Veteran Dems Strategy
Submitted by Eric Massa on December 4, 2005 - 3:05pm.
From the diaries -- Larry
They are called by various names. Air America and the Daily Kos call them “Fighting Dems”, Mother Jones calls them “The Capitol Brigade” and Draft Zinni “Security Dems”. I call them “Band of Brothers”. I will be appearing this Tuesday on the Air America series and invite all of you to join me there. I will also be blogging live at several locations after the show.
All of these “secret weapons” have five core things in common: they are veterans, they are Democrats, they are strong on national security, they believe our nation is headed in the wrong direction -- and they are running for Congress to put America back on course. They are not, however, all Iraq war vets. Some are veterans of other conflicts such as Vietnam or peacekeeping duty in the Balkans, but all have moderate, progressive or liberal social views in common. Most of them are family men and are running on platforms that support working families, fair taxation, protecting Social Security, traditional American values, programs to aid education and the poor and disabled, equality of opportunity for all Americans and sound environmental policies.
They also believe that a strong America is one that engages its allies rather than antagonizes them, one that goes after terrorism where it exists rather than invading countries that take us off-target, and as military men they believe that using force to accomplish international objects should be used only as a truly last resort. Many have served in either Iraq in the current conflict or in the first Gulf War, and almost all of them served in the war theater, in intelligence or in security related positions. And one more thing. A large number of the Fighting Dems come from so-called “Red” districts.
This brigade of fighting Democrats is intent on taking Congress back from those who have hijacked our nation, distorted our values, devastated our economy, damaged our nation’s credibility, derailed the middle class, and distracted us from the War on Terror by sending our fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and brothers and sisters to be maimed and to die fighting a war that did not need to be fought.
One thing is certain, there are enough of them to win back the House and put America back on course. Paul Hackett showed it could be done in his close race in Ohio, and even more recently in my district, where I have been helping to build the Democratic Party “from the ground up”, we have had a series of victories, which included electing Democrats to the office of mayor in Corning and Elmira for the first time in 45 years and in 25 years, respectively. There are many other good Democratic candidates who are not veterans, but with some two dozen vets across the nation running for office, we will reverse the trend of recent years.
Since 2000 the number of veterans in Congress has been diminishing, undermining the tradition of strong vets standing up for America in Congress. Now is the time to reverse the tide again, chase the chickenhawks out of Congress, and replace them with veterans -- make America strong by electing those who have fought on the front lines to fight on the home front.
I stand with the Band of Brothers to put America back on course, to make America strong, and to make America truly the home of the brave and the land of the free.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I appreciate you encouragement and I am amazed to find the depth and breadth of leadership that is standing up all over the country. When I first filed to be a Congressional candidate, and some of you saw me early on back in Littlerock, it was a lonely place to be. Now we are seeing many stand and be taken seriously, and once we all secure enough funding to take on those who have taken our Nation away from us - we will be a true force to reckon with.
Thanks for you kind words and thank you for your encouragement.
Eric
Thank you for taking a leading role in rejuvenating the Democratic Party in your reddistrict in upstate New York. I would like to know how we grassroots can help you.What do you need from us besides a truckload of money to show the DCCC that you can raise funds? Have you or the DNC done any internal polling whose results you can tell us about? Where do you stand with the district's voters with regard to your Republican opponent? I know you've done alot of local campaigning from the news reports I keep reading. Do you need boots on the ground at some point? Once again, thanks for working so hard to put this country right again.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
Thank you for your posting and I will need boots on the ground - especially as I get close to the spring when the snow melts and the folks here at home start to think about anything other than how to pay the heating bills.
Right now I am fighting to make the requirements of the DCCC. I have been told that must have 100,000 cash on hand by 30 December to be considered a real campaign - a viable candidate - and, in fact, to stay in the race.
We'll get there, but Veterans, but the very nature of having been in the military for a lifetime never amassed a fortune nor moved in circles where there was a lot of money – hell a big night out for us was a movie and McDonalds (the kids used to call it a “double M”. If you have any ideas on how to help that would be great ... but please go to my web site send a note and we will make certain that we stay in touch. It would be a pleasure to have you here in what I consider to be some of the most beautiful real estate in America and volunteers are the real shock troops that will be able to make a difference in a few months. I am humbled by your offer and take your encouragement like a cold drink of orange juice one hot summer day - reenergizing to say the least.
Eric
While I heard about the DCCC placing hurdles for one such as yourself to gain their support, what are they doing to recruit and facilitate the campaigns of the "fighting Dems".
To an outsider, it seems like our organizations are sitting back and patting themselves on the back for the victories, but are short on assistance to those offering a new voice for the Democratic Party.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
Not being part of the DC establishment I cannot say what the DCCC or any other group is doing to help. In my case it has only been the tremendous support of WESPAC and the supporters of General Clark who have helped me.
