Please join me in welcoming Rep. Paul Hodes to OpenLeft for a chat about his race against anti-equality Kelly Ayotte, the state of LGBT initiatives in Congress, and how we can advance the movement for full equality.
As I wrote this afternoon, this chat is part of a series of chats with candidates for Congress who would make strong LGBT equality champions and are in competitive races.
This chat is being simultaneously hosted at AMERICABlog, Pam's House Blend, The Bilerico Project, and Good As You. You can submit a question for Rep. Hodes below on his campaign and LGBT equality using CoverItLive below.
Please join us at 6 PM EST tonight for a live chat with Rep. Paul Hodes, the Democratic nominee for the open Senate seat in New Hampshire.
I am a big believer that if you're going to make a criticism, be specific. If it's of a tactic, prove that there's a better one. If it's of an organization or group of people, show what the problems are and/or who the bad actors are.
That's why I cringe lately when I hear a lot of friends and colleagues in the LGBT community have been (rightfully) complaining about "the Democrats" in Congress and the White House, and how "the Democrats" don't deserve LGBT support this fall. Because every time I hear it, I think back to the aftermath of the New York State Senate vote on marriage equality, where all of the post-vote narrative- including from Democratic State Senator and bill sponsor Tom Duane- was "This is all the Democrats' fault." I wrote at the time that aside from Democrats being responsible for the bill getting as far as it did in the first place, such rhetoric makes people who aren't into politics identify "Democrat" with "sucks" or "no better than Republicans"- something that's not helpful when strong progressives run. It also creates this false notion that the solution is simply to engage in as many primaries as possible, even if there are Republicans who are equally vulnerable. And while we've been kicking anti-equality State Senators to the curb- another one last night- we'll never get a vote on marriage again under Republican control.
The same is true on ENDA, DOMA and other issues under Speaker Boehner. If we're ever going to build a pro-equality, and progressive majority, in Congress, our community has to seek and find our allies. That's a one-by-one process, not a party-by-party process. The LGBT community has to continue to find our enemies and our champions, and that's what I want to talk about today.
Today, OpenLeft along with AMERICABlog, Pam's House Blend, Bilerico Project, and Good as You will be launching a series of live chats with selected pro-equality champions in tight races. Rep. Paul Hodes from New Hampshire's 2nd District is the first candidate. He's from one of five states where same-sex couples have the freedom to marry- and he's a strong marriage equality supporter himself. He's a co-sponsor of inclusive ENDA legislation, as well as the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA. And he's voted to add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal hate crimes statutes, and to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And he's a straight ally, and running against an extremely anti-LGBT equality Republican. He's exactly the kind of champion I believe the LGBT community needs to get into the Senate and start moving the ball down the field.
Rep. Hodes will be joining us, along with allied blogs AMERICABlog, Pam's House Blend, Bilerico Project, and Good As You tonight at 6 PM. We'll be using CoverItLive.com. This isn't just another chat to talk about his race to replace anti-equality Republican Judd Gregg in the U.S. Senate, although, that's an important one I'll discuss tonight. We'll be asking, and want you to ask, about the holdup on LGBT issues in Congress, how we can get more straight allies in Congress and in the public on our side, what resources pro-LGBT activists can leverage to get more members of Congress elected and on our side, and how to move our movement forward. It's more of a "salon" than a live chat because if you're going to be asked for your support, you deserve that.
Please join us tonight at 6 PM EST for a live chat with Rep. Hodes, and bring your best questions.
Update: Going back through a memory of Hodes, I came across his live chat at Blue America, back when the No On 1 campaign was raging. Here's Howie on Hodes:
Today, he's asked us to let our readers know that he'd like anyone who was considering donating to his campaign during this live blogging session, instead donate to the No on 1 campaign in Maine. Paul isn't a frightened, mealy-mouthed congressman tiptoeing around equality with a "separate but equal" non-solution for marriage rights. You don't hear him talking about domestic partnerships. He favors equal rights under the law for all couples regardless of gender. "The legislation passed in New Hampshire," he reminds us, "will ensure that all Granite Staters have equal rights under the law. And the law is consistent with the spirit of New Hampshire expressed in our state motto 'Live Free or Die.' Marriage equality gives equal justice to New Hampshire residents. I will continue to work for those same principles as a US Senator and I am a proud co-sponsor of the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act."
Meet Katrina Swett. That’s her on the right. Why are we talking about her?
