What was Ric Keller doing when the current financial crisis was brewing?

Every serious commentator and expert has pointed to massive deregulation of the banking and investment industries as a major cause of the current financial turmoil. Speculators were allowed to run wild, and this has caused the current meltdown.

But in 2007, Ric Keller voted AGAINST regulating sub-prime mortgages. Such regulation would have stopped much of the speculation and protected homeowners from predatory lending practices.

As if that weren't enough, Keller even wanted to dump your Social Security savings into these volatile markets by privatizing Social Security. Rather than maintaining Social Security as the financial foundation for our seniors, Keller wanted to allow these speculators to run amok with Social Security funds reserved for supporting seniors.

Ric Keller's irresponsible actions are just one reason why the race for the House seat in District 8 is one of the most competitive in the nation, and it's been getting a lot of attention.

In The Washington Post's political blog, The Fix, Chris Cillizza stated, "Keller is clearly in a real fight."

The Politico ran an article last week with the title "Long odds confront Keller in Orlando".

David Wasserman, House analyst for the Cook Political Report, said, "This is a marginal district. Keller's reelection percentages have been on the decline, and he hasn't been in a top-tier competitive race in eight years. That's a trifecta of very, very serious warning signs for an incumbent."

This is great news, but it also means that the Republican Party is targeting this race and pouring money into the district to finance the campaign of Ric Keller, an ultra-Right-Wing conservative who has voted with the Bush administration more than 90% of the time.

To fight the conservative propaganda machine, we need to run TV ads - and that's an expensive proposition. One week of ad time on TV in Central Florida costs at least $100,000. To show a single commercial once costs $200. Can you help pay for just one ad to kick out Keller?

When he was first elected in 2000, Keller signed a campaign pledge to serve no more than 8 years in Congress. Now he's breaking that promise and running for a fifth term. We need to send him a clear message:

Ric Keller: Your time is up.

If we're going to send Ric packing, we've got to work together. All over the country people are working to elect Democrats, but here in Central Florida, in one of the most competitive races in the nation, we have a special opportunity to make a real difference.

This is the last day of the reporting period, so it's urgent that you contribute now, if at all possible.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this campaign, donating time and money to send a real Democrat to Congress. There are just five more weeks before Election Day, and with your help, we'll put America back on the right track!

Thank you to so many of you, for writing to share your thoughts on the proposed Wall Street bailout.  As we work our way through your comments, we wanted to offer a few more observations of our own.

Carl Sagan, the famous American scientist, often said that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof."  We are now being told that if taxpayers don't fork over $700 billion to Wall Street bankers who made bad choices, then "credit" (mortgages, car loans, business loans, etc.) will disappear.  That is a really, really extraordinary claim.  It requires extraordinary proof.  Where is that proof?

Since this bailout would be financed with debt, we would be more than doubling the federal deficit this year, and burdening every man, woman and child with over $2000 to pay back.  That's over $15,000 for my family alone.  Because these are troubled times, I'm not anxious to do that.

It's worth noting that the people who are telling us that we must spend $700 billion of our money to avoid the collapse of credit are the same people who told us that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which would be used against us.  The same people who surveyed the wreckage of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and said that FEMA was doing "a heckuva job."

We are often reminded that we live in a free market system.  That certainly does not mean that the taxpayers are the suckers of last resort.  It seems as though the free market's "invisible hand" has been balled into a fist, and that fist is about to punch you and me in the face. 

We all agree that the credit markets need to function properly.  And we are still waiting to see the proof that dumping $700 billion in worthless assets on the taxpayers is necessary for that to continue.

Sincerely,

Alan Grayson

"String 'em up"

"In the last two days, the U.S. stock market has gone up by $1 trillion. That's because of a $700 billion direct transfer from taxpayers to financial corporations like AIG and the expectation that another $300 billion will find its way into the deal before it's over. So tax dollars are being used to prop up the stock market, something that never happened even in the deepest depths of the Great Depression. It's corporate communism. That's the context.

"Here is more context. $700 billion is over $2,000 for every man, woman and child in America. For a family of seven, like mine, it's over $15,000. Someone just took $15,000 from me and my family, and gave it to anonymous bond holders whom I've never met, who have done nothing for me, to whom I owe nothing and -- right now -- I really don't like.

