A message from Barack Obama: Senator Byrd needs our help before Thursday

[Triana]

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm writing today about a senator who needs your urgent support. Senator
Robert Byrd was one of the first senators I met with when I came to the
Senate 3 months ago. Senator Byrd understands the history, the
importance and the role Senate plays in our government--at 87 years old,
he's the most senior senator.

He has spoken out passionately against a Bush foreign policy that has
alienated our allies throughout the world. Today, he is fighting an
attempt by Republicans to change the 200-year old rules of the Senate
that would allow Republicans to ram federal judges through the Senate
with no regard for what others might say. Above all, Robert Byrd
understands just how sacred the Constitution of our country truly is and
fights every day to protect it.

Now he needs our help. In 2006, Senator Byrd will be the target of
Republicans because he stands up for what he believes.

I want to be sure Robert Byrd is here fighting for us in the Senate.
Will you join me in supporting his campaign for re-election, before a
critical deadline this Thursday?

You can give online at:

https://www.moveonpac.org/give/byrd.html

I hope you will give generously to help send Robert Byrd back to the
Senate for another term to fight for the Constitution and the freedom of
speech we all enjoy.

I don't have to tell you how important every Senate seat is right now.
Just last week, the Senate voted 51-49 to open up the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling and Republicans now threaten even more
drastic measures such as privatizing Social Security.

Last fall, I had the privilege to write and ask your help to support
candidates and help us take back the U.S. Senate. And your response was
nothing short of amazing--you raised more than $1 million for seven
Senate candidates, providing them with much-needed resources at the end
of their campaigns. I'm happy to be part of these efforts again.

A Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate would mean a real change in the
priorities of Washington, but more importantly, it would provide
significant change for everyday people across America.

Remember, in order to win back the Senate majority, we need Robert Byrd.

The work you do is extremely important--you and millions of others,
working through MoveOn, have helped change the way politics works in
this country. Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

[merci_me]

1. A nice thank you letter for his services, but

Sen Byrd was born in 1917. The next term of office doesn't begin until January 2007, the year he turns 90 (and it's a 6 year term!!). His 90th year would be a good time for him to turn over the seat to another Dem.

Even though I couldn't stand Strom Thurmond, I was still always embarrassed for him as he was propped up in his chair.

IMHO it's time for West Virginia to look for a very viable primary candidate.

[ohio_liberal]

2. Pfft

Robert Byrd is a brilliant man and doesn't need to be "propped up" in his chair. Besides that, name one viable Democratic candidate in WV.

[merci_me]

8. Idon't know one, but

certainly, when the man becomes 96, he won't be running. So, why not, now with two years left in the term, start looking very seriously for someone. When you have a senator in there since 1958, not many Dems are going to challenge him, but if he doesn't run, there just might be a future umpteen Dem come to the forefront.

[JI7]

3. but Robert Byrd is mentally and physically able unlike Strom

he can get around and he is very aware of what is going on and can still do his job.

[Donailin]

31. Robert Byrd is in full control of his

faculties and physical self. I heard him give a brief speech at a MoveOn rally and he was more of a rabble rouser than others hald his age.

[Just Me]

4. He is more able-bodied and able-minded than ANY Republican!

:grr:

Moreover, we have no comparable candidate,...yet.

[merci_me]

7. Of course, he's fine NOW

But it's still two years til the begining of the next six year term.

There's a big difference between being 88 and 96 and I would hate to see him fade like that, on stage. Like I said, IJHMO.

[K-W]

18. I'd rather see that than a Republican in his seat.

Which is what you are accomplishing if you discourage donations to him at this stage in the game.

[ohio_liberal]

20. Absolutely

He's all we have and we need him very badly.

[tsuki]

27. Tell that to my aunts who can out-think most of the "modern"

generation. The eldest was born in February of 1909.

[tsuki]

28. Tell that to my aunts who can out-think most of the "modern"

generation. The eldest was born in February of 1909

[K-W]

29. A post good enough to read twice.

:)

[tsuki]

30. Sorry, I got a error message that told me that I needed to copy

my message and post again. What's up with that?

[Toucano]

12. He won in 2000 with 78% of the vote.

You're not considering the valuable political capital the man has earned over the course of his extensive political career.

That kind of thing is not easily transferrable to another candidate.

Considering the way WV has been going in national elections, the best way to retain that seat in the D column is to stick with Byrd.

He knows this and it's the reason he's running again instead of retiring.

Age is just a number.

[K-W]

16. Youd rather have a republican win just to spite Byrd for being old?

I see your point, but that isnt exactly an option right now and we really need to hold our seats.

[Yupster]

25. Agree merciman

Leave the old man alone. He's close to 90 with Parkinson's.

I don't want to see him rolled in from the hospital to drool on his suit once a month for a big vote.

There are plenty of good Democratic elected officials in West Virginia. It's time for him to step down.

[K-W]

26. The only way to hold that seat is to run Byrd.

Not to mention the importance of showing the democrats can stand up to the republicans and still hold thier seats.

Your point is well taken, but to advocate handing his seat to the republicans to punish him for not grooming a replacement is, I think, unwise.

[Just Me]

5. DU friends, please lend your assistance to Sen. Byrd.

The corporacrats are already getting huge funds together to take Sen. Byrd down. It will be so awful,...the character assasination they will inflict on this truly great man.

[Triana]

9. I agree. Byrd is in MUCH better shape than Thurmond and..

...we NEED him! Please donate iffin ya can.

[thecrow]

6. Donate! I did n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. I would have been glad to donate to anything Byrd wanted until....

...he voted for the Bankruptcy Bill.

JMHO.

[oxbow]

11. His speech on the senate floor in defense of the filibuster was brilliant!

I wish I could donate.

[K-W]

19. If we wait for the perfect man to pop up in government,

we will be waiting for a very long time.

We might as well just become a savior cult.

We need to influence politics, not sit around waiting for it to come to us.

[dandrhesse]

22. I was willing to do whatever the letter asked until the request was for $

The DNC and the rest of the Dem Org just doesn't get what the "grassroots" that they say are so important, are telling them! Quit using us and contacting us just to get money out of us. Kerry had 14 million left over and he himself said that money was not the issue. If the election process is not legitmate then it doesn't matter if we raise a billion for Byrd he will LOSE!

We need to have action on the vote issue now, it is the only issue

[DebJ]

13. we are donating. and kick!

[Tinoire]

14. Done.

All of the Neos be they cons or libs need Byrd out of the way ASAP for being such a staunch constitutionalist. We can't afford to lose him.

[Helga Scow Stern]

15. I donated. Byrd is a national treasure and hero.

[K-W]

17. My first ever political donation!!! EOM

[ohio_liberal]

21. Congratulations!

:thumbsup:

[K-W]

23. Thanks

and a kick

[K-W]

24. It is important to reward those who stand up for us

even if they dont do it perfectly.

Lets show democrats that supporting progressive values is a way to win elections, not lose them.

I hope everyone understands the dire consequences for the progressive voice in politics if Byrd goes down after being so successful for so long. The left will look like poisen just when we were starting to build some momentum.