Progressive Democrat Newsletter Issue 251

I want to continue this effort from last week. NOW is the time to send a real and convincing message that healthcare reform is a winning issue:

With regards to healthcare reform there are some dedicated champions in Congress (all Democrats) and some who have been as obstructionist as can be (from both parties). In some cases support for a champion (particularly if they are being targeted by the Republicans), support for an excellent candidate trying to flip a House or Senate seat from the Republicans, and a primary challenge to carefully selected obstructionist DINOs (a term I try not to use too often) can send a clear message that support of healthcare reform is a WINNING POSITION. And that is the key message we have to send: people who support healthcare reform need to be supported and those who oppose it need to be challenged.

I have put together a carefully selected Act Blue List of key races where this message can, in my opinion, be best sent. I include people like Alan Grayson and Jared Polis, who are among the champions of the public option and who are excellent Congressional Reps to begin with. I include people like Lois Herr, Jennifer Brunner and Kendrick Meek who are trying to flip seats from the obstructionist Republicans and who are good candidates to begin with. And I include a handful of selected primary challengers (like Regina Thomas, Bill Halter and Connie Saltonstall) designed both to try and defeat key DINOs and/or to help Nancy Pelosi put pressure on those DINOs to stand by healthcare reform. Some of my choices are races that need our help anyway and we have a shot at winning (Jennifer Brunner, Alan Grayson, Bill Halter, etc.) Others may be long shots, but still worth focusing on for the pressure it puts on obstructionists.

Now is the time to donate because now is the time when healthcare is at the forefront of Obama's agenda. Please pick one or two of the candidates I highlight on my Healthcare4America Act Blue Page and send a message that might actually make a real difference. I will add my own contribution to every donation of $10 or more that is made the week after I post this.

Truth is, these kinds of pressure are working! As the vote approaches, a whole slew of conservative Dems (even Brad Ellsworth, one of the most conservative Democrats from one of the most conservative districts in America) are deciding to vote YES on healthcare reform. So our pressure is working. But we have to keep it up and targeting these key candidates is key to success.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Target the Corrupt Republican Campaign

Congressman Bill Foster: Give Us Our Healthcare Reform!

A Hatchet Job by The News Magazine

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Manhattan, NY Focus

Queens, NY Focus: Slasher Monserrate Goes Down in Flames

Queens, NY Focus

Bronx, NY Focus

Suffolk County, NY Focus

Rochester, NY Focus

New York 19th District Focus: Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS

Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

Dallas County, TX Focus

Houston/Harris County, TX Focus

Texas 10th District Focus: Turn TX-10 Blue

Texas 21st District Focus: Turn TX-21 Blue

TEXAS FOCUS

DEBRA BOWEN FOR CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE

Silicon Valley Area, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

Orange County, CA Focus

California 11th District Focus: San Joaquin, Alameda and Santa Clara Counties

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

Sussex County, NJ Focus

Passaic County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

FLORIDA FOCUS

Charlottesville/Albemarle County, VA Foucus

Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania County, VA Focus

Hanover County, VA Focus

VIRGINIA FOCUS

ILLINOIS FOCUS

Georgia Focus: Regina Thomas for Congress (GA-12)

Atlanta, GA Focus

Fayette County, GA Focus

Coweta County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS

Pennsylvania Focus: Lois Herr for Congress

Lancaster Co. PA Focus

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

Nevada Focus: Republican John Ensign Subpoenaed

Nevada Focus: Does Mining Pay Its Fair Share?

NEVADA FOCUS

COLORADO FOCUS

ARIZONA FOCUS

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

Michigan Focus: Bart Stupak vs. Catholic Nuns

MICHIGAN FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

MINNESOTA FOCUS