MyDD :: The Long Haul

The Long Haul

by Congressional Candidate Barry Welsh, Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 04:35:28 PM EST

I am Barry Welsh and I am The Democratic Congressional Candidate in Indiana's 6th District. We won our primary with 70% of the vote over 19 counties. My opponent is Mike Pence.

Sadly, We were not able to make it to Yearly Kos. I wanted to say thank you to people face to face that have helped this netroots campaign get to where it is. The campaign chief of staff was in an automobile accident and has been hospitalized all week, so I had many things to cover, and when it finally came down to only having a few hours in Vegas, we stayed home and went to a county party precinct caucus, and did some other grass roots work.

We are in this for the long haul. We are trying to prove that people powered politics can work again, as it did in our past.

I know that money is incredibly tight. But if you believe in people powered politics, please consider going to the website and contributing a twenty dollar bill. You may not be able to vote in this district, but when Pence acts, it impacts each of you! Help me stop him, please!

As many of you know from his speeches on the House floor, Mr. Pence is one of the strongest Bush supporters, especially when it comes to War.

We have great people on our team, and more joining all the time. We need funding.
Funding for people powered politics, can only come from the people. We threaten all other entities.

If the netroots is to be a factor, this campaign is an opportunity to prove it beyond doubt.
Granted, it is not the only opportunity, but the netroots can impact this campaign of ours in a manner that would not be felt by some other campaigns.

Again, if you are a believer in people powered politics, I ask you to join Me in our fight for new ideas, new vision, new beginnings, and new government, please visit and donate $20.00 today for a better tomorrow.

Barry Welsh Indiana 6th District Democratic Congressional Candidate

Tags: Barry Welsh, netroots candidate, Elections 2006, IN06 (all tags)

Permalink :: 42 Comments :: Post a Comment

A Lofty Goal (3.00 / 7)

We are trying to reach 5000 $20.00 donors to offset 20 of his $5000 donors. There is no other way.

Thanks for reading
Barry

by Congressional Candidate Barry Welsh on Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 04:37:35 PM EST

Re: A Lofty Goal (none / 0)

You have a terrific site (best of any House competitor because of the 50-state strategy chart).

I can't contribute in money right now, but in facts. I wrote up all the Bush-Kerry results by district your site didn't have and will email the results tomorrow.

Dan

by dpinzow on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 09:23:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Long Haul (3.00 / 2)

Good luck and God bless. Sent $25 your way.

by Demo Dan in Dayton on Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 10:02:29 PM EST

Re: The Long Haul (3.00 / 1)

Thanks Dan!

Barry

by Congressional Candidate Barry Welsh on Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 11:27:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Long Haul (none / 0)

Thanks for everything you are doing Barry!

You will serve as the example for all Hoosier politicians to follow...your embrace of the people-powered movement has been amazing.

Thanks again.

by Yoss on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 10:30:17 AM EST

with all due respect (none / 0)

You've got $3000 cash-on-hand compared to a rival who's raised 800K+.

The netroots are too sophisticated this time around to just favor someone because he has the time to show up here. Aren't you just the next Jeff Seemann?

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:01:50 PM EST

Re: with all due respect (none / 0)

I think that Barry's 50 State Strategy page is an enduring contribution to the netroots and should be treated as such. Barry's web team has brought something to the table, therefore he doesn't deserve to be dismissed for hsi efforts.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:05:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: with all due respect (none / 0)

That's all well and good, but it has nothing to do with whether he can win his own race.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:13:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Investing for future returns (none / 0)

Congressman are up for election every two years. Maybe he doesn't win this time but $20 sent his way may payoff in 2008 or 2010. Further, with his leadership, Barry is showing Indiana residents that the stereotypes they've had drummed into their heads since kindergarten may just not be true after all. Every vote he earns is one that can help other Democrats in other races statewide so just looking at whether he can win his own race in 2006 is a faulty metric in this case.

This Hoosier just sent you $20 Barry and all I ask in return is that you keep up the good work, keep reaching out, and keep talking to the home crowd about Democratic values. You are helping all Democrats in Indiana, not just yourself, and I appreciate your efforts.

by Curt Matlock on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:26:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Priorities (none / 0)

We've got candidates across the country who have been vetted by this community and have a real chance to win in 2006. Support one of them.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:34:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Investing in People (none / 0)

Do you suggest I also stop my monthly Democracy Bond check to the DNC? After all, that's certainly not going to all go to candidates "with a real chance to win" in 2006. Over 32,000 people are directing their money there. Should they redirect their resources?

