, Smith became a key vote in ending further investigation into DeLay.
When Clinton was president, Smith supported a $75 million multi-year inquiry into a failed Arkansas land deal, and then supported the morphing of that multi-year inquiry into one focusing on whether or not Clinton lied about sex. Back on December 10th 1998, during the opening day of the Clinton impeachment trial, he thought that perjury, obstruction of justice, and impeding the work of federal prosecutors on a case about the president's sex life was an impeachable offense.
This is all old news though-- neither DeLay or Clinton are in office anymore. Why does this matter?
Lamar Smith is up to his usual partisan tricks.
According to The Left Coaster, Lamar Smith thinks Congress should stop looking into Alberto Gonzales.
“If there are no fish in this lake, we should reel in our lines of question, dock our empty boat and turn to more pressing issues,” [Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the ranking member on Judiciary said].
Smith's partisan is tragic. Republicans like DeLay and Gonzales are allowed to bend or flat out break the law with no Congressional oversight.
Gonzales has made the Justice Department a political machine, fired prosecutors for no reason, and lied to Congress. If Smith doesn't want to do his job, maybe he should resign or leave.
It's been more than a year since John Courage announced his bid to run for Congress in Congressional District 21. It was September 17, 2005 on the Texas State Capitol grounds that John started this political journey. A bus full of supporters came along on that announcement tour. Change was in the air.
(This is pretty cool. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
The PBS program NOW, recently came to Central Texas looking for election stories where the war in Iraq might impact Congressional races. They interviewed John last week, as well as Democrat Mary Beth Harrell. Mary Beth is running in Congressional District 31, against Republican incumbent John Carter. That district includes Fort Hood and the District 31 race, was the focus of the PBS TV program that aired Friday Nov. 3rd, entitled "Sway the Course".
