Author: Barry Welsh

Yesterday the fireball of energy that is John McCain came through the state of Indiana.

Big Mac stopped in Indianapolis but didn’t campaign with the Republican in a special election that is just two weeks away.  Hmmm.  Either selfish on McCain’s part or the Repub must really suck.  I choose both myself.

The Straight talker put a lid on LobbyGate at his presser, and is moving on as everyone has heard.  He also gave some praise to my opponent in Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, Mike Pence, who has long been rumored for the VP spot, and that came up again.

The real news out of the stop in Indy though was that McCain showed his cards when it comes to healthcare.  His plan below.

John McCain will solve the healthcare crisis by using Peyton and Eli Manning!!

One person at the town hall meeting wanted to know if his plans to move on included the selection of Indiana Congressman Mike Pence as a running mate.
“I’m very proud and I know that all of you are proud of Mike Pence as well,” responded McCain.
The Republican frontrunner didn’t rule it out but said he needs to secure the nomination before he picks a running mate.

However, he did suggest making use of Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning if elected. McCain said his healthcare plan will focus on wellness and fitness.

“Let’s get some great athletes, maybe the Manning brothers, just off the top of my head, who these young people look up to and respect and admire and ask them to go around to schools,” suggested McCain.

Link

That’s the plan.  Get the Manning Brothers to go to some schools!  That will fix everything!

Also on another note,  McCain is being challenged on the Indiana ballot because he didn’t turn in enough signatures!  

Here is his comment on that:

McCain also addressed a Democratic challenge to his ballot status in Indiana.  

The Democrats say his campaign didn’t file the required number of petition signatures to get on the May primary ballot.

McCain says he relies heavily on the governor to make sure he’s on the ballot and, he said, he’s sure Mitch Daniels can do that.

And here is the Democratic Party Chair’s response;

“If John McCain thinks he can bring his national campaign’s shady ethical standards to Indiana by getting his friend Mitch Daniels to wave a magic wand to get him on the ballot, then he and his cronies are in for a big surprise,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker. “They think they can bend the rules to sneak their man onto the ballot with closed door meetings and shifting stories and Hoosier voters won’t notice.  Those are not the ethical standards Hoosiers expect from a presidential candidate or our statewide elected officials.”

McCain, ready to deceive from day one!

I am running against Mike Pence.  The link is to his speech to the Republican Caucus before the vote for House Minority Leader.  How could he have lost?

We are going to be running for the seat in Indiana’s 6th District.  Why should you care?

Five reasons below

Number Five: Mike Pence is against you on every issue.

Number Four: No Neo-Con seat should be safe.

Number Three: Indiana is not like Iraq in the summer or in the wintertime!

Number Two:  We are running again and we are running to win.

Number One:  If it comes down to one vote to decide legislation, it doesn’t matter what district the person voting is from, it matters only how they will vote.

I understand the anger many have with Democrats at the moment.  I understand the frustration with Blue Dogs, but let’s be honest, most of The Blue Dogs, we knew they were Blue Dogs when they were elected.   Indiana’s own Baron Hill, Brad Ellsworth, and Joe Donnelly are members of the Blue Dogs.  Evan Bayh cannot be compared in Progressivism to his father Birch Bayh.  That Progressivism cost Birch his seat in the 80’s and they have not forgotten it.

Times have changed though in Indiana.  The thinking of the party may not have.  I don’t fault them for that.  They just took the state balance back with The Blue Dogs, and those three Hoosiers helped to make Democrats chairs of Committees, and to have Speaker Pelosi.

The Convention Wisdom in Indiana is still based on only a Conservative Democrat can get elected in Indiana.  My feeling is, that is only because Conservative Democrats are the only one’s properly funded and it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  We are going to test Conventional Wisdom.  

Brad, Baron and Joe, get all the press, but Julia Carson is a strong progressive, and Pete Visclosky can usually be counted on.  If I am elected, the balance shifts in this state in Congress.  That is the real reason it should matter to you.

If we replace Neo Cons with progressives we also marginalize Blue Dogs in the process.
Anyone feel free to argue that in comments, but I think everyone might agree.

I want to ask you to help us.

Go to Barry Welsh our recently launched online headquarters.

