I live in Virginia but teach in Maryland, so I don't know that many educators who live in Virginia. Thus I am seeking help. I am supporting Jim Webb for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate against George Allen. I have done some work on education policy, and have done some blogging in support of Jim. Now I am doing some outreach.
If you are an educator of any sort who lives in Virginia and might be willing to help the Webb campaign, I would greatly appreciate it if you contact me. I suggest you do so offline by emailing me at kber at earthlink dot net although I will also be glad to gather information from comments that might be posted here. I would also appreciate your passing this request on to others.
In case you didn't know, most of Chuck Robb's former senior staffers have just endorsed Jim Webb. This campaign is now on a roll.
We really would like your assistance. Please give me your name, your location, and if you could some idea of the contacts you might be able to make (are you a union rep or official?) and what previous political experience you have.
It does not matter if you have any experience, or if you have considered yourself a Republican in the past. First, any registered voter can participate in the Democrat primary on June 13. Second, we want all the help we can get, both to maximize the size of our primary victory, and to build momentum towards a win in November.
If you want some imformation on the Webb campaign, you can go to the official campaign website and you can get more information about the campaign at the raisingkaine website
I look forward to hearing from many of you, and from as many of your friends as you can persuade to assist us.
Thanks in advance for your help.
if i'm doing a teaching internship is that close enough
=OP
If you are well informed about the positions of the candidates, and know the concerns of teachers in particular and are prepared to accurately present on behalf of the candidate (and here not all the position papers are done), who knows?
I was asked if I could get teachers together, and I don't teach in Virginia, so I am trying to help construct a network. And there are only 28 days left.
Fleming, of Blacksburg, is professor emeritus of education at Virginia Tech and author of " ... Ask What You Can Do For Your Country: The Memory and Legacy of John F. Kennedy."
George Allen's worst political nightmare is the recent news that Jim Webb is running for the U.S. Senate. Republicans considered Allen's re-election a sure bet until Webb's announcement. Allen, who has been running hard for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, anticipated an easy Senate victory over Harris Miller, a former lobbyist and Democratic party activist. Allen could now face a stiff challenge if he has to run against Vietnam war hero, popular war novelist and former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb, who comes from the Harry Truman tradition of telling it like it is.
Webb is known as a straight talker and a tough fighter for his principles and has never been a rubber stamp for either political party. He was a very early critic of the war in Iraq, considering it a total disaster. Allen is the "little Sir Echo" of the Bush administration, supporting Bush legislation 97 percent of the time.
For example, in March, he backed Bush in blocking a provision to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies and voted to set up private accounts for Social Security. If voters favor Bush's policies, then Allen is their man.
Webb is uniquely qualified by experience and personality to challenge Allen on the war in Iraq and foreign policy. The fall election should be a referendum on the Bush administration, particularly the war in Iraq as well as the administration's domestic incompetence in areas such as the Hurricane Katrina debacle. You can expect a campaign symbolized by Webb wearing his Marine son's combat boots going against Allen and his trademark cowboy boots.
Unfortunately, Webb waited until the last minute to enter the June 13 Democratic primary and is far behind Harris Miller in fund raising. He will likely need independent voter support to win the primary.
Webb has particular disdain for the "culture of corruption" in Washington and influence peddling by lobbyists. He calls for ending the Bush policies that rely on "the politics of fear and social division," and is "guided by the principles of honor, duty and community." He sees it "as time we put party labels aside and think about things that unite us, our common ideals, our common creed."
Webb finds our economy in trouble with tax policies that make no sense. As the rich get richer, the middle class find their jobs being out-sourced and low-income workers fall ever further behind. He charges the administration puts the interests of big business before the interests of the people, and intrudes into the private lives of citizens. Much of this he blames on "blind loyalty to a money-drenched political machine." Finally, he is greatly concerned that the Bush administration has "busted the budget so badly" that our descendents will be in debt for generations to come.
If elected, Webb pledges to "put the country ahead of political gains and personal ambitions." He sees a great need for us to face hard realities in both domestic and foreign policies that are not succeeding and states we have "a lot of cleaning up to do." Webb calls for our political leaders to follow the classic advice of JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
If Virginians want a straight talking and principled senator who is not a rubber stamp for anyone, then Webb should be their choice at the June 13 primary and the November election.
Give us a call, we are Jim Webb fans here, and would love to hear what kind of help they need.
Mark (dems2004 @ Dkos)
beautiful_mind AT hughes DOT net
in meantime, should try prospecting among other teachers you all know for support for Webb there should be basic talking points on education soon