Briefly, Jennifer Carrol Foy is my favorite for this, though I do like Lee Carter too. I'm disappointed that there are so many people in this race, and it's very important to me that Terry McAuliffe doesn't win the primary (though it's likely he will).
Terry McAuliffe is a terrible candidate. He is funded by Dominion, and many other large corporation. He supported the pipelines that we can not build if we're actually planning on transitioning to clean energy in the next 10 years.
Sam Rasoul is my favorite to win here. He has been an active candidate fighting for the green new deal. Multiple activists friends have been working for and donating to his campaign. I feel very confident in supporting him.
Let me make a case that Bernie Sanders is the best candidate, and that in order to elect him, we will need everyone doing what they are able.
I'll do this by showing that his campaign: - has the right policy for the critical time we're in - has the right morale case, not just based on politics - is the most capable of winning in November
And finally:
That his campaign, since it is run by individuals, needs all of us.
So first:
He has the right policy for the critical time we're in
It feels very disingenuous when we say that we must respond to climate issues and ignore the poor who are suffering now. Climate activists too often focus on the urgent change that needs to happen forgetting that people are working those jobs (the Green New Deal has a Jobs guarantee). And millions of Americans can't afford to pay their health insurance when they get sick.
So who am I to say: "Climate change is urgent, we all need to pay for it" when some people, the disenfranchised and poor, will obviously pay more. Medicare for All, in a post-climate change world, is after all, protecting the people who will be sick from Climate Change.
Housing for All, in a post-climate change world, protects people who are stuck IN the climate.
Time and time again, Bernie Sanders shows that his policy affect the working people, who this country has left behind.
He has the right morale case for people Interaction
His policy is right, but he also approaches interactions with grace. As one of his supporters, I wish he would point out all the flaws with the other candidates, but he continually refuses to do that.
A month ago, a Bernie surrogate released an Opt-Ed that showed Biden was corrupt. I think the opt-ed was 100% correct. Bernie is way too gracious for this, though, and apologized. Whether or not you think the mud flinging is good or not. It's crazy to think that Bernie is anything but gracious in this.
Peter Daou was a Hillary Clinton Surrogate in 2016. He joined the campaign in mid-2016, and ended up fighting online with some Bernie Sanders supporters because of how he felt they weren't supportive enough of the Primary candidate.
Four years later, he switched and is now backing Bernie Sanders. I recommend you read his op-ed: "I Was Bernie’s Biggest Critic in 2016—I’ve Changed My Mind" In it he describes what he sees as a very welcoming campaign, where people he fought with in 2016 have welcomed him in as he re-assessed the need for a strong progressive candidate.
Where Bernie Sanders wasn't prepared for a national campaign in 2016, he seems more than ready for it in 2020. His campaign has reached out to all kinds of diverse actors, and created coalitions across sexuality, race, and religion. The struggle that unites the campaign is the class struggle. The weak vs the powerful. For we are all much closer to being homeless than being a billionaire.
But can he win?
One off the major concerns of voters, is that Bernie Sanders can't actually win the general election.
I also am very concerned about being Donald Trump, and I can't imagine anymore capable of beating him.
His policies might seem far to the left, or very radical, but remember we've been implementing half measures for a long time, and people are ready for change.
While the media and moderate democrats are focused primarily on registered moderate democrats who vote either way, I think there is a large voting block of independents that are to the left of most of the Democratic Party, that were left behind when the country moved to the right.
This is the power of Bernie Sander's campaign, bringing out new voters, and people who aren't empowered to vote.
The biggest factor, that goes beyond the money that's been in politics for far too long, is that Bernie's Campaign is a powerhouse of volunteers. This machine, sending out millions of texts and making so many phone calls, the campaign has to re-strategize before Iowa.
Just imagine this base of volunteers re-organized to take on Donald Trump. You know that the other campaigns don't have the same level of support from volunteers. You know that all they have is campaign money, and Super PACs.
So what can you do?
With Bernie Sanders rising in the polls it might be easy to just sit back and watch it happen.
Donations are good, but we have to build a movement that will bring people in, and rally against the 1%.
Bernie Sanders realizes that he can't change our political climate on his own. He needs all of us. That's why the slogan is "Not Me. Us." This is hard, because it means we have to do the work.
If you're inspired by this, and want to help but aren't sure what would fit you best, send me a message and I can find something that works for you.
I'll be out there, getting outside my comfort zone, because we need political action that protects those who are weak, and can actually beat Trump in November.
On the ballot you see 5 elections, and only 2 that seem to have "choices":
Senate of Virginia. April Moore is running against incumbent Mark Obenshain. April is the clear Climate activist in this race. She also has supported expanding medicare, which Obenshain opposed.
House of Delegates. Brent Finnegan is running against incumbent Tony Wilt for the second time. Brent is a community activist, and has time for a lot of the community activities, and on the right side of all the issues I know of. Brent is running his campaign on small dollar donations, which means that Tony Wilt is out-raising him by large amounts, but it also means that Brent's campaign is NOT bought.
If it it's not already clear, my endorsements are April Moore, and Brent Finnegan.
If you have the time to help them "Get Out the Vote" I would strongly encourage you to help. You can find ways to get connected on their websites, and small dollar amounts you can give will always be appreciated.
I would love to talk to you more about this, if you have concerns about giving to politicians, but I also know that each person should only commit in the ways that they can.
