Responsible Plan Endorsee Larry Byrnes (FL-14) Needs Your Help

Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress District FL-14, Larry Byrnes is challenging an unfair and undemocratic ruling that has kept him off the ballot for this August.

The Republican-controlled Florida Division of Elections (which you may remember from its recent appearance in the movie Recount) has determined that Byrnes will be a write-in candidate in August, defying the will of the people and the intent of the law. Laws like the one used to keep Byrnes off the ballot are meant to prevent voter fraud and to help ensure that the will of the people is reflected at election time.

On April 15, 2008, Byrnes received a letter telling him that he had qualified as a candidate in the upcoming election. They didn't tell him that he needed anything further. He later noticed that his name was not appearing on the elections website. He called the division and learned that he had not submitted a required notarized loyalty oath, which was required to be submitted the following day. He sent it by overnight courier and it arrived by the deadline. After the deadline, he was told that he had submitted the wrong loyalty oath. He had inadvertently signed the loyalty oath for a write-in candidate, not a Democrat.

The effect of Divisions decision is that, despite the fact that Byrnes became the first candidate to ever qualify for this seat by petition -- with more than 5400 total signatures. Write-in candidates do not appear on the ballot and the top write-in candidate in the state in congressional races in 2006 got 23 votes. Effectively, this decision would kill the candidacy, one that has a legitimate shot at winning.

In 2006, Robert Neeld got 35.6% in this District. According to insiders, Neeld's campaign had little grassroots support and didn't campaign significantly. Byrnes has huge grassroots support and he is campaigning tirelessly. He should easily top 40% and could get to 45%. Normally, that might not mean much. But this year isn't the regular year.

First off, it's a Democratic year, with a Democratic landslide expected and the likelihood of a lot of Democratic pick-ups around the nation. The incumbent in the seat, Republican Connie Mack is a do-nothing Bush supporter with a record as one of the least-effective members of Congress who is more notable for marrying Rep. Mary Bono than for any legislative accomplishments. And, this is the key, a strong right-wing candidate is challenging him as an independent. Burt Saunders, a popular state senator who will easily split the conservative vote with Mack. In this race, Byrnes can win if he gets 40% of the vote. That's why the Republicans are scared of him and that's why they're keeping him off the ballot. If Byrnes wins, he gets all the advantages of incumbency for the 2010 election and that's the last thing Republicans want. Byrnes is a good progressive Democrat and exactly the kind of person we need in Congress, particularly if he replaces a horrible representative like Mack.

What can you do? Byrnes is challenging the ruling. That won't come cheap. The first hearing is in two days, June 11. Larry needs your help paying the legal fees, particularly if the challenge goes beyond Wednesday. Send a message to the Republicans in Florida that they can't ignore the will of the people like this and send a message to Larry that we've got his back. Go to ActBlue and give what you can. You can also help spread the word about this story, so as many people as possible know about it and join the fight.

You can also learn more:

Read more about the legal challenge

Larry's web site

Byrnes endorsed the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq

Listen to our Florida Progressive Radio interview with Larry.

The Responsible Plan In Action

One day into our campaign to get our congressional challengers to sign on to the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, we've already had one victory. Samm Simpson has endorsed the plan. Knowing Samm, I figured this was an issue that was important to her and that she'd be eager to sign on. We should reward Samm for singing on, so go here and contribute what you can. Hey, I'm a poor adjunct professor/blogger and I was able to muster a few bucks. It's the least you can do. And it's important.

Those of us active in the Netroots and blogging (as well as the more traditional grassroots) need to make sure that we reward candidates who engage in responsible, progressive behavior. Endorsing the Responsible Plan is a great step in that direction. Florida now has seven challengers signed on to this plan (still the top state), and you should consider dropping them a few bucks if you can. It'll show them you appreciate their efforts and encourage others to do the same.

Which is why I'm posting this message. First, though, info for our other candidates who are on board:

Larry Byrnes

Alan Grayson

Joe Garcia

Faye Armitage

Timothy Cunha (website under construction, send contribution inquiries to timcunhaforcongress@gmail.com)

Clint Curtis

Now, on to the way we can increase this list. Here's what I envision...

Three times a week, I'm going to ask you to contact the challengers who aren't on board yet and remind you to reward those have already signed on. So, were talking about nothing more than three phone calls or e-mails a week (as a minimum). We can all do that, right? If not, you really shouldn't call yourself an activist. This is some of the easiest activism you can get involved in.

