Hi Everyone,

I wanted to let you know that I have announced I will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the US House of Representatives from the 8th Congressional District of Virginia.  I will be filing with the FEC next week.  As you know, the District is currently represented by Jim Moran.  As you also know, debate is the lifeblood of Democracy.  I know that some of you may not agree with my decision to run, but I believe that it is important that people in the District have a legitimate choice when they are making major decisions about the direction our country should be taking.

Jim and I have major differences on many issues, and I'll be fleshing those out over the course of this campaign.  I believe very passionately in what I am doing, and that our country is currently at a crossroads with regards to the loss of our Constitutional rights in the name of National Security. I believe that Bush & Cheney should be impeached & removed from office as soon as possible.  Jim had a chance to vote on impeachment a couple weeks ago, but instead he voted to send the bill back to Committee where it will die.  If they are not impeached & removed from office by the time I am elected I will offer a resolution to censure both of them because we need to send a message to all future Presidents that we will not tolerate any violations of our Constitution.

I hope you all have a happy holiday season.

Sincerely Yours,

Matt

Matthew Famiglietti
http://www.MattTheDe...

If it's the same person, Michele Famiglietti  was on the staff of the infamous Mark Foley:  http://americanradio...  and http://americanradio...

Also, she apparently was once Treasurer for the Distilled Spirits Council.  http://www.opensecre...  While she was treasurer, the council was fined by the FEC for non-filing:

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Inc. Political Action Committee, Michele Famiglietti, treasurer
  REPORT:  30 Day Post-General 2002
  * LATE/NON-FILER:  Non-Filer
  PENALTY :  $2,700 civil money penalty

According to the Nation, "The liquor industry is a third major funder, with money from the Distilled Spirits Council. . ."  Of whom, you might ask?

Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform.  http://www.thenation...  (Note: Michele worked for the Council in 2002 -- they contributed to Grover in 1999; not sure what they were contributing while she was Treasurer -- Grove does not like this info to come out)

I'm sure more interesting stuff will come out.

Poor Michele (one L) - wonder what everyone will be saying to her when she shows up to work tomorrow?  Maybe she's a Democratic plant :) he he

Think that was funny? I don't.  Sure, we all like to have a good laugh, but I don't understand why people think that it's okay to laugh at someone else's expense. It may be funny to you - but do you even KNOW Michele Famiglietti? I don't.  Sure - her name is out there on the web. But I don't know anything about her other than her name.  I don't know if she has a family member who might be offended or upset by these kind of comments.  What if her parents are die-hard Republicans and disown her because they believe what you said!  Think that's on the extreme side? Then you've lived a sheltered life.

For those of you who are out there on the blogs, you might want to check your facts before you publish.  Yes, there is free speech in this country - and I am all for it. God knows I open my mouth enough and say what I think. But I do try to make sure when I put something in writing for the public to read, that I've checked my facts first.  And when I get it wrong - which has certainly happened many times in the past and will again in the future - I do make sure I retract the error as quickly as possible.

I'm sure there is plenty of negative stuff you can find out about me, just like anyone else.  No, this is not a challenge to anyone - just a statement of fact.  Anyone who says they have nothing to hide is hiding only from themselves.

I hope Michele has thick skin. I know she's been in this area for a while and I know once I got a call from a reporter who found me instead of her - but if not, maybe you should apologize to her.  For all I know, she could have a boss who might fire her if her boss thinks she is associating with us lowly Democrats.  So please, next time, check the spelling, check the facts, and be sure before you say something like that in a public forum.

One more thing - just so you don't get this one totally wrong either - there is another Michelle (two Ls) Famiglietti out on the web. I don't know who she is or what she does, but she does exist.  The web sites that link to her are in Italian. There's no relation that I am aware of.  There was also another Matthew Famiglietti in Alexandria who is now deceased.  So, just because the spelling of the name matches, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the same person.

As a friend said this morning, it's a good thing our last name isn't Smith!

Oh - and yes, I am a Democrat.

