Thank you for all of your support over the past several weeks and extending back into my 2004 campaign.
Because most of the communication I've had with blog readers is online only, I thought many of you might actually like to hear me speak. I will be on Air America today between 2:00 and 4:00 pm CDT. The radio show is celebrating Howard Dean's first one hundred days as chairman of the DNC, and as one of the 2004 Dean Dozen I'm pleased to take a part in that celebration.
If you have a chance to tune in, let me know what you think of the interview. I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments. The involvement by members of the grassroots community in my campaign - through blogs, house parties, volunteer activities, fundraising and so much more - was a critical component in my 2004 campaign. It's already critical for 2006 and I'm happy to say that we've got real grassroots activity already happening.
For example, a Democracy For America group is doing an issue canvas in my District today, talking to people, finding out what they really care about, and making sure they know who I am and what I stand for. I'm eager to hear what they response they get from the people of my District, although I expect my District's concerns will mirror those reported in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. That poll showed that a very strong majority of Americans believe that there isn't enough attention being paid to the economy, the health care crisis, or education. Those are the concerns of America - jobs, health care, education. Those have been and are the concerns in my District. They're the issues that drove me to run in the first place and they're the issues I've been talking about for 2006 as I've met with grassroots groups, made fundraising calls, written letters, and given speeches.
They're the issues I'll be talking about next week, when I travel to DC to meet with national women's and progressive groups. And I'll talk about them again when I get home. Jobs. Health care. Education. We need to pay attention to these. We need government to pay attention. It is clearly up to us to force the discussion. The President isn't discussing these issues. Congress is mired in battles over the filibuster and judicial nominees - they aren't discussing them either. It's up to us to raise our voices and focus attention. I hope you'll join me in doing so.
Don't forget to let me know your thoughts on the Air America segment. And thanks for tuning in online and on the radio.