Author: Congressional Candidates Wife

I am Barry Welsh and I am going to be the next Congressman from Indiana’s 6th District, and yes Indiana is going Blue.  First I want to thank the thousands of early voters that have already voted for us.  Second I want to thank the Obama Campaign for targeting my district and our state.   Thrid, it is only going to get better here and it is pretty good already.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to campaign with singer/songwriter Carol King, Jane Pauley formally with the Today Show, Former First Lady of Indiana Judy OBannon, Co-Chair of the Iraq Study group, Co-Chair of the 9/11 Commission, President of the Woodrow Wilson Institute for International Studies, and former Congressman from the old Indiana 9th, and Indiana’s greatest Statesman, the old 9th  is the Southern half of my district, Lee Hamilton, and former Senator Birch Bayh.  In one day, I campaigned with Mrs. OBannon, Lee Hamilton and birch Bayh.  In Southern Indiana when you say Frank, OBannon, Lee Hamilton, or Birch Bayh, angels sing.

More Below.

I was with former Senator Birch Bayh for the last five days.  For those that only know him as Evan’s dad, you have some things to learn.  For those in Indiana, you know how big this is for a grassroots campaign.

If you are 18 and about to vote for the first time, you need to thank Birch Bayh.
If you are African American and would have been hurt by Nixon’s appointments to the Supreme Court, you need to thank Birch Bayh.
If you are a female scholar or athlete you need to thank Billie Jean King and Birch Bayh for Title IX, something we take for granted now.

Just a few of many things that could be said about this Giant of our state.  

Senator Birch Bayh is giving The Campaign for Change a little of his time.  The entire month of October to be exact!  He doesn’t have to do that, he believes this is the most important election of his life time, and this man is a Giant, so that is saying something. They are taking me with them when in my district and allowing me a few moments on the stump at each stop, and we have been on the front page of every small town newspaper across the district.    

In this area, when you have the endorsement of Birch Bayh and Lee Hamilton, people just say if he is good enough for them, he is good enough for me.  As a matter of fact, that is what Judy OBannon said.   some pics with more to come.   One final thing to consider about Senator Birch Bayh.  No one since the Founding Fathers has authored more amendments to the Constitution of the United States than Birch Bayh!  From Columbus Paper The Republic

I am getting the help and exposure from the Obama campaign and we are getting the local press we need.   We are getting a tremendous lead built up with early voting and now I need your help.

It’s costs 6 dollars to run one thirty second ad on MSNBC through cable in Anderson Indiana which is the second largest city in the district and run the ad  in non peak hours.  It costs 25 dollars to run a thirty second ad on Fox during prime time( Fox is the most expensive.)  For those that doubt, I have sent Markos the price sheets and he can verify.  That gives you an idea how far we can make dollars go in this district, and we are down to 500 dollars in the account.  The yard signs are bought and 1000 new ones are going up this Saturday alone.  
I need your help with cable and radio buys.  We do the buys ourselves and save the 15% and thus can buy more time.  

Please donate to the campaign.  You will be making a tremendous impact on a race against someone that will be very powerful if we don’t knock him off now and we are positioned to knock Mike Pence out.  He is not even going to see it coming.  He is barely campaigning.  

I am an outsider, I am not hand picked by the state establishment, just the opposite. So I have to depend on the people to help us.  I have spent the past four years on the ground.  We have not been aggressive in fundraising in the district because it is such a poor district and we have let the local candidates fund their campaigns with local money instead of trying to suck it all out, and we have very good relationships with the local candidates across the ticket and across the district because of that.    

Please consider giving 6 dollars and buying a cable ad to help take out Mike Pence or 10 of them, or consider a 25 dollar donation to give us two 30 second radio spots or a 30 sec prime time cable ad.  Please consider asking others to take up this cause as well.  A few thousand dollars is all it takes for a media presence and the more we raise the bigger the presence.  The bigger the presence, the bigger the margin of victory and the less likely Pence ever comes back.  I am asking you to help make that happen.

Here is the text of the 30 second radio spot.  It is positive and targets the swing, undecided, and ticket spliters:

30 second version:

I’m Barry Welsh and I am asking for your vote as I run for United States Congress and I approve this message.

The Economy, Jobs with living wages, Healthcare, Education, Utility Bills, I know those are your struggles, because they are my families struggles as well.  

Visit barrywelsh dot org for real solutions to our real problems.

Its time one of us went to represent all of us.

I want to thank the tens of thousands of you that have already voted for me in early voting and if you haven’t voted yet, I ask for your vote.

Paid for by the Barry Welsh for Congress Committee.

Help us by donating, and by taking a few minutes and asking others to give just a few dollars as well.  Cross post this to other blogs, link to it in other posts, take up this cause as your own for just a few hours and this will grow and be more successful than we might hope. Through the power of many small donors we will make a lasting difference on the political landscape, together we can make that happen.

Thanks for all that you do.

Barry Welsh
Indiana 6th District Candidate for Untied States House of Representatives

In October of 2006 I wrote a diary Pimping My Husband IN 06 on Daily Kos.
And with the dust up over MSNBC, I thought now would be a good time to Pimp My Husband…again!  
With all the Presidential candidate diaries you have to get attention any way you can! ;o)

Yes folks, it’s me Sherri Welsh, aka Congressional Candidates Wife.  First, let me clarify by saying as a woman, I think that David Schuster stepped way over the line by suggesting that the Clinton daughter was being pimped out.  It’s one thing for a wife  (tongue in cheek) to speak about her husband that way, but I think in this context it isn’t appropriate to say such about someone else’s daughter.  I’m not being hypocritical, I’m thinking about it from a parent’s perspective (we have 4 daughters) and we have chosen to keep our daughters out of politics in the last cycle.  We often have discussions on our positions, on how Government should work and the realities of our current administration.  That being said, we are leaving it up to our daughters to make up their own minds and opinions about politics and how they would like to be exposed to it.

More Below

Okay, back to the original point, let’s be honest, politics is about [raising moneyhttps:/secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18221] and getting out a message, with the hope that the message is strong enough to gain enough votes to be put into a position of making change.  While some raise money by (it would seem) selling their souls to big business special interest, or by making promises to those with bucu bucks.  While Barry isn’t one of the ones that will compromise on his positions, I still need to pimp him out folks – a wife’s gotta do what a wife’s gotta do!  ;o)

You can help right now by going to [ActBluehttps:/secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18221] and donating whatever you can, and then pimp my husband to others!!  ;o)

This diary is my own words and thoughts and is not vetted through the campaign, it’s my own perspective from the inside looking out of a Congressional campaign in action.

