Stem Cell Candidates ActBlue Page

I've diaried a few times about this page, www.StemCellCandidates.org.  It's an effort aimed specifically at supporting candidates seeking to unseat House and Senate members who voted against HR 810, against stem cell research, and against hope.  

We're now in the final days of this election season.  We're past $15,000, but we need to take that higher. Please help these candidates right now by visiting:

www.StemCellCandidates.org

stempac.com/stemcellads/

We are going to drive as many people as humanly possible to the page in the next few critical days, and we are hoping they will show their gratitude accordingly to those who focused on this important issue.

If you know of ads that are not on this page, please tell me by commenting below.  I'm ideally looking for a YouTube link, but whatever you got, please include it.  

And if you're a stem cell supporter, please spread the word.  

stempac.com/stemcellads/

If there's ever been a definition of a "no brainer" on the legislative front, this is it.  99 Senators are for it, and only Senator Coburn is holding it up.  Seriously, WTF?

(full disclosure -- I have done some volunteer work for NBCC, and my firm has done some paid work. Still though... WTF?)

NBCC: "Senator Coburn - what in the world are you thinking?"

99 Senators have agreed to pass the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act (S. 757) by unanimous consent.  This is a bill that would fund research to determine the cause of breast cancer.  This is a bill that could eventually save the lives of millions of Americans.  This is a bill that is a "no brainer" if there ever was one.  

99 Senators have agreed to pass it.  But shockingly, one Senator is holding it up - Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.

I'm heading to Las Vegas tomorrow, to hang out for a few days with my old roommies from college, Wesleyan U.   We've been there a few times before, so we know the basics, but we're looking for suggestions on things to do beyond that.  The key is:  Cheesy, fun, novel, or creative.

We'll do some gambling, of course, but again, it's much more the cheesiness (sp?) of Vegas that we love.  Last year we went to some place where they aim an inverted jet engine upwards, and you float on top of the blasting air (simulating a parachute jump).  And we understand there's some place where you can shoot uzis, so we'll probably do that.  The Star Trek casino seems a natural as well.  

Anyway, you get the idea.  Suggestions anyone?  

You see, it's not for me, but for some fantastic candidates for the US Senate who happen to be particularly strong supporters of stem cell research.  

Trish Vradenburg and I are co-hosting a fundraiser in DC for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee this coming Monday, September 25th.  Full details below the fold, and at http://www.stemcellcandidates.org/... but it should be a fantastic event. You'll get to meet these candidates AND some current Senators who've been great on this issue as well.

There's a $500 minimum contribution (yes, yes, it's a fundraiser folks), but if that's too rich for your blood, you can also get in by raising a total of $500 from friends and family for the event (just let me know if you're interested, and I'll send the details).

A lot of you might know Mike "Ice Man" Panetta as the creative genius behind the DC Olympic curling team effort I helped with earlier this year (www.DCOlympicTeam.org).  But that's just the start. Over the last few years, I've had the pleasure of working with Mike on a variety of efforts for DC, and for a host of other causes. Here are just a few reasons why I am voting for Mike for DC Shadow Rep:

Seriously, what other name could be more appropriate for elected officials who vote to delay cures for Alzheimer's, for Parkinson's, diabetes, etc., etc., etc.?  

"Pro-death" candidates.  The candidates who voted to uphold Bush's draconian restrictions on stem cell research.

In just a few weeks, we've raised nearly $14,000 for the "anti-death" challengers running against them.  Come join the effort -- help us take it to $100,000 and beyond.

Stem Cell Candidates  

Seen the video?  Seen what actually happens to the unused embryos?  If not... check it out now.

Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman!

Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman?  

DEAR GOD MAKE IT STOP.

http://www.StemCellCandidates.org

In the first week, we've raised nearly $10,000 for pro-stem-cell challengers facing anti-stem-cell incumbents. Challengers including Eric Massa, Patrick Murpy, Claire McCaskill, James Webb, and Victoria Wulsin. Now it's time to take that to $100,000 and beyond.  

Anyone ready to help?  Specifically, anyone ready to commit to raising $1,000 in the next 30 days?  $5,000? $10,000?  Willing to harrass family, friends, co-workers, etc., to step up?  Willing to make a donation yourself as part of that pledge? If so, make your pledge with a comment below...

A little over a year ago, my godson and nephew Benjamin Margulies was diagnosed with Tay Sachs disease.  If you do a bit of Googling, you'll see things like "100% fatal" and "loss of all physical and mental functions" and "death by age 5." But thanks to some incredible cutting edge treatment from Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg and her team at Duke University -- involving adult stem cell therapy -- Benjy has managed to halt the progress of the disease.  In fact, with the help of skilled nursing and physical therapy, he has actually managed to start reversing the effects, and move towards recovery.  It was truly a miracle in the making.

Until Aetna decided to cut off his insurance.  

http://www.actblue.com/...

