Rep. Klein: Scared to Leave His Home?
Congressman Ron Klein and I have a lot in common. We both represent districts in Florida. We both represent gerrymandered “swing” districts. We both beat incumbent Republicans.
But only one of us has an opponent who says that we will be shot if we dare to leave our own home.
Not long ago, Ron Klein’s Republican opponent told his hatred-filled followers to make sure that Ron was “scared to come out of his house.” He told them to “get your musket, fix your bayonet.”
This “hate speech” is intolerable! Help Ron Klein fight back.
Klein’s opponent used to be in the U.S. Army. Until Klein’s opponent was assigned to interrogate a civilian Iraqi police officer who was in U.S. custody. And he fired his pistol right past that Iraqi police officer’s head. That got Klein’s opponent court-martialed.
Klein’s opponent recently has called Klein “a cretin.” He said that Klein’s supporters would soon be “fleeing in utter desperation.” And Klein’s opponent said that he is “dangerous to President Barack Hussein Obama.”
Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought it was a felony to threaten the President.
I know Ron Klein. He works hard. He shows up to hearings prepared. He doesn’t miss votes. And he has a conscience.
I don’t think that Ron Klein should be afraid to leave his home.
So let’s try to help him. We have set up a webpage where you can contribute to Ron Klein’s campaign (and ours, too, if you wish).
You may or may not know Ron Klein. You may or may not like Ron Klein. But for sure, Ron Klein has to win this race. So that we can all be safe, and free from fear, both in and out of our homes.
Truth,
Alan Grayson
Who Gets the M&Ms?
Sometime in the next 48 hours, we are going to accomplish something that no one has ever done before, in any House race.
Sometime in the next 48 hours, someone is going to make the 100,000th online contribution to the 2010 Grayson for Congress Campaign.
There is no House Democrat who has raised more money for the 2010 campaign. And there is no House Democrat who has done it way that we have – not by pandering to lobbyists, favor-seekers and the idle rich, but appealing to people with a conscience. People like you.
You be the one. You make the 100,000th online contribution to our campaign.
Every single one of you has my thanks – whether you’ve made a contribution, signed our petitions, made phone calls, knocked on doors, or simply offered encouragement. And thanks to you, I can do the right thing. I don’t owe anything to anyone but the voters.
And so, as a symbol of my gratitude to you, I’m going to part with something that I’m very fond of.
A box of M&Ms.
Not just any box of M&Ms. A box that President Obama gave to me. When we were on Air Force One together. A box with President Obama’s signature.
I will give that box of M&Ms to our 100,000th online contributor.
Will it be you? Will you make the 100,000th contribution to our campaign?
I will miss that box of M&Ms. But I’ll know that in some tangible way, I will have said thanks to one of the many, many people who have come together to support our campaign – our campaign for Justice, Equality, and Peace.
And if you are the one who gets that box of M&Ms, then you will have a very important decision to make.
Eat them? Or keep them?
Tough choice.
Truth,
Alan Grayson
How to Win in 2010
There has been a lot of talk about how a Democrat can win in 2010. Here is my answer:
Let me know what you think. I will read each and every comment.
Truth,
Congressman Alan Grayson
We Won!
We know what you're thinking. You saw that subject line and said to yourself, "whoa - did I miss the election? Did I like, do a Rip Van Winkle for two months, and now it's November 3?"
No. Don't worry. It's still September. But thanks to the support of people like you, Democracy for America has named us as "Number One Hero" in the U.S. House of Representatives!
We outpolled Nancy Pelosi, and all 433 other Members of the House. Thanks to you!
This is the kind of grassroots energy we're going to need to win the election in November. And your first opportunity to help is this Saturday, when we're planning a national Phone Bank for Truth at CallforGrayson.com to tell Central Florida voters about how Alan Grayson has fought for them. You can call from your home, anywhere in the country, to talk to Central Florida voters about Alan.
DFA was founded in 2001, by Governor Howard Dean. DFA has over a million members. The organization, following in the footsteps of Gov. Dean's Presidential campaign, organizes grassroots support for progressive candidates all over the country. Mirroring Gov. Dean's "50-State Strategy," DFA has over 600 local groups, including at least one in every congressional district. If you're not already a DFA member, you should join!
DFA's members have been active in many important issues. 400,000 DFA members signed a petition supporting a public option. We continue to fight for that, with our H.R. 4789, a four-page bill that allows any American to buy into Medicare at cost.
