Tag: One America

Here is Kentucky’s First Congressional District we call our Congressman Exxon Ed Whitfield. This is because he holds stock in Exxon and Chevron, but not the people of our district. Now, holding stock in itself is not wrong. Making profit and being successful is not wrong. However, when you are a Congressman that doesn’t even own a house in the district you represent, and you continually vote in the interests of your stock holdings over the people you represent, that is a problem.  

The investment in the fuels of the future could be essential to building good jobs, and re-opening plants shut down by free trade to do something new, refine the fuels of the future here in Kentucky’s First District. With our endless acres of farmland, a little investment in research could end up being very beneficial to Kentucky. We could grow the products to make bio-fuels here, and create endless high-paying jobs refining them. After all, Kentucky’s First District had a whopping poverty rate of 17.62% in 2006.

However, Exxon Eddie is far removed from those of us who live in, or just above poverty. Look at his net worth as of 2005:

From $1,402,041 to $3,658,000

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfd…

With his cushy job and personal fortune, why should he worry about the citizens of Kentucky’s First falling further behind? He doesn’t live here, and definately has plenty to fall back on. Including his stock in Exxon and Chevron:

Chevron Corp  $100,001 to $250,000  

Exxon Mobil  $100,001 to $250,000

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfd…

Now, as stated before, success is not a bad thing in America. However, lets look at how Exxon Eddie voted for Exxon instead of the citizens he represents who need investment in the fuels of the future that could give Kentucky and economic boom.

Here are some votes where Exxon Eddie supported Big Oil over the citizens of Kentucky. These started in 2003:

On April 10, 2003, the House of Representatives defeated, by a vote of 162 – 268, a proposal to require a 5 percent reduction in automotive fuel use by 2010, (which would equate roughly to an average standard of 30 miles per gallon). A YES vote (to require a reduction on fuel use) was the pro-environment vote. All of Kentucky’s representatives (Lewis, Lucas, Whitfield, Rogers, Northup, and Fletcher) voted NO.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos…

Of course, less fuel use means less money for Whitfield’s stock in Big Oil.

But it doesn’t end there:

On April 11, 2003, Ron Kind (D-WI) offered an amendment to the energy bill (HR 6) that would have removed harmful oil and gas drilling provisions and subsidies from the Energy Bill. The Kind amendment attempted to strike Title II from H.R. 6, which threatens special wildlands and sensitive coastal areas, exempts drilling sites from water pollution standards, and provides unnecessary Federal hand-outs to industry at the cost of the American taxpayer. Despite a recent study by the Interior Department confirming most oil (85%) and gas (88%) resources on our public lands are already available for development, this title seeks to further expedite the permitting and leasing of these resources at the expense of meaningful public involvement and environmental review. Title II of the House energy bill provides unnecessary corporate subsidies for the oil and gas industry during a time of record profits. This title also promotes the use of government funds for unnecessary studies and research that would solely benefit the oil and gas industry. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the provisions of Title II alone will cost taxpayers $414 million over the next ten years. The Kind Amendment would have removed these harmful provisions, as well as a variety of handouts to oil and gas industry, from the energy bill but was defeated by a vote of 171 to 251. YES was the pro-environment vote. All of Kentucky’s representatives (Lewis, Lucas, Whitfield, Rogers, Northup, and Fletcher) voted NO.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos…

Corporate subsidies for Big Oil at a time of record profits? It is safe to assume who Whitfield voted for there, and it WASN’T the citizens of Kentucky’s First District!!

But not to worry, Exxon Eddie was watching out for the big electric utilities too:

On April 11, 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an outdated, polluting energy bill (HR 6), rejecting a host of common-sense solutions and choosing instead to sacrifice the crown jewel of America’s National Wildlife Refuge system.  HR 6 continues our dependence on oil by failing to provide any significant increases in the fuel economy of cars, SUVs and other light trucks. America’s automobiles guzzle more than 8 million barrels of oil per day. HR 6 exposes consumers to more corporate fraud by rewriting the rules on electricity markets to benefit the utility industry and expose consumers to more Enron-like debacles. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has found that utility companies gouged California’s consumers by creating false electricity shortages. HR 6 provides huge subsidies on polluting industries by providing billions of dollars to polluting industries including coal, oil and nuclear. Over the next 10 years, these three industries are already scheduled to receive over $33 billion in handouts. Finally, HR 6 threatens America’s special places. By relying on destructive drilling in Western public lands, possibly including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and threatens sensitive coastal and marine areas. Pillaging the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would yield less than a six-month supply of oil but would cost America our last pristine Arctic wilderness.  The Energy Bill passed 247-145. NO was the pro-environmental vote. All of Kentucky’s representatives (Lewis, Lucas, Whitfield, Rogers, Northup, and Fletcher) voted YES.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos…