We need to build up the Democratic network here in Indiana and from everything I've seen Barry Welsh is doing an excellent job of doing exactly that.

by Curt Matlock on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:43:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

So someone shouldn't bother donating to anyone who isn't Netroots-endorsed? Or with a real, clear, definitive chance to win?

That's not what Markos does himself, who also donated to Barry Welsh, among others:
http://www.actblue.com/page/q2kos

Sometimes it's about giving money to people who best represent your values. Furthermore, I highly doubt that Barry's campaign is going to siphon off the big cash for people like Jon Tester and Ned Lamont.

If donations only were funnelled to people with a real chance to win, then we'd only see about two or three dozen Democratic challengers with any Cash on Hand this year.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 01:11:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

Netroots endorsement is just one factor; it's certainly not determinative.

But we're talking about a candidate who has raised over the course of this election as much money as a major candidate can raise from one table at a single fundraising event, and who clearly doesn't have the money to pay staff.

This is not a competitive race. Period.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 01:20:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

You're right, it's not competitive. But that doesn't mean that someone should feel discouraged from donating to a campaign or candidate that inspires them.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 01:27:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

This is the same ridiculous logic that Begala and the rest of the Clintonites have used for the last decade to derail any attempts at a true 50 State Strategy. And you know what...it hasn't worked.

If we simply support candidates who the Cook Political report tell us deserve to be donated to, we aren't going to be doing anything to establish a Democratic presence everywhere in the country. More importantly, allowing entrenched incumbents to have a free ride on the basis that we probably won't win is just going to allow them to divert their fundraising power toward other candidates...

This is a line of logic that has been torn apart repeatedly, and I'm not sure how you think that your idea of a 'competitive race' goes along with the spirit of the netroots movement. This isn't about 2006, this is about 2008, and 2010, and so on and so forth. This is about changing business as usual, because business as usual lost us the House and Senate.

Jeesh...do we really have to have this discussion again?

by Yoss on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 01:43:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

I believe in a 50 State Strategy, but that doesn't mean that we ought not have priorities.

Welsh is running. Great. I admire him for doing that. That still doesn't mean that we have to finance him compared to other races out there.

The "netroots movement" will falter if we genuflect before every candidate who just happens to show up in our forums. We'll look silly.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 02:02:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

Have you not read all of the above comments which lay out exactly why Barry Welsh isn't just a guy who wandered in here with a stump speech? The man has been working with the netroots since Day 1 of his campaign, and the 50 State Strategy website his team put together is an amazing resource.

I agree that there are certain candidates who use the blogs as an ATM, but Barry isn't one of them. He understands that the power lies in the people, not in the money, and he has worked tirelessly toward that concept. Barry is the real deal, and he deserves our support, regardless of what you think of his chances.

by Yoss on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 02:23:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

Yeah, that whole 50 State Strategy. Waste of time. Shit dude, if we were only trying to put a name on a ballot without actually mounting a campaign, it'd take a week to raise the filing fees and we could all pack it up and do the same targeting of 15 races that has lost us a decade of elections.

by Lucas O'Connor on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 03:29:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

That's all well and good, but the candidate only has enough cash on hand to buy a 17" MacBook. It suggests he's not doing his job on the ground to merit the kind of support you're gracious to offer.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 03:48:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

If you could explain to me the logic that candidates without money don't deserve it, but those with it do...

It seems to me this is the anti-social welfare argument, but in a political context. Just because people have a lot of cash on hand doesn't mean they are doing more work than those with little money in their pockets. Rather, I think it could be the opposite.

Baron Hill can make one campaign stop a week and bank his DCCC money for tv ad buys in the fall, but people like Barry Welsh are going to be out their busting their ass all week to get support and votes. I mean, do you think that every second-tier candidate can drop their day job and hold fundraisers all day long?

You have a pretty twisted sense of the poltical process, and I would like to know at this point if you support us even having candidates in races that aren't deemed by CQ or the Cook Political report to be in play. I mean, they only draw attention away from the real important races...

by Yoss on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:05:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

I am saying that candidates have to make a threshhold showing on their own first to demonstrate that they can run a credible -- let alone competitive campaign.

This is about winning elections, not feeling good about ourselves, and the netroots alone can't (and shouldn't) get him from nowhere to Competitive by ourselves.

And, yes, if you're running for Congress and you intend to win, the day job's got to slide away at some point.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:54:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

Don't you understand the 50 state strategy at all?

The point is not to find competitive races in all 50 states for the 2006 election. If you believe that, you are missing the point.

The point of this strategy is to truly make the Democratic Party a national organization, and that means putting up a substantial fight in every district.