Thank you for taking the time to read my diary and, of course, all comments are welcome.

Now Let’s chat and get Barry elected.  See you in the comments.

Love,

Sherri Welsh
Congressional Candidates Wife

Now Let’s chat and get Barry elected.  See you in the comments.

Seeing as it’s that time of year (yes, I know I can’t believe it either) and since I’m doing the baking amongst packed and semi-unpacked boxes.  I have areas where there seems no rhyme or reason to have boxes labeled “bedroom” in the office and it seems someone thinks I really must work in our bedroom (there are a number of boxes labeled “office” in the bedroom).  I thought I’d share with everyone here.
My name is Sherri and my husband is Barry Welsh, Indiana’s 6th  District Democratic Congressional Candidate.  Some know me as Congressional Candidates Wife. I’m looking to change my moniker to Congressmans Wife in 2008.

Recently, our Finance Director thought it would be fun to have me write a personal letter to people on the occasion of Barry’s birthday agreeing to send Barry’s favorite cookie recipe (Double Chocolate Drop cookies) in exchange for making a donation to his campaign by his birth date (December 10th) (The secrets out on Barry’s birthday now!).  I thought about it and I was thinking “GREAT, everyone could use another reason to eat cookie dough for the greater good”.  What a great way to celebrate Barry’s 49th birthday. I can share my recipe with everyone and provide an avenue of support for Barry’s campaign while sharing the celebration of his birthday.

So, here is the letter I wrote, please go to Barry’s website or the ActBlue page and make a donation.  I promise to send everyone that makes a donation of at least $12.10(12/10 is Barry’s Birthday) to Barry’s campaign a copy of my recipe. Please be sure to include your email with your contact info.  Here is the letter that is going out nationally tomorrow.

I am writing to let you in on a secret: Barry Welsh (my husband) will be turning 49 years young on December 10th. I’ve always been proud of Barry and his hard-working dedication to helping all those in need. I want him to take that dedication to Congress as Indiana’s 6th District Representative.  So, I’m organizing a special occasion for him that includes you!
Since Barry and I have been married, he has always liked my baking, especially my cookie recipes. I’d like to ask you to help us celebrate his birthday by contributing $12.10 to his campaign. If we could all come together with this small amount, it could add up to making a big difference to the campaign.
Click here to contribute
In exchange for your participation, every person that contributes $12.10 by Barry’s birthday will receive my recipe for Double Chocolate Drop cookies. This is Barry’s favorite cookie recipe, and the family loves it when I bake them at this time of year.
Click here to contribute

Here is Barry’s website for more information.

Let’s give Barry a birthday he will remember! And let’s send someone to Congress that will work to put our country back on the right track, help send my husband Barry Welsh, you will be glad you did!

Sincerely,
Sherri Welsh
www.barrywelsh.org

I’m sure you will enjoy the recipe as much as Barry does.  

PS – I’m thinking of field-testing my grandmothers Depression era Chocolate cake.  It’s an old family chocolate cake recipe made with cherries, shaved chocolate and chocolate glaze.  YES, I know it’s very chocolaty but tastes incredible, I’ll let you know how the field-testing goes.

My diary is not vetted through the campaign; it’s my own view from the inside out of a congressional campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to read my diary and all comments are welcome.

Love,

Sherri Welsh
Congressional Candidates Wife

Tonight as I write this diary, I am contemplating what this county wants and what is really important to us.  I am Sherri Welsh; I am the Congressional Candidates Wife.
The wife of Barry Welsh, who will be the Congressional Candidate for Indiana’s 6th District, I have no doubt about that after tonight.  The Bear came out of hibernation and was in top form.

Barry and I just came home from the 82nd Annual Randolph County Woodrow Wilson Banquet.  Barry was invited to speak at their function along with State Senator Sue Errington.  Indiana Governor Candidate Jim Schellinger was also there.  We had to get to the site early as Jim and Barry met privately for an hour before the event.  It was a good meeting and when they came out, both were smiling and looking confident, and Barry shortened his speech to give Jim time to talk.

This is the forth time Barry has spoken at this event.  The first year there were 30 people in a private dining room of a restaurant.  Tonight they sold over 160 tickets!

Barry was the first to give his speech, Fred Davis, the County Chair is a big supporter of Barry’s and he draws a great crowd when he tells the county that Barry is coming to speak.  I love sitting and listening to Barry speak, his speeches are always thought provoking, crystal clear on his stand, relatable, funny and one comes away remembering a line of his speech or some point that some of us haven’t seen presented that way before and wonder why one didn’t notice before?  

I love to watch how his speech is being listened to, sometimes that’s the best part, watching people react to what he’s saying or what is important to them – it’s so interesting to watch people express in their faces what their feelings are on a topic.  Then I watch as some may whisper to one another and both nod when listening to a particular point.  He often get’s interrupted with applause or ovation when he speaks. Yeah your thinking this is so sappy I have a toothache, but it’s the truth.  Barry speaks to each person in the audience as if speaking directly to that person.  People will drive from miles and miles away to hear him give a speech.  He draws people to him so easily and he makes the time to listen to anyone that wants to talk to him.  He’s direct and people seem to like him.

But I digress, Barry gave his speech tonight and it was well received and one of the really big points that he spoke about was that of unifying the district among other things….

“I want to speak just a moment on some myths.  One myth is the Republican Party is the only one that can raise money.  It is a myth as all of the Democratic Presidential Candidates proved in out raising all of the Republicans.  So do not keep repeating that myth.”

“We had 75,000 votes in 2006, and if each one of those voters would have given just 10 dollars, we would have raised 750 thousand dollars, and with the TV that would have bought, I believe we would have won.  We lost by between 20 and 40 votes per precinct and that can be overcome.”

“Another myth is that Democrats can’t win in Indiana, or in Randolph County, and that is not true, so do not keep repeating that myth.  We have more Democratic Congressmen than Republicans.  We have more new Democratic Sheriffs and county officials, soon we will have more new Democratic Mayors and city officials, and next year we will have a new Democratic Governor.”  

“So do not keep repeating the myths of old and the False Republican Party.  It is time to walk with the new Democratic Party of the People and to shine a light on the TRUE Republican Party and what they really stand for. NOW is time to work to take our government back.”  

They had a 50-50 drawing and we won!  It was 108.00 and we gave 50 back to the county party and 50 to Jim Schellinger for his Governor’s campaign.  We kept the 8 bucks for gas.