HR 810 was the bill that President Bush vetoed -- the single most important piece of stem cell legislation in years.  And $8.10 is all that it takes to send a message.  

Full story below, but the short version... the candidates on this page are all strong supporters of embryonic stem cell research, running against strong opponents.  

Please give $8.10 today, in honor of HR 810.  Send a message, and tell these candidates that the "silent" majority in support of stem cell research -- is ready to start getting vocal.  

http://www.actblue.com/...

Short version: Spread the word as much as humanly possible, link to this page from your sites and blogs, and tell all those pissed off stem cell supporters to "put their money where mouse is."

Longer version...

I've been working with some of the other stem cell leaders and some other campaign strategists (my day job) to come up with a way to get back against the House and Senate incumbents who voted against stem cell research.

Here's the deal -- 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.

Here's the deal -- there is a new diary of from stand-up comic John Fugelsang:

"Who Would Jesus Incarcerate?"

You should recommend it.  Here's why:

1) It's funny as hell, and it's a very pointed attack on a very stupid drug war;

2) It's John's first diary -- he's a DK Diary virgin.  It's his first time -- be gentle.  Recommend it, and encourage him to do it again.

3) I've gotten to talk with John a bunch while working on this same effort for the ACLU. He's a great guy, and it's hella cool that he's helping the ACLU on this cause.  

4) For God's sake, if there's one thing the liberal community needs, it's more people with a sense of humor.  Come on people, help out

He simply did the right thing. He used his power. He healed.

Tell Congress to do the right thing, and override President Bush's short-sighted, cruel, un-Christian veto of stem cell research.

Our friends at DefCon have a set up a page to fax blast Congress, to demand an override.  

Do not pass go, do not collect $200, send a fax NOW:.  

And check back for more at StemPAC later.  This fight has just begun.  

For Immediate Release:  ActForLove.org Launches Stem Cell Effort:  "Send President Bush a Pair of Balls; Help Him Stand up to the Extreme Right Wing"

CONTACT: John Hlinko, John@extremecampaigns.com

http://www.ActForLove.org & http://www.PairOfBalls.org

Washington, DC, July 18, 2006 - In response to today's overwhelming Senate approval of HR 810, the most critical stem cell legislation in years, ActForLove.org, a liberal activist community, has asked its users to "send a pair of balls" to President Bush.   It is hoped that the balls will enable President Bush to finally stand up to the right wing extremists who oppose this legislation, and rescind his earlier pledge to veto it.  The effort is headquartered at www.ActForLove.org and www.PairOfBalls.org.

With the Senate poised to vote on HR 810 tomorrow, and President Bush mulling a veto, supporters of stem cell research need all the help we can get. We need activists to act -- and we need leaders to lead.  A number of the '08 Presidential hopefuls have expressed support for HR 810, but few have actually taken a leadership role on the issue, pushed hard for it, and tried to rally their supporters at this critical time.

Most haven't even bothered to feature the issue on their web site, or even send an email to supporters about it (check it out for yourself -- their sites are linked at http://www.stempac.com/...)

Please write these potential presidents today, and tell them we need them to lead -- and we need them to do it now. We need more than quiet approval, we need them to actively rally their supporters on behalf of HR 810.

Send a letter today, at http://www.stempac.com/...

We will deliver it immediately to all of the potential candidates listed on that page. Do it right now. Tell these leaders -- to lead.

(Have you taken action? Blogged about this? Harrassed activist orgs to rally their members? If not... do that first, and THEN come back and read this) Hot off the presses -- Senator Frist has just confirmed that HR 810, the most critical stem cell bill in years, will be debated on Monday, and voted on Tuesday.

I'll be blunt -- the progressive community has been 99% AWOL on this issue, aside from notable exceptions (DefCon, Working Assets, and Kos's help on StemPAC).  The patient community has been fighting this nearly alone.  

Please contact your Senator today, and demand a YES vote on HR 810.  Go to StemPac.com.  Go to Working Assets.  Go to DefCon.  Just go SOMEWHERE, and send an email, make a call, and hopefully -- make a difference.

Folks, as you may have seen from previous diaries, the most important stem cell research bill in years will be voted on in the next few days.  As you may have also seen, President Bush has threatned to issue his first veto ever to kill this bill.

As I've kvetched before, the progressive community has largely sat this one out, leaving patient advocate groups to fight this alone.  As a result, the opponents (i.e., right wing religious extremists) have been generating a hell of a lot more grassroots volume than us.  But this is starting to change.  DefCon has been running fantastic ads.  And this morning, Working Assets sent out a mast blast to its enormous list of activists.

But we need your help to get the 800 pound gorrilla on board -- MoveOn.org. It's time for a new twist in grassroots lobbying.  We need to show them there is support for this issue among their supporters.  In short -- it's time for a grassroots lobbying effort -- aimed at the grassroots lobbyists themselves.    Here's what you can do: