DONNA EDWARDS v AL WYNN-- A VIEW FROM INSIDE MARYLAND'S 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

An old friend of mine lives in Maryland's 4th congressional district where Donna Edwards has mounted a grassroots campaign to replace a reactionary and corrupt entrenched incumbent, Al Wynn. Wynn reflexively serves the interests of the rich and powerful to the detriment of his middle and working class constituents. As a champion of the predatory Republican bankruptcy legislation that has been causing more and more people in MD-04 to lose their homes, Wynn has coming under more scrutiny than is usual for an incumbent congressman in this solidly Democratic district. I asked my friend to give us a resident's eyed-view of the race, from the perspective of someone who was born and raised there. He wrote this last night:

It is a familiar story for residents. At the end of the 2006 cycle, voters in the Maryland’s 4th said wait until next cycle. Well it is just about next cycle. What are we waiting for? At this point in the
biannual ritual, the rant on Rep. Al Wynn will begin. What he has done. What he has not done. What he should have never in a thousand even thought of doing. Yada, yada, yada... you get the point.  This has gone on for the past 6 to 8 years. After the last yadda, the final statement generally is “If only we had a candidate strong enough to challenge him.” Well…

This brings us to Ms. Donna Edwards. Here she is. The “if only” candidate is here. She has shown a commitment to public service and has shown by her 2006 run that she is the real deal as a candidate. You want to learn more about her? Go to her website. It is pretty nice. You will find out a lot about her. Again I have to say this is about us, the voters of the 4th.

"Almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. You want to “send a message?” I suggest e-mail. It is quick, efficient and you may even get a response. It is also much cheaper than a congressional campaign. It also does not waste a lot of people’s time. If you want to show real commitment to your message, send a letter and flip for the stamp. Prices on stamps just went up so it could show that you are really hardcore. You want change? Commit, organize and do it. To me this is what the 4th is about.

A while ago there was a story in a paper about a local park called Glen Echo. When I was a kid during the late 70’s, I remember taking a field trip to the park. I asked my mother did she have a Glen Echo story, because I thought about taking my niece (her granddaughter) out to see the park. At that point my mother looked at me at said no because the park was segregated when she was a child. It said this later in the story. I said to myself, wow the Washington area has changed. The changes did not “just happen." People made a commitment and worked toward a goal.

There are people with a houses worth close million dollars or more that 30yrs or 40yrs ago would have ago would have been lucky to be able to think about having a house. At the same time President Kennedy was talking about putting a man on the moon, there were people thinking they or most likely their kids would have that house I talk of. It has come much later than the 1st moon shoot for many but it is not unusual for an 80 or 90 year old parent to have their own personal
“moonwalk” in a house brought in the 4th CD by a child. It was not given away or set aside. People worked for it.

Change it not just going to happen. People who want to keep Al Wynn are going to work to do it.  They are committed. Are the people who want change committed? I do not want bosses. I want a political leadership in Prince Georges County that can work together. I am tired of the petty infighting. When there is an open US Senate seat or Governor’s races I want the person in the 4th's name at the top of the list. In the future, I want the 4th to be a main supplier for talent for the Executive Branch of the US Government from cabinet to the very top. People who want to hold these
positions do not hang out with people who just want to send messages. These are people who are committed to make something happen.

In end, the 2008 democratic primary for the 4th congressional district is not about Rep. Wynn. It is
a referendum for the people of the 4th on the kind of leadership it will get now and in the future.

Donna's grassroots fundraising will never match dollar for dollar the lobbyists and Big Business contributions flooding into Wynn's campaign under the auspices of DLC head Harold Ford and other corporate shills and power-mongers. But citizens from inside and outside the 4th can turn the tide in this election with small donations directly to Donna's campaign through ActBlue. May I suggestion a contribution today through our Blue Ameirca page?