That doesn't mean ignoring candidates who can't win today. It means supporting candidates who can't win now, because we can win in ten years. This is a long term solution to a long term problem. I'm not saying we should all divide the DCCC's money up into equal portions and send it out to all of our races. No, what I am saying is that we have to be willing to contest, in whatever way we can, every race on the board because to leave a Republican unopposed just frees up money in areas where we are competitive.

This isn't about feeling good about ourselves, this is about having a fundamental change in the way the Democratic Party approaches elections. Because I hate to break it to you, but your 'targeted race' shtick hasn't exactly landed us electoral victory for the last five election cycles.

And I understand that you believe someone must be willing to dedicate time to the campaign trail, I do too. But I am not willing to concede that a working man or woman can't run for Congress. I'm not ready to say that we can't have someone elected who holds down a day job. I haven't lost that much faith in the Democratic process.

by Yoss on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:29:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

We haven't won for a decade because our message isn't clear. But that's just my attitude.

People, do what you want. I've made my case.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:46:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (none / 0)

You know, I actually agree with you. A "targeted" strategy combined with a strong, clear, well-framed message could pay dividends--and it'd help out the weaker campaigns, too.

I just don't think we should completely abandon the little guys, too. Who knows where Barry Welsh may end up in a few campaign cycles?

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:55:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Case? (none / 0)

You've gotta be kidding me. Your case is to ignore people you know nothing about based on vague party strategy websites from Washington.

A congealed party message? What part of forming a strong presence with active, effective candidates in EVERY STATE do you think is detrimental to spreading faith in the Democratic mindset?

Barry Welsh is a strong and vocal advocate of everything we in the netroots stand for, and progressive values in general. At every campaign stop, during every speech, he is speaking our message.

I couldn't agree with you more about forming a well-known, universal party message that the public understands--but I fail to see where ignoring strong candidates where they can be found is in any way contradictory to that.

But, you could be right, and we should probably just focus all our money on supporting Tom Daschle--

oh, wait...

by MadCasey on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 06:59:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Case? (none / 0)

He's got less than $3000 on hand. That's not enough for him to make his case to anyone.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 11:57:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Case? (none / 0)

Actually, my internet access costs about $25 a month. So $3000 can make his case to everyone using the internet for the next ten years or so.

by Lucas O'Connor on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 12:36:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Case? (none / 0)

Great. Since when has that won an election?

Don't underestimate the power of a newspaper ad.

by Adam B on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 09:42:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Case? (none / 0)

You keep referring to his cash on hand like he hasn't already spent nearly $20,000 on the campaign.

Your point is ridiculous, if only for its simplicity.

Yes, we understand that we need a coherent message.

Yes, we even understand the importance of supporting targeted races that are highly competitive.

We aren't morons, we understand the general idea behind winning elections. Our argument is that adding another dimension to the traditional campaign cycle, wherein we support all of our candidates, may help further the national organization of the Party, and make our message resonate in areas it might never have appeared in.

You are arguing against an idea because you think it will hurt our chances in 2006, but I don't comprehend the logic behind the assertion that supporting Barry Welsh hurts the Democratic Party.

It's ridiculous.

by Yoss on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 09:48:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Case? (none / 0)

I guess what I'm asking is this, then: what makes Barry Welsh a more worthy candidate than other underfunded, likely-no-chance Dems?

And, yes, I do believe there's a point at which supporting the Welshes and Lamonts of the world, at a time when we can achieve an immediate Democratic majority in at least one chamber, is a bad, bad decision.

by Adam B on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 10:18:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Case? (none / 0)

What makes him different is that he is taking an active role in not only winning his own race, but in the betterment of the Democratic Party as a whole.

I'm not advocating this specifically for Barry Welsh, what I am saying is that we need to support all of our candidates who are actively working toward victory, not just in 2006, but for the years to come.

We can't ignore good candidates just because their race isn't in the national spotlight. Rather, ignoring these races has deteriorated our national message for too long. The time to reverse the process has come, and that means embracing all of our candidates, especially if they are working their ass off like Barry Welsh is. And once again, I want it noted that his presence in the netroots isn't a financial decision, but rather is because he really, truly believes in the power of the online forum, and in the people-powered politics we support.

by Yoss on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 11:54:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Priorities (3.00 / 1)

In that case, let's all start sending our money to Hillary. Given how well her fundraising is going, she's clearly the best destination for our cash.

by Lucas O'Connor on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:09:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Look at Barry's calendar. (3.00 / 1)

Seriously, just look at it:
http://barrywelsh.org/?q=event

This guy is indeed "busting his ass"--he hits two events a day! I admire that kind of effort; it's more than many of us would be willing to give to their country. If you don't want to cheerlead Barry Welsh, that's fine--no one's asking you, too, but to disparage Barry for his ground-game in a district where the last candidate was nothing more than a name on paper? That's unhelpful. At least Barry is cultivating some grassroots willpower in a deep-red district, which is way more than we could expect from a lot of districts like this.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:23:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Look at Barry's calendar. (none / 0)

He. Needs. To. Raise. Serious. Money. Because you can't meet everyone.

