As we enter the final three weeks of the 2012 election season, take a moment to consider your letter carrier.
If you live in one of Minnesota’s suburbs, your letter carrier is likely to be getting a workout over from now until November 6th. If her mail bag looks a little bulky, it’s likely the avalanche of negative mail that right-wing front groups are releasing to mislead & discourage voters.
This tried & true tactic was used in 2010 by groups like the right-wing Freedom Club State PAC. This corporate-backed outfit spent $294,000 to take over the Minnesota House of Representatives. This year they are at it again.
As of late September, the Freedom Club State PAC and four other corporate groups (the Coalition of Minnesota Businesses PAC, the Minnesota Business Partnership PAC, Minnesota’s Future, and Pro Jobs Majority) had nearly $1.2 million left to spend in the election.
They are getting a boost from energy industry billionaires Charles and David Koch whose Americans for Prosperity have spent at least $500,000 in Minnesota so far. The American Action Network, led by Wall Street heavy-hitters, has committed another $1,000,000 to the state.
They are spending to defend the majorities that brought us the school shifts, the shutdown, and two divisive constitutional amendments.
The good news is: their money isn’t talking.
Since July, TakeAction Minnesota’s members have been working to elect a new majority in Minnesota’s State House and Senate. What we have heard is that Minnesotans are ready for a change in St. Paul.
We have done dozens of doorknocks in places like Coon Rapids. Last Saturday two of our Organizing a New Economy Core Team Leaders, Art & Jane Price, were joined by members of our Health Care Team and a first-time volunteer from the Communications Workers of America. They talked to voters about the legislature, the amendments, and their hopes for the future of our state.
We will never have the money that big corporations do, but they will never listen, talk, and debate like us. They hide behind direct mail to say the things they’d never dare to say face-to-face.
We do our talking at people’s doors. You should join us before Election Day. We are knocking on doors and making phonecalls to support progressive champions across the state. You can get involved by contacting Marny Xiong at marny@takeactionminnesota.org or 651-379-0766.
Together, we can build a new majority for Minnesota.