Wife Was On Mark Foley's Staff?  (0.00 / 0)

If it's the same person, Michele Famiglietti

One of the primary purposes of this particular blog is to investigate and raise questions.  (See, e.g., Dianne's question to the right.) That's how this blog, and others, helped defeat George Allen.

And isn't that what is great about the internet?  It's the rough and tumble of information competition.  Who would've thought that two people with almost identical, highly unusual names would live in Washington?  Now we know.  I share a name with a person of diametrically opposite political beliefs and we both write LTEs.  Big whoop.

You might consider lowering your bitterness level a bit.  If you can't emotionally handle a simple question you're not going to make it through a campaign.

Don't believe everything you read.

As the saying goes, don't believe everything you read - especially on the web.  There is an article on the notlarrysabato blog which incorrectly states that my wife "Michele" is a Republican who works on the Hill and that she has donated to Republicans, including George W. Bush.

First of all, the Michele Famiglietti he referred to is not my wife.  There are two Michel(l)e Famiglietti's in the area.  One apparently works on the Hill and is a Republican. I have never met her.

My wife, who spells her name with two Ls (Michelle) has always been a Democrat, as I have my entire life.  Michelle does not work on the Hill and never has.

The blog also has incorrect information about my donations to Democratic campaigns.  I have donated to both the John Edwards campaign and the Barack Obama campaign this year.  My donations to Democrats go back over many years.  Moreover, I have donated countless hours to many different Democratic campaigns, including Jim Webb's campaign.  I have performed election protection as an unpaid volunteer for the Democratic Party of Virginia since 2002.  I have never contributed a dime to a Republican candidate in my life, and never has my wife.

It is truly unfortunate that what we contribute to our society is measured only in dollars and cents today.  Our volunteers make the difference between success and failure.  President Kennedy called on everyone in our nation to volunteer.  We need to spend more time recognizing and appreciating our volunteers for the value that they bring to our lives.

Undoubtedly this will not be the last time that my record is mischaracterized or inaccurately reported.  That's the way things are today.  It's unfortunate, but I understand this and accept it as part of the process.  This is a good time for me to remind all of you to check the facts before jumping to conclusions.  If you ever have any questions, I invite you to contact me directly so that I can set the record straight.

Surely I will be called many names.  Please - just don't call me a Republican!

Source

That's not to say anything about the quality of either candidate - it's all about giving Democrats/Moderates a choice.  When it comes time to vote in November there is rarely a choice - it almost always boils down to a generic question of which ideology (Conservative or Progressive/Liberal) you support.  So now is the time for other Democrats to step up and challenge each other, to give all of us a reasonable chance to vote where we stand, to let the party know what we think is important and who we want as leaders.

So I fully welcome Mr. Famiglietti to the race. 

Another reason I think he may be a plant (besides the Mark Foley connection) -- people who run for serious office rarely come out of nowhere.  Googling his name produces next to nothing.  He has no history of community involvement.  Almost every candidate arrives at the heavy decision to run in the context of having been a participant in the civic process -- PTA, community or charitable associations.

My prediction -- he's a GOP plant.  The GOP has done miserably against Moran even when running credible, well-funded  candidates.

Under the Moran language, organizations seeking federal funding for abstinence-only programs must certify the medical accuracy of any and all materials they distribute to the public.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services must also convene a panel of medical experts to review their applications and the information being provided by these groups for medical accuracy.

And I'm in the Bill Clinton camp on trade issues -- so I think Moran is fine on those issues.  (Remember Bill Clinton's economic successes?) 

If Moran has to spend any money on a marginal primary opponent (and I would suggest this newly announced candidate has less than a one percent chance of winning) it's less money for his November race, and less money to hand out to other needy Dem candidates.  Jim and Brian Moran have been in the trenches of Dem politics for years.  This new guy has done NOTHING for the party.

It would hurt our area to lose Moran, who is now a senior Dem.  Tenure means a lot.  Unless one's congressman is a boob, it is better to keep voting them in because in large measure seniority still equals power.

Now -- John Murtha -- for all his correctness on Iraq -- is a guy I'd vote against in a primary.