Ask Auntie Pinko
October 3, 2002

Dear Auntie Pinko,

I keep hearing how it's important for the Democrats to win control of the House and Senate in the upcoming elections. Why is that? What can I do to help? I plan to vote in my local elections, but is there anything else I can do?

Adrian L.
Conway, AR

Dear Adrian,

If we are going to keep America from making foolhardy military decisions based on Mr. Bush and his family's resentment of Mr. Hussein, there is no group of policy makers positioned to do so except the Democratic members of House and Senate. If we are to prevent America's economy from being structured around the well-being of international corporations and their CEO's, there is no group of policy makers positioned to do so except the Democratic members of House and Senate.

While Democratic representatives in the House and Senate have not always shown themselves willing to oppose Mr. Bush and his administration's plans for America, they are still our only hope, for two reasons:

1. There is no other group of people constitutionally positioned to have a potent impact on these plans; and

2. The more Democrats there are in the House and Senate, the less politically risky such opposition will appear.

In other words, sending many Democrats - enough to actually control the House and Senate - to Washington will send a powerful message that the American people support thoughtful, constitutionally-based decisions about military intervention in Iraq. Decisions founded upon clear evidence and supported by Iraq's key regional neighbors and other world powers whose support can prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

Sending many Democrats - enough to actually control the House and Senate - to Washington will send a powerful message that Americans care about the issues the Democratic Party has pledged to address. Issues like the economy, the health care crisis, and the protection of our environment and national resources.

Your willingness to help send this message is great, Adrian. And voting Democratic in your local elections is a wonderful start. But it's only one item in Auntie Pinko's Easy Three-Point Plan for Democratic Victory. If every American concerned about these issues follows this plan, I think we have a real chance to send that message! Here's the plan:

1. Use Your Vote Be certain that you vote Democratic in your local elections on November 5th. If you're unsure which candidates the Party endorses, contact your local Party and request a sample ballot to take with you to the polls.

2. Mobilize Others Call up three friends and/or neighbors, and get their promise to vote. Offer a ride to the polls to someone who might otherwise have trouble voting. Participate in your local Get Out The Vote phone banks and other efforts.

3. Give Money If you haven't already done so, set aside any amount of money you can afford (it doesn't have to be large) to make two political donations - one to a local candidate, and one to a candidate facing a difficult race elsewhere (Senate races especially.) Get on the Internet and give that money today (or send checks!)

We have an opportunity here, Adrian, and you correctly point out that we should make the most of it. Yes, it would be nice to have every Democratic candidate fully in line with our individual aspirations and ideology. And we mustn't stop working toward bringing the Party's actions in line with our ideas. But opportunities like November 5th don't come around every day.

Let's use it while we can, and thanks for asking Auntie Pinko!

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