Tuesday, April 22, 2008

A last ditch effort by Olson

The following is a copy of a letter recently mailed from Bob Olson to the roughly 150 delegates to the CD-6 DFL Convention on April 26th. We thought you might like to see what he had to say.

Dear Delegate,

Congratulations on your election to the 6th Congressional District Convention on the 26th. This is an exciting time because we’re pulling together for a common purpose, to retire Michele Bachmann. The district needs it. The country needs it.

Looking to the convention, you want to know what defines me and what defines my opponent. That’s critical. You’re set on choosing the one who represents your concerns.

Despite what you may have been told, giving up core Democratic values does not make us more electable. If we trade away our values in search of victory, we act in fear. And we end up with neither values nor victory.

My name is Bob Olson, a tax attorney, community bank owner and the founder of the American Sustainable Energy Council. I’m ready to make the difference you’re hungry for, to be your representative in Congress.

Why me?

I have experience helping people pay for college, pay for their homes, and secure their futures. I know how to change the tax law to save middle class families being drowned by trickle down economics. I am the only candidate that has a plan to get us out of this mortgage crisis and fix this economy.

By eliminating our dependence on foreign oil, by leveraging sustainable energy technologies, we can create jobs, boost the economy, preserve our national security and save the environment. We need a sizable infusion of loan guarantee funds for sustainable energy – like the REA in the 1930s and 40s – and tax incentives that benefit middle and working class people.

By making the right decisions now, we can end our dependence on oil, gas and coal in 15-to-20 years. We can move faster to a sustainable economy than we moved from the horse and buggy to the automobile a hundred years ago.

But only if we stand on our progressive values.

I’ve never wavered on these issues. I have been against this war in Iraq since day one – the best way to support our troops is to bring them home. I am pro-choice no matter who I am talking to. We do not have to compromise to elect a Democrat in Minnesota’s 6th District. Amy Klobuchar proved that.

Progressive means healthcare for all. It means giving everyone choices.
It means giving the middle class a break from what benefits only the rich. It means human rights for all Americans. That’s where I stand. Stand with me on
April 26th and we can turn this country around.

Bob Olson

Political Muse has some commentary. Bob has always had a solid message. It was his message that sucked me in. A progressive who was going to shake things up a bit. Olson had great difficulty in strongly articulating a powerful progressive message and his campaign suffered for it. Tinklenberg, on the other hand, has not really said much at all in the campaign, at least anything with actual substance.

My take, do with it what you will. I still think it's over, I'm predicting Elwyn first ballot. If it goes more than 4, Ewlyn may be in some trouble.

1 comment:

Political Muse said...

My commentary was apparently misunderstood by an anonymous commenter. I have no problem with the message of Olson. In fact, like you said, it was his message that got me interested.

Unfortunately, his ability to articulate that message is weak at best.

My point was that in this last ditch effort he used the same line that hasn't worked before and is not likely to work at the last minute.