Well, the Democratic primary for New Hampshire’s open congressional seat is just 4 days away, and it’s neck-and-neck.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has endorsed bold progressive candidate Ann McLane Kuster, who is running against Joe Lieberman’s presidential co-chair Katrina Swett. Kuster and Swett met in a big debate Wednesday night, and Swett attacked Kuster for being the "very progressive candidate," saying, "The country is moving away from the more left, progressive point of view."
Seriously? Attacking a Democrat for being progressive in a Democratic primary? Swett’s attack is all you need to know about the type of Blue Dog she’ll be in Congress.
As we await the historic vote on health care reform, it's important to remember that we're just ten days away from the end of the first fundraising quarter of 2010. The fundraising totals reported in this quarter will be pivotal to determining the tenor of many races for the rest of the year. If there is any time to contribute, now is the time!
Please head over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and contribute whatever you are able to these terrific Democratic candidates for Senate.
Democrat
Currently At
End-of-Quarter Goal
Distance to Goal
Kendrick Meek
$25
$300
$275
Bill Halter
$445
$750
$305
Joe Sestak
$1,320
$1,600
$280
Paul Hodes
$1,447
$1,700
$253
Robin Carnahan
$1,163
$1,400
$237
Remember, the contribution you can make isn't just a donation to a single candidate or political campaign. It's an investment against Republican obstruction (and conservaDem enabling) and an investment toward achieving that more perfect union.
The last day of the third fundraising quarter of 2009 (whoa, time really flies!) is this Wednesday, September 30. Our Democratic candidates for Senate need to make as big a fundraising splash as possible in the third quarter to help refute the growing conventional wisdom among the traditional media pundits that 2010 could be a Republican year.
Please, please, please consider making a contribution today to our Democratic candidates for Senate via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page. I've set some lofty, pie-in-the-sky goals that, if we were able to meet them, I'd be wonderfully surprised and gratified and blown away by your generosity.
Democrat
Currently At
Goal
Distance to Goal
Robin Carnahan
$681
$1,000
$319
Paul Hodes
$780
$1,000
$220
Joe Sestak
$758
$1,000
$242
Charlie Melancon
$193
$400
$207
Please click on over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and make a contribution to help stop ongoing Republican obstruction in the Senate. Every contribution makes a real impact whether it's $100 or $25 or $10 or, well, any amount. Want to rebel against multiples of five and contribute $63 or $39 or $27, knock yourself out!
Remember, the fundraising quarter ends this Wednesday, so please contribute today if you can. Thank you SO much!
Last cycle, I started an ActBlue page specifically for Democratic Senate candidates working to pick up seats held by Republicans. I named it the Expand the Map! ActBlue page because the goal was to expand the map of competitive Senate seats. The effort was a big success, achieving over 300 contributions and $40,000 for the Democratic Senate candidates included on the page.
Today, I kicked off the 2010 edition of the Expand the Map! ActBlue page with three Democratic candidates for Senate: Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes, and Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak.
In New Hampshire and Missouri, we have the strongest candidates available, candidates who will also make terrific Democratic Senators. In both races, however, fundraising will always be a top priority. Missouri Republican Roy Blunt will be able to tap his lobbyist buddies and corrupt cronies for cash ad nauseum. No doubt the NRSC will also make holding New Hampshire a top priority; and the D.C. GOP establishment has already begun fawning over Palin-esque quitter Kelly Ayotte. Carnahan and Hodes need our support! A few years back, all four of New Hampshire's and Missouri's combined Senate seats were held by Republicans. Wouldn't it feel great to have flipped all four?
In Pennsylvania, y'all know the deal. Arlen Specter was a Republican Senator for decades. Even though he changed his Party affiliation, he's still not a Democrat as far as I'm concerned. Joe Sestak is a real Democrat, and he - not Specter - should win the Democratic primary. But Specter has a significant edge when it comes to campaign cash; and, Ed Rendell will do all he can to shut off Sestak's fundraising. Let Specter, Rendell, etc. know that they can't shut down the netroots by supporting Sestak!
Please, please, please help kick off the 2010 cycle's Expand the Map! effort by sending these highly deserving Democrats a few bucks. $100 makes a huge difference, $20 makes a huge difference, $10 makes a huge difference! Hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and make your voice heard.
This is not just a contribution to these Democrats' campaigns. This is a contribution toward slowing and eventually stopping Republican obstruction in the U.S. Senate. Thank you SO much!
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