Huge subsidies for polluting industries such as coal, oil and nuclear? Industries that already have $33 billion in subsidies scheduled? Last but not least, allowing the Oil Industries to rape one of the last remaining pristine Arctic Wildernesses for pure greed? Big Oil definately has a friend in Exxon Ed Whitfield.

It is clear as long as Exxon Ed Whitfield haunts the hallowed halls of the U.S. Congress, that he will fight against having the fuels of the future, that hold promise for our workers, and industries here in Kentucky’s First to fight for Big Oil and his stock options. He will defeat any kind of progress to create high-paying jobs in Kentucky because he is invested in the old guard and profiting handsomely from it.

So what can we do? Kentucky’s First needs to send a real Representative to Washington. A representative with union roots, that is a working person and wants to represent working people. A representative that doesn’t benefit financially when Progressive change is defeated in this country.

That representative is Heather Ryan. Mother, Navy Veteran, union supporter, and most of all, working American who knows the challenges facing those of us who scratch and claw daily to make ends meet.

We are already in the general against Exxon Ed Whitfield in the fall. Go to Heather’s site and read up on her here:

http://www.ryanforkentucky.com/

Sign up for email updates and keep up with our campaign to expand our Congressional majorities. The FISA vote shows we need as many Democrats with a backbone in the Congress as we can get. Heather is that, and would fight for us without cowardice, and without rolling over. She supports a Democratic vision for this country and does so proudly.

To win this fight however, we simply must have your help. We are up against the McConnell Republican machine here in Kentucky, which as you all know is well-funded and well-oiled. Exxon Eddie has a million dollars to spend from the Big Oil interests he so gleefully represents. We need grassroots Democrats to stand up and support us desperately. Won’t you make an investment in the future of our party and our Congress, and support a “Fighting Democrat”?

The loss of Andrew Horne in Kentucky’s Senate race has shown us that we cannot depend on the leaders of our party to support real Democrats. It has shown us that Kentucky will once again be ignored and conceded by the leaders of our party. If we want to elect grassroots Democrats who will change things, it is up to us to give them the resources they need.

I can promise you while our national party has no stomach for this fight, this grassroots Kentucky Democrat has just begun to fight. My home and neighbors are important to me, as they are to Heather Ryan. Please, go here and support this fight against Exxon Ed Whitfield and the McConnell machine and send a message to the Democratic leadership as well as Mitch McConnell. We are still itching for a fight!!!:

http://www.actblue.com/page/ry…

Don’t let the powers that be derail change in this country once again. Kossacks, lets fight for Ryan!!!!

For those who may have missed it, here is Heather announcing her run for this seat, and the reasons for it:

Please, help us!! We can win this race with national Democrats behind us!!

A lot of the oxygen in the room is being sucked up by the Presidential campaign right now. I know there has been a lot of passion for that race, and understandably so. However, there are many more elections this year that Democrats need to be focused on. In both chambers of Congress, we have threadbare majorities. Even if we win the White House in the Fall, we still face gridlock without an expansion of our Congressional Majorities in the Congress.

Just imagine too, as depressing as it is that John McCain lucks up and wins in the fall. We will need a Congress that can hold him, and the irresponsible Republican Congressional delegation in check. Either way you look at it, no matter who wins the White House, we simply MUST expand our majorities in the Congress.

What good will it do Obama or Clinton if they are elected and we still have spineless Democrats in the House and Senate who won’t fight for us or them, and team up with the Repugs to defeat Progressive change? What happens if the Republicans are allowed the numbers to mount a filibuster in the Senate against our new agenda? In two words, NOTHING GOOD!!

