Dear DemDiva:
Good news -- an anonymous supporter has agreed to donate $5 for every person who contributes to the Stem Cell Candidates between now and August 15th. If you make a $5 donation -- your donation will automatically be doubled.
It's a great opportunity for us to really help these fine candidates -- and to make a difference in November.
Full story below, if you're not yet familiar with this effort. But if you are -- please visit the Stem Cell Candidates page today, read about these fine candidates (including a doctor, an Iraq War veteran, and a cancer survivor), and make a contribution.
Stem Cell Candidates
Are you angry about President Bush's veto? Looking for revenge against the House and Senate members who voted against HR 810? Against hope? Against you and your loved ones? Here's your chance:
http://www.StemCellCandidates.orgThis is an effort by stem cell activist leaders to hold accountable the House and Senate incumbents who voted against stem cell research. The time for "teaching" them is over. The time for "forcible early retirement" is here -- November 7th, to be exact.
Accordingly, we have specifically put together this page to make it as easy as possible for other stem cell supporters to channel their donations in the most effective way possible.
We have selected challengers in races that combine the following elements:
1) An incumbent who is strongly against embryonic stem cell research -- and a challenger who is strongly for it.
2) A race that is close enough that we really can make the difference. (No impossible longshots, or ones we've already got in the bag)
3) A race where the challenger is actively talking about stem cell research specifically, often, and vocally.
We have set this up through ActBlue, a great service that doesn't take a commission -- so the $$ goes right to the candidates. Further, ActBlue enables us to automatically let these candidates know that these donations came specifically from stem cell supporters. In fact, you can even watch the numbers grow yourself, at:
http://www.StemCellCandidates.orgI'll be blunt -- if we want to win this battle in January, 2007, we need a majority that can override the president's veto in both houses. This will take two things:
1) Defeating as many anti-stem-cell incumbents as possible, and...
2) Making sure to tie those defeats to the stem cell issue specifically, so we can scare enough of the ones who remain into "seeing the light" on stem cell research.
And to be even blunter - if you're a stem cell supporter, it's time to pony up. It's time to make a donation to these candidates, and to tell your 10,000 closest friends to be the same. We need to stand up, and we need to stand out. We may have the majority of Americans on our side, but that will not be of any use if this majority is viewed as a "silent" majority.
These House and Senate members have voted against science, voted against cures, and voted against us and our families.
Are you angry now? Good. Get angry -- and get even:
http://www.StemCellCandidates.orgWe'll be adding (and possibly subtracting) candidates over time, as new ones emerge who are strongly and VOCALLY in favor of stem cell research. We want to help those most who are making a priority of this issue -- not just talking about it on page 347 of their platforms.
Suggestions welcome, and we'll be working to build out this effort over time. But for now, if you want to do something with the November elections that will make an impact -- start by spreading the link, and making a donation yourself, at:
http://www.StemCellCandidates.orgAnd remember -- the fight has just begun.
John Hlinko
StemCellCandidates.org
(p.s. -- if you've read this far, you clearly care about this issue. Take that concern, take that passion, and use it right now to spread the word to as many people as possible)