While you are there, I want YOUR endorsement.  It doesn’t matter if you can or can’t vote for me, if you think I would be better than Mike Pence, I want YOUR endorsement.

Our campaign has representatives that are going to be in D.C. and in NYC, and they wanted to know what endorsements I wanted to go after.  I said The NetRoots.

They are busy putting together meetings with people who if they endorse, will impress.
I am here asking for YOUR PERSONAL Endorsement, because I think 10,000 computer savvy Americans endorsing our campaign would have a bigger impact, and I know it would mean more to me personally.  

Go to Barry Welsh and please give me your endorsement.

If you are a member of Facebook or MySpace Stop by and check out our sites.

If you know a member of Labor, ask them to watch this

You can see what we are doing on Flickr .
You can hear what I am doing on  Blog Talk Radio

Speaking of Blog Talk Radio.  Clammyc will be a guest on Meet The Bloggers tomorrow at Noon EST.

We had a great live event/blog raiser this afternoon thanks to my team, the people at Paradise Bakery and Café in Castleton Corner in Indianapolis, and to Jane Hamsher and Howie Kline, and all of the people at Firedoglake! Thank you all and you can check it out here.  Yes, we have been endorsed by Blue America.  Our first Big Endorsement. Please make YOUR Endorsement our next Big Endorsement

One final time.  Please go to Barry Welsh and sign our endorsement page.  

Thanks

Future Congressman Barry Welsh IN-06

Today at noon, citizens of Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, who are also MoveOn members, gathered in front of the Anderson, Indiana office of Congressman Mike Pence.

There were groups all around the country doing similar protests at their local Congressperson’s office.  

I was at today’s 6th District protest, I am the Democratic Candidate for this seat and the rest is below

Click for a look at some great pics of the event.
There were not overwhelming numbers, it was noon on a workday in the middle of the week, but there were enough to draw attention.

Here’s what happened and I am not using names because it would be without permission.

The group gathered outside the office at noon, and a woman began telling everyone including the press, why we were all there.

MoveOn prepared a report that shows the cost to each Congressional District around the country of the Iraq occupation.  We were there to take the report in and give it to Congressman Pence.  The woman then explained how there were groups all across the country doing the same thing.  

She introduced me, and I said I was there to support them and said little else.

I was not there to highjack the event, and I can hijack an event, but I was there simply to confront Congressman Pence face to face with the truth, and begin this campaign the way we ended our last one with the one and only debate, I wanted to watch as those brave MoveOn members handed him an oversized check and the report.  I wanted to see it face to face.

Two members of the group took the oversized check and lead the way into the Congressman’s office.  Once everyone was inside, including the two members of the press, a man formally presented the oversized check to……a senior and familiar member of the congressman’s staff.  Mr. Pence was not available.

I was immediately recognized by a few of the staff members, all of who were gracious and the only COLD moment came when the senior staffer asked if he could sign and cash the big check.  A woman said it was already signed in blood, and it had already been cashed and wasted.    The silence was apropos.    

Pictures will be coming soon, as will traditional printed press coverage and new media coverage.

The amount of the big check?  The amount it has cost the 6th District of Indiana?  715 Million Dollars.
The total cost to all of the citizens of Indiana? $6.94 Billion

From the MoveOn 6th District Report

Trade Offs for Indiana’s 6th District
Currently, 47 million Americans lack health insurance, Head Start is underfunded, college tuition is skyrocketing,
our homeland is not secure with only one out of every 20 port containers getting inspected and our bridges and roads
are aging. The $715 million being spent on the unwinnable civil war in Iraq should be put to better use for American
taxpayers where we need it most–in our own backyard, fixing our aging bridges and roads or improving the lives of
our residents.
What Citizens of Indiana’s 6th District Could Have Gotten Instead:
· Health care coverage for 222,983 people–or 356,466 kids, or
· Head Start for 106,156 additional kids, or
· 12,887 new elementary school teachers, or
· 100,631 scholarships to make college more affordable, or
· Renewable electricity for 680,231 homes, or
· 7,493 affordable housing units, or
· 18,333 public safety officers to keep the streets safe

Here is the state by District:

District Cost
1st $808 million
2nd $740 million
3rd $807 million
4th $842 million
5th $968 million
6th $715 million
7th $670 million
8th $673 million
9th $715 million
Total $6.94 billion

Here is how MoveOn came up with the numbers:

 Data Sources
Unless otherwise indicated, the figures provided for the cost of the war for each district and specific tradeoffs
from the National Priorities Project, available on the web at http://nationalpriorities.org/
The cost of war is based on an analysis of the legislation in which Congress has allocated money for war
research by the Congressional Research Service which has access to Department of Defense financial
trade-offs are based on average cost per unit information for each state. More detailed information on
the calculations of the averages can be obtained at
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=297&Itemid=7

.