The issues at stake in this election are those that matter most in the lives of ordinary people -- but thanks to a corporate-controlled media, they won't hear about how hard we're fighting unless you tell them the truth.
Thank you for your everything you're doing to help on this campaign. And thank you, again, to everyone who took the time to make us Number One.
Sincerely,
Alan Grayson
No Matter Where You Live, You Can Vote for Me
We have gotten a ton of e-mails from people who say, "I live in Lower Slobovia, so I can't vote for you, but I wish I could. My Congressman is a worthless piece of you-know-what."
Well, for all those people, now is your chance.
Governor Howard Dean's Democracy For America (DFA) is asking progressives, "Who are your heroes?" And, of course, "Who are your villains?"
In the "heroes" section, I'm in the lead. Today is the last day to vote.
Please take a moment now to add your vote, and make sure that I stay on top.
Please remember: vote for me in the "heroes" column. Not the "villains" column. At least, that's what I'm hoping.
Honestly, it seems like it's getting really hard to vote "for" anyone. Both national parties are running nothing but negative ads on TV. Too often, elections seem like a choice between the lesser of two evils.
But it doesn't have to be that way. I want to be someone whom you think is worth voting for. I want to be someone whom you want to vote for. When you leave the ballot booth, I want you to have a smile on your face.
Please click here, and vote for me as a DFA "hero." Show people that you support truth and courage.
And thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Alan Grayson
VIDEO: "My Five Children Go To Public School"
"My Five Children go to Public School." Now, there's a wedge issue.
The right wing has spent the last 30 years trying to gut public education in America. Waging a war on teachers' unions. Destroying public pensions and other benefits. Crushing the local tax base. Diverting funds to private schools. And trying to turn public schools into test prep centers, offering factory education.
Who will stand up for public schools in America?
Me. I will.
With our first TV spot of this campaign, "Alan Grayson Saved Our Schools":
I went to public school. My mother and my father were public school teachers their whole working lives. My mother lives on a pension that the right wing wants to take away from her.
And my Republican opponent? He home-schooled all his children. He raises money for an organization that says that public schools teach children "suicide." He voted to cut $1 billion in state aid to schools. And he pushed to take away public school money, in order to fund private school vouchers.
So he surely can't say, "I send my five children to public school."
Isn't it about time that people like us had something to vote for? And someone to vote for? Or does every election have to be a choice between the lesser of two evils?
In 2008, our TV spot "Briefcase" won the Pollie Award for Best Political Ad in a Congressional campaign. And - miracle of miracles - it was a positive ad. It didn't trash anyone. For once, it made people feel like voting for someone.
And now we're doing it again, with our ad "Alan Grayson Saved Our Schools." Will you support this ad, and our schools?
Yes, we brought $200 million into the district, and yes, we kept the schools open. And yes, we're proud of it. Because we need strong public schools. No apologies. Because public schools are the backbone of America. They are the foundation of the Middle Class.
Our TV spot is already a rousing success. Yesterday, the Washington Post, which reviews ads in 500 races around the country, called it the "Ad of the Day." The Hotline, which also reviews political spots from everywhere, says that it is "the most positive ad" that "we've seen so far."
Our campaign is going to spend $100,000 on this advertisement, over the next week. If 2,000 of us chip in $50 each, we can pay for the whole run. Will you help?
This is the campaign you have been paying for. It's a campaign of which you can be proud.
Truth,
Alan Grayson
The Fight of the Century. But Which Century?
The Fight of the Century. But Which Century?
"They didn't have Social Security, free roads or public schools in the 18th century, why do the ingrates need them today?"
- What Congressional candidate Daniel Webster is thinking
VS. 
Congressman Alan Grayson was informed today that Daniel Webster has been chosen as his Republican opponent for Congress. "Didn't he die, like, 150 years ago?" asked Grayson. "Can't the Republicans find anyone to run against me who's alive?"
Grayson was then informed that Daniel Webster had hitched a ride in Marty McFly's new, fuel-efficient DeLorean, which gets an amazing 35 years to the gallon. Grayson grew pensive for a moment, and then said, "Well, it will be an interesting race. Certainly, Daniel Webster will run well among 19th Century voters. But we have solid support among 20th and 21st Century voters."
