Want to see REAL giving till it Hurts? Read this about Eric Massa:

[Tom Rinaldo]

'My name is Eric Massa and I need your support'

The Iraq war turned him into a candidate. Running for Congress turned his family's finances upside down.

By Ryan D'Agostino, Money Magazine senior editor
October 25 2006: 10:40 AM EDT
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/11/01/8392432/index.htm?section=money_latest


"...If adrenaline were all that was required to win public office, Eric Massa couldn't lose. But Massa needs a lot more than energy.

A political neophyte challenging a Republican incumbent in a conservative-leaning district, Massa has to connect with voters who don't know him - and get them to open their wallets.

He'll require more than $1 million to stay competitive, and he and his wife Beverly can't exactly write the campaign a check. Not anymore. Massa took unpaid leave from his $125,000-a-year consulting job earlier this year to run full time, and he's already sold the investment property that was supposed to pay for his two teenagers' college education.

All told the Massas have put more than $90,000 of their money into the campaign, including $56,000 in loans.

"Any sane man would've walked away from this a long time ago," says Massa. "If you took what I'm doing as a business model and you presented it to a class at Harvard, they'd toss you out on the highway."


Eric Massa knows that our nation is on the line this Election Day, and he's holding nothing back. We can all use some of that spirit during the next 13 days.

Here is Eric's web site for anyone who doesn't really know much about him yet but would like to:
http://www.massaforcongress.com/

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. For me this race is partially about whether you have to be Rich now

before you can run for Congress. Increasingly people have to be independently wealthy or the son or daughter of an already famous politician to run for office. When Eric Massa donates $90,000 of his own money to his campaign, that means a lot more to me than Ned Lamont (bless his heart) giving millions.

[BootinUp]

2. Hes got guts and drive

for sure. Neat story. I have a feeling this is going to work out for him though. What a write up, thats got to help I think.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. He does have that, Jim

Nancy Pelosi also just hosted a fund raiser for him in NYC. Originally no one gave him much of a chance since his district went heavy for Bush in 2004, but Eric has been tireless.

Eric is one of those guys who never holds back, in words or actions. He's stayed incredibly connected to grassroots supporters and he is fearless about attacking the powers that be. We need more people like him in Congress, and we DO have more people like him running this year, they just need our support.

[FrenchieCat]

3. This story makes me mad and sad all at the same time!

This is supposed to be the People's house, but only certain people can win; those with deep pockets. What a sham and a shame politics has turned into in this country.

Will it ever end? Will money continue to be the root of our system? Unfortunately, I believe that it will, and so it goes..... :(

[GeorgeGist]

16. Perhaps this will cheer you up...

For Immediate Release: October 19, 2006

CONTACT: Mike Williams - [phone] - [e-mail]
(alt) Clark Pettig - [phone] - [e-mail]

The campaign for Congressional Candidate and retired Navy Commander Eric Massa (D, NY-29) announced that its fundraising passed the $1 million dollar mark today. This is on top of news last week that the campaign had out-raised the opponent, first-term incumbent Randy Kuhl, for the fourth consecutive reporting period.

Massa said, "I am heartened by the groundswell of support that comes in the form of $5, $10, and $20 contributions from individuals who feel that they have not been represented in Washington. This is a grassroots campaign, and the majority of my contributions are from individuals. I take no money whatsoever from corporate PACs. I do, however, intend to press the fight for an intelligent, experienced approach to Iraq, fairness in taxes, fair trade and jobs, and access to quality health care for all Americans. In less than three weeks, voters will be sending another message to Washington: it's time for change, and it's time for a higher standard of leadership in Congress."

-snip-
http://www.massaforcongress.com/contentdetail.asp?contentid=764

[stevedeshazer]

5. Major credit is due this guy

That's really putting your ass on the line.

[The Count]

6. Hillary doing a fundraiser for him Monday - got the invite

But he needs&deserves our support

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Good to hear! I'll be volunteering in his district for several days before the Election

...the election.

Anyone who can possibly clear out their schedule should go somewhere where it will really matter, and help a good Democrat that weekend. Almost all of us can get to some district or State where an important race is on the line. My district is safe, and Hillary is safe, so I'll drive a few hours to help out Eric.

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Got any more info on this? It's not listed on Massa's web site

I'm not doubting you at all, just curious. Where will it be held?

[ICantBelieve]

9. *&^%$%^&*

I'll look into it... sorry...

