In response to the New York Times article on Michigan congressional candidate Jim Marcinkowski you guys stood up for Jim and against the DCCC who stopped helping his campaign and 9 of you contributed a total of $240.06 to Jim!
The New York Times yesterday reported on the fate of Jim Marcinkowski, Democratic candidate in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, who stands for so many candidates out there who were urged to run, promised support by national Democrats and then left to fend for themselves.
In response to the article I wrote a diary yesterday urging you to “support the New York Times ‘underdog'” and you stepped up to the plate and gave to Jim. Today I urge others to do so as well. More info on Jim and all links below the fold!
Here’s an excerpt from the New York Times article:
Jim Marcinkowski is the deputy city attorney for Royal Oak, Mich. He has three teenage children whom he used to see after work, and a Hobie Cat sailboat he used to float around on, on weekends.
Mr. Marcinkowski, a crisply groomed former C.I.A. operations officer, could represent a tougher-than-usual test for Mr. Rogers, who was re-elected by a margin of 37 percentage points in 2002 and 24 percentage points in 2004. A former Republican, Mr. Marcinkowski has a tough-guy résumé — Navy, C.I.A., teamster — and the silvery-haired presence of a Famous Guy you would swear you had seen before, maybe on television.
He drew national attention in 2003 and 2005 when he testified before Congress about his friend and former C.I.A. classmate Valerie Wilson. The story of Ms. Wilson, the agent whose identity was leaked by Bush administration officials, sealed Mr. Marcinkowski’s divorce from the Republicans. He had been active in the party from the time he organized the Michigan State University campus for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign in 1980 but had gradually become disenchanted, particularly during the George W. Bush years.
His story — former C.I.A. officer, disaffected Republican — had great appeal to Democratic bigwigs seeking Congressional candidates. He talked to Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader; Steny Hoyer, the Democratic whip; and Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. All urged him to run, especially Mr. Emanuel, who called several times, and even shipped him a thank-you cheesecake after he had agreed to run.
If you haven’t done so yet, I urge you to read the entire article to learn what happens to good Democratic candidates if they don’t perform as expected. It is also a lesson why we need Democratic organizations in every state to support candidates locally as envisioned by Howard Dean’s 50 State Strategy.
Asked when he has last spoken to Rahm Emanuel, Jim Marcinkowski simply responds: “Rahm who?”
Let’s show the DCCC and the beltway insiders that this is not the way to treat candidates, that every race can be won.
Let’s support the New York Times “underdog”.
Let’s join Jim Marcinkowski in asking “Rahm who?”
I know you probably have already given to one or more candidates and most of you are strapped. But with as little as $5 you can join Jim in saying “Rahm who!”
Here are all the links:
Contribute to Jim through the Support the New York Times “Underdog” ActBlue page!
Read yesterday’s diary: MI-08: Let’s support the New York Times “Underdog”
New York Times: Battling Power of Incumbency, and Feeling Left to Fight Alone
Jim Marcinkowski’s Campaign Website
UPDATE @ 4:15pm ET: You guys are awesome! A total 11 donors have now contributed $315.06 to Jim! Wanna keep it up? Contribute now!