We simply MUST expand our majorities in both houses of Congress. Not doing so spells a certain disaster for our party, and our President if we manage to elect a Democrat. We need Democrats all over this country elected who not only talk about change, but fight for it.

So what can we do? With hundreds of millions of dollars flying around the Presidential race, we simply must invest some of that money in our Congressional candidates around the country that seek to expand our majority. Furthermore, we need to invest in those candidates who believe in the ideals of our party and have the backbone to fight for them.

With that in mind, I would like to tell you about Heather Ryan, an awesome Democrat that is running in Kentucky’s First Congressional District to defeat one of the worst Congressman in the land, Exxon Ed Whitfield. Whitfield is a Mitch McConnell clone that doesn’t even own a house in our district. His basis for holding our Congressional seat is his parent’s house in Hopkinsville, and an empty lot in Madisonville. He is highly invested in oil stocks, and other big business stocks and votes in the interest of his bottom line, not the voters of Kentucky’s First District. Hence, we have nick-named him Exxon Eddie!!

This time around, we plan on sending Exxon Eddie back to Florida, or wherever it is that he really lives. We are determined to not only send him packing, but to elect a “Fighting Democrat” with a backbone who will stand for the voters of our district and for the principles our party was founded on.

Enter Heather Ryan. A mother, Navy veteran of the Gulf War, and proud Democrat. Here she is, in her own words telling why she is in this race:

I was propelled into this race when I became the victim of

a corrupt politician.  

It was after my experience that I realized that the Republican Representation Kentucky has in Washington, D.C. is part of the “Culture of Corruption” from which our communities are currently reeling.  

Ed Whitfield, KY-01’s current representative, is no exception.  He consistently votes for his own financial interests, has only introduced one piece of legislation in 13 years as Representative

(a ban on eating horse meat) and opposed SCHIP legislation which would have increased health care benefits for poor children!

I refuse to allow a powerful few to bully me and the First Congressional District.  We need someone who is not afraid to stand up for the rights of their constituents – not another puppet of the rich and power hungry.

I will be a TRUE Representative for the people of Kentucky’s First District!  Not a No-Show like “Exxon Eddie Whitfield”

As you can see, like many citizens of Western Kentucky, Mrs. Ryan is sick and fed up with the arrogance and elitism offered up by McConnell and Whitfield. She wants to fight against more than eating horse meat, (yuck), she wants to fight for Kentuckians. While I am sure that horses in Kentucky are breathing easier, the citizens aren’t.

Heather Ryan is determined to fight for our new President, and a Democratic agenda in the Congress. Lets look at a couple of her priorities on her website which is still under construction:

It is an absolute travesty that 50 million Americans struggle without health care in the wealthiest nation in the world.  What’s worse is when our representative votes against improvements in access to health services for children and the poor.  Unfortunately, these are

both realities that we’ve experienced under the current leadership.  I propose that health care for every American is more important than tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.  

It is time we had a representative who thinks about more than just how much money he can make when he helps pass legislation that benefits drug and insurance companies.  As the leaders of the free world, it is an embarrassment that we are the only industrialized nation that does not offer health care for our citizens.

http://www.ryanforkentucky.com…

It sounds like Mrs. Ryan is right on par with what we need for our citizens to recieve healthcare. Former Edwards supporters, I think this shows that she supports the healthcare initiative that would help create One America. Won’t you help us in this venture?

Another telling statement can be found on Heather’s site that shows she will fight the Corporate control of our government also:

The Budget Reconciliation Bill, signed by President Bush and passed by Congress, cut future spending for Medicare, Medicaid, Student Loans and even free and reduced lunches for poor children; all while giving a $2.3 Billion tax break to Oil Companies and affording a $5.7 billion slush fund to Pharmaceutical Companies (both of which Representative Ed Whitfield has personal financial investments and large campaign contributions).  Corporate welfare for profitable companies who donate heavily to Congressmen is corrupt and scandalous.  I will

work diligently against the culture of corruption which permeates the political system.

http://www.ryanforkentucky.com…

Heather is dedicated to Government Reform which doesn’t allow Congressmen such as Exxon Eddie to rake in millions of dollars from special interests and then shamelessly vote for them over the interests of the citizens of the First District of Kentucky. She shares our outrage at a system that is tilted toward the rich and powerful and away from us.