We must move out ourselves and no one will help in funding this campaign other than those of us who desire to see real change and new leadership - so I'm not waiting for Washington or anyone else to help organize all the Democratic candidates nor my efforts here in the District. Leaderhsip is all about taking responsiblity, providing a vision and stepping out. That's where I'm out and "Kattie bar the door".
Eric
doesn't fund campaigns or coordinate with them. There are laws about that, but they do look at all the races and do support in the way of mailings for GOTV, TV ads (against the opposing candidate) and in some races they will bring people in to do an invasion when it's tight and every vote counts to get people to the polls. This is how it worked for Stephanie Herseth, Ben Chandler, Paul Hackett and numerous other candidates. They don't advertise what their plans are in advance. They pretty much swoop in at the end of the campaign, so the Rs don't know how much the Ds are willing to spend in any given campaign. They do not get involved in primaries. As far as people running as candidates, they do offer advise on setting up a campaign, how to fundraise and that sort of thing.
Eric, I used to think the military was a good way for people to lift themselves up. Now I'd be reluctant to encourage a young person to join up as the current administration isn't taking care of our men and women in uniform.
There's an ever widening gap between the haves and the have nots in this country and it's so frustrating that one of the best avenues for leveling the playing field--the U.S. armed forces--is being abused by the ultimate "haves," namely, the silver spoons in the GWB administration.
www.massaforcongress.com (don't forget to show Eric's campaign some kindness!!!)
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I have had it with a President and his “rubber-stamping” clones who will stand in front of the troops but who refuses to stand behind any of us. He talks of the importance of supporting Veterans while he creates budgets that cut health care to the VA leaving that Agency to run out of money six months into the year. It's a national disgrace and every day more and more are catching on. The military remains a great and strong institution of justice, fairness and opportunity and with new civilian leadership - starting with a new majority in the House of Representatives - we can bring the kind of leadership to the table that each and every one of them deserve.
Eric
Without the military as a strong option, there will be nothing left to help level the playing field. We need national service as an option to lift people up.
There was a somewhat funny editorial in today's Philadelphia Inquirer, titled Conservatives could learn a thing or 10. I thought #10 was the best:
If you're born on third, you did not hit a triple. Liberals too often ignore the degree to which the bad choices people make compound their problems. But conservatives are too eager to ignore the role that luck plays in success, and to equate wealth with virtue. By luck, I don't mean winning the lottery. I mean being born in the Radnor school district [rich district] instead of in Chester Upland [extremely poor district], or having a parent who went to Penn, rather than one who went to Graterford [prison].
Article...
National service needs to be a way to become a baserunner if you weren't born already on third. It's a win-win-win proposition. The nation gets the service, the baserunner gets opportunity, and the economy gets another stellar contributor.
I'm thrilled about the "Band of Brothers", and I hope a lot of them make it to congress. Veterans wouldn't treat our soldiers like pawns in a game. Good luck to all of them.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I am looking for a more inclusive name in that I have had the honor of communicating with Karen Otter in California who is running - and running to win. There are now over 14 Veterans running to promote true values including 7 Iraqi vets, Vietnam and Desert Storm Veterans and myself - with time in Beirut and the Middle East. I have talked with the majority and we are moving quickly to organize ourselves with the potential for a National Press event in the very near future. I feel honored to step up and help lead and organize all of us into an effective voice the positions that we share in common. None of us, however - and I know personally speaking for myself - stand a chance, unless we can reach a level of threshold funding - so we will be concentrating on that as well. I personally need to meet the requirements of the DCCC to have 100,000 cash on hand by the end of this year and now that we know that we will not have a primary we believe that we will get there – with help.
Thanks for your encouragement and should you desire to invest in the future of the coming Home Front revolution please join us at www.massaforcongress.com. It would be an honor to count you among our early supporters.
Thanks for logging on.
Eric
Hmmm! Band of Brothers and Sisters? Band of Patriots?
Hey, gang, help Eric come up with a name that includes at least three women, two vets, one disabled, and an FBI whistle blower.
Band of __________???
Uncle Noel
I don't think women find that exclusionary. We all called ourselves the "Banned of Brothers" when we got kicked off John Kerry's blog last year.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
There are some days on the campaign trail as I struggle to meet financial requirements that I think of us as a "Band of Aspirin eaters" .... Eric
I like that one.