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:57:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Look at Barry's calendar. (3.00 / 1)

I. Don't. Know. Why. You. Are. Talking. So. Slowly. When. You. Are. Stating. The. Obvious.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:19:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Look at Barry's calendar. (none / 0)

Chicken or the Egg situation. Netroots can absolutely put candidates on the map. If we start ignoring every candidate that hasn't already made it on their own, then what is our money for? We can throw our support behind candidates that are already raising lots of money, but is that the best way to spend? The idea of the 50 State Strategy is to make districts competitive that wouldn't be otherwise. That includes financially competitive since many districts which haven't fielded Dem candidates for years aren't in a position to fund a candidate locally for a variety of reasons. Recruiting these candidates and then letting them twist in the wind because once we got them, we decided they aren't good enough is exactly the recipe for not fielding candidates a second time around.

by Lucas O'Connor on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 07:16:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Look at Barry's calendar. (none / 0)

Back to my original question, then: how is this not Jeff Seemann v 2.0?

by Adam B on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 11:58:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Look at Barry's calendar. (none / 0)

Seemann wasn't part of a functioning nationalized movement, and he was also not a particularly good candidate. Judging someone exclusively by their bank account neglects myriad other factors.

by Lucas O'Connor on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 12:37:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: with all due respect (3.00 / 1)

If you attacked Pence like you attack each other, he'd lose for sure.

Ideally, every Democrat running for Congress would receive adequate netroots funding. Realistically, everyone should get at least a little seed corn money. The lions' share to the most important close races, certainly, but do not make the mistake of ignoring the longshots. We've been doing that since 1994 and it hasn't worked.

Sure, Barry may have to run a few times before he eventually makes it to DC, but there are other reasons to keep the race going in IN-6 besides just the longshot possibility of winning. A strong Welch campaign will bottle up Pence and his money in the district, instead of freeing them to attack in the more competitive 2nd, 8th and 9th from resources in the 6th. It gets the message to 6th district voters to consider the Democratic alternative, up and down ticket and not just for Congress. It helps move the glacier to the left, just a little, so that next time there will be less distance to move it.

IN-6 voters are not unredeemable wingnuts. Most of them elected Democrat Philip Sharp to Congress again and again before the Newtists came along. They'll come back to us, too--if someone like Barry Welch lets them know we exist and we're the good guys.

Arguably, candidates like Welch should get MORE from us than above-the-radar candidates like Baron Hill next door, since the high profile races are already being nurtured by DCCC, while longshots like Welch are left on their own. Think it over. Pray for our candidates.

by admiralnaismith on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 03:14:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Long Haul (none / 0)

F this "priorities" crap. I donated.

Thanks for not shutting out the GLBT community on your 'issues' page either! I'm glad some people consider us Americans first.

by dayspring on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:14:24 PM EST

Re: The Long Haul (3.00 / 0)

I'm devoting more energy and hopes to IN-08 and IN-09, but I send Barry a small donation when I can spare one because he's working very hard, his personal values are sterling, and his web site furthers a national strategy that I'm fully committed to.

And I bump him ahead of IN-02 even though the pundits say the latter is less of a long shot, because where the f*ck is Donnelly? Not here.

And I say that not because I want the netroots to be pandered to, but because if I am going to siphon off a little support from the front-tier races, I want to know that the long-shot candidate I choose to support fits my values, goals and hopes for the party, long-term.

Finally, Chocola is useless, but Congressman Pence is truly a dangerous man, building a coterie of like-minded cronies with their eye on real power.

by Christopher Walker on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 10:49:40 AM EST

Fundraising Update (none / 0)

Could we get an update on the fundraising? When I recommended this diary it was in the hope that we could indeed help you to your goal. Seems the comment thread got slightly offtrack IMO.

This is the kind of race and you are the kind of candidate that the 50 State Project is all about. Net/grassroots politics at its finest. Use of campaign funds as if they were a precious commodity rather than paper you burn through and collect more. More about a candidate connecting with his constituents and less about the media buy. Well I could go on and on, but Barry you know all this cause you are living it. Thank you and again, good luck.

by Demo Dan in Dayton on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 01:05:23 PM EST

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