On the drive home, Barry and I spoke about what our future holds and what we want to do.  His “myth” points in his speech spoke a lot to me, so I asked him when we arrived home about the history of the Woodrow Wilson banquet and then we talked about the Jefferson Jackson dinners that were held by every county and around the country.  Barry had told me the history and traditions of these dinners/banquets in the District that he has grown up in and what it meant to have those types of events to local politics.  I found it interesting; we have the longest annual Woodrow Wilson Banquet in the country, right here in our district.  Barry told me about Wilson’s Vice President Thomas Marshall from Indiana and how Barry is related to former Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh, as this had been mentioned at the dinner this evening as part of his introduction.  

We talked of how much we both liked Jim Schellinger and that we thought he’d make a great candidate and Governor.  We talked about how much we really liked his speech and how great he was in front of a crowd.  He was not only likeable but also articulate and relatable.  We will enjoy working with Jim, and Barry will be formally endorsing him soon I imagine.

When the dinner had finished a lady in a Red Hat sweater came up to Barry and said “Your Uncle Matthew had dinner at my house!”…. Barry smiled and said “How Cool is that?!” she then proceeded to make sure we knew that not only Governor Matthew Welsh, but Representative Phil Sharp and his wife, Ki Ki, were dinner guests as well as Ki Ki’s editor from a New York publishing empire.  Barry looked at me and smiled, “we now know that every time either before or after a parade in Parker City we need to call Dorothy Beeson (as he points his thumb to Mrs. Beeson)”.  Mrs. Beeson just giggled and gave me a hug and told me that we were welcome to her home any time.  I’m thinking to myself at the time, “I’m trying to LOSE pounds NOT GAIN THEM!!!”.  I see that I will have to muster all sorts of internal fortitude to make sure I don’t HAVE to eat at every event, etc.  I’m going to look at this as a challenge and a positive for me.  I’ll show myself that I can resist every kind of cherry pie made with real butter in the flaky pie crust, and that I CAN resist peanut butter fudge or the Chocolate layer cake made with butter cream icing and about 4 lbs of sweet bakers chocolate.  Sigh…I have decided instead of driving the parade truck this time, I’m going to run the parade route like Barry does.  

Anyway, it was a good night and I feel like this is a new beginning for the Democratic Party this time, it feels like there is more awareness, more eagerness to get involved, more eagerness to participate.  

I noticed when we were talking and remarking on the events of the evening about how much stronger the Democrats looked tonight, how many more youths we saw in the audience, how something is about to happen – like the wake of a Tsunami.  I’m beginning to think of the atmosphere around here as the 2nd wave of a Tsunami, the 1st one was last November, the Mid-term Elections.  This is the big one and there is a lot of change I feel is going to happen.  I can’t help but feel good about it, it’s like there is hope, the kind of hope that Jack and Bobby Kennedy brought to this nation politically.  I feel like there is hope, much needed, much awaited hope for the future.  

I keep asking Barry, “So when are you going to formally announce?  We need to get busy.”  He keeps telling me, “As soon as we get the committee and people in place.
I am not coming to a gun fight with a paring knife again, if I am going to do this, this time we are bringing big guns.”   He is talking to two very popular, and prominent people to manage the campaign, and he is putting together what he is calling “The 6th District Dream Team”, which will be a very strong effort if everyone comes on board.  

So I guess you can say, I’m confidently resurrecting my Congressional Candidates Wife title and writing diaries again.

This is my diary and I write from a personal and close up perspective of a Congressional Campaign.  This diary is written by me and not vetted through the campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to read this diary and I welcome any and all to comment, just remember that I apologize for all and any grammatical and spelling errors.

Love,

Sherri Welsh
Congressional Candidates Wife

Hello everyone!  It has been a while since I last wrote a diary.  I miss it, and the connections with all of you, and I am going to make sure I get to write more often.  For those that don’t know, I am Sherri Welsh, and my husband is Barry Welsh.  He blogs too as many of you know, and those that don’t can Google or You Tube to learn about him.  He was the man that stood up and challenged Mike Pence two years ago (we started the campaign in 2005).  If you don’t know the name Mike Pence, here are the latest links.  
I’m beginning to think that rural life isn’t what it’s cracked up.  From the “commute” to the grocery store and the “commute” to work, and points elsewhere, it makes for a very tiring day.  There is the risk of becoming complacent in one’s perspective at times too.  Like the images and the reports we see on the News, the blogs and eMags online to the local and satellite radios we listen to, we sometimes become lulled into thinking that the “conflict is over there” – that the “suffering is over there”, the “war is over there”… until it hits home.

When the local boy that took one of our daughter’s to the prom, and another local boy that went to Military school after graduation, came back from “over there” (Iraq) that we hear of them coming home with their perspectives, limbs, lives greatly distorted due to the tough and gruesome tasks that they may have had to perform.  Some men and women have come back from this “Armed Conflict” that have eagerly anticipated going home, come back in silence awaiting only the sad and heartbroken family, friends and community to send them to their final rest.  We all know that this is a risk that one prepares for when signing up for any kind of military duty, and for that, I think we can all agree, are grateful and respectful of such sacrifices.

This time in our history is not so unlike other events in the past, it’s not different in the sense that death, in the end is still death.  It’s the seriousness, the somber respect and the trust that one had in one’s government to take the equally difficult matter of sending our Military in to harms way that has changed.  The knowledge that anyone of any understanding can agree that death is a final cost for serving one’s government, especially in the Military. To my mind it’s the matter of oversight, the thoughtful and most shrewd and economic value of safety and strategy that decides where and when our military should go that instills respect, credibility that form our opinions. The fact that our men and women in our Military branches still go to do a very unpleasant, very real, very deadly and very awful job that most of us would, frankly, not find the inner resolve to do.  Just like those in our Police and Emergency occupations or Professional Health care or as teachers or any one who serves publicly – we all show respect for those that sacrifice of themselves to make a difference.

So far there has been little to see of both credibility and respect to be earned by our current administration and that would include our “Congressman” Mike Pence (R-IN06).
Mr. Pence is without doubt, to be either the most oblivious individual on the planet Earth or the most arrogant to be spouting off dribble such as comparing our Indiana farmers markets to an Iraqi market place.  Look, I may have to commute a way to get anywhere in the rural South Eastern portion of Indiana, we may have unemployment rampantly high with all the closures of business in this district, but I defy anyone to reasonably explain how one can say such a ludicrous statement while wearing a flak jacket with an escort armed to the teeth?  Okay we like our guns down here, but to say that Iraq is anywhere as safe as a rural farmers market in INDIANA???

