In case you hadn't noticed, there is a Senate primary in Colorado pitting a Conservadem,Michael Bennet, against a people powered candidate, Andrew Romanoff, who has taken the Obama pledge to take no PAC money. (Conservadem is not my label, Rachel Maddow gave Senator Bennet that name for joining Evan Bayh's coalition of conservative democrats).
Despite millions of corporate dollars being spent by Michael Bennet, Andrew Romanoff has taken the lead in polls with the Primary on August 10th. Pundits have written that Romanoff's win will send a message throughout politics that we, the grassroots voters, can reverse the corporate stranglehold on Congress .
First, let me say this, I have been a volunteer for Andrew Romanoff in this campaign, but that's not all. I worked in Colorado on Democratic Campaigns in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008. With the exception of 2000, when Andrew Romanoff was running for his first election (therefore campaigning himself) Andrew Romanoff was with us, the Democratic activists, on every election, knocking on doors, making phone calls, and growing the party. I don't have anything against Senator Bennet personally, but prior to being appointed, no one in the Colorado Democratic party had ever heard of him or seen him doing anything for Democrats. That being said, let's get on to the facts.
Here are 10 Reasons to Support Andrew Romanoff:
Some people have said there is no difference between the two candidates. Even if that were true, which it isn't, letting an incumbent who worked against progressive values go without a primary challenge sends a message to other Senators that we, the democratic base, can be ignored.
What has Senator Bennet's done that was not progressive?
1. Senator Bennet joined with Republicans to vote against the Sanders amendment which would have closed a 35 billion tax loophole for Big Oil and invested the money in clean energy investments -- something President Obama supported.
2. Senator Bennet has written letters in support of tax subsidies for natural gas at a time when people of Colorado have flammable tap water from unsafe natural gas drilling practices.
3. Senator Bennet has sought exemptions for dirty fossil fuels in any Climate Change legislation.
4. Senator Bennet voted to stop Senator Dodd's legislation to create a regulatory agency to protect consumers from predatory practices on Wall Street.
5. Senator Bennet voted against the bill to Break up the Big Banks that were too big to fail, allowing these banks to continue controlling how home mortgages are valued.
6. Senator Bennet was one of the few Democratic Senators to join with the GOP to oppose Cramdown which would have helped Colorado families renegotiate their mortgages and prevent foreclosures.
Other people have said that Andrew Romanoff, if elected, will be no different in the Senate and is no more Progressive than Senator Bennet.
That's simply not true.
Andrew Romanoff is more progressive on at least 4 very important issues,
1. Renewable Energy and the Environment: Andrew Romanoff has proposed some of the most progressive proposals on the Environment. On June 10th he announced his proposal for 50% Renewable Energy in the United States by 2030.
"We have focused most of our attention on cleaning up the spill and holding British Petroleum responsible... To that end, we should also seize the moment to revolutionize our energy policy... Today, I am proposing that we set a national renewable energy standard. I propose a national renewable standard of 50 percent by 2030."
2. LGBT rights: From the Romanoff Campaign's LGBT Outreach director:
Andrew Romanoff vs. Michael Bennet on LGBT issues and legislation: Andrew Romanoff Supports full, federal marriage equality. But Michael Bennet Believes it's a states' rights issue.
Andrew Romanoff Would co-sponsor Military Readiness Enhancement Act (would effectively repeal "don't ask, don't tell"). But Michael Bennet has not co-sponsored the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.
3. Andrew Romanoff fully supports Net Neutrality, even writing on article fighting for it, and will join Senator Franken in introducing legislation. Senator Bennet has not stated a position.
4. Employee Free Choice: Andrew Romanoff has stated support for Employee Free Choice and will vote for it when it is brought to the floor of the Senate. Michael Bennet won't answer what his position is on it.
From fellow Progressive Darcy Burner on Bennet unwillingness to "make a decision" on Employee Free Choice:
And here was Senator Bennet's response to the Denver Post's questionnaire on the Employee Free Choice Act: (yes or no boxes)
Congress should pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
Michael Bennet:
The candidate chose not to mark a box
Andrew Romanoff:
Supports
There are clear differences between these two candidates.
Andrew Romanoff has proposed some of the most progressive standards for renewable energy, will support full marriage equality and will support the Employee Free Choice Act.
And, Andrew Romanoff will get elected with individual donations only, without corporate PAC money, just like President Obama did.
Send a message that we the people still have the power to elect people over corporate funded candidates.
