I'm Running for the U.S. Senate in NY -- Here's Why

I am announcing today that I am running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010. I want to say a few words about why I decided to run.

You can see an announcement video here:

I believe New York voters deserve a choice. We live in a democracy, and elections should be about addressing the issues, not about party insiders "clearing the field" for a favored candidate. If party insiders had "cleared the field" in 2008, Barack Obama would not be president today.

New York -- and the nation -- are at a critical point. We are living through the most unprecedented financial crisis in our lifetime -- and, at the same time, I see a great opportunity to change the country.

There are great choices to be made -- whether and how we will unburden Americans and businesses from the crushing costs of obscene health care costs (I have been an unwavering supporter of single-payer, "Medicare for All"), whether workers will truly share in the great productivity they have created over the past three decades, whether workers will have the right to join a union, and whether we will live up to the promise of "equal justice under the law" by granting marriage equality throughout the land.

I am the only progressive in the race. And I believe, as do my supporters, that we have a chance to move the Democratic Party in a progressive direction. New Yorkers will have a very clear choice in 2010 -- a choice of values and principles.

Voters will be able to choose either someone who put children and families at great risk by advocating for and taking the money of Big Tobacco (work she has just recently said she does not regret), someone who has embraced the National Rifle Association, one of the most extreme organizations in the country which has worked tirelessly to defeat Democrats, and someone who is awash in corporate cash.

Or they will have a chance to build a progressive movement that will give the power back to the people and make a better world.

In the great tradition of people like Paul Wellstone, I have worked my entire adult life for the cause of economic justice and civil rights so that we -- our family, our children and our friends -- can live in a healthy, safe, and morally just society. I think most people who know me will say, even if they disagree with me, that what I have fought for are principles and values that I have held my entire adult life -- not principles and values I discovered all of a sudden to run for the U.S. Senate.

In many ways, the question really is: where do we draw the line? When do we, progressives, say we simply are not going to settle for anything less than elected officials who we know have a set of principles and values that have stood the test of time and who will be rock-solid when we have to fight for a truly progressive society? Long before I decided to run for office, I have been very vocal about our need -- particularly within the labor movement -- to support candidates who are about "us" and from "our" ranks, not from the ranks of people who clearly will abandon us when the rubber meets the road.

We -- the people who are being knocked down AGAIN a giant peg in the economic ladder, the people who have no health care or inadequate health care, the people who want to save our planet yet see the corporate ethos of the "free market" continuing to ravage the planet, the people around the world who are drowning in a noxious life of poverty and despair, the people who want our country to stand for "equal justice under the law" and believe that discrimination is discrimination... period -- we cannot afford to wait. We have a president who does have core value and principles but he needs a great surge of people to push him in an even more progressive direction.

We cannot wait.

Come join us at our campaign website.

Comments

[GoldenBoy22]

"There are great choices to be made -- whether and how we will unburden Americans and businesses from the crushing costs of obscene health care costs (I have been an unwavering supporter of single-payer, "Medicare for All"), whether workers will truly share in the great productivity they have created over the past three decades"

Medicare is already going bankrupt and now you want to put even more people on it?
What about those who refuse to work, do we have to share the wealth that those of us who have worked for it created ?
I have no problem helping those who can not work or have lost jobs but I feel no responsibility to help those who don't even try.

[onepotatotwopotato]

Well, while you're running you'd better check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-barron/concealed-carry-if-youre_b_213912.html and get aboard.

[Knarf]

If you are speaking the gods honest truth, then you will have my vote.
Let's see what shakes out.

[Oakland]

Glad to hear it. I'll help. I am sick and tired of crazy Republicans and Wall Street Democrats. Time to take them all out of office. Peter Schiff is looking at a run against Dodd. I say, hooray! Dodd needs to go.

[Beelzebufo]

I don't think New York can stand another progressive. Or is it liberal. I notice you are silent about gun rights. Afraid to antagonize too many Upstaters?

[LiberalDemIda]

What do you care? And why should Tasini care about what YOU want? You're not, and apparently have never been, a Democratic voter since you don't even know that a liberal IS a progressive.

Mr. Tasini is young, sharp, and ready to go nose-to-toe with Gillibrand and I hope, truly hope, New Yorkers will understand what an asset he'll be in our U.S. Senate where there are just too many Republicrats stopping any progressive legislation.

Stagnant water begins to smell after a while, dontcha know.

[djkrlsn]

Simple--because the RKBA is one ot the civil rights that is protected by the BOR and someone is no progressive if he would deny individuals the right to self defense. I thought liberal Democrats were supposed to be all about protected individual rights and per the Heller decision and over 35 others--the right to own a gun is an INIDIVIDUAL RIGHT protected by the COTUS

[nyprogressive34]

I personally like Maloney better, I think she's a great and proven progressive candidate with a good shot of winning the general election, but I agree that we need a fair and open election, and that Gillibrand needs to go. She's flip-flopped on so many issues it makes my head spin. I just don't trust her. And if she needs the higher-ups clearing the field of Democrats to survive the primary, how is she supposed to win the general election?

[jmpurser]

I wish I had a chance to vote for an honest to god progressive instead of these "GOP Lite" DLC brand Democrats.

Good luck.

[LiberalDemIda]

I am not a New Yorker, but I will gladly contribute to your campaign.

The sudden reversal by Gillibrand in her past votes as Senator as opposed to her Blue Dog Dem status as Rep tells me exactly what I fear, that she's only "playing nice" until and IF she wins the Senate seat in 2010. She'll promptly join with the likes of Landrieu, the Nelsen twins, Baucus, Testor, Reid, and other Republicrats in the Democratic Caucus.

We need more progressives with a broader vision for America than the Republican agenda. If we want Pres. Obama to succeed, he needs the help of true Democrats such as yourself, sir.

Count me in as a concerned American who supports your candidacy even if I can only contribute. Godspeed.

[otispfudpucker]

I live in Wisconsin so I can't vote for you, but I sure can donate to your campaign.

[Inquisitr]

I'm a NY indepandant, but you have my vote over Gillenbrad, I haven't liked her views, or her attempts to backpeddle those views at all.

[jhNY]

As a resident and a Democratic primary voter, I will vote for you! Thanks for deciding to run, and for all your good past work.

[Max Wood]

Do you have any relitives in South Carolina? If so tell them to run too!