Would Honest Abe Even Make It Today?
Abraham Lincoln’s first attempt at financing his own campaign for his 1858 Senate run bankrupted him. However, he knew the power of the media which propelled him to his Presidential win. After the Civil War, it was parties and individuals counting on the wealthy writing checks to support their campaigns. It is now 2010, and the wealthy are now running and writing their own checks. In a free market, capitalist society where free speech is upheld as the right of every citizen to put their money where their passion is...no one should argue. However, if that money is used to paint a media picture to connect with voters at one end of Main Street, while a wealthy candidate lives on the other end of Main Street...let the voter beware. The biggest problem in DC is the connection between candidates and money, whether from wealthy lobbyists or the personal wealth of the elected officials themselves...which are oft times connected. There is a disparity of wealth among the Republican Primary Candidates in the 3rd District race for US Congress, and too strong of a media correlation of who will win purely based on campaign finances. It’s not just here, but in many races around the country. It may seem like old news to many... For a moment though, just imagine if Honest Abe couldn’t cut it in the 3rd District if he were around today...because he couldn’t cut himself a big enough check. Candidates Kelly and Huber have the means to make loans to their campaigns that others in the race can’t afford. Some in the media (and others) have crowned them the favorites in the race purely on this basis, no matter how they try to disguise it in their political meanderings. Is this what we want now? Is this what the country needs?...more of the same media darlings? No....we need Abe Lincoln again...and we can’t lose the opportunity for the next grassroots representative of the people to rise among us and restore this nation’s foundation. I am Clayton W Grabb, and I am running for US Congress in the 3rd District of Pennsylvania. I live on the ‘peoples’ end of Main Street. I am counting on the internet to level the playing field in this race, so please visit: Our website: www.grabbforcongress.com Facebook: Grabb For Congress Twitter: grabb4congress