If a similar protest occurred in your congressional district, give it a shout out in the comments.

Thanks for all you do.
Peace

Barry Welsh
Indiana 6th District Democratic Candidate.

I’m running for Congress for the second time.  I made the formal announcement at Yearly Kos in Chicago. Video of the announcement will be up soon.  A rough transcript is at the bottom of this piece.  A complete Digital Roll Out is on the way.

I also want to talk about BlueDog Democrats and will do that below as well.

I have to say Thank You to several people.  You are probably one of them.

NYBri and Hekebolos put together an event called The Netroots Candidates Celebration.
I had the privilege of “Throwing My Hat into The Ring” at this event.  I had the privilege of sharing the stage with other Freedom Loving Patriots, Charlie Brown, Darcy Bruner, Scott Kleeb, Eric Massa,  and so many more that I will direct you here to see them all.
Thank You is not enough to say to NYBri and Hekebolos for doing this, but for now, THANK YOU.

To Gina Cooper, who I have never met, WOW, you are remarkable for what you put together.  THANK YOU.

To the volunteers that made it all possible, you are all selfless, patriotic, wonderful people.  THANK YOU.

To Markos, THANK YOU for building a little website, where we have a strength that is not accessible in any other form.  The community’s strength is our numbers and that strength will only grow.

To MyDD, FireDogLake,  Open Left, My Left Wing and all of the other National Blogs, To Blue Indiana, Masson’s Blog, Trifles in Anderson,
Taking Down Words and Leftinaboite
And to all who are building the blogosphere in Indiana
and All of the blogs and bloggers that have created the Netroots Nation, THANK YOU and I am already looking forward to Netroots Nation 08 where ever it may be.

To Political Nexus, E. Plurbus Media, Blog Talk Radio  , Meet the Bloggers, and all of the other New Media that is fighting the giant noise machine, THANK YOU.

To all of the Citizen Journalist that I met, and to those that I only know on line, THANK YOU.  You are the reason I announced at YearlyKos.  I wanted to announce in front of thousands of Citizen Journalists, not just traditional media.  

To those from last cycle’s campaign that are back again, and to those that have moved on, THANK YOU ALL once again.

To the sponsors of YearlyKos and all of the organizations that are working to change government, especially [ActBluehttps:/secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18221], THANK YOU.

[actbluehttps:/secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18221]

webpage    The New Site to début soon.

Here is a rough transcript of the announcement.  Without Adlibs!

Hello, I am Barry Welsh, 2006 Democratic Candidate for Congress in Indiana’s 6th District; this is my wife Sherri and she diaries as “Congressional Candidates Wife.”
 I am a citizen politician and we are proud members of the netroots.  My Kos User ID is 68838.  

In 2006, with the help of many volunteers and contributors, we received 40 percent of the vote in the general election as an unknown progressive in Indiana, so we have momentum and confidence.  

I come before you now to formally announce My candidacy for Indiana’s 6th District Seat in The United States House of Representatives.  I have thrown my hat into the ring.

Indiana’s 6th District Seat is currently held by Neo Conservative Bush Clone Mike Pence, the guy who said  “Iraq is like any Indiana market in the summertime”.  It’s not, and you can come to Indiana and get sweet corn or melons without battle helicopters overhead.

It’s time to put Pence over the Fence and out to pasture where he and his backward conservative ideas belong.  No matter what your number one issue is, I can guarantee Mike Pence is against you.

We took People Powered Politics to a new level in 2006 and I am very proud of what we accomplished.  We ran a campaign of People Before Profits and I still believe in that.  In 2006 we gained name recognition and voter trust, now it is time to finish the job.

In 2004 I had enough.  In 2005 I had ENOUGH.  In 2006 I HAD ENOUGH.