The only fear I have of any farmer’s market in Indiana is when my husband, Barry Welsh (the 2006 Democratic Candidate for Indiana’s 6th Congressional district) is going to the local farmers market and I know we’ll end up eating 5 pounds of Watermelon, cantaloupe, corn on the cob, tomatoes, and any combination of other fresh produce per person, per day for the next 2.5 or 3 weeks.  I just don’t think that is the same as Baghdad.  

I’m embarrassed, to say the least, that any comments that are uttered through Mike Pence’s lips will only create a stereotype or image of all Hoosiers that I for one, am not pleased with.  He paints his own ignorance, poor judgment and callous remarks on every Indiana resident of the 6th Congressional district, let alone Indiana or for that matter as an American.  Normally I would never state my opinions in such a vitriolic way, but the guy has opened his mouth and it’s been published for all to see or hear.  He’s fair game as far as I’m concerned.

To condescend to the public by uttering such asinine remarks reminds me of Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf aka Bhagdad Bob pronouncing with great posture that the Iraqis “..have control of the (Bhagdad) airport” while seeing in a split screen US Military taking the airport.  Is this what we are reduced to?? GREAT, we now have Bhagdad Pence representing us.  The sad fact is that it’s NOT just Indiana that he partly represents; it’s Congress, America, HUMAN BEINGS even!  This among a whole litany of items that make me cringe when stating that Mike Pence is the representative of Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, this is the one that broke the camel’s back.  It was bad enough that in 2006 he compared the number of deaths that we have sustained during this armed conflict to a football score and went further to say that “we were winning the game”.  I’m ashamed and sickened by such a display of ignorance it’s unexplainable, unbelievable and inexcusable.

I am planning on Barry Welsh, my husband, to take up the call to campaign against Mike Pence in the 2008 election.  Thus, Take My Husband Please!  Also please put pressure on the blog world in general to target Pence in 2008.  This time Barry will win; people aren’t as timid as they once were to state their opinions within the district. Here are some examples;

This morning, I was reading a local paper and found an article describing the recent visit of Sen. McCain, Rep. Mike Pence and others to Iraq. Part of their tour was through a local market. These markets are the places we keep hearing about, where locals visit while wearing explosive vests. When they detonate themselves, they take many innocent people with them.

According to the Times, the congressmen described the place as “a safe bustling place full of hopeful and warmly welcoming Iraqis.” Congressman Pence added that it was “like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime.”

Here is the Timesâ description of the situation: When they arrived at the market, which is called Shorja, on Sunday with more than 100 soldiers in armored Humvees (the equivalent of an entire company) and attack helicopters overhead, the soldiers redirected traffic from the area and restricted access to the Americans, and sharpshooters were posted on the roofs. The congressmen wore bulletproof vests throughout their hour-long visit.

Now, I have had the pleasure of shopping at a number of Indiana outdoor markets. I have always had a wonderful time shopping and talking to the great people who were selling. Apparently, Congressman Pence has had different experiences. I can think of several possibilities.

The congressman is delusional. Either he was totally out of it when he visited the Iraqi market … or when he visited the Indiana markets. This is now something that can be medicated. Perhaps he should check this out.

The congressman really believes that the things he said are true. See item above.

The congressman believes that he can convince you that what he said is true. In that case, perhaps it is you who needs the medication. And last,

The Indiana markets that the Congressman has been visiting are really like Iraq. In that case, he has been visiting markets that are very different from those I visited.
You really need to get yourself a congressman who has a better grip on reality.

But Indianans find any similarities between Bargersville and Baghdad ludicrous. “There’ve been no shootings or car bombings” at that market since it opened a few years ago, said Robin Gibson, assistant metro editor of the Star Press in Muncie, IN.”Maybe some overeager dogs jumping at people,” she ventured.

“Avon Waters, a former features editor and writer for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson, the other relatively big town in Pence’s largely rural congressional district, said he never wore a flak jacket and ‘never felt afraid’ when he spent a couple of recent years covering farmers markets in Madison County.”

Iraqis also disagreed with Pence’s assessment of the Shorja market’s “friendly relaxed atmosphere.” Karim Abdullah, a textile merchant at Shorja, said that the lawmakers “were laughing and talking to people as if there was nothing going on in this country or at least they were pretending that they were tourists. … To achieve this, they sealed off the area, put themselves in flak jackets and walked in the middle of tens of armed American soldiers.”

A day after the congressional delegation visited Shorja, 21 Shorja market workers were “ambushed, bound and shot dead north of the capital.”

Madison County, Indiana doesn’t look a thing like Baghdad.

I hope Pastor Welsh runs again in 2008.

Barry Welsh: http://www.dfalink.com/profile.php?id=210561

and

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:37 am    Post subject:    

Ummm…..no….the guy from PA is right…..what a stupid thing to say unless Pence thinks his constituents are idiots. Pence would say anything to stay in Bush’s good graces…..I am not sure that Pence has an original thought to speak of

also

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:51 am    Post subject:    

So how much did it cost for their protection on the propaganda tour of a Iraq market place????

along with

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:53 am    Post subject:    

Maybe Pence has been strolling through some of those “drug markets” in Indy where he needed soldiers, armored vehicles, snipers, attack helicopters and a flack jacket to shop. East Central Indiana has the delusional, poster boy, gas bag they deserve as a congressman.

and

posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:36 am    Post subject:    

Finally people are seeing the true colors of the politicians supporting this war. Pence is one of Dubya’s Indiana hand puppets like Mitch Daniels. The republicans need to take a long hard look at Iraq and find a way out or they can kiss the 2008 election goodbye, so lets hope they don’t get the messege and we can have a real change in this country. George, John and Mike the 3 blind mice!!!

finally this

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:06 am    Post subject:    

Elmer A Johnson Jr, good post about pence being another bush-led puppet, just like daniels. Yeah, pence was really roughing it in the market with helicopters and several levels of security and military protection. I guess it’s easy to say it was “like an east central Indiana market” while there is no threat at dodging bullets and car bombs. He’s one of the worst people to represent anywhere in Indiana. He’s poor attempt at a cover up answer to what he really meant was pathetic.

People are realizing that it’s the quality of the representation that matters.  We are half way there, we walked away with 40% of the vote with less than $50K in cash and services to run a campaign and now we are getting into position to launch the 2008 campaign, we will get Barry elected!

This is my diary and is an inside look at a Congressional campaign, up close and personal.  My diary has not been vetted or edited by the campaign.

Love,

Sherri Welsh
Congressional Candidates Wife

As many of you now know, I am Sherri Welsh and I write as Congressional Candidates Wife because my husband is Barry Welsh who is running for Congress in the 6th District of Indiana.