Let's Go Get Those Bush Bastards - http://ga4.org/campaign/prisonerabuse?source=gac_pa
One of the most difficult tasks we have had as Clarkies, is to convince some in the left-wing of our party of Wes' liberal views. They can be positively vicious and exhausting. Do you and your Band of Brothers have ideas of how to bring them along? Can you give us any pointers? We're going to need them to come with us. Thank you.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I talk about Health Care as an issue of National Security because if 40 million of your citizens are scrambling to have access to a doctor there is little else they can do to contribute to our collective efforts on the economic front.
I talk about balancing the budget because theft from your own children is a moral crime.
I talk about the need to be true leaders it the world and not walk away from the international community because it is only through being involved and leading that we can direct the issues of international importance instead of being directed by them.
I talk about the need to expand civil liberties to all communities in our society because that is what I wore a uniform for during my 24 years in the military.
As a military officer we lived the true progressive issues of our day and I am proud to discuss the need to provide access to health care for all Americans - I am proud to offer an alternatives to the strategy of failure that has us committed to Iraq on a lie and I am proud to stand with fellow Veterans, men and women, - who know that "supporting our troops” mean more than buying a yell ribbon for our cars. It take common shared sacrifice and that must start with tax policy that provided the resources to our nation to tackle the real challenges here on the Home Front.
Yes we can take back the House, Yes I can lead the way, and Yes you can make a difference.
Eric, that was a neat piece of rhetoric. It goes beyond blogging. It is a mini-speech itself.
That's a keeper for me.
I was wondering if the Band of Brothers or the Fighting Dems or the True Public Servants-- whatever we call them-- would also include candidates like Russ Warner out here in California who is running because his teenage son, who'd just served a year and a half in Iraq, INSISTED upon it? He saw just how bad it was over there, and told his Dad he had to do something...
He is after the coveted David Dreier seat here and we are all pulling for him. Given the deficit exposed first in Farenheit 9/11 of Congress members with kids who serve, wouldn't it be fitting to include the parents as well? Or should that be a separate category?
I can't help but envision the potent effect of a massive ad campaign for 2006 ,featuring a line-up of people in uniform standing up for the Democratic Party and Democratic principles. If there are enough of them, the impact could be extremely effective, sending a message to Washington and to the electorate. We are the party who serve.
And thanks again for your work on our behalf!
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I'd love to talk to Russ and I'll make a point of getting tin touch with him this week. Thanks for bring him to my attention as we reach across the county to take back the House in '06.
Eric
these fine candidates?
It seems the Republican strategy against veterans is to falsely turn their military careers into farces and/or insinuate that these vets are a few bricks shy of a load.
While many intelligent voters can see through these tactics, to often, swing voters either don't do enough research or depend on pre-packaged spin from the corporate media to make their decisions and, quite often, believe this spin.
What can we do to overcome what has now become known as "Swiftboating?"
Oh- and it was nice to meet you this summer in Little Rock. I still have your pin on my pocketbook.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
Yes, there is a strategy and now that we know how they work we can defeat them early. In my case, Randy Kuhl has already started a "whisper campaign" telling folks that there is "no reason to vote for Massa since he had cancer and would die in office before they get their money's worth out of him". He also tried to already tell supporters all manner of lies about any number of other issues. That's fine. We will let no attack go unchallenged for more than 24 hours.
When Randy Kuhl tells people that I am unpatriotic because I disagree with this President and his policy that took us to an elective war in Iraq, and I will ask him to lay his uniform next to mine on any table in this District and we'll compare personal military awards, campaign unit citations and theater action ribbons. You see, he had nine years of draft deferments when his country needed his service. I will not back down, be shy, nor be intimidated by the tactics of the Swift Boaters and if anyone thinks that I can be scared then they forget that I'm raising two teenagers and next to that - nothing is frightening.
Eric
Given the number of bribery schemes several Republicans have recently been involved with, I guess that Randy would almost be admitting that he is of like mind when he says that his supporters would "get their money's worth".
http://www.massaforcongress.com
The scandal that enveloped former Congressman Cunningham is only the tip of the iceberg and withyour help we can bring an entire new Freshman class to Washington to clean the House. !!!!!!
Hi Eric,
Thanks for posting back here again. I believe that Dems must hear a unified message and platform regarding Iraq war. For example, will you propose a unified success strategy for Iraq?
As Band of Brothers at Congress, if you were all elected in 2006, what do you believe will be or should be the first priority for the "Fighting Dems"? Also maybe you guys can organize a "Fighting Dems"- Veterans Congressional Caucus?
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I have proposed a gathering of all the Democrats whoa re running for Congress to develop an agreed upon set of platform items - Iraq among them. This is going to happen quickly and although we may not all agree on everything I already know - from my conversations with many of them - that we have the 90% solution on the table already. Please see my postings on my ideas about Iraq that go back to the lessons I learned in the Balkans where we faced much of what we currently face and I believe that there are things that we learned the hard way that can help us get out of Iraq as soon as is possible.
