Patricia Madrid's New Ad: Hard-Working New Mexicans More Important Than Oil Companies

Yes, Heather Wilson has taken $400,000 and counting from big oil companies, and her voting record shows it. That's the thing about too many Bush-era Republicans -- serving ordinary Americans isn't priority number one. They get so much money from oil companies, multinational corporations and wealthy right-wing interests that they forget who they're supposed to be representing. Plus, with the right-wing Republican leadership operating with maximum power and control -- and bought off by special interests and monied tax evaders -- most Republicans aren't strong enough to buck the trend. Heather Wilson follows the leaders, and the Republican leaders are people like Karl Rove, the now discredited Tom DeLay, Dennis Hastert, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and Bush himself.

In contrast, Madrid is a home-grown candidate of the people, born and raised right here. She's a member of a family with deep roots in the unique cultural mix that is New Mexico. I believe her first priority is and always will be to represent hard-working New Mexicans, for these are her neighbors, her family members, her friends, her co-workers, her culture.

What are the issues that concern Patricia Madrid? The environment. Global warming. Alternative energy sources. Health care for all. Real education improvements. A raise in the minimum wage. Fair trade agreements that put American workers on a level playing field. Preserving and strengthening Social Security. Cutting Big Pharma down to size so Medicare operates efficiently. Ending the Iraq War and reestablishing our diplomatic network and credibility in the world.

Wilson sometimes pays lip service to these issues, but votes overwhelmingly with her Party's most radically conservative members and against the interests of the common good, the common person. On the other hand, Madrid's long track record of public service in New Mexico demonstrates clearly that she'll be looking out for OUR interests, not only those of the richest members of the investor class. Like all core Democrats, she believes government can do amazing things if elected officials put the real needs of all our people first.

The Rovian, Swift-Boating Republican spin machine can try to convince people that it's Heather Wilson who's on the side of the people, that she's a kind and honest problem solver rather than an apologist for the Bush failures and fiascos, but we know better. We've seen what the Bush machine has done to America, to Americans and to our standing in the world. Don't let them fool you into thinking that Wilson isn't a full-fledged cog in that destructive machine. It's agreeable cogs like her that allow the right-wing machine to run America into the ground, domestically and abroad, day in and day out.

What is the central Democratic value? I think it's fairness and justice for all. An even break. A leg up for those who have run into problems. A seat at the table for all our citizens. An openminded, progressive approach to solving problems so we can create a better future for all, not just for a handful of winners already at the top of the financial heap.

Think of it. If we help get Madrid elected now, we'll be that much farther along the road to our goal of taking back the government so it serves the people again and not the other way around. Can you imagine how different things would be for us today if that were the case? Imagine, and then pledge to help Patricia Madrid take back this House seat for all New Mexicans, so the pressing issues of the day that affect us all can once again get the attention they deserve. Click here to contribute a few bucks or some hours of your time to help Madrid beat Heather. The clock is ticking.

We need the real thing, not a rep like Heather Wilson who pretends to care about all the people, but votes in tandem with those who think it's every man (or woman) for themselves. Enough already. We need a change.