"More context: you could take one percent of that amount -- one percent! -- and pay off the delinquency on every home mortgage in arrears in America. And keep people from losing their homes. But ordinary people get nothing from this Administration except grief."

On November 4, send a clear message that the Republicans have failed Americans and Central Floridians by weakening the economy and ignoring the needs of the middle class. Vote for Alan Grayson for Congress.

Elect Alan Grayson to Congress. Imagine the possibilities -- and help make them happen!

The Rothenberg Political Report recently changed the rating for the re-election bid of U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando. His race with Democrat Alan Grayson is now considered a "pure-toss-up," according to the report. Read the report at http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/09/2008-house-ratings.html.

DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation's largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Alan Grayson's campaign to represent Florida's 8th Congressional District.
 
"Alan Grayson doesn't back down, he takes on the tough fights and wins," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  "Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign because Alan Grayson will be a progressive champion for his constituents."

Alan Grayson is a Harvard-educated attorney who has built a powerful reputation as a staunch opponent of government waste and fraud.  As the founder and manager of his own law firm, Alan Grayson has conducted what the Wall Street Journal called a “one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq.” Alan has been the plaintiffs' attorney in every False Claims Act case being actively litigated concerning contractor fraud in Iraq.

Through the years, Alan Grayson has shown time and again he has the tenacity and skills to get the job done.  From a housing project in the Bronx to Harvard to working as a judge's assistant in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals to founding a Fortune 1000 company, IDT Corp., to running a successful law practice, Alan is a hard worker with a record of accomplishment that cannot be matched.   

“I am honored to have the endorsement of Democracy for America because I share DFA's mission of citizen empowerment and grassroots organizing,” said Alan Grayson. “This puts us one step closer to winning the election and making real change in America.”

"Alan Grayson will deliver for his constituents on health care and returning good paying jobs to the District.  His Republican opponent can't say the same thing because his opponent has no plan," said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA.  "Alan Grayson knows the War in Iraq has been a drain on our resources and the reckless policies of George Bush and John McCain have unnecessarily tarnished the United States' standing in the world.  Alan will work to end this war and bring our brave men and women in uniform home."

The race is so close that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed it on their Red to Blue program, one of only 35 in the country to be targeted!
 
Chris Van Hollen, the chair of the DCCC, speaking of Alan's performance in the Democratic primary, said, "He was the perceived underdog, yet he ran a very good campaign." He also observed that Ric Keller's poor showing in the Republican primary was a sign of "great weakness."

We've got to do our part, though, and make sure that the DCCC knows that Central Florida is dedicated to winning back this seat. Please contribute today - together we can make a difference!  Whether it's $50, $100 or $1,000--together we can beat Ric Keller and bring real change to Washington!

An new poll for Democrat Alan Grayson shows that the wealthy attorney leads U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, 44 to 40 percent -- a four-point advantage that falls within the survey's 4.4 percent margin of error. 

The Kitchens Group conducted the telephone survey of 500 likely voters in Central Florida between Sept. 3-6. It also showed that 16 percent of voters were undecided in that race.

Almost two-thirds of those surveryed, 65 percent, agreed that the United States was "on the wrong track" but they were divided on who could best fix the problem. Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama were deadlocked at 44 percent, with 10 percent undecided, according to the poll.

Source: Orlando Sentinel
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/09/grayson-poll-sh.html 

Have questions?

Contact the Grayson for Congress Campaign Headquarters at 407-896-2001.

Join the Grayson for Congress Campaign for the Orlando premiere of "War, Inc." on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at the Premiere Cinemas 14 at Orlando Fashion Square. There's a 3:00 p.m. reception, followed by a 4:00 p.m. showing with 300 seats available, and a 7:00 p.m. showing with 150 seats available. 

TiTickets are $8 per person. VIP tickets are also available for $25 per person and include preferred seating and a canvas bag and t-shirt.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Grayson campaign headquarters, 2206 E. Colonial Drive.; by phone at (407) 896 – 2001; or online at http://www.graysonforcongress.com/warinc/