| After dad came back from WWII, he eventually became a lawyer and played a major role in the desegregation of public schools, especially after the passage of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. He was raised in Tennessee, so he was well suited to bridge the gaps that existed back then when the government imposed new regulations. You can read more about him (warning, PDF) here.
I grew up in a family deeply involved with Democratic Party politics. My parents tell me that I had memorized all the names of the 15 or so members of the Dane County Democratic Party when I was toddler -- it was quite a Republican area back then. I can also remember driving around with mom in a rusty Studebaker with Proxmire for Senate signs.
And that leads to me this discussion of the Blue Dog label. You see, I am very concerned about budgetary matters because I have been influenced by people like Bill Proxmire and Paul Simon. For a generation, Proxmire was a leading progressive voice in the Senate who also railed against government waste and excessive spending. You might know Proxmire as the originator of the Golden Fleece Award. I imagine the Pentagon would have won one for shipping two 19 cent washers for $1,000,000. Senator Paul Simon famously said, "To be a liberal doesn't mean you're a wastrel," a phrase he adopted from Senator Paul Douglas.
For progressive reasons, we need to deal with debt. Interest payments eat up an enormous amount of our federal budget every year, and when government can no longer step up to help, it will be the middle class and elderly who suffer. An out of control deficit threatens Social Security and Medicare.
That's one reason I stood up against some of the more inane tax policies of the Bush administration and joined Responsible Wealth in opposing Estate Tax repeal - a group that includes Bill Gates' father and Paul Newman. It also shouldn't come as a surprise that Congressman Patrick Murphy, a staunch opponent of the war and a fiscal hawk, joining the Blue Dog caucus has had an effect on me.
I don't believe it's useful to have long discussions on labeling or pigeon-holing and I don't think voters do either. I certainly do not like to pit Democrats against Democrats, so let me just tell you a couple general stances on a few issues so the netroots can get a feel of what kind of representative I'll be in Congress.
I oppose this administration's policies on Iraq, and have tried to change them - most notably by working long, hard and successfully to get the first and only Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, Patrick Murphy. I want to work with him to begin bringing our troops home right away and let the Iraqis take control of their country. I'm a scientist and believe in factual data. The case this administration has made that the surge is working is not consistent with the available data.
I oppose this administration and their partners in congress who ran up the debt and are endangering our children's future. And I'll work with the blue dogs - or any other group in congress who will help change this fiscal recklessness into fiscal responsibility. Again, one of the great threats to Social Security and Medicare is our system collapsing in debt.
I oppose this administration's circumventing the constitution at every turn when they think it will be politically beneficial to them. I believe Attorney General Gonzalez is a disgrace. I think my father would be heartbroken and outraged to see a Justice Department that has attempted to systematically dismantle our civil liberties.
Throughout this election season, I intend to put forward my ideas for how we can change what is going on in Washington. I believe my background and life experiences, coupled with my scientific and business know how, will help bring about the change that voters so desperately want right now. As our campaign grows, I will reach out more and more to the netroots for advice, support and assistance.
Taking this seat in 2008 will send the biggest message back to the pundits, the politicos and all the people that for years have given carte blanche to the policies of George W. Bush.
If you also want to send them that message, then join us. |
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