George,

Well, well. So the only way to win (echoes of Vince Lombardi) is to reject someone from the democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

And, hey: I get riled up by the passive voice [in Bern Ewert's mailing "Democrats that Want to Win!], as in "it is clear" Al can't win. To whom is it clear? Not to me.

I've been wrapped up recently in the living wage campaign at the University. Great support of the movement and the cause has come from Council candidates Taliaferro and Norris; Mayor Brown; Senator Deeds; Delegate Toscano -- and, of course, a great speech on the steps of Madison Hall by Al Weed.

I asked one of the students if Bern Ewert was going to speak in support of the living wage. He replied that they'd never heard of him. Why do you suppose that is?.........The claim that Al "doesn't have a record that people can look to" is, what? disingenuous? maybe a spin on the meaning of the word "record"?

It is true, Al does not ask people to vote for him because he would be a good manager. He knows that being a manager is not what we need in Congress. Shouldn't we all know that? We need a Congressman with a superb "record" of understanding how to get out of this war, how and why poverty and economic inequality are eroding the foundations of our Republic, and the way to expand voting rights, among other things.

Anyone who ever listened to the two candidates discuss these issues side by side knows who has the superior "record." I'm a little insulted (maybe misunderstood would be a gentler word?) by the suggestion that I and others support Al for "emotional" reasons. Gracious! Who thought that up?

Sorry to be wrought up!

Paul Gaston (electronic mail, April 18, 2006)