WHY I VOTED FOR CAROL SHEA-PORTER THIS MORNING

Today Russ Feingold started up his Pick A Progressive Patriot Campaign again. It's a great idea and helps grassroots Democrats get acquainted with our representatives. The winner will get $5,000 from Russ' PAC. Russ is asking-- Patrick Murphy, Carol Shea-Porter, Dave Loebsack, and John Hall-- I'm donating money to. I just voted for Carol. Let me tell you why.

In fact, the reason I voted for her is the same reason I invited her to be a Blue America guest at Firedoglake in a few weeks. Carol ran a purely grassroots campaign, was one of only two Democratic victors (the other being Loebsack) who won without spending a million dollars and made promises that she is keeping-- like actively working towards ending Bush's war in Iraq.

Although she has been targeted for defeat by New Hampshire's notoriously corrupt Republican Party and has been viciously attacked and smeared already, Carol has passed on taking money from Inside the Beltway power structures. In fact, not only does she have a howling bunch of bloodthirsty Republicans after her, I've noticed that the Beltway Democratic consultant class already has their knives out for her, complaining that she isn't hiring... them. Sounds like just the kind of candidate we need to be assisting. Let's start by making sure she gets a shot at Russ Feingold's $5,000 purse.

The Democrats in this include:
Patrick Murphy (PA-8), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1), Dave Loebsack (IA-2), John Hall (NY-19), Harry Mitchell (AZ-5), Jason Altmire (PA-4), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Nancy Boyda (KS-2), Ron Klein (FL-22), and Baron Hill (IN-9).

Matt Stoller is a big fan of Carol's too and he sent me a story about the GOP attack on her today. Basically the Republican Party-- the same one that has several officials in prison now for manipulating the election that illegitimately placed John Sununu in his Senate seat-- has been trying to paint Carol's attempt to reach out to constituents with all shades of opinion as an attempt to intimidate war supporters. Future GOP prison inmate Fergus Cullen, now the state Republican Chairman, claims Carol's attempt to end the war is undermining U.S. troops-- a silly and discredited Rove talking point that has been rejected by the U.S. military. Cullen called the debate to halt the escalation "shameful." Carol hit back the way all Democrats should when they get attacked by these cowardly little fascist twits: "If Fergus Cullen has the courage of his convictions, he should go enlist, because they're having trouble meeting their quota. He's young, he's single and he's healthy. If he needs to know where the recruiters are, call me."