A envelope from the Boswell campaign arrived in the mail today. Inside was a letter from Al Gore asking me to donate $20.00 to Boswell’s campaign, symbolizing the 2000 election “when Leonard stood by my side”. The text was identical to a recent e-mail Gore sent out on Boswell’s behalf, which I reproduced at the end of this post.
Unlike Matt Stoller, who is mad that Gore is helping Boswell’s campaign, I can’t fault him for getting involved. It won’t change the minds of many Gore voters like myself, who favor Fallon, but it might activate other Gore supporters who are unreliable primary voters.
Frankly, I’m more annoyed at Gore for sitting out this presidential election. He would have been a much better candidate, and probably a much better president, than either Hillary or Obama.
But what’s done is done.
Getting back to the third district primary, I received a copy of an e-mail sent out by Wesley Clark’s political action committee, WesPAC, which solicits donations for the Congressional campaigns of three veterans, including Boswell. Here are the relevant portions of that e-mail:
Dear [Recipient],
We need veterans like Ashwin Madia, Tim Walz, and Leonard Boswell in Congress to lead us out of Iraq and to support our troops. Click here to donate to their campaigns today!
It’s no surprise that a war veteran, Senator Jim Webb, has led the fight in expanding the GI Bill to give our troops the education benefits they were promised. Those who have worn the uniform know first-hand how much our troops have sacrificed and what it takes to support members of the armed forces.
That’s why it was critical our community helped elect Jim Webb in 2006, and it’s also the reason I’m backing three veterans who are running for Congress this fall. Though 30,000 Americans have signed a petition in support of Senator Webb’s GI Bill, our opponents are already weakening the bill because it is too “generous” for our troops. We need more veterans in Congress who will help bring our soldiers home from Iraq and stand up for those who have defended our nation.
Join me and support veteran candidates Ashwin Madia, Tim Walz, and Leonard Boswell by donating to their campaigns today!
[…]Leonard Boswell
In 2006, WesPAC helped Leonard Boswell fight off a “swiftboat” attempt on him in Iowa, and our efforts helped re-elect Leonard. As a 20-year veteran of the Army, he too supports an expanded GI Bill for our veterans and has pushed for increases in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
We can’t afford to lose a true American hero like Leonard in Congress, and we can’t take it for granted that the right-wing won’t smear him again this November. Help re-elect Congressman Boswell by donating to his campaign now!
http://www.actblue.com/page/3vets
The insight of those who serve in the armed forces is too often lost in our nation’s dialogue about foreign policy, health care, education, and veterans issues. With your support, we’ll strengthen the voices of those who have risked their lives for our country by sending 3 veterans to Congress in 2008.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
I wish Boswell or one of his high-profile supporters would defend the Congressional votes that prompted Ed Fallon to run in this primary. But from the incumbent’s perspective, the less said about that, the better.
2 Comments
another reason
for election reform. It takes a lot of chutzpah to take on a well-connected congressman while refusing all the benefits he takes for granted to maintain his seat.
Fyi, the Matt Stoller link leads to the Bleeding Heartland home page.
garonsen Wed 30 Apr 11:53 PM
fixed the link
Thanks for the heads up!
desmoinesdem Thu 1 May 12:05 AM