Liberal Victory in New Hampshire

If the national political landscape looks bleak for liberals, the picture at the local level is far more promising. In conservative New Hampshire, Bob Perry showed how it's done.

Carol Shea-Porter at Down with Tyranny:

Bob Perry is a well informed activist who always attends political events, respectfully asks politicians tough and honest questions, and volunteers on campaigns. In 2006, he decided to run for New Hampshire state Rep because he was so concerned about what was happening to the middle class. He served for four years, and was absolutely devoted to campaign finance reform, clean elections, and to supporting legislation that held corporations accountable and helped the middle class.

Bob lost in the 2010 anti-Democrats wave. He knew though that the right wing Republicans would try to push legislation that hurt regular citizens, so he did something extraordinary. He kept going to hearings at the State House, so he could be a witness and then educate others about the plans. Bob never faltered or gave up. When one of the new state reps resigned, Bob answered the call to public service again. He first had to win a primary, and then he took on a free stater who had support from many right wing groups. He just did his job, going door to door in the hot summer sun, talking to people about his plans to help the middle class "rise again," as he puts it. He's a true public servant who never gave up on politics. He often uses this quote at the end of his email: "People often say with pride 'I'm not interested in politics.' They might as well say 'I'm not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future or any future ...'
If we mean to keep control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics." Sometimes the good guys do win! Martha Gellhorn (1909-1998), American travel writer, novelist, and journalist.)

SNIP

Bob Perry won the Republican seat Tuesday with 58% of the votes. He won 5 of the 6 towns in the district and only lost the 6th one, the smallest, by 9 votes. Carol attended the victory party and heard him say that "I will advocate on behalf of working men and women. I look forward to sustaining the governor's veto on the Photo I.D. bill, which is contrary to New Hampshire's tradition of trusting voters." New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley:

"In a historically Republican district, New Hampshire voters turned out in the middle of summer to send a loud and clear message to the out of control Republican majority. Its relentless attempts to make cigarettes cheaper but college more expensive, slash women's health care, and kill jobs by taxing hospitals must stop immediately. Tonight's special election is a clear rejection of the out of touch GOP agenda that puts corporations first and Granite Staters last."

It's less than 15 months to the 2012 elections. Start working now to make liberal victories happen where you live.