Help Take Back the House in 2006!

[David Gill 2006]

My name is David Gill, and I ran for Congress in 2004 because of the tragedies that I witness on a daily basis at my workplace. As an Emergency Room physician in rural Illinois, I see men, women, and children suffer the consequences of having a health care system which primarily serves the needs of the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries.

My 2004 campaign had many successes. Despite running in a "Red" district (IL-15) that had long been written off by the so-called "experts," I mounted a significant challenge with only $100,000 and a novice, though passionate, grassroots campaign staff. By reaching out to people of all political persuasions and emphasizing the Common Sense nature of Universal Health Care, I overcame my initial lack of name recognition to receive the third highest vote total of the 19 Illinois Congressional challengers. With the experience gained from the 2004 campaign, we have an excellent chance to pull off an upset in 2006.

One problem remains, however: fundraising. Candidates such as myself, who favor real change in our economic and health care systems, are strongly opposed by the monied interests who created these systems. Consequently, it takes more than Democratic Party funding to combat the messages coming from the economic and political elite that dominate this system. A progressive candidacy is, in reality, a kind of popular uprising, requiring broad-based support and funding from the citizens who are fed up with the way the current system affects their lives.

Although I am running specifically for Illinois 15th District seat, I am also running to bring a progressive voice back to the forefront of national debate. I am a longtime member of both Physicians for a National Health Program and Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health. I support Fair Trade, a sensible national security policy, protection of Social Security, and a return to ethics in government. If these issues represent the values which you hold near and dear, I would greatly appreciate your support in helping me reach my goal of raising $100,000 by the end of 2005.

Sincerely,
David Gill, M.D.

For more information or to donate online, please visit David Gill for Congress 2006. Take it easy on me for a while, I'm new to blogging and online communities.

[blue sky at night]

1. Yo, David..........you made my night.

I was thinking about people like you last night, as we watched Paul Hackett shake things up over here in the Buckeye. The only problem with our system is the people who are elected. I commented on just what you are doing. I really admire anyone who even has enough guts to talk about politics, knock on doors to canvass, etc. But for folks like you , who get in and get messy with it, you are absolutely awesome. God Bless, and if I can, I will send a few bucks. You ROCK!!!

[David Gill 2006]

2. It's People Like You...

It's people like you that make us run for office in the first place. There are long hours of working in the E.R. and then running a campaign on top of that. All of that is because we see people that genuinely want to see change for the better in this country. Thanks for the note.

[jobycom]

3. I hope you also posted this in the Illinois forum. Question:

Since you are a doctor, and Dean is a doctor, and it seems obvious that people are truly concerned with health care these days (even businesses, because insurance rates are killing them faster than taxes), do you think we could get national mileage by running a Gingrich-style "take the House" sort of campaign in 2006 by focusing on healthcare?

In 94 the Republicans won the House in a pretty amazing if disgusting bit of politicking, turning Tip O'Neil's dictum that all politics is local on its head. Gingrich made the local Congressional races national, focusing all attention on his key issues (which he immediately renigged on, of course). Seems like the national unrest makes the time right for that again. If we focus on a few issues that people are concerned about, say energy and healthcare, hopefully fueled by some key investigation results, do you think we could win, and do you know of any plans to do anything like that?

[David Gill 2006]

4. Good Question...

Is it ok to post this in multiple forums? I wasn't sure about the rules there.

About the national press for healthcare. I obviously think it is a tremendous issue for Democrats to use. I'm not sure that it could give us the mileage that you might be thinking about. Our campaign focused mainly on healthcare last time, and the message resonated well with most, but we were often branded as being "single issue". If you can find a way to avoid that pitfall, then perhaps healthcare could help our prospects nationally.

[jobycom]

7. We should have a slate of issue, using healthcare as a central one

Gingrich's "Contract with America" had ten points, I think. I think our problem in 2006 may be the same as our problem in 2004. We may focus so much on how much we oppose Bush we come across as complainers, rather than as a party with a real objective. With Bush's popularity falling, we can't ignore that, but then again, since it is already falling, we may not have to focus on bringing him down, so much as on why we are a better alternative. Thus, healthcare and a few more issues that appeal to the mainstream, but still leave room for candidates to campaign as progressives or moderates or whatever their constituency would respond to on other issues.

Just some ideas.

As for posting in more than one forum, I don't know the specific rules, but I've seen a few people post duplicates in the state forums. You can't dupe in the main forums, but I think you can in the state forums. Scan the rules, it shouldn't be hard to find.

Hang around here. This is a good resource for you for money and volunteers, and we'd all like to know how you are progressing.

[tritsofme]

5. Did you take on Weller or Johnson?

The districts get very muddled around Bloomington-Normal.

A neighbor of ours goes to ISU and saw you speak around there last year and was impressed.

Good luck next year!

[David Gill 2006]

6. IL-15

Last year we ran against Tim Johnson. Tell your neighbor to make sure to catch the campaign on the road this time around as well. We will definitely be back through Bloomington-Normal on a regular basis. Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad your neighbor liked the speech last year!

[David Gill 2006]

8. Out for the night...

Better get some sleep. Thanks to everyone for stopping by, commenting, and even just reading the post. I'll be around in the future. I hope to hear from everyone again.

[snowbear]

9. Nifty website... but it needs some pictures!

Have a nice sleep :boring: and post back here again soon! :hug:

[David Gill 2006]

10. Caught you on the way out...

Last reply for sure. Just to let everyone know, the website is under major reconstruction. I have seen screenshots of the new website, and it is quite a bit more photogenic. It should be online by the end of this weekend. So, check back early next week to see the new design. I understand your concern!

[Renew Deal]

11. Good luck Doc!!!

:patriot:

[PA Mamma]

12. Perfect Timing heh?

All full of hope from Hackett's campaign.

Welcome from another newbie (relatively) here.

Hope to see you around more. :hi: