This includes a basic paper trail and a manner in which the votes can be audited and verified, among other basic things. But the reality of this all is that in many many states, voters are still facing the same issues with respect to potentially stealing elections. Just because there was a big win in 2008 doesn't mean that the same vote theft and shenanigans that went on in 2000, 2002 and 2004 are gone. In fact, many other countries still use the same paper in a locked box as their means of voting - and they have the winner declared pretty damn quickly as well.
But I guess when the companies that make and run the voting machines for the overwhelming majority of the votes are major contributors to one of the political parties, that is integrity enough. We should just trust them, right? It's only one of the most basic rights and it's not like elections have consequences, right?
Anna Little is now following your tweets on Twitter. A little information about Anna Little: 2380 following. 2306 followers.
Now, while that doesn't seem to me like a really great number of Twitter "followers" for someone running for Congress. However, I really shouldn't talk. I have a mere 277 followers, and I follow 522 people. I don't know what it says about you if you are following twice as many people as are following you--I do feel kind of like a very unpopular high school geek. But, I digress.
Waaaaaay back at the beginning of the summer in June, on New Jersey Primary Day, Anna Little was outspent, out-gunned and out-media-ed by her billionaire primary opponent, Diane Gooch for the right to run against Frank Pallone for Congress in NJ-6. Gooch spent $200,574 on her campaign, more than ten times as much as Little spent, after raising $432,902. Little won the nomination on a literal shoestring budget of $19,503. So it goes.
Little, under her Twitter feed, lists the following bio:
I am a Constitutional Conservative running for Congress to beat Frank Pallone in #NJ6 and resist the progressive agenda. It's time to take our Country back!
Notice that she capitalizes the words 'constitutional' and 'conservative', and "country"---like she owns them. Like they are hers. Like she has had them trademarked and no one else can use them. I'm surprised she doesn't have a little "TM" in a circle next to each word.
However, she fails to capitalize The Words "progressive" or "agenda". Oh, she does properly capitalize the words "Frank" and "Pallone".
Before the primary way back in June, I asked AFP president Steve LonInegan for a prediction--and he correctly predicted that Little would beat Gooch. So, I offered him the following bet--which he took: if Little wins, then I write a check to AFP for $100. However, if Frank Pallone wins, then Steve writes a check for $100 to the ACLU-NJ.
And so, now I will begin to follow Anna Little on Twitter because they tell me that it's only courteous that if someone follows you, you should follow them right back.
My prediction: the ACLU of New Jersey will be $100 richer in November.
O.K. So I already told you all about our meeting with the Governor, and we're still waiting to hear back from him. I followed up by sending him a letter from the Federally Qualified Health Centers in which they say they're getting close to the "edge" on funding. It is quite obvious that in addition to those folks who were thrown off Family Care Insurance by the Christie budget, the FQHCs are not going to be able to provide for an influx of new patients from the Family Planning Centers.
Today we are having a Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Services Committe hearing. We'll start with Congressman Frank Pallone who will give us information on how a state plan amendment will be allowed under the new health care reform law. The Committee will also question the HHSS Comissioner, Dr. Alaigh, about the status of these centers. We've invited the Treasurer to share with us his difference of opinion with the Office of Legislative Services on the funding mechanism. We were turned down by Jennifer Velez to testify on the medicaid waiver and apparently she could not send a representative from the Human Services Department. Mmmm??? Should be an enlightening meeting. I'm sure the Governor has the message loud and clear that we are not going away on this important issue.
Budget Committee is meeting to begin discussion on some of Governor Christie's so called "tool kit". I predict that these ideas will be a lot more problematic in the legislature. As you can see, this is and will continue to be a busy summer for us. The "heat" outside is probably matching what I expect will be the "heat" within our Trenton caucuses.
Before the new budget really unfolds and folks feel the full brunt of it, the Governor started with a new distraction - School Superintendent Salaries. A worthier target than classroom teachers and easier to spin as "greedy guys". Just take a cursory look at this budget. It is clear that the Governor did not re-invent the way Trenton operates. In fact he gave us more of what he's blaming for our current economic problems. Oh yes, he made big cuts in aid to schools and municipalities. Whereas Massachusetts increased municipal aid when their cap was instituted. He is skipping this year's State payment to the pension fund, and will still complain that the fund going broke! Remember, employees continue to make their payments. And lo and behold, he's going out to borrow money to shore up the Transportation Trust Fund - a fund going broke because most of the payments are going to pay debt! Can you imagine what the Republicans would be saying if this had been a Corzine-Democratic budget? I think we will hear the noise level when folks open their property tax bills this Fall.
Yes, I know -- He has the bully pulpit! But we need to do a better job translating to the public what the Christie budget priorities mean to New Jersey residents who I know think their schools are important, and who rely on their police and fire personnel to keep them safe. They want to drive on decent roads and not pay increased costs to ride public transportation. They want uninsured women to have access to health care and to birth control. And yes, they did not want the "more than millionaires" to get a tax break, while the rest of us pay much more. Yes, it's going to be a busy and overheated time!
Since the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, companies like British Petroleum (BP) who cause oil spills are required to work with the US Coast Guard & other agencies not only on cleanup but on public communications. But now, BP's also spending on a separate, aggressive PR campaign. BP looks downright altruistic, according to BP. And Frank Pallone's not liking this.
As The Politico points out, the website's got paid reporters chattering about stuff like dolphins swimming in "ballet" through sparkling waters.
Sparkling waters, my ass.
Frank Pallone, who co-sponsored the Oil Pollution Act after the Exxon Valdez, says the Obama administration shouldn't allow BP to spend resources on PR when what's needed is real-time info. It reads as subtle rebuke of the president. Pallone:
Were I president, I would have gone out and hired the best experts in the world and put together a consultative panel to advise the president and his Cabinet secretaries, and peer review or second-guess everything BP said they would do throughout this entire time.
Want a different view of what's going on down there? Deepwater Horizon Response is the government's task force for the disaster. Or try this short video.
The training's in Ocean County. It's not too late to decide to come. And you don't have to be DFA, or running for office. It's the first time we've ever done something this big in this red a place. And we chose Ocean County because that's where Chris Christie picked up his largest margin of victory (oh hell, second largest - my county of Hunterdon was a shade worse).
The training's an intense 2-day boot camp, covering everything from message development, how to ask for money, social media strategy, how to run a canvass and how to get a job in politics. Full schedule.
Here are some of the extras that will make this so much fun.
Special Guests: Congressmen Frank Pallone and Rush Holt. Newark Councilman Ron Rice. NJDSC Chair Asm John Wisniewski. DFA national Chair Jim Dean.
Candidates Roundtable: A special session, for candidates only. Campaign mentors Rep. Frank Pallone, Councilman Ron Rice, DFA Chair Jim Dean and several DFA-trained electeds now helping to run their towns, like Ed Zipprich and Chris Leitner, who are both councilmen and municipal chairs in their hometowns of Red Bank and Point Pleasant Borough, respectively.
PARTY Saturday Night: Whether you can come to the Training or not, we'll wind up at the waterfront bar The Lobster Shanty in Point Pleasant around 7. Bar's to the left - of course - when you walk in.
Bloggers Breakfast: 8:30am Sunday morning. Hosted by Blue Jersey. Just a casual meet & greet for training attendees who blog, or lurk here at Blue Jersey or anywhere else in the interwebs. Jeff Gardner & I will be there, Deciminyan, tabbycat31, Jersey Shore John, and whoever else rolls in the door at that ungodly hour.
Looking forward to seeing everybody tomorrow. #DFAtrainingNJ
I had a call last night from Congressman Frank Pallone to talk about the concession by GOP NJ-6 candidate Diane Gooch to "Tea Party-approved" Highlands Mayor Anna Little. I had a few questions for him, and he had a few answers (emphasis is mine):
Question:Are you now running against the candidate you wanted to run against all along? Frank Pallone: Doesn't matter to me. Either way, the I have to run on my record and they'll make me the issue. The main thing is that it's going to be a clear divide on the issues. She's certainly a right-winger and it will be the biggest divide. She (Anna Little) ran as the Tea Party candidate, with the Tea Party's positions, on women's right to choose, on guns. But it's also about the role of the federal government.
Question:How do you see Little on the federal government? Frank Pallone: Well, I want to talk a little about activist government vs. limited government. Government should not do everything. But when we're in a recession - in tough times - that's not when the government should sit back and do less. We need to help out.
This is Franklin Roosevelt versus Herbert Hoover. When you've got recession, it's not the time for the federal government to say, Let's let everything go. The Recovery Act, the stimulus, efforts to create jobs, creating safety nets for people; federal government can make a difference for people, but she's against that. And people are going to know who they're choosing based on those issues.
Question:Diane Gooch was the candidate the GOP establishment wanted, but she wasn't the candidate who had support on the ground. How does this fact speak to you about the power of grassroots organizing? Frank Pallone: You know, the right wing thinks they'll get the the people out and do well. They think that they're the ones who have the grassroots support. I think it's important for progressives to to understand that it's important right now to get involved - knock on doors, volunteer, talk to friends.
The Right is of the opinion that they're organized. And they think that we're not.
That's a cautionary last statement, isn't it? I want to add here that Rep. Pallone will be a Speaker & Mentor at the Democracy for America national Campaign Training next Saturday June 26. We put that Training in Ocean County because that is where Chris Christie slammed Jon Corzine, whose Campaign Chair was Rep. Pallone.(Full disclosure: Jeff Gardner & I are both organizers of that Training.)
A 12-year exhaustive inquiry into the shooting of 26 unarmed people at a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association March, during what were called the Troubles in Northern Ireland, has been released and is being read all over the world today. The incident was called Bloody Sunday, and its significance rests on the fact that it was army soldiers in uniform who attacked civilian protesters. On that Sunday in January 1972, about 10,000 protesters gathered in opposition to the practice of detention without trial. Without direct threat members of the British Parachute Regiment opened fire on protestors causing the death of 14 people, 7 of whom were teenagers. Five of those wounded were shot in the back, two were run down by tanks. The Bloody Sunday Report- more on that here in UK's The Guardian - was produced by a tribunal led by Lord Mark Saville, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the UK, and has clearly called the killings "unjustified."
Rep. Frank Pallone is a member of the Friends of Ireland Caucus in the US House. The following is his statement upon reading the Bloody Sunday Report:
I would like to commend Prime Minister Cameron on releasing the Saville Report so early in his term and setting a precedent of honesty and integrity within his administration. Today the families of those killed and wounded 38 years ago in Derry, Northern Ireland, on the infamous day known as "Bloody Sunday", will gain closure. Today, the world finally knows the truth- and the 14 protestors killed in Derry on January 30th, 1972 were innocent. The brutal military action taken against them was unjustified and unprovoked by these blameless civilian citizens.
The Saville Report has exonerated those killed and wounded on Bloody Sunday and has brought vindication to their families. With the British government's recognition of the facts within the report, the world can now be certain of the actions that occurred that day. I hope the families affected by this tragedy 38 years ago may now be able to move on and find solace in the light this report has shed on the actual events of Bloody Sunday.
The Bloody Sunday shootings contribued to 38 years of contention in Northern Ireland, bringing direct British rule of the Parliament in Belfast until the Good Friday power-sharing agreement in 1998.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. Diane Gooch - rich, connected, and blond - was supposed to stroll easily to the GOP nomination for the chance to run against Frank Pallone in NJ-6. But Highlands Mayor Anna Little, "Tea Party-approved", had other plans and her campaign had more life, more visible signage, and way more ferocity.