In case you might have missed it, here is Heather’s announcement to run for the Congressional seat in Kentucky’s First District:

So, how can you help? Well, first you can go to our site and check out Heather Ryan and her stances. The site is still under construction, but Heather wanted to get her views on some important issues up as soon as possible. Second, got to her site and scroll to the bottom and sign up to recieve updates on our campaign here:

http://www.ryanforkentucky.com…

Finally, unfortunately money is the one thing that no campaign can get started or survive without. Kentucky is one of the poorest states in the union, and the First is one of the poorest Congressional Districts. Unfortunately, the people who really need Heather Ryan and support her have very little money to give. They are scratching and clawing in the second America John Edwards talked so eloquently about in this election. We need the help of national Democrats!!

Now keep in mind that Heather is the only Democrat to file by the deadline for this race, and will not face a primary. By supporting her you are not only helping fellow grassroots Democrats in Kentucky’s First, but you are supporting a “Fighting Democrat” with a backbone that WILL BE running to unseat a sitting Republican in the fall. You are not only supporting Heather, you are supporting the expansion of our Democratic majorities for whatever President takes over next year!! Please go here and make an investment in our party, and our Congress here:

http://actblue.com/page/ryanfo…

No amount is too small, and anything you send will be put to work immediately towards the expansion of our Congressional Majority. I know it is easy to get caught up in the Presidential, many of you remember me as an ardent Edwards supporter and blogger, but we can’t afford to ignore our great Congressional and Senate candidates who are seeking to infuse this party with something it desperately needs, A BACKBONE!!! Heather Ryan is such a Democrat and we desperately need your help!!! Please show us some love!!!  

As an Edwards supporter, I was extremely disappointed to see my candidate leave the race for the Democratic nomination. However, as many of us have stated, our fight has just begun. We are as determined as ever to keep the message of One America alive. To do this, we simply must support candidates who believe in the message of creating One America, and support Democrats who will fight with a backbone in Congress.

One such candidate is Heather Ryan, Democrat in Kentucky’s First Congressional District. Heather is running to expand our majority in the Congress by unseating Exxon Ed Whitfield. She is a proud, Fighting Democrat who served her country honorably during the Gulf War. She also supports policies to create One America. Here she is speaking on the need for Universal Healthcare:

It is an absolute travesty that 50 million Americans struggle without health care in the

wealthiest nation in the world.  What’s worse is when our representative votes against

improvements in access to health services for children and the poor.  Unfortunately, these are

both realities that we’ve experienced under the current leadership.  I propose that health

care for every American is more important than tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.  

It is time we had a representative who thinks about more than just how much money he can

make when he helps pass legislation that benefits drug and insurance companies.  As the

leaders of the free world, it is an embarrassment that we are the only industrialized nation

that does not offer health care for our citizens.

More importantly, Ryan would continue the work of making our government accountable to the people, not the Corporations:

The Budget Reconciliation Bill, signed by President Bush and passed by Congress, cut future

spending for Medicare, Medicaid, Student Loans and even free and reduced lunches for poor

children; all while giving a $2.3 Billion tax break to Oil Companies and affording a $5.7 billion

slush fund to Pharmaceutical Companies (both of which Representative Ed Whitfield has

personal financial investments and large campaign contributions).  Corporate welfare for

profitable companies who donate heavily to Congressmen is corrupt and scandalous.  I will

work diligently against the culture of corruption which permeates the political system.

Our fight for One America WILL continue. Now however, it must continue on the grassroots level by supporting Democrats running for Congress that will have a backbone and stand up for us. Heather Ryan is such a Democrat, and will continue the work we started on the grassroots level.

Will you help us by supporting Heather Ryan? We need Democrats everywhere to help us fight against the millions dollars of special interest money Exxon Eddie has amassed. Please join our campaign and sign up for email updates at the bottom of the screen here:

http://www.ryanforkentucky.com…

More importantly, please make an investment in the expansion of our Congressional majority, and the electing of Democrats with a backbone that seek to create One America here:

http://actblue.com/page/ryanfo…

We cannot forget the awesome Democrats who seek to fight for us from the ground up!!