Support him here on this ACTBLUE page
Follow Wade Norris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wadenorris
It would have also been good to have seen Mr. Romanoff promote his own record, instead of allegations based on nothing more than innuendo and outright lies against a decent man who had the temerity to accept a job Mr. Romanoff thought was reserved for himself.
The smear campaign was unbecoming the young, idealistic career politician he once was. I refuse to recognize Mr. Romanoff as a "progressive," and will not reward him for his dishonorable behavior.
1. Andrew Romanoff supported Bush's war in Iraq and co-sponsored a resolution "commending" him for protecting us from Saddam Husein.
2. Andrew Romanoff used anti-immigrant hysteria to push draconian immigration bills for political gain.
But why would Romanoff's ridding the anti-brown hysteria bother a white "progressive"?
1. The Iraq resolution was way back in 2003, when a bipartisan majority of Americans and their representatives had been duped by the Bush-Cheney administration's falsified intelligence reports. Remember? And it was a NON-BINDING resolution -- the state legislature has no jurisdiction over war policy.
2, The immigration legislation in question was a compromise measure that averted a far more onerous law that the Republicans would have passed if Romanoff had not successfully intervened. Sure, it was not good legislation, but Romanoff prevented it from being far worse.
Truth matters.
2. How would have republicans passed a worse law if the democrats controlled the state leg? Not without the help of democrats. Oh, yeah, I know Gov Owens wouldn't let them go home until they did their homework. The lousy explanation that "we only had two options" has never been real -- DEMS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE AND SENATE. But the most insulting aspect of this is the "We saved you, brown people" argument that you (and him) love to advance. It's like a frat boy telling his date-rape victim "I saved you from going alone to the streets late at night."
Thank you white liberals for saving us.
The same poll- taken prior to the exposure of his distortions ALSO said he could not win against the republican !
2. Re: Natural gas -- The flaming water situation should be fixed. Natural gas is necessary as we wean ourselves off of coal, which is absolutely crucial to our environment. In the long run, Bennet is in favor of wind, solar, thermal -- all of the safe, renewable energy systems.
3. Senator Bennet voted to stop Senator Dodd's legislation to create a regulatory agency to protect consumers from predatory practices on Wall Street.
Senator Bennet voted for the largest Wall Street reform package since the Depression in 60 years.
1. Andrew Romanoff is more progressive on Renewable Energy and the Environment:
That's why the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, and the League of Conservation voters endorsed Bennet, right?????????
2. LGBT rights: From the Romanoff Campaign's LGBT Outreach director: Michael Bennet Believes it's a states' rights issue.
That's a bunch of horse puckey. Your LGBT director is MSU. I have been to numerous events with HRC and other groups, and Bennet never said that. He believes in full marriage equality.
3. Andrew Romanoff fully supports Net Neutrality. Senator Bennet has not stated a position.
Bullshit. Senator Bennet said he was in favor of net neutrality before Romanoff did.
Bennet letter
"Dear Leader Reid:
We respectfully ask that you bring for a vote before the full Senate a public health insurance option under budget reconciliation rules. "
Respectfully,
Michael Bennet (D-CO), U.S. Senator
http://whipcongress.com/letter-senate
"Bennet's Deceptive Public Option Letter
He did not go out on a limb for the public option, he championed it after it was guaranteed to be dead and buried. A very safe, very politically slimy move.
This was a calculated political tactic to counter Romanoff's primary challenge.
This is how Corporate Democrats scam the Progressive base.
Romanoff might betray Progressives later, but we have hard evidence that Bennet has already profoundly sold out. More important than electing Romanoff, is sending the message to Corporate Democrats that they are not protected by incumbancy.Sellouts will be primaried."
by 3rdOption on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 09:57:32 PM PDT
from
"CO-SEN: Stunning Denver Post Poll Shows Romanoff Has Pulled Ahead - What's It Mean for Progressives?"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/1/889446/-CO-SEN:-Stunning-Denver-Post-Poll-Shows-Romanoff-Has-Pulled-AheadWhats-It-Mean-for-Progressives
Where is his progressive support? Why haven't groups like DFA, Move On and Progressive Dems supported him the way they did Sestek and Halter? Perhaps they see him for the phony he really is.
What about his vote to privatize social security, his support of the Iraq war, or his flip - flop on taking pac money - guess it depends on what his campaign manager decides. Also now all of the sudden Romanoff supports single payer, yet he never did as speaker of the house.
so fake, that State Reps Ferrandino and Weismann are calling for a full bi-partisan audit by both the Colorado State House and Senate.
It's all made up!
Still waiting for your answer on why no progressive support. No surprise really most people see right through a fake - poor Andy.