Earlier this week I received an email from a 5th district voter with very strong pro-life beliefs who would like to vote for me. She told me via email that she is comfortable that I am Catholic and my stance on pro-life issues is similar to that of Sen. Robert Casey. She feels it is very likely Barack Obama will be elected President and the Democratic Party will gain seats Congress. Where her concern lies is what actions a newly inaugurated President Barack Obama and a United States Congress with a strong Democratic majority will take after January of 2009. She is afraid there will be a far left agenda that will attempt to overturn pro-life initiatives put into effect like the ban on partial birth abortions.
In my response back to her, I explained that my agenda when I arrive in Washington will be exactly what I’ve been campaigning on. I want to concentrate on fiscal responsibility, a national energy policy that stresses domestically produced alternative fuels, health care and health insurance reform, saving and strengthening Social Security, rescinding No Child Left Behind and bringing our troops home from Iraq. I also mentioned that I will not stand for Congress losing sight of what the agenda must be — solving the problems important to the middle class.
There are so many important issues the American people want resolved and, if they give the Democratic Party a mandate with the election of Barack Obama as President and a larger majority in the United States Congress, we must strictly honor the wishes of the people. From Barack Obama on down, we need to realize going in the American people want results and they want the mess left by George W. Bush cleaned up. What they not accept is veering off on a far left agenda that brings issues to the table that have nothing to do with the economy and the problems of the middle class.
For the first time since the so called “Reagan Revolution” in 1980, the country is ready to put their full trust in the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party the voters want to see is one that will concentrate on the problems of the middle class and will reflect the leadership values of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. To make this happen and to honor the trust the American people will give to the Democratic Party on November 4th, the far left elements must stand down and allow Barack Obama and a moderate Democratic Congress to lead this country. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to turn our country around and there is no margin for error.
Gen. Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama:
Today’s endorsement by Colin Powell of Barack Obama is news that will likely solidify what the outcome will be on November 4th. To have someone of Gen. Powell’s stature come out and endorse Sen. Obama should speak volumes to any of the undecided voters still out there. It should also encourage those to of us who long ago decided that Barack Obama is the leader we need that we made the right choice.
Review of the Past Week on the Campaign Trail:
This week I participated in 3 candidate forum / debates with my opponents. I feel very confident in my performance against my 2 opponents and I am able to show the voters that we are on their side on the important issues like fiscal responsibility, health care reform, saving Social Security, energy policy and the concern for the problems of the middle class.
On Friday evening, Henry Guthrie and I traveled to Forest County to meet with members of the Democratic Party there. Thanks to Sheriff Bob Wolfgang for arranging the meeting. There was a large contingent of Forest County Democrats at the meeting and they are ready to do everything they can to help our campaign and see a big Democratic victory on November 4th.
On Saturday evening, Kelly and I traveled to Ridgway for the Elk County Democratic Committee fall dinner. It was a wonderful event and we got to hear a round of great speeches from Nye Simmons representing the Obama campaign, Don Hilliard running for the State Senate and Rep. Dan Surra running for re-election to the state house. The folks in Elk County are out working hard for the Democratic ticket and I reminded them that Elk County with a solid Democratic registration majority will play a large role in the outcome of the 5th district race.
Schedule for Upcoming Week:
Monday — 11:30 AM — Williamsport Rotary
Monday — 5:00 PM — McCracken for Congress Pre-Debate Reception – St. James Church Parish Hall — 30 Wellsboro Street — Mansfield PA.
Monday — 7:00 PM — Tioga County Debate — Mansfield Univ. Straughn Auditorium
Tuesday — 3 – 3:45 PM — Arnold Addison Court in St. College — with Art Goldschmidt
Tuesday — 4 – 5 PM Foxdale Retirement Community in St. College — with Art Goldschmidt
Tuesday — 7 PM — Bellefonte Media Outlet Debate
Wednesday — 6:30 PM — Mifflin County Farm Bureau Debate — Indian Valley HS – Lewistown
Thursday — 7 PM — WPSU TV Debate — State College
Friday — WJAC Debate in Centre County — Details TBA
Saturday — 1 PM — Cameron County Democratic Lunch – Emporium
Saturday — 5 PM — Centre County Fall Democratic Banquet — State College
Sunday — 12 Noon — House Party at Marie Sweets in State College
FUNDRAISING REMINDER — Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA “the Bush tax cuts” and will continue them — More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.
In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.
Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate For Congress
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This diary is cross-posted at McCracken’s campaign blog, PA’s Blue Fifth
Mark McCracken for Congress
ActBlue page
