Conyers officially announces candidacy asks for help

[Cookie wookie]

I received this in an email today. I love this man. Hope it's okay to post a copy of it here at DU:


"Help Me Fight Back Against the Republican Attack Machine
Today, I am officially announcing my intent to seek reelection. I have never before sent a general email asking for help, but the stakes are simply too high at this point in our Nation's history.
<snip>
Because I have been so outspoken in repeatedly speaking out against the excesses and abuses of the Bush Administration, and because the right wing fears that I will be chosen to chair the House Judiciary Committee if Democrats assume the Majority, the GOP hit man has come after me.

<snip>

Karl Rove has identified me as the number one target of the Republican attack machine.

I need your help to help raise the resources to get reelected, to help get our message of accountability and checks and balances, and to fight back against the vicious right wing smear machine, which will only intensify in the coming weeks and months.

Help Me Lead the Charge Against this Administration's Abuse of Power

Thank you as always, for your dedication to democracy and liberty.

Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr."

"It would not be a surprise in the coming months if we hear more from the GOP about Conyers than about Osama bin Laden" Philadelphia Daily News (5/14)"

To contribute:

http://www.johnconyers.com/index.asp?Type=CONTRIBUTION&SEC={E114EDF0-5461-49B1-B834-CED253FA9DEA}




He's calling on us, so hope that everyone who has the means to do so, no matter what level they give, will contribute something to this incredible and brave patriot's campaign fund. He's done so much for us.

[faithnotgreed]

1. wow - from the title i thought he was announcing his bid for president

drat
but then again im grateful hes in our govt somewhere

[Cookie wookie]

4. Sorry, didn't intend to mislead.

He is presidential material: he has the energy, intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, soul, not to mention morals and ethics.

[faithnotgreed]

6. not a problem at all - ANY thread in support of conyers is a thread

well worth posting

and i completely agree - if conyers could be president i would definitely support him though as i said im just grateful he is in the govt at all
hes just about the only one i trust in the least (henry waxman and maybe a couple others at most)

[onenote]

2. Curious: does Conyers even have an opponent?

In his last two races, he had only nominal opposition and won with over 84 percent of the vote. Hard to imagine that he needs too much financial help; certainly not as much as some other Democrats.

[Cookie wookie]

3. Well, he asked I gave.

He sure has given to me and all of us. He's tirelessly stood up for all the important issues, not only with rhetoric but with hard work and action: investigating electronic voting fraud, calling for an end to torture, standing up for human rights, fighting for justice in the Valerie Plame case and on and on. When it seemed no one else was listening over the past few years to our outcries, Conyers would step up to the plate.

[onenote]

5. Not criticizing you. But others should realize he doesn't need the money

He is in a completely safe Democratic district. As of the end of March, he already had raised over $500,000 and had $220,000 in the bank. By contrast, his opponent (turns out he has one), had $17 dollars in the bank, which will buy him a quarter tank of gas. I think John is great and I hope that he takes some of the money that he gets and spreads it around to other Democrats who need it.

[Cookie wookie]

7. Do you have a link to where you got that information

about his finances?

After all, he just sent out an email today requesting money -- so obviously he needs it.

Since your post is harmful to his efforts to get donations, some background of why you dispute that he needs funds seems an appropriate request.

[onenote]

8. here

http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=MI14&Cycle=2006

[Cookie wookie]

9. Thanks.

But that doesn't change anything.

He asked for money for his campaign. He said he needs help to "Fight back against the Republican Attack Machine."

He also said:
"I need your help to help raise the resources to get reelected, to help get our message of accountability and checks and balances, and to fight back against the vicious right wing smear machine, which will only intensify in the coming weeks and months.

Help Me Lead the Charge Against this Administration's Abuse of Power"


I think he knows what he's talking about .....

But you think you know better. Are you saying he's lying or doesn't know what he's doing or is greedy or what?

[onenote]

10. As I said. I think John is great.

And if people want to give him money that's their right. Do I think he's "lying" when he says he need help to fight back? Not at all. I think he's being a politician and he's doing what politicians do, which is try to raise as much money as they can. Do I think that he needs it for his own election campaign? Not that I can see. That's why I hope he gives what he doesn't need to Democrats who do need it, since that's how we can best assure that he's the next chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which would be fantastic. I do think that its fair to point out that if someone thinks that ensuring that John is the next Judiciary Committee is important (as I do), they might consider giving money directly to Democrats who can help make that happen by capturing repub seats.

[Cookie wookie]

12. I only give to those who have shown that they will stand up for the

issues that are important for our democracy. I won't give again to any general Democratic Fund, as I want to more carefully direct my resources to those who are really fighting for our democracy. As far as your belief that he's asking for something he doesn't need, only time will tell. Maybe there's something going on we don't know about. Maybe the repubs plan to put up someone to run against him and fund that person.

Again, I think Conyers knows best about what he needs. If it takes money to get his voice out -- his is a voice that should be heard. If he had more than he needed, who better to direct those funds to the best and highest caliber candidates?

[ldf]

17. if the gop goes after him with multiple teevee ads

500,000 isn't squat.

and that is they way the work. they bury you with lies, to the point that people believe them.

good luck, john. we are a better nation because of you. i'll see if i can scrap something together.

:toast:

[ISUGRADIA]

11. I think the point is that the only opposition Conyers could face

would be in the primary. Hell will freeze over before that District goes Republican. Is there any indications of Republican efforts to subvert Conyers in the Dem primary? i.e like how they took out Ciro Rodriguez in TX in 2002...

[Cookie wookie]

13. They did it to Cynthia McKinney in 2002 as well.

Like I said, we don't know what Conyers knows. I just think it's interesting that someone would come on the thread immediately to try to squelch an effort to help him get what he wants.

After all he's done for us, when he asks then it's a bunch of excuses and arguments about why he doesn't need what he says he needs. It was Conyers marching beside us in the blazing sun last summer for the renewal of the voting rights act. When everyone ignored the Downing Street minutes, Conyers held "hearings", when almost no one with the exception of Boxer and members of the Congressional Black Caucus -- and that includes Democrats in Congress -- would fight for our votes in 2004, Conyers was there.

But now when he asks for help....

[onenote]

14. I'm not seeking to squelch donations to Democrats

Let's be clear about this. My point is that I prefer to see contributions go to Democrats who have the greatest need for it. John, bless his soul, doesn't need as much money because he's in about as safe a district as there is. The deadline for a primary opponent to file was yesterday, and to the best of my knowledge, no one filed. If I'm wrong about that, I'll be the first to publicly apologize and post a new thread encouraging people to get out and support John both with their votes and their dollars.

[laugle]

15. cookie....you are taking things way to

personal.

Your post is a good one, although, I too thought you meant he was running
for president with your lead-in.

Maybe, John has some skeletons in the closet and fears a smear campaign.

People at DU love him and would fight like hell to save him if necessary. Please keep us posted on this so that, like the other poster said, we can spend our dollars wisely.

[paineinthearse]

16. See earlier post

In POLITICS

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2631506#2632506

There's another in GEN.

Glad word is getting out.

[paineinthearse]

18. Conyers

Please see/support the earlier post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2631506

[snot]

19. Donation accomplished, w/ pleasure . . .

. . . as he's the only Dem. I know of whose actions during the last two years have accorded with my political will.