Grassroots Farm Team: Changing the Only Game in Town

"the finest line of poetry ever uttered in the history of this whole damn country was said by Canada Bill Jones in 1853, in Baton Rouge, while he was being robbed blind in a crooked game of faro. George Devol, who was, like Canada Bill, not a man who was averse to fleecing the odd sucker, drew Bill aside and asked him if he couldn't see that the game was crooked. And Canada Bill sighed, and shrugged his shoulders, and said 'I know. But it's the only game in town.' And he went back to the game."

Neil Gaiman, American Gods

This has been a hard year for politics. I can sum it up in a couple of words, nouns, and phrases: Tea Party. Party of No. Glenn Beck. Sarah Palin. Anti-Muslim Prejudice. Bomb-grade Burr. Jersey Shore. Puppetshow.

I haven't given up hope. Or I'm set in my ways. Or ... it's the only game in town. Whatever you want to call it, I'm not going quietly into the night. There's a storm coming - an T11, a category 5, whatever you want to call it ... and we're standing in front of it.

Grassroots Farm Team 2010 is up and running, working to change the only game in town. Donate $50 today to help us make this possible.

You can't drain the swamp in a day, but we're still committed to putting fresh voices in office. This year, we've abandoned the age range because a commitment to progressive values and open government knows no age - and that's what we need more than anything in Raleigh.

Here are our 2010 priorities:

1. Do everything in our power to help get Elaine Marshall elected.

Elaine is the top of the ticket, and she's a breath of fresh air. She's one of the reasons my relationship with politics hasn't been destroyed by cynicism. And as Elaine goes, so goes the General Assembly.

A year ago today Elaine Marshall entered the race to become North Carolina's next Senator. She knew she would have a harder race than Sen. Hagan had. She knew Richard Burr would have lots more money than Richard Petty, who she beat in 1996 to become the first woman elected to statewide office in North Carolina. She also knew she'd probably have to face a hard primary to win the nomination, going up against the DSCC.

In spite of all of that, Elaine won the primary and the runoff by large margins. She trimpuhed because Democratic and independent voters in North Carolina know she has an impressive record of service, of fighting for the little guy, of staying above the muck when the stink of corruption hit Raleigh. They fought for her over her primary opponents because they knew they'd be getting a progressive fighter in the Senate - someone who supports real health care reform, someone who stands for LGBT rights, someone we can be proud of in Washington.

Marshall is in the race. The polls have her close. The incumbent Richard Burr (who sold out American national security, took tons of special interest money from big oil, and who would be a huge threat if he were to become chairman or ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee) is way below 50% in the polls. Also, no man of woman born has defeated a woman in a partisan statewide election in North Carolina.

Elaine Marshall can beat Richard Burr, and she would be an AMAZING United States Senator. More importanatly, we can't keep the State House and the State Senate unless Elaine exceeds expectations and gets out the vote.

Mark your calendars. Our MarshallBomb is October 8th. If you'd like to help, make a contribution to the Farm Team, but if you'd rather help in other ways, you can reach us at @NCFarmTeam on twitter, on our Facebook Fan Page, or by e-mail at NCFarmTeam <:at:> gmail.com.

2. Keep the NC House and Senate by improving its membership.

No explanation should be necessary here. We're going to be looking at first- and second-time candidates in competitive districts who would be great additions to the General Assembly. These are just some of the candidates who we're looking at (not a comprehensive list):

NC Senate:
Beth Jones
Barbara Garrity-Blake

NC House:
Robin Anderson
Chris Heagararty
Beth Ostgaard
Patsy Keever
Ann Newmann

If you think there's someone we should add to this list, tell us!

3. Keep getting young candidates elected.

In 2009, all of our endorsed candidates won. This year, we're continuing to build the next generation of progressive leaders. People like Jenna Wadsworth have stepped up to the plate in a big way, and deserve our support.

I am proud to announce that Jenna is our first endorsed candidate of the 2010 cycle. Donate today to help the farm team grow, or give directly to Jenna's campaign here.

We're still up for making a difference, and I hope you are too. I hope you'll take some pizza money and make a contribution to the Farm Team, but if you'd rather help in other ways, you can reach us at @NCFarmTeam on twitter, on our Facebook Fan Page, or by e-mail at NCFarmTeam <:at:> gmail.com.

It's always darkest before the sun rises again. And the sun always rises. Help us make a difference today.

Cheers,
Sam Spencer
Executive Director
Grassroots Farm Team PAC