And now they might have their win. politickernj is reporting that Diane Gooch - after a provisional ballot count shows her 84 votes behind - is prepared to concede.
"A recount is the only legal mechanism we have to secure confidence in the result, ensuring that no errors in the tabulation of votes have taken place," said Gooch Campaign Manager Tony Sayegh. "There are also some specific concerns we have about the treatment of Vote By Mail ballot requests, the security and custody of election materials, and electronic data cartridges arriving with error messages that must be investigated further. This will be done as expeditiously as possible; we look forward to determining a winner in the near future."
Anna Little currently holds a 6,804 to 6,720 lead over Diane Gooch with all the provisional ballots counted. The Little campaign is confident they'll maintain their lead:
Little, a tea party-backed candidate who raised one-twentieth the amount of campaign funds Gooch did, doubted Gooch could overcome the 84 vote deficit when most were recorded on electronic machines.
"She has the right to do that," she said. "I don't believe it's going to change anything."
It's a lesson I frankly forgot during the GOP primary in NJ-6: Sometimes organization plus engaged and motivated voters trumps the power of cash, and the institutional inertia of party infrastructure. I didn't see this coming:
Anna Little, the darling of Tea Parties, is declaring victory over Diane Gooch in the GOP Primary in NJ-6, and the right to oppose Rep. Frank Pallone from the right. This, despite a monster difference in their fundraising and spending - the last FEC filing pegs Gooch at about $433,000, Little at just under $22,000. And almost 50% of that came from the deep pockets of Gooch herself, the publisher of Two River Times, married to the CEO of a Wall Street brokerage firm, whose wealth runs to the hundreds of millions of dollars. Gooch, though Little was elected mayor of Highlands, also manages to be the establishment candidate, as the Monmouth County GOP Vice-Chair and universal favorite of the inertia set.
It's going to be a close call, and I assume that it's going to be a recount. I'm sure it's going to be a recount, because we need to count everyone's votes in the 6th District.
Yeah, the race is very close; less than one percent of the vote separates them - 105 votes out of 13,387 cast - and Gooch is talking recount. If I were Gooch, I'd be stammering recount too.
There's something refreshing about watching this play out. There's delight in watching the farther-right Republican best the party favorite - that can only be good for Pallone. But there's something organic and refreshing about watching civic engagement win out on the other side, like it sometimes wins out on ours. No matter who eventually wins the GOP primary, that kind of cleaning out the cobwebs feels right as rain today.
As I was watching the primary results come in on NJN, I was absolutely disgusted by my assemblywoman's interview tonight. So I was going to send her an email but I decided to publish it here today. I'm a strong supporter of Frank Pallone and when she argues he's out of touch, that really gets to me.
Dear Assemblywoman Angelini
I once semi-supported you since you do agree with me on the issue of marriage equality. I once thought you were a moderate Republican, but I was wrong.
Since Christie took office, you have decided to go hard right and take a stand. You are one of the lone legislators to suggest that the Christie administration sue the federal government over President Obama's health care plan (thus spending money New Jersey does not have suing the federal government over a bill that already saved New Jersey money).
When you were at Diane Gooch's party tonight, you were talking about how out of touch Congressman Frank Pallone is. I guess you fail to realize that Congressman Pallone is in the district whenever the House is not in session. Yes your districts do overlap, but you must realize that Wall Township is not in Frank Pallone's district. Unlike your claim, he DOES listen to his constituents.
Hey Mary Pat-- I got a newsflash for you-- not all of your constituents wear teabags from hats. Not all of them oppose President Obama's agenda. You are conveniently leaving out cities like Asbury Park and Frank Pallone's hometown of Long Branch. I do realize that you were in campaign mode, but most of the time state legislators and federal legislators whose districts are similar (like yours and Frank Pallone's) will work together. Obviously you are instead taking the obstructionist position that the Republicans in Washington are taking. Off hand I can't name one specific accomplishment you made for the people of the 11th district.
