In Pennsylvania, it's a fight for the soul of the Democratic party.

When I announced our Senate campaign, I said “We are in a fight for the soul of America.” But I believe we are also in a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party.

I do not take being opposed by my party’s D.C. leadership lightly, and last year requested several meetings with key U.S. Senators.
DC was uneasy I had refused to sit down in the 2009/2010 Senate race after Senator Specter switched parties, even though they had initially asked me to run against Specter while he was still a Republican.

A senior Senator made it clear what was at stake for them: “Sestak, whenever I tell you anything, the only answer is to be ‘yes.’”

It may be unnerving to some that almost the entire DC and PA Democratic establishment seem opposed to me, but I understand the political challenge most are under, as one Senator called last week to say, “Joe, I want you to know a lot of us are pulling for you down here.”

So what is really at stake is something different for the Democratic Party than “just say yes” – and it is what is also ailing America. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Philadelphia Inquirer underscored it in their endorsement of me for my “independence… accountability... integrity,” “willingness to put principle above party,” but with “deep understanding of government and foreign policy.”

Similarly, Admiral Vern Clark, the last Chief of Naval Operations I worked for in the U.S. Navy, told The Philadelphia Inquirer about me: “Incredible moral courage, the courage to take the independent stand. When everybody else was saying, ‘This is what we ought to do,’ he would stand up and say, ‘I don't see it that way.’” “He was an incredible officer, the best I've ever seen.”

Which brings us to our “soul” … and DC’s lack of accountability for it.

On the one hand, it may seem small. My 2010 refusal to give half a million dollars in “street money” still remains upsetting to certain PA Democratic politicians. But I had seen as I flew into Afghanistan with someone who had millions in cash to buy “loyalty” from the tribes, that even this more serious “street money” doesn’t buy loyalty or accountability; nor would there have been any for those who contributed to me here at home.
Bigger yet, millions of dollars have been given to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and other outside interest groups for it to be used to defeat Republicans. Now, because of the personal direction/whim of one Senator, with no discussion or concurrence of the Democratic donors, $4 million of it is being used at his sole, unaccountable discretion against me, a fellow Democrat – and not Pat Toomey or Donald Trump.

I am now out-funded by more money from my party than the first year of Citizens United when I ran against Pat Toomey and came within 2 percent – yet, I am still leading in today’s polls.

But the real issue is that our DC party leaders, in having become power brokers instead of leaders, have permitted the corruption of our purpose, our mission.

DC Democratic money is now used without asking donors whether it can be contrary to the original purpose of the contribution: not against Republicans, but against another Democrat…and in support of the DC-chosen candidate (their 7th choice to run against me) who got 8% of the vote in the race for governor.

Trust is the biggest deficit in America today; sadly, we have permitted it to erode our Democratic soul. Help me begin to restore that trust by supporting my willingness to put “principle” first…and win. Please contribute $25, $40, $60, $125, $200, or whatever you will – to have a warrior for integrity in service for you.

Warmly,
Joe Sestak