The 2006 election is NOT over yet! ***Please Read***

Gman

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-13-06 08:10 PM
Original message

Former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez is in a runoff for the 23rd Congressional District in Texas. The incumbent Republican is Henry Bonilla. The original redistricting that was thrown out by the SCOTUS was done in this district with the express intent to draw Ciro out of the running for reelection and to elect Bush's former secretary of state, Henry Bonilla from Laredo. The plan, unfortunately worked and South Texas lost a good Congressman for the time being.

This district was redrawn again after the August SCOTUS decision ruled that the Texas redistricting disenfranchised 100,000 Hispanics in South Texas. Because of this latest redistricting, there were several Democrats that filed against Bonilla before the September 1 filing deadline. Bonilla was kept under 50% in the General Election and now Ciro is in a runoff with him.

Here's the thing.

Ciro is a former member of the House Armed Services Committee and voted AGAINST the Iraq War Resolution. Ciro has ALWAYS opposed the war. Ciro has adamently opposed Bush and was calling Bush out on his lies way back when it wasn't popular to do so.

Ciro is a died in the wool LIBERAL. He is right on any and all issues that liberals hold important from the war to gay marriage to stem cell research and the list goes on. He is truly one of us.

This district is very winnable. Bonilla's support in this predominantly Hispanic district has plummeted in the last year, especially because of his harsh rhetoric on immigration.

Ciro is one of nicest most common of people you will ever meet. Ciro has never, ever had any air of being someone important and above anyone else. Ciro is truly a man of the people.

Ciro NEEDS MONEY!

Ciro needs money which is the main reason I'm posting this here. When I talked to Ciro this morning, I asked what he needs. He said, "I need money." and he asked if I can help get the blogs to pick up on this race and push it. I told him to consider it done, so here I am. Donations have been coming in. Ciro told me about $1,000 came in last week from the Internet. But it's going to take a helluva lot more money to be competitive with Bonilla's $3 million. The DCCC is doing a poll to check the viability of this race. If the poll shows it's winnable, they'll pump some money into this one. Labor in San Antonio and at the state level will be helping. (Fact is, those of here in this district know its winnable without a poll.) One of the candidates that didn't make the runoff gave Ciro an office to use. But more than anything else Ciro needs money.

Please! Any and all contributions to CIRO, regardless of the size are immensely appreciated and will go a long way to adding one more vote to the Democratic House of Representatives. I know there are thousands of us here on DU that contributed tens of thousands of small amounts to candidates all over the country. Please consider one or maybe two more donations of whatever you can afford before we call it a victorious year.

For a really good bio on Ciro, check his Wikipedia entry at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciro_Rodriguez

Please consider making a donation here: http://www.cirodrodriguez.com/donate/index.php using Act Blue or Paypal.

Many Thanks, and please consider K&R'g this to keep it up for a while.

G