Tomorrow night Barry and Pence debate for the only time.  I will talk about that in the bottom section.  

Barry won 70% of the primary in this district, despite being last on the ballot.  When Pence saw that on primary election night, he assumed like everyone else that Barry would get big funding and this was going to be a fight.  So he had a local reporter call Barry and tell him there would be six debates, Pence would choose 3 subjects and so would Barry.

That initial challenge shrunk to this one debate tomorrow night.

I don’t know anyone that puts more pressure on himself or herself to do well, than Barry does.
He puts so much pressure on himself that there is no room for much pressure from anywhere else.  

He really doesn’t have to do much prep in my opinion.  I haven’t heard him stumped on anything.  What I think he is working on is getting the answers down to 45 seconds.  He is in the bedroom, and every once in a while I hear him use his “May I have your attention” voice, and he will unleash a monolog. (He doesn’t use a microphone or the PA system when he is in church and many times when he is in a crowded room).  

Pence is in trouble tomorrow night because Barry is not going to be an apologetic, “shrinking violet”.  Barry owns issues, he doesn’t waiver.  He barks back, and in a big dog voice.  I just wish I could be there to see it!  Barry doesn’t think Pence will show up because he has too much to lose.  

I will be on the way home from work and unable to get all the way to Muncie where the debate is being held before the thing is over.  That sucks!  I’ve missed so much work over the last 3 weeks due to Pneumonia and Sinusitis that I really can’t afford to cut short my workday and in consideration to my employer who have been patient and understanding during my extended time away.  Sorry, but it really does suck.

Okay, I’ll stop my whining and let you know some really good news.  We’ve recently seen the most recent Pew Poll of our area and that they focused on the 2nd, 7th and 9th, these places in some cases surround our district and it would be most likely that they did include our district.  And I’ll provide the detail lower down the page.  I’ve been looking at all the poll data for generic and otherwise from sources like CQ Quarterly, etc. and they are all trending a rather large pick up of house seats.  They are mentioning that in rural areas where in the 2004 election data that states where the President Bush vote was over 60% that vote is now down to 44% and leaning/or voting democrat.  The current poll is 44 – 42 Reps to Dems.  This is exciting news!  This means that Barry using every last penny we have to buy more and more radio spots in every station will help tremendously to bring up Barry’s name recognition factor and the issues that are important to all people of this district.  Barry used to be called “one take Barry” when cutting commercials when in radio and often wrote his own commercials that were a great draw to advertisers.  He has been able to provide his own voice and has written all the commercials and they’ve been getting tons of feedback, people love them.

  http://www.theolympian.com/101/story/47598.html See the link, I didn’t want to take the chance of making this diary even longer.

The funny thing about the commercials is that Barry is a consummate professional in any aspect in his public life.  I think it’s the people and the purpose he holds in mind when officiating or representing anyone even on the most casual of occasions.

Like counseling youth in Delinquent halls, prison or in nursing homes or those that are so poor and living in their vehicles.  I’m humbled a lot when I see him so quietly respect those that have been brutally dealt with and humiliated and are literally at their last hope.  The respect and genuine care that Barry has exhibited to those and what a visible lift to those that are receiving either a listening ear, food, a ride to a family member that Barry has negotiated a way for two quarrelling members to see the love and concern for each other.  Barry is so good at mending fences and building bridges to be inclusive of others.

There is a person that Barry regularly visits where the father is a rumored drug user and his wife and 3 kids doing all that they can to give a good life to their kids.  One kid is in sports and an A+ student while another has been pulled from school due to behavior problems – this child always asks for Barry to talk with him and Barry seems to be the only one that can get through to the child, his parents are so grateful that Barry makes the effort.  A lot of pastors would sit in judgment, refuse to Minster, and refuse to even be seen in the neighbor hood.  Not Barry, he frankly doesn’t care about what it may look like.  His purpose is to provide ministerial council to a couple living on the edge and being able to see what else is out there.

While most would not agree with this, there have been others who have proclaimed love of God and chronically call us to run 20 miles to give groceries to a family that we know are scamming us.  The idea would normally be from other organizations to say no, report them to the authorities but Barry explained to me once when I objected to this.  He said what is the harm in providing, would it not be better to give a small amount when being suspicious than to not give and it be in genuine need.  As always he makes me thing about the whole picture and how little the impact is compared to the rest of the world.  We of course would have to provide differently if the area was larger but I think the point of this is.  To inspire pride in one’s self, pride of earning something of accomplish something thought impossible or out of reach in the past, to realize that one is not limited as much as we thought.  It’s that simple, quiet and insightful thought provoking points that one is left with after Barry speaks with in Church or at a political event.

Barry has made honest choices based on his common sense and his integrity.  I’ve become so very proud of my husband and am very grateful for all the lessons I’ve learned by his patient example.  He’s not perfect by no means but his DNA is so ingrained with the very qualities that would make him an ideal Congressional Candidate.  

He really is my rock, he makes me laugh but he brings a point of few that I think few would have the courage to be so brutally honest.  He is honest because he cares and knows that I really want to improve my self but how so very interested in the subjects.

He’s grumpy in the morning and he hates having to be rushed and shaken up in the morning.  He kinda likes his mellow morning wake ups (they just have to be scheduled earlier) he hates shopping, if you ever want to see a person who shows his blood pressure grow higher as each step he takes to walk into a store during Christmas, birthday and anniversary times is at times more a task than fun for me.

Barry is a guy just like the next average Joe; he puts his pants on one leg at a time.  I love him more each day as each day passes and I couldn’t be more proud of being his wife and being able to accomplish so much.

Gushy part over now.

Point of the polls – Barry’s in a close race that will be the absolute long shot but I’m putting every penny I’ve got on Barry because he’s going to be the next Congressman, Representative of Indiana’s 6th District.  He’s going to set records for running a competitive campaign with a $50,000 budget and how it really can be done  – he will help bring a bill for real election reform.  He’s going to be the guy that helped turn Indiana blue.

Your support both in dollars and best wishes and volunteering, providing services and the list goes on, we can’t say thank you enough!  It mean’s so very much to Barry and I and we know that we wouldn’t be in the race as far ahead as we are with out people like you.

So once again I ask that if you can spare your time, effort, dollars please do so and please know that everything received will be gratefully and respectfully appreciated.

Help get our message out to people all over the district, we have a commercial already in the can and ready to go all we need is the money to pay for the spots some go from $600 to $3200 per spot and we would like to get 4 spots per day at strategic places of the day in order to have the largest exposure to those in the district.  We are looking at 12 spots and whatever money we come up for will be paying for any spots we can afford.  If you want to help Barry get elected, please donate, tell your friends and tell them to donate – we need Barry to be elected not just for the 6th District but also to be a voice of common sense in Washington to serve the nation.

