This guy doesn't have a chance for the Senate against Shelby, but it's good to see a Dem here run as... a DEM, and accept climate change. If we work a candidate like thise, working the state and meeting people for years... maybe maybe maybe one day:
AL-Senate: William Barnes, Running Blue in a Red State
by: mooncat
Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 07:34:00 AM CDT
William G. Barnes really is running blue as he attempts to unseat Senator Richard Shelby. You won't find Barnes hiding the fact that he's a Democrat, he doesn't do the mealy-mouthed "jury is still out" crap when asked about climate change or the need to develop alternative sources of energy, and he isn't running down health care reform like so many Alabama Democrats have done.
But however Democratic Barnes' beliefs and stump speech are, he wasn't exactly encouraged to run against Shelby -- and he hasn't had much support from some of the other Democrats on the ticket, either.
... in late 2009, on the verge of making a decision on his candidacy, Barnes contacted the Alabama Democratic Party, and asked who was being going to battle it out with Shelby. The answer was succinct: not a clue.
"They told me 'he's got too much money. He's got $13 million,'" said Barnes. "My response was, 'That shouldn't stop anybody from running in our free democratic society.'"
It's been that way for several election cycles ... the Alabama Democratic Party never encourages an opponent for Richard Shelby. They are content to simply wait until he retires or expires in office -- apparently believing that a strong Democratic contender will then magically appear after decades of unfunded Dems being crushed by the Republicans.
Howard Dean was right about how to build a political party.
"You have to contest every seat, for every office, in every county in the United States."
If you sit out the important races year after year waiting for them to get easier, you won't have a party left when the seat finally comes open. Which is easier than making a contest of it, but not nearly as satisfying as winning.
Kudos to Bill Barnes for doing what needs to be done, even in the face of opposition from his own party.
"If you keep voting the same old way, then you're going to keep getting the same old results," said Barnes. "And if no one will run against him, then by golly, I will."
Barnes deserves our votes and he also needs our contributions -- $10, $5, or whatever you can manage.
leftinalabama.com
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as mooncat says... "a strong Democratic candidate will then magically appear". no. we need to develop them and work during the election years, working the state and talking with people and building toward elections. The long game, or whatever. |