Eric
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/4/115935/757
http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/12/4/15316/6061
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/12/4/144519/881
Please to make comments to build up Eric's posts so they can be heard and get on the Best of blogs on dKos. If you have posted here, do a ditto over there. More Kossacs than Clarkies commenting right now.
Eric -
Do you have any explanation why certain elements of the Democratic party have a problem with your former background as a Republican (and for that matter, with Wes casting a vote for Reagan), while they have no problem with Hillary being a former 'Goldwater girl'? (probably not the best example for you to comment on since she is your state Senator, so perhaps we can abstract it to a generic case). As an Independent, it sometimes gets to me when these elements put out the 'unwelcome sign' - I hope that they realize soon the need for candidates with a wide range of appeal to attract Independents and moderate Republicans.
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I can understand the reluctance of some who have worked so hard in the ranks of the Democratic Party to initially join those of us who joined more recently, and I hold no opposition to them. It is up to me to win over and earn their support. Please know that I get almost as much flak from many on the far left as I do from the far right because I see myself as sitting where the vast majority of Americans are - in the middle on many issues.
Republicans are not my enemies, they are my neighbors, many are my friends, and, if you give me a six pack or two I'll tell you that they are my parents. BUT, the high jacked Republican leadership is the target of my ire and we can no longer sit and watch as they destroy everything that I hold dear. They are the “enemy” and they clearly draw the line when they call leaders like Congressman John Murtha a coward because he dares to stand and speak the power of the conviction of his heart. How dare they believe themselves to be Patriots. And so, I run against those who say that Democracy is owned by one wing of one Party.
And, of by the way- I strongly support and work hard to ensure that Senator Clinton wins in 2006 - she has been a fantastic Senator for New York and great Senator for Corning and my District.
Thanks for logging on and contributing.
Eric
I live just south of Rochester, in Pittsford, and I hope you'll be visiting the northern edge of the 29th district often this next year. There are many, many Republicans who are extremely unhappy with their representative and are looking for a reason to vote against him. I'm sure you're that reason, but you'll need to get up here to convince them. -Miriam Monfredo
I just saw his post (dmac?) and replied to it, hoping he's still online. Eric is going to have a lot of eager volunteers in the Rochester area, especially those who worked for Clark. I still have contact with many of them, so as soon as we get the word from Eric we can begin to gather.
I saw your post on dKos. Great, Miriam. Can Eric get a Meetup or something as a fundraiser soon to help meet the DCCC deadline?
I wish I had Eric's energy. He is a ball of lightening. Now to get him to Congress to put that energy to work saving all of us.
Noel
http://www.massaforcongress.com
I was in the northern area of the District this morning and will be back for as many as three days a week in the future. When funding is in place our campaign flagship headquarters will be in Brighton and we have already been very active in northern Ontario County. I hope to be able to follow your guidance and offer a viable alternative that cuts across the political spectrum. With your help we can get the word out. Please send me a note at our web site and I will personally look forward to making sure that you know when I'm next at an event i Monroe County. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.
Eric
....'scuse my mispost ...
Eric, will the Fighting Dems feature their own website, soon, where we can refer media interests?
A National Press event is mentioned downthread by Eric-- what a great idea! And yes, a website too. They should really capitalize on the photo op...I see billboards across America, all standing in uniform:
The Fighting Dems--
We Showed Up
If they all engage and share one prime PR firm for the entire "Band".....they could make such a strong impact with this kind of thematic campaign. What an idea, it's like the formation of a Caucus before being elected.
Yes!! Love the billboard idea and the wording is so perfect!!
The Fighting Dems
We Showed Up
absolutely love that!!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - Hunter/Garcia
Found dmac's email and have sent him a message. I'm hoping we can get a group going here in Pittsford/Rochester soon enough to do a meetup for Eric before his deadline. If anyone else is from this area, and wants to join in, give me a holler at mgmseneca at aol.dot com (my publisher and agent are going to kill me! My last book was late because of Clark and they said never, ever again. heh....) -Miriam
I have a rule that I contribute to no one but Wes Clark. It served me well in the last election cycle when I would have felt terribly contributing to Senator Kerry only to have him drop out with $15 millon dollars unspent. Some how I think that won't be a problem with you. I am so Inspired by what you say and HOW you say it. It won't be a lot, but I am on way to www.massaforcongress.com to contribute.
Thank-you, Eric!
Along with your band of brothers, you give me renewed hope for genuine change. You've all "walked the walk" and know how to realize meaningful objectives. The country desperately needs your kind of leadership.
aka carol4clark