Have you had enough of Gonzales?
Enough of Cheney?
Enough of Big Oil?
Enough of the Iraq War?  
Have you had enough of The Roadblock Republicans?
Have you had enough of George W Bush and guys like Mike Pence in lockstep with him?

Well, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH, and if you have had enough let me hear you say ENOUGH!

It’s time for Welsh/Pence II and I have 5 Words for You.  LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE.

My name is Barry Welsh.  I’m running for Congress and I need your support.  

Now on to Victory.  Thank You

.  

Meet the Bloggers is hosted by the blog
Blue Indiana one of the many progressive blogs that are taking root in Indiana.  

The shows host is Joh Padgett and the format is like Meet The Press.  The first half hour is an interview with a prominent blogger, last week it was Pam Spalding of Pam’s House Blend and this week it is Howie Klien from  Down With Tyranny.

The second half hour is a panel discussion with two guest bloggers.  Last week it was Bil Browning of Bilerico and Melissa McEwan of Shakesville.   This week, the panel is Maryscott O’Connor of My Left Wing and Myself .  The topic for this week is turning Red States Blue.  

Here is a promo for this week’s show.

The show airs live at Noon EST every Sunday with podcasts available.

Support Progressive Blogs and give this program a listen.

Thanks.

We know there is a problem in the human food supply.  We do not know how big that problem is or how long we have had it.  We would not know about the problem if it were not for the suffering and death of beloved pets around this country.

So what do we do?  

One thing we can do is make sure we are COOL.  COOL refers to Country of Origin Labeling.  We need to know where the food comes from.

We need to know where the fruit, where the meat, where the fish, where the wheat gluten, rice gluten, and any other food substance comes from.

Sounds simple and logical right?  Not so.  Guess who delays it?  See below.
Here is the official response.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/

   
On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, more commonly known as the 2002 Farm Bill. One of its many initiatives requires country of origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts. On January 27, 2004, President Bush signed Public Law 108-199 which delays the implementation of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006.  On November 10, 2005, President Bush signed Public Law 109-97, which delays the implementation for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised and shellfish until September 30, 2008. As described in the legislation, program implementation is the responsibility of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

Note the bold.  Emphasis mine, but look at it.  In 2005, on November 10th, President Bush decided that knowing where the food comes from is not such a big deal.  

Mr. President.  WRONG AGAIN!

Here is a site  that was against COOL.  Their message.  Let the Market Decide!

Much like other claims unrelated to food safety, country-of-origin claims should be determined in the marketplace and driven by consumers’ willingness to pay for perceived added or discounted value. Member organizations believe that a voluntary program that provides an economically achievable means for producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and other market participants to adopt a country-of-origin program tailored to their customer’s desires is a highly preferable course to burdensome federal mandates. The industry believes that consumers must be free to buy at prices that correspond to their purchasing power and not be forced to pay for claims for which they do not perceive value.

Since the labeling regime was originally mandated, policymakers have recognized their burdensome nature. The implementation deadline has been postponed by Congress twice and now is slated for September 30, 2008. The food industry believes this law should be repealed and made voluntary.

Despite our extensive concerns about mandatory country-of-origin labeling, we recognize that it is the law and that we must work diligently to comply. Countryoforiginlabel.org was developed to provide implementation assistance to affected entities.

Emphasis their’s.

Our campaign slogan was “People Before Profits” what is happening to the food supply is prime profits before people in an outlandish way.

Yes, we can grow our own foods, yes, we can buy at farmer’s markets, yes we can go vegetarian, but we can also go a long way toward knowing where the food comes from with some simple and common sense action.

Please consider going to Americans For Country of Origin Labeling and let your voice be heard.

When there are problems we have to solve them, and this is a start.

Tomorrow morning I am going to start lobbying Congress for COOL legislation for ALL of the human food supply.

Peace

38 poultry farms in Indiana given tainted feed
Some chickens likely in food supply, but human risk is low, government says

I have called Tyson Foods that has a big confined chicken operation in Rush County Indiana just about 20 miles from me, and the reply was “no comment”, contact National Headquarters.