Going far to the right and praising Chris Christie the way that you do just might cost you your seat next November. I'll be the first one in line to work on your opponent's campaign.
Signed
An angry constituent willing to work overtime to see you defeated.
I knew Gooch didn't live in the District she's running in. Bateman lives in the 12th, too? Interesting ... - Promoted by Rosi
In New Jersey, apparently you do not need to live in a Congressional district in order to run for Congress to represent that district. Now that it is primary election season, I have been seeing a bunch of signs on the roads for challengers to incumbents (the only signs I've seen for incumbents have been in my lawn and a friend's lawn).
So in my neck of the woods I'm seeing a lot of signs for Anna Little (tea party Republican or as I like to call her Michele Bachmann 2.0) and Diane Gooch (Mrs. Hedge Fund). As I was driving down into the 4th district I saw signs for yet another tea party Republican Alan Bateman who wishes to challenge (according to his website) "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) Chris Smith.
One thing that both Diane Gooch (running in the 6th district) and Alan Bateman (running in the 4th district) have in common is that they both live in the 12th district. I've only lived in New Jersey a few years and I understand that the law is different elsewhere, but it makes sense to me that you should live in the district that you want to represent. To be fair Alan Bateman did run for Congress in his own district (unsuccessfully) but why not stick to the district you live in?
I do realize that New Jersey is very gerrymandered (especially Monmouth County), but wouldn't the best way to be in touch with a congressional district you wish to represent. Perhaps it's time to update our election laws and require a candidate to live in the district.
Was on @CNBC this am - BP was finalist for award to recognize offshore drilling safety. Ceremony was postponed for obvious reasons.
Now maybe you prefer scientists to politicians. I am an optimist so I hope this one is wrong:
Robert Weisberg, a physical oceanographer at the University of South Florida, told a conference call the so-called Loop Current that sweeps around the Gulf was poised to connect with the spreading oil slick.
Once "entrainment" occurs, he said, the oil would be pulled quickly south along Florida's Gulf coast and out into the Florida Straits, between the United States and Cuba...
"Once it's at the entrance to the Florida Straits it's only another week or so before it could be in the vicinity of Miami or Palm Beach and one more week or so until it could be as far north as Cape Hatteras," Weisberg said.
After that quote, I don't think it takes a lot of imagination to think that a Virginia spill or a Delaware spill could affect the Jersey Shore.
When it comes to using online technology in communicating with constituents, (Blue Jersey community member) Congressman Pallone has never been shy about trying new things.
Previously, he held a Twitter Town Hall on health care reform, where there were some very good questions and active participation.
Now, the Congressman is trying something a bit different - using Google Moderator to solicit feedback and debate policy proposals. According to the description the Congressman posted:
Going back to my time as a Long Branch City Councilman, I've always believed it was important to give my constituents a direct line to communicate their questions, concerns, and thoughts. Technology is revolutionizing how we interact, and as the Congressman for New Jersey's 6th District, I want to use these new tools to hear directly from you.
The internet opens up new opportunities to solicit input, debate policy proposals, and raise new ideas. Using the Google Moderator application and YouTube, I want to hear directly from you, and at the end of each month I'll make a web video directly answering your questions.
The issues will change from month-to-month. I might be seeking input on questions you want asked to a witness testifying in front of my Health Subcommittee. You could want updates on the financial regulation reform and what it will mean to consumers. Or what I know about the progress being made in Afghanistan. Some months I'll ask specifically about your thoughts or questions on a certain topic; other months it will be open ended.
The end game to this new idea for interaction is to create a more open, transparent dialogue. As a Congressman I serve the people, and want to hear your input. My fight against the special interests and lobbyists is an everyday battle and I want to make sure my most ardent supporters - progressives - have a vehicle to give me their opinions and thoughts.
So.....what do you think? Send the Congressman a question or comment - its just another way to communicate directly.
