[Peace-discuss] ColroOfChange: Organized people vs. organized money in Arkansas

[Jenifer Cartwright]

Pls forward widely. Halter has progressive support, but campaigns cost money, and Lincoln has all those corp funds... --Jenifer

--- On Thu, 6/3/10, James Rucker, ColorOfChange.org PAC <no-reply at colorofchange.org> wrote:

From: James Rucker, ColorOfChange.org PAC <no-reply at colorofchange.org>
Subject: Organized people vs. organized money in Arkansas
To: "Jenifer Cartwright" <jencart13 at yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, June 3, 2010, 9:46 AM


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Dear Jenifer,

Last month, we asked you to support Bill Halter's effort to unseat Blanche Lincoln — a Democratic senator from Arkansas who has repeatedly stood up for powerful and wealthy corporations over her own constituents, including Black Arkansans.

Because of thousands of people like you, Halter has done what few thought possible: he has Lincoln on the ropes and has forced her into a run-off.

Halter can defeat Lincoln, but he needs all the help he can get. Can you make a few phone calls or contribute a few dollars to counter the corporate machine behind Lincoln?

To sign up to phone-bank for Halter, click here:


http://www.billhalter.com/activategotv


To contribute, even if it's $5, click here:


https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/haltercoc


Senator Blanche Lincoln received an "F" grade from the Arkansas NAACP;1 she was instrumental in removing the public option from the health care bill;2 and she opposed President Obama's plans to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure3 and to increase funding for college scholarships.4

The Democratic primary was supposed to be over weeks ago, and Lincoln was supposed to win. But Bill Halter is giving Lincoln the fight of her life — she didn't get 50% of the vote on May 18, so she'll face Halter again in a runoff election this Tuesday.

Halter is up against millions of corporate dollars in racially charged attack ads from big business groups that support Lincoln.5  His campaign is powered largely by the voices and small donations of regular people — and he's going need every last ounce of grassroots energy to win.

This fight is about more than replacing just one Senator — it's an opportunity to show that everyday people can deliver consequences to Democrats who claim to represent us but let wealthy special interests buy influence and control over our government’s agenda.  More than anything, politicians care about winning, and staying in power. Right now, Democratic and Republican politicians alike know that one of the best ways to win is by taking big money from big business — and the best way to keep that money flowing is by protecting corporate interests. 

If we can win this fight in Arkansas, it will show that this approach is risky.  It will make corporate-backed politicians fear for their jobs and scramble for ways to show that they do fight for the interests of working-class and middle-class people.  And it will encourage politicians to build their base of power from ordinary people, by speaking to and looking out for our interests.

There are two ways you can help right now — by making a donation to Halter's campaign, or volunteering a little of your time.

The Halter campaign has set up a phone-banking program that makes it easy to call voters in Arkansas and encourage them to get out and vote for Halter on Tuesday.  Click the link below to sign up, and someone from Halter's campaign will contact you:


http://www.billhalter.com/activategotv


Any size donation — even if it's $3 or $5 — will help Halter's campaign in the final stretch.  You can make a donation here:


https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/haltercoc


Thanks and Peace,

— James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Milton and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org PAC team
   June 3, 2010

References

1. "NAACP flunks delegation," Arkansas Times, 4-21-2010

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/262?akid=1480.394109.-vT67F&t=6

2. "Lincoln: 'I'll filibuster a public option'," Talking Points Memo, 11-21-2009

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/193?akid=1480.394109.-vT67F&t=8

3. "Study follows the money on cramdown vote," Truthout, 6-10-2009

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/263?akid=1480.394109.-vT67F&t=10

4. "Lincoln's opposition to student loan reform highlights senator's ties to banking interests," Facing South, 3-25-2010

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/264?akid=1480.394109.-vT67F&t=12

5. "Color of Change denounces business group's 'Bangalore' ad," Washington Post blog, 5-3-2010

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/265?akid=1480.394109.-vT67F&t=14


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Paid for by ColorOfChange.org PAC: http://colorofchange.org/pac. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.


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