When asked about endorsements, Grayson conceded that Daniel Webster was likely to win the support of James Knox Polk. But Grayson pointed to a long-time feud between Daniel Webster and Andrew Jackson. And Grayson thanked Mr. Harrison, Grayson's 12th grade history teacher, for letting Grayson know about it.
Webster immediately went negative on Grayson, calling him a "knave," a "varlet" and a "scalawag." Grayson refused to respond in kind, saying that he would never attack anyone who had dated Betsy Ross. Grayson added that he hoped that the contest would be a true test of ideas, and that the two of them in fact shared a lot of common ground on the issues. "Emancipation, for instance. And the preservation of the Union. Except for Texas."
Webster, when asked to comment, replied "Tippecanoe, and Tyler too."
Roach Motel Marriages
My opponent Dan Webster -- endorsed in the primary by the Orlando Sentinel and by Jeb Bush -- may not have a clue on what to do about joblessness, homelessness, expensive healthcare, no money for schools or endless war. But he does know what to do about divorce.
Ban it.
In the Florida Legislature, Dan Webster sponsored and supported a bill to institute "covenant marriage." In a covenant marriage, you can't get divorced.
So Dan Webster's bill reduces the institution of marriage to a roach motel: You can check in, but you can't check out.
With one exception: adultery. So, let's say that your husband, God forbid, has been abusing you. And you need a divorce. You have only one option. According to Dan Webster's law, you would need to deliberately commit infidelity in order to get a divorce.
Ah, but here's the catch. Under Dan Webster's law, if both parties cheat on each other, then they can't get a divorce. Ever. They're locked in holy matrimony, forever. Like two scorpions in a bottle. So if you cheat on him to get away from him, and it turns out that he's cheated on you, well then . . . .
There is only one place where in the entire world where both divorce and annulment are forbidden: The Taliban Government in Northwest Pakistan. And Taliban Dan wants to institute the same rule here. The man with the 19th century name wants to pass 13th century laws, which you and I will have to live by.
Dan Webster is not some fringe candidate. He was Speaker of the Florida House. He was Majority Leader of the Florida Senate. He was in the State Legislature for 28 years. And, as stated above, our daily newspaper and former Governor Jeb Bush have endorsed him in the primary.
We're in a real fight. Will you help?
Truth,
Alan Grayson
It’s Not Just That He’s a Drunk Driver
In the run-up to our Money Bomb on Monday, we've been introducing you to my rogues' gallery of opponents. First Dan Fanelli, the racist. Then Bruce O'Donoghue, the tax cheat. Then Kurt Kelly, the warmonger.
Today, it's Todd Long, the drunk driver.
Not Todd Long, guy who has been caught for drinking and driving, but now wants to make laws for all of us. Todd Long. The Constitutionalist.
Who was arrested for passing out drunk. In a schoolyard. 250 miles from home.
What was he doing in that schoolyard? Use your imagination.
This is what I'm up against -- I need your support in my August 23 moneybomb.
Donate $25 or more now toward my moneybomb and help me reach my goal of $300,000.
There is a vigorous debate among Todd Long's merry band of teabaggers. Has he been found guilty of lots of DUIs? Or, as Long himself claims, just one? Because, Long asserts, there is a different Todd Long who was found guilty of all the others.
Imagine that. Two different drunks named Todd Long. What are the odds?
Please donate $25 or more now.
But it's not so much that Todd Long is a drunk driver. Or that he claims he's the only one who can beat me, for the sole reason that two years ago, he lost to the Republican who then lost to me. Or that he's a walking, talking Limbaugh dittohead. No, it's deeper than that. A lot deeper.
What has Todd Long ever done for the people? In the many years that he has spent on this beautiful blue marble, floating in space, what has done to improve the lives of his fellow human beings?
Answer: Nothing. And if he's done nothing to help other people before he's elected to Congress, it's a good bet that he'll go right on doing nothing after he's elected to Congress.
Which is why we have to beat him. And why I need your help to do that.
Can you donate $25 or more now to make sure I'm back in 2011?
Thank you very much for your support.
Truth,
Rep. Alan Grayson
P.S. Thanks to the support of over 3000 people like you, we are now already 1/3 of the way to our goal of $300,000 for Monday's Money Bomb. Thank you.
What Should I Tell the President?
President Obama is coming to Florida today. I'll see him in the evening, and when I do I want to give him and his staff your comments.
You can submit a comment by following the link below, or by replying to this email. In order to make my flight, I'll need your comments no later than noon Eastern Time.
Truth,
Alan Grayson