Step Up for Edwards

I need your help to move this thermometer.

How about helping raise a few grassroots dollars for John Edwards this week? This is a campaign where your small change can literally translate to big change for this country. In honor of Elizabeth Edwards July 3rd birthday, we have a goal of raising $500.00 this week, and $5000.00 over the course of the campaign. Your contribution-no matter how big or small-would help us reach that goal. Maybe you've never given to a political campaign. Maybe you think your $5.00 doesn't matter, or that political giving is only for the high dollar donors. You'd be wrong. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, can make the difference. This is the week when the pundits will decide, based on "the money race," who is "in" and who is "out." Let's tell the pundits that Edwards is in it to win it, and we're there to help.

Just one click, is all it takes.

If you need help deciding whether this is the candidate to back, take a look at this his performance against possible Republican nominees. And, remember, he's not first in the money race, but neither was John Kerry, the eventual nominee who loaned his campaign millions in December of 2003, just so he could compete in Iowa. And, compete he did. He won there and went on to win the nomination. Of course, Edwards is already doing well in that early critical state. So, what are you waiting for? Click away, and let's move that thermometer to $500 this week!

What Really Matters: Hair Wars

News bulletin. In 2006, Hillary Clinton paid nearly $3000 to hair stylist Isabelle Goetz ($1500 in April of 2006 and $1000 in May, plus another $442 in expenses). Add to that the $3,000 Clinton paid to Hollywood makeup artist Barbara Lacy, and you'll see why how fast the Clinton campaign has burned through it's mega millions is a bigger story than what they've raised. John Edwards has gotten expensive haircuts, too, and today the AJC is devoting ink to a haircut he got in Atlanta in 2004. Now there's some heavy-duty reporting.

I personally think that we have more important things to discuss, like a President who has commuted the sentence of a man convicted of obstruction of justice, or the soldiers dying daily in Iraq while both our President and our Congress do nothing to end the war, or in Georgia, a young man who is sitting in prison for ten years for having consensual oral sex, but, for those of you who think that what a candidate pays for a haircut is really much more important than a substantive discussion of the issues, here's the breaking news: None of the folks running for President are paupers. The Clinton's have a net worth of about 50 million dollars. Most, if not all, of the viable candidates are millionaires, but the only one who is speaking consistently about poverty and what we need to do help, for instance, the one in five children in Georgia who live in poverty is John Edwards.

That Hillary Clinton described the expense of her hair stylist and make-up artist as "media production expense" really gets at the core issue. We have devolved into a nation of drones who watch while Paris Hilton is released from jail, noting what outfit she was wearing but failing to notice that she spent more time in jail than Scooter Libby. The Republicans are salivating at the opportunity to choose Fred Thompson, you know, the nice D.A. from Law and Order, the B-list actor with the thin resume' who is a walking subliminal cue that will make the music from the show go "Da Dum" in voters minds as they check off his name on the ballot. After all, who's going to protect us better than the nice D.A.? This is what we've become.

Look, I could not care less what Hillary and John spend on hair cuts and stylists. The fact is this is a media-driven race, and these are rich people. It's not Edwards' (or Clinton's) personal cash that will help end poverty- it is their ability as President to impact policy. But, hey, the GOP is counting on us to keep feeding the "Reality-TV, Don't-Make-Me-Think" media machine. Wouldn't want to disappoint, would we?

This is cross-posted at Georgia Women Vote!

You Did It!

The Edwards Campaign reported about nine o'clock that we have met our nine million dollar goal for the quarter. Not only that, but we are on track for having 100,000 donors. That means that the Edwards Team is on track to win! You did it!

This Was a Cool Tool

Back last year when Edwards was in Atlanta for his book signing, a photographer snapped away as Edwards greeted each person. Then, you were given a card with a website where the photo could be viewed and copied. The catch was that to enter the site, you registered with your email address and were given the option of providing a cellphone #. I did that and now get text message alerts from the Edwards folks on a semi-regular basis. Today's message was a little different, though, and it had Joe Trippi's fingerprints all over it. I got a text message that said Sen. Edwards wanted to talk to me and would call if I hit reply or called a number that was provided. I took the bait. The call was a recorded message from Edwards that spoke to the importance of giving before the end of the quarter (it really, really is important, and you should do it now), and offered to connect me to a volunteer so that I could make a donation, if only I would press '1.'

This is innovative, and a very cool tool- a robo-call the voter chooses to receive.

Step Up for Edwards

With the end of the quarter upon us, I have decided to engage in a little grassroots fundraising for my favorite candidate. Will you help by clicking here and making a contribution? It could make all the difference.

Edwards Continues to Lead in Iowa

In Macon yesterday, Elizabeth Edwards said that she would not trade places with anyone in the race. With polling numbers like these in the critical early state of Iowa, I can see why she feels that way.

There are a number of posts in the MSM and on the blogs today about these events. The Telegraph has a great piece-front page, above the fold. I wish you could see both of their photographs on line, but you will have to settle for these great pictures by Tina Simms. Also, I have a post on Georgia Women Vote, Tondees Tavern and there are two posts on Blog for Democracy. Those Political Insiders at the AJC picked up the GWV piece this afternoon, too. Local television in Macon also has coverage here.

Details on Elizabeth's Visit to Macon

Elizabeth Edwards will be in Macon on Tuesday, June 5th at 5:30 pm for a reception, and you are invited to come.

Lots of people are asking for directions to the event, and you can find them here. This is one event you do not want to miss!