The MSNBC Story is below.  I have a sad feeling that this is the beginning and not the last we will hear about this.  Our government does not have a reputation for honesty after all.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government said on Monday 38 poultry farms in Indiana were given contaminated feed containing melamine in early February, with some of the animals likely to have entered the food supply.
The Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration said in a joint statement that officials learned of the link between the chicken feed and tainted pet food as part of the investigation into imported rice protein concentrate and wheat gluten that have been found to contain the industrial chemical melamine and related compounds.
The affected poultry farms and breeder poultry farms fed the contaminated feed to poultry within days of receiving it, the agencies said. Other farms will probably be identified as having received tainted feed, they added.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18405363/wid/11915773?GT1=10008

All the broilers believed to have been fed contaminated products have been processed, while the breeders are under voluntary hold by flock owners, the agencies said.
Birds that were given the contaminated feed will not be allowed to enter the U.S. food supply. Farmers will be compensated if they destroy the birds that consume the feed.
The agencies also said there was a “low-risk” to humans and no food recalls were expected at this time. They are uncertain how many chickens were involved, how many entered the food supply or where they went.
“We haven’t completed counting yet,” said USDA spokesman Keith Williams.

When the two out of three are two of Indiana’s freshman Congressmen, and they do not want to end the occupation in Iraq.

The story from Maureen Groppe in The Indianapolis Star.
Some of the article is below the fold.

My friend The Honorable Congressman Joe Donnelly and my friend the Honorable Congressman Brad Ellsworth, are not sure if they will support the Iraq war spending bill because it has a timetable attached and specific goals with it.

My friend The Honorable Baron Hill and former Congressman Lee Hamilton both support this measure as do I.

WASHINGTON – Some Hoosiers are among the reasons House Democrats are having trouble rounding up enough votes for a war spending bill that includes a timetable for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.

Two of Indiana’s three freshman lawmakers, who were elected last year in part because of unhappiness over the Iraq war, have not decided whether to support the bill.
The $124.3 billion emergency spending bill, which could be voted on as early as today, would require Iraqis to meet two deadlines for political and military benchmarks.

If they fail, the U.S. would begin withdrawing troops and could be out as early as Jan. 1. If the Iraqis meet the benchmarks, troops would leave by September 2008.
“I think the bill is terrific right up until that final benchmark,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, who hasn’t decided how he’ll vote.

Give Congressman Donnelly and Congressman Ellsworth a call or an email and urge them to vote yes on this bill.

Representative Brad Bradley (Brad) Ellsworth (D – 08)  202-225-4636 202-225-3284 http://ellsworth.house.gov/

Representative Joe Donnelly (D – 02)  202-225-3915 202-225-6798 http://donnelly.house.gov/

Rep. Brad Ellsworth, who also hasn’t decided how he’ll vote, said he wants to make sure troops have the equipment and training they need to do their jobs safely.
“Within that frame, I am weighing what constituents are saying and military leaders are conveying in secret briefings with what my conscience tells me,” the Evansville Democrat said in a statement.

Yes, the bill will be vetoed, yes, we do not have a veto proof majority yet, but this is an important step in the process, and time for a united front in my opinion.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for all that you do.

Barry Welsh 2006 Indiana 6th District Democratic Congressional Candidate

The Peaceful Revolution is about to begin.  We are going to take our country back, and soon we will be at the ballot boxes fighting the first battle in this Peaceful Revolution.
We are going to take our country back from the corporations and make it “for the people” once again.  

As in any revolution, there are minor skirmishes leading up to the big battle.  Last Tuesday in Connecticut was one of those skirmishes, there were others last Tuesday.  There have been many others across the country, less publicized, but fought just as hard, and each one sending a tiny message, each win creating a tiny ripple in the pool of change.  

We have to peacefully overthrow this government, and replace it with people that want to take us on a different course.  I am trying to be one such person, as I am the Democratic Challenger in Indiana’s 6th Congressional District against Mike Pence.  I believe We must be better stewards of our environment, our economy, and our people, Mister Pence believes in saying one thing and voting a different way, forgetting the environment, the middle class, and those of us Americans below that standard.

This nation was born out of Revolution.  Now it is time for Peaceful Revolution and that is done through the political system.  Roughly the same political system created by those that bore this country through that initial Revolution.  