This is my diary and a personal perspective of a Congressional Campaign from the inside out.  My diary is not vetted thru the campaign and are the opinions and thoughts of myself.

Thank you to any and all that pass by and stop to read my diary and I especially love to hear from any and all with their comments.  Please feel welcome to comment and let me know your thoughts.

Love,

Sherri Welsh

I’ve been writing with more frequency lately and I appreciate the interest and suggestions that have been coming in.  I am Sherri Welsh, my husband is Barry Welsh Indiana’s 6th Congressional Candidate, I write under the name of Congressional Candidates Wife.
We’ve been as most know, operating on a shoestring budget – at $50,000 level.  With the amount raised we have been able to get signs, pamphlets, etc. out to get Barry’s name, face and message out to the district comprised of 19 counties.

Barry’s opponent Mr. Pence has raised over 1.3 million and has spent a large majority of it on the current campaign. DOES THAT NOT MEAN THE RACE IS COMPETIVITE? The disparity is ironic as we have been busting our butts to get as much done with as little as possible (this is one of the skills honed by any rural small church that operates in America these days) while Mr.Pence has spent over a MILLION $$$$ on this campaign so far.  I’m so proud of Barry, and little things like an email we received today (see below) show us that we have more volunteers than we knew about.  We have people literally printing off Barry’s bio and issues pages to canvass in their own towns.
Informal internal poll numbers showed this morning that the race is within the margin of error and 75% of independents are breaking our way!  GOTV, early voting, absentee voting and voter registration efforts are all paying off.  

THIS IS BIG!!!!!!

Subject: Fwd: Ammunition for Barry’s Campaign

Feel free to use any of the following information in ads … get the word out!
Let the #’s speak for themselves 🙂 The people are tired of having government “bought off and lazy” and I think this data could help secure some votes for Barry.

Voting Attendance Record for the U.S. House of Representatives
January 1-July 29, 2006

Mike Pence- 7 month voting record
========

Mike Pence did not vote 5.4% of the time.
He was present 3 times and decided not to vote even though he was present.
Mike Pence did not vote 23 times during this 7 month period!

How diligent is your Member of Congress in their voting attendance this year? How many times did they vote or did they not vote either way but simply said, How many votes did they miss (Not Voting)? We provide this information for you to use while evaluating your Member of Congress.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/voting/index.html  <—go here and check for yourself

How about his PAC money addiction?

The 2002 election vs. Melina FOX :  Mike Pence had 3.12% more PAC money than FOX.
The 2004 election vs. Melina FOX : Mike Pence uped the stakes and had 23.1% more PAC money than FOX

so what about this year when PENCE is running against BARRY WELSH?

So far for 2006 Pence has over 250% more PAC money than BARRY WELSH!

According to www.opensecrets.org, Mike Pence has $533,569 in PAC contributions for this election and has spent

$1,064,134 of the $1,348,402 he has raised for the 2006 campaign so far.

Barry Welsh’s grass roots campaign has raised $50,178 as of the Sept 30th report to opensecrets.org

I feel this is proof that Welsh’s votes are going to be for the people and not for the contributors of PAC money.

Another cool thing, which we couldn’t have paid for, was that at 6pm tonight Jack Cafferty from CNN read Barry’s email in it’s entirety regarding Broken Government and mentioned that Barry is the Congressional Candidate for Indiana’s 6th District.

We couldn’t have PAID for that!  

Right now we have all our radio ads in place (bought and paid for) except the biggest cities in the district – Anderson and Muncie, this is critical and we need to cover 7 stations so, we need to raise $2,912 to finish covering all the radio in those two cities,so we are asking for donations of 29.12 from 100 netroots patriots.  If we raise more than what we require immediately, we can start on cable TV with a commercial we already have produced, filmed and in the can – just need the $$$ to air the ads in Muncie, Anderson, Richmond, New Castle, Ft.Wayne, and Columbus.

If any of you want to see a real live Netroots Campaign in action and succeed – donate now, anything will be appreciated and put to wise use.

This is my personal diary and not vetted thru the campaign, it’s a close up and personal perspective of a Congressional Campaign from the inside out.

Thank you for taking the time to read this diary and I thank you for any and all comments.

Love,

Sherri Welsh

I’m trying out my new Title composition skills.

Read on please…..

I am Sherri Welsh, my husband is Barry Alan Welsh and he is Indiana’s 6th Congressional Candidate for the Democrat party in Indiana.
It has recently come to my attention with admitted astonishment that there were aspects of Barry’s bio that have been overlooked and that statistics regarding his campaign that have been left unheard due to lack of exposure.

1)    Did you know that Barry while in high school was a Governor’s Award Winner and a Hoosier State Scholar?
2)    Was a multi-talented athlete, he lettered in Football and Baseball and track in his freshman year and had a Senior Letter Jacket when he was a sophomore.
3)    Received both scholastic and athletic scholarships to Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN.
4)    Due to a severe neck and back injury while playing football at Wabash, Barry had to quit football and couldn’t afford to attend Wabash.  Barry transferred to Ball State University on a full Scholastic scholarship.
5)    Has a Bachelor of Science with 7 majors:
Government, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, World History, US History and Geography.
6)    Worked Construction and was a union worker (IBEW) as a telephone line installer.
7)    Worked in many charities and personally cleaned and restored headstones in the local cemetery after a tornado ripped through the area.
8)    Was a high school teacher of subjects – Government, Economics, Psychology, Sociology and History?
9)    Coached Football, basketball and baseball.
10)    Was a professional musician?
11)    Has been a Pastor of a United Methodist Church for going on 10 years now.
12)    Was a radio personality with his own morning show?
13)    Immediately after 9/11 co-created “Pennies from Heaven” encouraging all and any to donate pennies to the Red Cross for the 9/11 victims and their families while broadcasting live for 12 hours and raised over a million pennies.
14)    Stood in cold winter conditions on the street corner collecting Coats for Kids every year.
15)    Ran in 2004 as a State Senate candidate.
16)    Barry is a gun owner.
17)    From a tiny congregation of 20+ people, he helps to feed 60+ families per month from the church’s food pantry.

Best of all? – Did you know Barry is within single digits in the race against his opponent the head of the Republican Study Committee and self-professed “Christian, Conservative and Republican in that order” Mike Pence?

Okay, I admit I’m biased, after all I am his wife and he is my husband.  But can you think of anyone as qualified as Barry not getting big attention? Just check out one of his speeches here It’s only 2:30 long.