But it's still important. If everyone who comes across this message makes those three calls or sends three e-mails a week, then these candidates will get hundreds, if not thousands, of messages letting them know that the Responsible Plan is the right thing to do. If you've never worked on a campaign before, hundreds or thousands of messages repeating the same message definitely have an impact. Ask around.

So, here's how I'll do it. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, I'll put up the full list of who has and who hasn't endorsed the plan. Then I'll highlight one particular person from each list. I'll be asking you to call the person who hasn't endorsed it and ask them to do so (or send them an e-mail). And I'll be asking you to give a few dollars to the person who has endorsed it. That's it. So drop by the site three times a week and make a few phone calls and send a few e-mails and, most importantly, spare a few bucks. It's also fine for you to call/e-mail more than one candidate, particularly if the person is someone who represents you directly or someone you know personally. Tim Cunha and Samm Simpson endorsed the pledge because FPC members asked them, they looked at the plan and thought it was a good idea. It can be that simple. It can also be a bit harder, that's why we're asking for your help. We need to let the candidates know that Floridians have had enough of this war and enough of congressional inability to end the war.

Finally, there are a few of the challengers who we have very weak or nonexistent contact information for. If you have this info, please pass it on to us. Thanks. Here's the list of current challengers (who have filed, let me know if anyone is missing), who haven't endorsed the plan. You know what to do (The information below is all from public sources, if it isn't meant to be public, let me know and I'll take it down and replace it with the right info):

FL-1

James Bryan, 850-652-3350

Robert Peterman, 850-432-2213

FL-4

Jay McGovern ?

FL-5

Carol Castagnero, 863-687-8414, jscala00@yahoo.com

David Werder ?

FL-7

Clyde Malloy, 386-671-7433, rob@malloyforcongress.com or field@malloyforcongress.com

FL-8

Alexander Fry, 407-579-7800, afry@fryforcongress.com

Corbett Kroehler, 407-855-8574, TeamCorbett@CorbettForCongress.com or press@corbettforcongress.com

Michael Smith, 407-574-9296, vote@mikesmithforcongress.com

Quoc Van, 407-453-4380, vanforcongress@gmail.com

Charlie Stuart, 407-999-9899, Manager@CharlieStuartforCongress.com

FL-9

Bill Mitchell, 813-223-1959, mitchlaw@askmitch.net

FL-13

Christine Jennings, 941-366-8121, info@christinejennings2008.com

Michael LaFevers, 941-753-6781

Frank McAndrews, 732-995-4670

FL-14

Jason King, 239-633-8388

FL-15

Stephen Blythe, sblythe@cfl.rr.com

FL-18

Annette Taddeo, 305-661-6499, Web form: http://www.annette2008.com/index.php?submenu=Contact&src=forms&id=Contact%20Us

FL-21

Richard Allbritton, allrh@comcast.net

Raul Martinez, 305-823-8686, info@raul2008.com or raulmartinezjr@mac.com

FL-22

Paul Renneisen, 954-812-2674, info@Renneisen2008.com

FL-23

Ray Sanchez, 561-996-6722, support@raytorressanchez.com

FL-24

Garv Bhola, 407-459-1590, floridadistrict24@gmail.com

Ronald Bobay, 321-383-7955

Suzanne Kosmas, 386-427-0439, info@kosmasforcongress.com

A Responsible Plan

Florida Progressive Coalition hereby endorses the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.

Generally, we try to focus on state and local issues but we decided to go outside that for once. Why? A number of reasons:

a. It's the right thing to do. The plan, while it might not be flawless, is a good one.

b. It isn't simply pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. It is a practical, progressive plan. It has a legitimate chance of success.

c. The plan wasn't created just by politicians. It was made with input from generals and foreign policy experts.

d. Floridians are highly interested in the issue, particularly progressive activists

e. The war is having a disproportionate impact on Floridians. The projected state share of each of the 50 states in terms of their residents who have died in the war should be 1.25% of the total. Floridians account for 4.2% of the total.

f. We want to encourage Congressional challengers to pursue strong policy proposals and to work together to improve America.

So what is the plan? What are the details? There are a lot of them. You'll need to go read the full plan, but here is the general idea:

a. End U.S. Military Action in Iraq (without leaving residual forces)

b. Use U.S. diplomatic power

c. Address humanitarian concerns

d. Restore our Constitution

e. Restore our military

f. Restore independence to the media

g. Create a new, U.S.-centered energy policy

This covers every aspect of the mess and how we got into it and the specific proposals aren't just wishful thinking, they are real, concrete and, most importantly, possible. We endorse this plan and we encourage you to do the same.