Would have done this diary sooner, but just got back from the last of 3 progressive events today. I may or may not write more about this in the future, I just wanted to share a few memorable lines with the Blue Jersey community.
Monmouth County Democratic Party chairman Vic Scudiery on the Republicans running against healthcare reform this fall
"they think it's going to work for them in the fall. They're going to fall on their face."
Congressman Frank Pallone on accepting the nomination to run for re-election this fall (which sums up my feelings as well):
"Thank you for the nomination, but we have a lot of work to do."
Freeholder John D'Amico on the Republican Party:
"While the Republicans are fighting among themselves, the Democrats are fighting for the people."
Congressman Rush Holt on the teabaggers:
"Their anger about this healthcare legislation just blinded them."
Our own Vincent Solomeno (who unfortunately lost the freeholder nomination to Spring Lake councilwoman Janice Venables) on the Republicans being out of touch"
"It must be really hard to see these problems from the 18th hole of the Colts Neck country club." This had the crowd fired up.
New Jersey Democratic Party Chairman John Wisniewski on Chris Christie:
"Christie to the middle class--- drop dead."
All said and done, the Monmouth County convention left me and over 300 of my fellow Monmouth County Democrats fired up and ready to go. If we can channel the energy that was in the room to the fall elections, we can do this.
Don't miss the pix after the jump. Promoted by Rosi
I posted the other day with an open invitation to Blue Jersey to a rally outside Congressman Frank Pallone's district office in Long Branch today. It was a beautiful day for a political rally, and in my opinion the rally was a success :-)
About 40 progressives and the Bus for Change showed up with signs. It was definitely a better turnout than the 27 who showed up in February demanding that Pallone be given a pink slip this November. We had one teabagger show up, and she proudly admitted that (unaware of the meaning of the term). She shouted at us and cars "we want the same health care Frank Pallone has" which is actually in the bill (that she wants to kill). Just shows how misinformed the teabaggers really are. After this thing passes, maybe she'll like it and realize what a moron she really was for opposing the legislation (and perhaps flip her vote but I doubt that).
Most of the cars driving by in the Democratic stronghold of Frank Pallone's hometown Long Branch were honking and waving their thumbs up supporting us. I just hope that they come out and vote in November.
This is TODAY, at 2:30 in Long Branch. - - Promoted by Rosi
As anyone who has not been living under a rock knows, healthcare reform has been the hot button issue during most of President Obama's time in office. It is now closer than ever.
Many of us have dealt with the misinformed and industry funded opposition to reform that has showed up in large and small numbers at events throughout the country and gaining media attention. For too long, we have stood there silent and afraid to speak our mind. Now, our turn has arrived.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) has been influential in this debate as chairman of the health subcommittee and has been working on healthcare for a long time. He is very aware of how his work on this bill has made him a prime target for the teabaggers. He and most members of Congress will tell anyone that the opposition to healthcare reform is more vocal than the support.
Join Monmouth Democracy for America, Progressive Democrats of America, Organizing for America, and the Bus for Change for a rally outside of Congressman Pallone's office at 504 Broadway in Long Branch on Saturday March 20 at 2:30 P.M. If he's in New Jersey, he will address the crowd. Whether he is in Washington or New Jersey, it is very important that he knows that we support him and this bill.
Bring friends and signs to show your support for the legislation (that is not perfect, but is a good step in the right direction when it comes to controlling rising health care costs and insuring 30 million additional Americans.)
He's the sponsor of the health care bill, and I am so against that it's not even funny. - Diane Gooch, candidate for Congress in NJ-6
I can't not take Diane Gooch's candidacy seriously. The wealthy Monmouth County GOP activist is the publisher of The Two River Times, and the Vice-Chair of the Monmouth Republican Party. And, not for nothing, Christie rocked the shore towns last year, and everybody knows it.