You wouldn’t normally hear any of this info from Barry; he isn’t a person who speaks a lot of his accomplishments, as he likes his accomplishments to speak for themselves.

All right, so he doesn’t have his doctorate or his law degree as some do, nor does he work in an industry or position that creates great wealth.  He is just simply doing what he is called to do.  He feels compelled to be of SERVICE to his country in a practical way.  He provides comfort and council to those that ask it, he gives money when he has it and food or other necessities that others need.  He wisely knows his limits and he has compassion that is very necessary to be a Pastor and a good one at that.  He has the backbone that is required for him to stand up for those that can’t and those that don’t.

Having said this, I realize that my husband is not perfect, nor a saint, lives on this planet like every other person that lives in this world.  He has been running a race solely on the small contributions of those that can afford it from both within Indiana (the majority of contributors) as well from those outside of the state (Netroots!Yea Netroots!)  He has been ignored and disregarded due to the amount of funds raised, but if you look here You will see he is out raising two REPUBLICANS.  Lest we forget, Indiana’s 6th district is not economically sound right now, with the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, IT jobs and the highways being leased for decades to Multi-National companies to recoup their lease dollars by imposing tolls – this in the state that has a motto of “Cross roads of America”.  Don’t even get me started on health care or drug costs, as this diary will be never ending.

On the national scene we see the fiasco in Iraq with many of our people coming home either in body bags or disabled and having to come home and fight yet again with their own government to receive their benefits.  It’s ludicrous! And to have the incumbent Mike Pence spouting off inane remarks as he compared the death toll numbers of OUR TROOPS to football scores!! (US NEWS and World Report) Or supporting Hastert as speaker of the house and his lack of action by referring to Hastert’s “Administrative error” – I know it’s been said before but it just makes me want to start cussing at the TV every time I hear that Rep. (R-IN06) Mike Pence referring to the Iraq war as a success.  I can go on and on, wish I couldn’t but I sadly can.

Barry’s been running his race in a truly innovative way – we have made CDs with specific music and his radio ad every 2nd or 3rd track so that when I slowly drive in parades and I mean I back up the line while everyone is attentive and listening to the message about Barry and who he is and what he stands for and Barry literally walks the parade route no matter how long and makes sure he shakes hands and asks for their vote.  We have our interns who tirelessly work with us when we parade to hand out his flyers or any other task like yard signs or canvassing or going to the Universities and Colleges within the district to canvas on campus.  By the way the flyers are 2 colors that can be used as pamphlets, mailers, handouts, etc. telling everyone what they need to know about Barry as well as his phone number, address and website.

He uses every opportunity to stretch our dollars to make every way we can – free advertising in the newspapers, radio and TV wherever and whenever he can.  He is in the district canvassing along with our army of volunteers, he doesn’t let any situation or issue deter him from meeting people, listening to the focus of their issues and concerns and speaking out against what has been wrong with this administration for too long and providing answers and alternatives to the problems.

Pence has raised 22x the amount of dollars raised by Barry, which to some is an indication of popularity or confidence in a political race.  That may be true of some but let me tell you something – it ain’t true of this race!  “We have a “blanking” army and there is nothing the Republicans can do about it” as one advisor stated to Pence’s CAMPAIGN MANAGER who recently walked into the Democrat HQ of one of the biggest populated counties in Barry’s district demanding to know if the Democratic Congressional Candidate was serious about winning as he had just found out how really close our race is with his boss.

We may not have a lot of dollars, but we do have a true blue, genuine article People Powered Campaign!  We were told by skeptics we would be “lucky” if we were still standing by Labor Day if we didn’t have funding – well Labor day has come and gone and by gosh Barry is not only standing he’s mounting a charge with a heck of an army of some pissed off voters.  These are people who have been directly impacted by the dereliction of duty that Rep. Mike Pence has provided to his constituents.  He has neglected and been so out of touch with our people that he had arrogantly disregarded the patience and goodwill of the district.  This is a district that like many others across this country that have shown good manners, patience, resilience and hardship while having to deal with the consequences of Mr. Pence’s actions or lack there of.

Currently there was an opinion columnist from one of the most Republican papers in the largest market in the district express such shame of Mr. Pence and his lack of judgement.  The paper will likely NOT endorse Barry but this is big as they very rarely criticize Republicans let alone in such a somber way. Last time they did it was 1974!

Frankly, Barry needs your contributions, your help through volunteering, anything you can afford.  We need your help more than ever right NOW – we need to get Barry’s name and message out to the district that is roughly the size of New Hampshire.  Anything you can do to help will be gratefully appreciated and will be put to good use.

Any donations will go to airing his 60 sec radio spot through out the district.  The average price for a 60 second spot is $12.00

Thank you for taking the time to read my diary and I appreciate your comments.

This diary is not vetted thru the campaign and is my personal perspective of a Congressional campaign from the inside out.

Love,

Sherri

I write under the name of Congressional Candidates Wife as Barry Welsh is Indiana’s 6th Congressional District’s Candidate and is my husband (hence the CCW moniker).  Okay, the reason I’m writing is to talk about the unusual “cut and run” attitude that our current incumbent Mike Pence is now deploying, he is known through out the district for accepting engagements and takes every opportunity to speak on radio, TV or interview with the papers.
Weeks ago Pence accepted an invitation to be on a local radio station, the week before Barry is to appear, we received an email that follows:

Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: Mike Pence withdrawal from local radio interview

All:  I just had a call from Dick Malcom, co-host of “Its Politics”, which airs each Monday night on WKWH, Rushville.  This coming Monday, October 9 Mike Pence was scheduled to be a guest.  Dick tells me Pence’s office called said the Congressman has scheduling conflicts and will not be available until after the election.  Something smells very badly in the 6th District right now.  It certainly is not our own Barry Welsh.  Please contact Mr. Pence’s office and inform the Congressman we would like to hear from him.  I am certain the fact the news story about Keil Brothers and of course Mr. Foley’s escapades makes for a somewhat dark and bleak day in the life of a Republican.

ak

This email is from one of the 19 county chairpersons in this district, and it is covering the district as we speak.

Mr. Pence has two problems, his public and vocal support of Dennis Hastert, and his family business went bankrupt on the taxpayers of Indiana for over 9 million dollars before the 2004 Elections and he didn’t tell the voters!  Barry did a diary on that here

This is just a minor example of what has been happening during Barry’s campaign.  I’d like to thank Mike Pence sincerely for his cancellations as this has had a very positive impact on Barry’s campaign.  The papers and television stations have been calling with increasing frequency on getting Barry’s comments or his viewpoints on any of the asinine comments that Pence may utter on CSPAN, CNN or any other national news media.  Just recently (yesterday) Pence came out in support of Hastert and his “administrative responsibilities” and how he is doing a good job and that Hastert shouldn’t step aside for the Foley Fiasco that has touched the Republican party of recent days.

