MINNESOTA WRITERS AND POETS ENDORSE COLEEN ROWLEY

While Minnesota's far right extremist congressman, John Kline, rakes in the legal bribes from Big Business lobbyists for whom he has done favors for the last 4 years-- particularly from the trucking industry, construction industry, Big Pharma and HMOs, defense contractors and finance and insurance companies-- Democratic challenger Coleen Rowley was endorsed by LitPAC, a group of writers and poets which is helping to raise contributions for few progressive candidates with book readings around the country. Last night LitPAC hosted a fundraising event for Coleen in Minneapolis.

In a letter thanking Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars and Down With Tyranny community members for financing her "educate the voter" bookmarks, Coleen wrote this morning, "You probably don't know this but I often wear this little flag decal with a revolutionary message (at least revolutionary under the Bush Administration) that says: 'Think, it's patriotic.'  Because the more you think about it, it's not only the 1st Amendment's freedoms of speech, religion, and press that we're fighting for but actually the more basic freedom to even think.  Certainly the freedom to critically think (and then read and write what is thunk) is what is at stake."

While Kline scoops up hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Big Business interests he serves, and hands out folksy dinner recipes to Minnesotans, hoping they won't investigate his abysmal voting record, Coleen is depending on people like us to send in small donations, not to buy self-serving influence but to help elect an honest, progressive, fearless American who can help right the wrongs of the Bush years. Please go back if you have a moment and read the question and answer session with Coleen several weeks ago at Firedoglake. And then think about what Coleen humbly wrote to us early this morning: "If I win, it will be due to all the great help you and others are giving." Have you checked out the Blue America Communities Page? We're close to the $5,000 mark for Coleen now!