Frank Pallone is a big target. Knock him down - like Christie knocked down New Jersey - and you've really done something. Pallone's been in Congress for two decades, acts as Democratic Municipal Chair in his own hometown of Long Branch, and has the biggest war chest in the entire House, some $3.9 million and change.
Gooch - husband Michael is a Wall Street guy worth hundreds of millions - brings both party position and the ability to self-fund her campaign wholly if she wants to. And argue for campaign finance all you want, right now in 2010 - and particularly in expensive media market NJ - money can matter. Both those things mean Gooch doesn't have to jump through hoops other candidates, who have to spend their time raising money, have to.
Pallone, well-liked both in his District and outside it, chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Health, which puts him right in the middle of the struggle for health care reform, upon which the Democratic Party is shredding, upon which the teaparty was born.
Pallone's also the Communications Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee. He's the message man, on health care reform, and everything else. The man can talk. So I'm trying to take Diane Gooch seriously, even after that clunky teenager quote above. I know I should. I'm trying so hard it isn't even funny.
Following the Presidents Healthcare Summit on Thursday, Congressman Frank Pallone appeared on Countdown last night speaking with Lawrence O'Donnell about the current fate of healthcare. O'Donnell began the segment with a recap and then brought the Congressman on and started with what Pallone expects the way forward to be. He said they haven't been told what the President will do specifically and doesn't think a decision has been made on whether to move forward with reconciliation in both houses. They talked about the specifics in the bills and what the ramifications would be back at home in district for voting on some of the more unpopular provisions. Pallone said the bottom line is what is going to the President because your opponent will make things up anyway. You can see the full segment here:
Over the last year, the tea party movement has gotten a lot of attention from the media, progressives, and conservatives alike. I’ve been one of the many progressives that have made fun at them and commonly refer to them as “teabaggers,” which they originally called themselves before media personalities like Rachel Maddow told the public where the term “teabag” as a verb originally came from (porn) and what it means (a vulgar sex act). If you take away the top-down organization, the media hype and coverage (especially from Faux News), and the funding from industry, the tea party movement is a populist movement. However because of the top down organization and industry funding, it is not a grassroots movement like Faux News would like you to believe. It’s an Astroturf movement.
Last Friday, 27 of them visited Congressman Frank Pallone’s office in Long Branch and made their wishes known--- that the Congressman get a pink slip from the voters in November. A big part of me wanted to be there throwing snowballs at them. However that would be stooping to their level, and could possibly get me arrested, so I was better off not finding out until after the fact. The teabaggers are upset at Pallone for his role in the pending health care legislation, his vote on the (successful) stimulus bill, and his support of the “cap and trade” environmental legislation that is pending in the Senate. What the teabaggers do not realize is that they are often the very people who would benefit from the very legislation they are protesting. Do they honestly like the health insurance industry’s ability to deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions? However having spoken with a few of them at Pallone’s Red Bank town hell (not a typo) meeting—they seem to be unconcerned with the rest of us. Their mantra struck me as “I got mine--screw you.” I’m just the opposite and support Pallone’s position on all of the above legislation.
This whole tea party movement has been on my mind for quite some time and it has me wondering--- why is there no populist equivalent for progressives? Should there be one? There are already several great progressive organizations in New Jersey which I am a part of. However not too many people know about them and the meetings and events are usually attended by the same (amazing) group of people. Should we embrace this populism and take to the streets the way the teabaggers have?
I personally think that it’s time for progressives to cash in on some of this growing populism. I do not mean that we should join the teabaggers with their misspelled signs, racism, and conspiracy theories. I simply mean that we as a party need to embrace populism. With a new governor who has already declared war on commuters and public employees this should not be very hard. If you simply ask people how they feel about the issues, many will agree with us. It’s just a matter of how we get our message out, which we are not very good at. However we do not have long to get our message across as the November elections are quickly approaching. And between now and then, the Democrats in Congress have to learn where their spines are located and how to use them. We saw last November what happened when progressives could not get excited about a candidate. We must not let this happen again.