Do not get me wrong, I am not comparing myself to any of the founding fathers, but I am saying that there is a group of people that are ready to be the first wave of change in this Peaceful Revolution, and I have to raise the question; how many currently in Washington D.C. are ready to be part of change, and how many want to keep things the same?

We have Howard Dean, our Samuel Adams, and we have Senator Russ Feingold, the only national figure to endorse our campaign, and if that stays the same, I am glad it is his PAC that we were selected by, but how many more Ol’ Joe’s are out there, or are running now?  

I know some that are running for change;

  NC-08    Larry Kissell    
VA-Sen    Jim Webb    
PA-07    Joe Sestak    
PA-08    Patrick Murphy    
NJ-07    Linda Stender    
NY-State-41 Brian Keeler    
CT-Sen    Ned Lamont    
NH-02    Paul Hodes    
NY-29    Eric Massa    
IL-10    Dan Seals    
IL-14    John Laesch    
TX-21    John Courage    
CO-05    Jay Fawcett    
CO-06    Bill Winter    
MT-Sen    Jon Tester    
WA-08    Darcy Burner    
CA-11    Jerry McNerney    
NV-Sen    Jack Carter    
CA-50    Francine Busby

Please add their links in the comments below, or go to 50 State Site and find out just about everything about every race!  Thanks to kossack BENAWU, and others for all of that effort.

There are others ready for change not listed, but these campaigns, and our campaign, are going to be part of Crashing the States so that is why I chose to list them.  (As an aside, for Indiana and mid-nation kossonians, Thursday October 5th, Our campaign is hosting a Netroots Rally to be part of the documentary “Crashing the States,” and all of you are invited, mark it on your calendar now, details to come, but probably in Muncie, Indiana.)  So this Revolution may not be televised, but it will be available on DVD!

The candidates are, to some, the front line of the battle, but it is YOU, each one of you reading this now, that is the real front line.

Maybe you are thinking this is bunk, there is no need for a Peaceful Revolution, and if you think that, you are welcome to that opinion.  If you are not thinking that, then it is time to organize, finance, and prepare for battle.  There are many opportunities and any of you are welcome here on our campaign if you have nothing closer to you.
Get active, stay active, and get others active.  

The first battle of this Peaceful Revolution will be November 7th, the time to prepare is now.

For those still not convinced, let me add one name. Senator George Allen.  
I have seen the video, and heard the excuses, and the excuses, are one thing, and one thing only, LIES!   Why not be a man and say, “I was wrong.”  The song and dance just costs more respect on top of what is lost by the racist comment.    This man does not need to be in consideration for President of the United States.   The 2008 President will be the George Washington of this Peaceful Revolution, and that is not George Allen.

It’s not 1776, but it could resemble 1974!  

This Peaceful Revolution is necessary because of many things, among them; real oversight on the executive branch, and then replacement of the current occupants, bringing the troops home from Iraq, rolling back the tax cuts on the richest of the rich, and listening to the people, instead of telling them.

You say you want a Revolution?

Barry Welsh Indiana 6th district Democratic Congressional Candidate

Tonight the Welsh for Congress Campaign was again on the road.  Two stops were on the schedule and both in the neighborhood so to speak.  Which means they were both within thirty miles of home!

The first stop was a county party pork chop dinner fundraiser in Fayette County and it was well attended and a great event.

Then we went to the county fair in Franklin County, my home county.  

I was accompanied by a couple of the very valuable members of the campaign as we walked around the midway, ventured into the various 4-H Barns to look at the livestock that the kids have worked so hard with for the past several months, the vegetables and crafts and on and on displayed with creativity, talent and love.

What’s this got to do with politics?

Well two things.  I campaign the old fashioned way, pre-TV campaigning.  I am where the people are, and this time of year, in this area, they are at the County Fairs.   I ask them face to face, how they are doing and if I can have their vote.  I actually stand there and answer there questions and concerns.  I don’t hold meetings with only cherry picked invitees, I go out to where they are and make it easy on them, and answer why I hold certain positions on certain issues.  Let me tell you, even those that won’t give me their vote respect the way I work and the time and energy involved.  

