Arcuri for Congress

I met Michael Arcuri Tuesday and spent some time going door-to-door in Freeville. At the risk of "damning with faint praise," I find Arcuri to be smart, progressive and personable. While I do hold him accountable for the inadequacy of his campaign, I think it's time to rally support. 24 Democrat, who is as disappointed as I am with the campaign, has posted twenty solid reasons to support Arcuri at Take Back the 24th. I remind you, it's primarily the campaign I'm disappointed with, not the candidate.

Arcuri is in the unenviable position of having a day job while he campaigns. And he's serious about his work as District Attorney in Oneida County. So, it's more important than ever that staff and volunteers take up some slack. If Arcuri's time is limited, he has to have effective press coverage, a knock-your-socks-off website and direct mail campaign, an army of supporters speaking on his behalf and a manager who makes sure every minute he can spend in public pays off.

In addition to the overall importance of sending Democrats to Congress, we really don't want to be represented by Ray Meier with his "stay the course" in Iraq, continue cutting taxes for the rich, increase oil exploration, and hands off health care positions. We really don't. Even Republicans will find little in common with this dyed-in-the-wool Bush-Cheney supporter.

Arcuri supports a realistic strategy for ending the war in Iraq, Constitutional privacy rights, increased access to affordable health care insurance, energy conservation policies and development of renewable energy sources, stem cell research, improved transportation and lower energy cost to encourage business development and enforcement of existing gun control laws. He opposes unlawful wiretapping, tax cuts for the wealthy and "staying the course" in Iraq.