Yes I am actually thanking Pence because every time the guy opens his mouth, Barry is sought for his comments to underscore, emphasis and inject some common sense that most everyone is thinking and he has the cahones to state out loud.  Mr. Pence has been doing us a favor with his inept tactics to try to ignore or not acknowledge Barry as his opponent.  Barry has made quite a few comments and has been able to maximize the opportunities that have presented themselves to our campaign and get the message out on his campaign and the very real distinctions that are made between Barry and Mr. Pence.  Barry has been speaking about Jobs, Immigration, the corrupt climate in Washington, etc. and how he plans to change things.  

These opportunities that have been presented have been like free advertising for Barry in a campaign where every penny is used and waste is not part of the vocabulary.  So I’d like to thank Mr. Pence and encourage him to keep on doing what he’s doing right up to the November 7th General election.  To quote so eloquently from the dear departed Ann Richards ….”he can’t help himself, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth”.  

We need any contributions that are possible as always.  All donations will go toward radio ad buys!  Help spread Democracy and fight a Neo Con Leader by donating if you can!  Thanks

This is my diary and is not vetted thru the campaign and is a close up perspective of the inside of a Congressional campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to read my diary and all comments are welcome.

Sincerely,

Sherri Welsh

Barry Welsh the Congressional Candidate for Indiana’s 6th district was just interviewed by Stuart O’Neill for Stuart O’Neill’s Political Interviews.  It is the second time in two months that he has been interviewed for this site, and Jack Carter, Senate Candidate from Nevada is going to be interviewed tomorrow.   I will post a link in the comments section when it comes up as I had hoped it would be up by now.
Mike Pence, who Barry is challenging voted against The Minimum Wage the other day, and here is his reason and one line of Barry’s response from the Muncie Star

Pence calls wage hike excessive

By RICK YENCER
ryencer@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE — Republican Congressman Mike Pence voted against the first minimum wage hike in a decade, saying it was too costly for business.
“Any proposal containing a minimum wage increase should be jobs neutral,” said Pence on the House floor. “This increase in the minimum wage is excessive and will hurt the poor and those entering the workforce by reducing the number of entry-level positions.”
……..
Democratic congressional candidate Barry Welsh has been critical of Pence opposing an increase in the minimum wage. Welsh supports as much as a $1.50 hike in minimum wages.
“Congress had no trouble voting for their own cost of living wage, but then forget about those that are struggling just to survive,” said Welsh, a Methodist minister.
…….

This is great, we are getting some support from some local press, the individuals that we have as volunteers to our campaign; teachers, professors, attorneys, web design staff, college interns…wow when I look at the list of unique and politically active folks with our campaign it’s really amazing.  We have the best professional volunteer staff one could ever hope for in a million years.  We have received support from the state party, they have kindly donated the VAN listings each month rather than we pay for them. We’ve been linked by the DCCC on their website as well as now regularly receiving the Congressional talking points and issue updates. We have numerous folks showing up at all the events that we go to.  We are now able to assemble and tear down our parade float (91 Ford pickup) in approx. 10 mins.  We call it (proudly) the working person’s float for the working person’s candidate. We have banners, we have our parade folks made up of retirees, and college interns and we are so well received wherever we go.  

Yesterday, we participated in the Connersville, IN parade – that’s a long parade route in Fayette Co. (There are always updates on Barry’s site)It was also approx. 90+ degrees with a heat index of over 100+ degrees.  I was sweating rather than glowing.  We were in line and one of the other candidates, Dale Lanning who is running for Indiana State Rep. in Dist. #55 had a convertible for Barry to ride on (due to the weather and the length of the parade route).  After much encouragement, Barry agreed to ride in the convertible and his campaign crew would follow in our “parade float” of which I am the driver and the rest of the crew are walkers.  Well we get about 3 blocks out of the starting point and going down some of the main intersections and Barry couldn’t stand it any more – I shook my head and laughed.  That’s my Barry, he can’t sit still – he needs to talk to people and engage in his fellow residents of the district.  So he jumps out of the car and there is Barry running to shake hands and dole out dog biscuits and crossing the road to shake hands with everyone on both sides of the street, criss crossing to make sure he shakes as many hands as possible.  Getting and giving hugs from supporters and long time friends, while introducing himself to as many new faces as possible.  

We have set up a pretty cool audio system on the truck and we’ve burned our own parade music and every 2nd or 3rd track is a radio ad that Barry cut just prior to the primary.  It’s a 60 second ad telling people who Barry is and his issues that he’s a democrat and he’s running against Mike Pence.  We then have our interns handing out our flyers to everyone in attendance so people, hear about Barry, read about Barry and see Barry. I was getting stopped by folks in the crowd wanting me to give them yard signs and others are loving the Edwin Star song called War which is part of our `audio messages’ and then we have 16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford and AC/DCs Back in Black and a String of Pearls by Benny Goodman as well as few country songs too.  Everyone can hear us coming a mile away and they know we are coming.  Every 4 minutes we have Barry’s commercial and man it’s effective.  I couldn’t get over how many people wanted us to stop and talk to them or stop and acknowledge them and their support.  Nothing makes Barry’s day as when he feels he has reached out to the people, and heard what needs to be heard.  

It’s really funny though, on Pence’s website, he was showing pictures of himself walking parade routes and insinuating that he personally was at the same parades we have attended.  Wow he’s so quick too, he has even reported attending a parade (with pictures too) that didn’t happen yet – imagine that!!!  These pictures are all from two years ago.

We need Barry Welsh in Congress and I would like to remind all that even though you may not be able to vote for him, REMEMBER – who ever holds a congressional seat effects everyone everywhere!  This is the year folks, and we all need to stick together to make a change if for no other date in time but on the day of the General Election of 2006.  We MUST get the vote out and everyone who isn’t registered needs to be registered.
Here is Barry’s website http://www.barrywelsh.org please email this to everyone you know.  You never know who knows someone that lives in Indiana, or this district and can and wants to help.  It doesn’t cost you anything, email Barry’s website to everyone on your list, please.  

Have a listen to Barry and his most recent interview about minimum wage, the middle east and the lack of real leaders, it will be up soon!   Also coming soon, Barry’s Blograiser.  

Thanks for taking the time to read this diary and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Sherri Welsh
Congressional Candidates Wife