Here’s an example from earlier this evening at the County Fair.  I am running for Congress so I am fairly well known here in my home county.  I ran for State Senate here two years ago, and there was a guy that followed me around everywhere I went and badgered me about being a Democrat and a baby killer.  He showed up and started in on me being a hippie peacenik for not wanting more war in Iraq  Complete with simulated draw off of marijuana cigarette.  (Yeah we got it all on tape! LOL)

Well instead of letting me answer he kept sucking on his fake cigarette until his eyes were about to pop, and then ran away without allowing me to answer on Iraq.

I just smiled and kept walking, telling my two campaign team members that that is why we don’t have to win 100% of the vote to win an election.  They were both honked off at this guy, and I laughed it off and told them it was no big deal, that I knew this guy and he was just uninformed.  

He Came back, and this time he wanted to talk with me seriously on camera.  My two team members started to challenge him, and I stopped them and put my arm around the guy and said that I had known him for years and that we really did like each other but it is a difference of politics.  He said, “I respect the hell out of this guy, he is always out here busting his ass for what he believes in, I just believe he is wrong!”  So things calmed down.

He asked me when life started.  

I told him not in a petri dish, but some say heart beat, and some same brain function.  I told him that I was not a Doctor, but for sake of argument either one will work for the start of life for me in this debate, because I already know your answer.

He asked me why MY President Clinton Vetoed two times to end late term abortion.  (I know I could have argued that he was America’s President but I pick my battles and instead..) I asked him why America’s President Bush couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of women and his lips off of bald men?  

He ignored that and started in on having feelings and sensations at six weeks in the womb, and I stopped him.

I said, we both agree that abortion is not something we want to see more of, right?  He nodded, then said, wait, you are pro abortion and I am pro life?  I said, you are pro life, and pro war, and pro death penalty?  How can you be pro life and pro death at the same time?   He had to think about this for a minute, then we he couldn’t answer, he shifted back on the attack, You are Pro Abortion!  With a pointy finger.  Who says?  I responded.
Well you do.  He answered.  No, I am pro choice not pro abortion.  I answered as I have time and time before.  

It is the same thing! Was his return.  

So I asked him this.  “Which do you choose, the death penalty or life in prison?”

For what?  He asked as I explained these were the options for penalizing the women and Doctors that took part in any abortion for any reason.  You say they are murderers and I want to know since you made that judgment what is their sentence?

This was obviously a step father than he had ever taken this, and he had no answer, so he took off  and ran away.  (We have all of this stuff on camera, so I am not exaggerating when I say he ran away.)

I turned to the youngest of the team members and told him to look and see who the real “Cut and Runners” are.  I told him if you stand up to them, they run away!  It’s true.

You see, that guy will run and tell everyone he knows what I did to him, and some of them will start to think “Death Penalty or Life in Prison for abortion? Wait, let’s rethink this.”  Because it could happen to them or their family.  

A campaign is supposed to make a difference, and ours is.  An election is held to see if the campaign made enough difference.  There are so many forces that can sway an election, but a campaign must always make a difference.

I am so very proud of the people that are behind our campaign.  They, and me, are making a difference.  

Just another night at the County Fair.  You see when you are in a campaign in 19 counties, you guessed it!  19 County Fairs.  

It’s like this, all of the other candidates for congress are caught up on raising millions of dollars, because people tell them that is what they have to do.  How much of that money is wasted?

We do it differently.  Not a dime is waisted.  Not on headquarters or unnecessary staff or on kissing butt.  Everything goes into marketing and advertising.  We are powered by people and we talk to them face to face.  What a concept huh?  Not staged events, not planned photo ops, not a mailed newsletter telling you what is happening to you, but actually with the people, asking them what they think.   I guess in a few months we will see if it works.

Our campaign meetings are held every week in a chat room and in person once a month at a restaurant or truck stop.  We disperse materials out of county headquarters across the district.
We don’t rent four separate buildings and utilities, and pay four separate staffs.  We are being smart with the people’s money who donate to the campaign and they see that, and if you are smart while campaigning, you will do the same when in office.
So if you want to visit campaign headquarters no matter where you are in the world, you can, http://www.barrywelsh.org  It’s right there!

Now I have been blessed with the most skilled and talented people you could imagine or this would not be happening, but it is!   I guess in a few months we will see if it works.

Game On
Time to Dispense with Pence
Barry Welsh Indiana 6th District Democratic Party Congressional Candidate.