Mark Pera, George Bush, and the Price of Politics
by diverdonreed
Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:30:36 AM PDT
Ask any politician what they hate most about their job, and they will answer in one word: fundraising.
So how do the good guys win?
Follow us behind the scenes, as progressive Democrat and stem cell supporter Mark Pera struggles to raise the funds needed to defeat an anti-research Bush-league "Democrat-in-name-only".
- diverdonreed's diary :: ::
MARK PERA, ANNA ESHOO, STEM CELLS-- AND THE PRICE OF POLITICS
Two weeks ago, Gloria and I stood outside a lovely home in Atherton, California. We knocked on the door, and waited.
We were ninety minutes early for a fundraiser for Mark Pera, (www.Pera08.com) candidate for Congress, representing the Third district of Illinois.
Why would a Californian care what happens in Illinois?
It’s simple. Mark Pera supports embryonic stem cell research. His opponent, Daniel Lipinski, the man in office, is a national obstacle to that great endeavor.
Here’s Mark Pera:
"Embryonic stem cell research offers millions of Americans the best hope for a cure and treatment for many debilitating diseases. I believe that ideologically-driven politicians should not deny patients and their families the promise this research offers."
Also: "...voters are unhappy with Congress. They want change. If you take stem cell research, for example, the overwhelming majority of not just Democrats in this district, but also Americans as a whole, want the federal government to invest in embryonic stem cell research. Nearly everyone knows someone who suffers from the intractable diseases that may be treated or even cured by this new medical technology. Yet President Bush and Congressman Dan Lipinski let their ideology trump the needs of the American people and blocked legislation to develop this technology."—from an interview with Aaron Krager, September 26, 2007.
His opponent, Dan Lipinski, the man in office now? This Bush-league "Democrat-in-name-only" authored a bill to cripple the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The misleadingly-named "Patients First Act", is essentially a ban on embryonic stem cell research. Supported by the Bush White House, the bill would stack the deck, prioritizing all NIH grants in such a way it would be almost impossible for embryonic stem cell research grants to ever be awarded.
Lipinski is way out of line with Illinois, which is strongly pro-stem cell.
How did he win election? He didn’t. His father won the nomination, then turned around and gave it to his son. (Astonishing, but true.)
What did Mark’s father give him? A job in a steel mill, where Mark worked his way through college.
Lipinski has an enormous advantage, because, as the incumbent, he gets free publicity, including the "franking" privilege, being allowed to send letters to constituents, as well as getting in the papers pretty much anytime.
As challenger, Mark Pera has a tough battle ahead. How is he funding his campaign? Two ways: one, he and his wife Leslie Fenton Pera took out a loan on their house. Second, from fundraisers.
Whoever wins the Illinois Democratic Primary (February 5th) is assured victory in that strongly Democratic district—so it all comes together on February 5th.
The door opened. Movie-star beautiful Vega Gerber (she and husband Steven Gerber had sponsored the evening) welcomed us graciously.
"We’re early," said Gloria, "Could we help?"
"That would be wonderful," said Mrs. Gerber, and in a couple moments Gloria was making Bernaise sauce and I was folding little strips of transparent bacon (I think) over pieces of cantelope, to make tiny snacks called prosciutto. I liked it because there was no "ice-breaking" needed; we were helping, and felt welcome.
I had wondered, would there be a lot of servants running around?
No, but the two strong Gerber sons carried around the food.
When more guests arrived, they ate some snacks, or stood around and talked.
Then Anna Eshoo entered the room.
Anna Eshoo is a progressive Democrat, Representative of the Palo Alto district. Unfortunately nearly every vote Ms. Eshoo casts is canceled out by Dan Lipinski’s obstructionism.
But the instant I saw her, I felt like smiling, because I knew where she stood.
She was a fighter for people, and a leader in the struggle to advance stem cell research.
She was with us, early. When a republican Congress was trying to ban advanced stem cell research, Anna Eshoo (D-CA) said: "As we stand on the brink of finding the cures to diseases that have plagued so many millions of Americans, unfortunately, the Congress today in my view is on the brink of prohibiting this critical research."—August 20, 2001
She never wavered.
Here is her recent statement on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, passed by both Houses of Congress, only to be vetoed by President Bush.
Eshoo Statement on Enhancing Stem Cell Research
January 9, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-California, made the following statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.Res. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.
"I thank the speaker and I thank my colleagues, Congresswoman DeGette and Congressman Castle for the outstanding work that they’ve done in bringing this bill before the House. I’m proud to support it and I think this is a very important moment for the Congress. Why? Because this bill really represents hope for the American people. I often say to my constituents that I am in the business of hope. To give hope to people with what I do in the votes that I cast. There is a reason why this bill is an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill. Because 72 percent of the American people support stem cell research.
... We all have constituents, we all have members of our families that have diseases that have befallen them and injuries that have befallen them and where they come to us and say, ‘Please take action on this.’
Mark Pera is her cousin.
Mark said: "My cousin, Anna, a Democratic Congresswoman from California, and our respective families share a very close bond. During the Armenian Genocide, both Anna’s grandmother and my own grandmother, Esther, escaped their homeland together to America. Their journey lasted three long years."
As I listened to these two descendants of immigrants speak, I felt a swell of pride in America, a country where regular folks can still bring positive change—if we choose to.
If you would like to help Mark Pera, with time or a couple of bucks, here is his website.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/1/41912/9338
posted by Bill at 6:47 AM
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