Meanwhile... my mom just sent me this. Don't know why, it's not like it's a new theme or anything, but it really made me laugh:

Laura Bush bought "Dubya" a parrot for his birthday.

She told Dick Cheney, "The bird is so smart! George
has already taught him to pronounce over 200 words!"

"Wow, that's pretty impressive", Cheney said, "but you
realize that he just says the words. He doesn't really
understand what they mean."

"That's OK", Laura replied. "Neither does the parrot."

[Greyskye]

10. LMAO!

I like it!

[CarolNYC]

12. Hillary fundraiser

Here's the Hillary fundraiser info...I got one of these in the mail too:

[greeneyedboy]

11. inspiring. go Eric!

[CarolNYC]

13. Eric is so good....

I've met him a number of times.....I've attended a number of his fundraisers in the city and I attended the Pelosi event on Monday.

I remember the first time I met him. It was at a Charlie Rangel event honoring General Clark. Eric wasn't running yet and hadn't been a Democrat very long. He also hadn't seen Wes in some time and it was obviously jazzed to be back in the presence of "the boss" as he called Clark that night.

If I'm remembering correctly, he also hadn't been to NYC before and said that he'd been more more intimidated about coming to NYC than going to Iraq...but, now that he was there, he was thoroughly enjoying the place.

I sat at a table with him and a few others as Charlie and Wes gave their remarks. Eric was all aglow in his new "Democratness". I think he was wearing a tie that had "Democrat" imprinted on it numberous times. At one point during the evening, he leaned in and said "Democrats are a lot more fun to hang around with than Republicans." :)

I can't say enough good things about this guy....He beat cancer. He's so close to beating near impossible odds here. It's amazing to think how far he's come from that night I first met him. After seeing him Monday night, I don't think there's anything in this world that can intimidate him now.

His daugther, Alexandra, all of fifteen, anxiously awaiting her sixteenth birthday, was in attendance at two of the fundraisers I attended. She made a T-shirt that said "My Dad is SO not Kuhl!" Isn't that great? She's a gem, like her dad.

Please contribute if you can....either directly through his site, www.massaforcongress.com or through WesPAC's Act Blue page, http://www.actblue.com/page/stopswiftboating#8515 . He is a true public servant and deserves our support.

Here's a photo of two pretty impressive guys that I took at a fundraiser back in June:

[Tom Rinaldo]

14. It's a good thing that guy on the right is wearing a name tag

I hate it when I'm talking to someone and don't know their name, lol.

Yes, I've met Eric too. For those who haven't, if you can imagine combining Earnest with Fearless, throwing in a great sense of humor while you are at it, that will give you a pretty good idea of Eric Massa. I have never read a poster on DU who is better able to express outrage over what is happening to America under this Republican regime than Eric Massa. Equal to Eric, yeah OK, several, but more deeply outraged than he; NOT. Eric believes our nation and our people have been betrayed by Bush, and he just won't take it sitting down.

[CarolNYC]

15. the name tag

That cracked me up that night too, Tom...when Wes arrived at the event and wrote up his name tag...just in case no one there knew who he was, you know.... :)

[trof]

17. It takes $1,000,000.00 to win a house seat.

According to opensecrets.org
I sent this out to local Dems yesterday under the heading:
CAUTION: OBSCENITY!

$2,600,000,000.00

WASHINGTON—This year’s intensely competitive election for control of the House of Representatives and Senate will be the most expensive midterm election ever, the Center for Responsive Politics predicts. Candidates, national political parties and outside issue advocacy groups will spend roughly $2.6 billion by the end of 2006.

The money paying for the election—the home-stretch advertising, voter mobilization and other campaigning—is coming from the same industries and interests that have largely funded past elections. Topping the Center’s 2006 list of big donors are lawyers, the real estate industry, Wall Street and, as usual, contributors who list their occupation as “retired.” Business interests account for about three-quarters of all contributions, with ideological, labor and other interests making up the rest.

Jo Bonner - $886,274
Vivian Beckerle - $12,554

And Vivian has actually raised about six times as much as the next "wealthiest" Alabama Democrat running for congress against a repub incumbent.
That would be Greg Pierce running in District 3 with $2,300.

“Barring a scandal sinking your opponent—which has happened a number of times this year—you simply cannot win a seat in the House without $1 million or more—or millions more for the Senate."
http://www.opensecrets.org/pressreleases/2006/PreElection.10.25.asp

And that's just obscene.