Are You Ready to Stand up for America?

This is the most important election of our lives. Our system of government itself is at stake. It is up to each one of us, as citizens, as patriots, to rise to meet this challenge.

What is at stake?

Two hundred twenty-eight years ago, Thomas Jefferson (a fellow alumnus of the College of William and Mary) penned these immortal words:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, the all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Jefferson’s words still stand as the greatest foundation for human rights and democracy that the world has ever known. But today, in 2004, even as we face some of the same injustices that the Colonists patiently endured for too long under King George III, we also have an opportunity that those Colonists did not yet have, but which, through their courageous actions, they have bestowed to us as our legacy. We have the chance, not to alter or abolish our system of government, but rather, to preserve it. At this moment in our nation’s history, every American who cares deeply about our system of government and our way of life must take a long, hard look at the direction our country has been going under the leadership of President Bush and ask, "Is this the best our great nation can do?" If our answer to that question is a resounding, "NO!", then "it is our right, it is our duty" to preserve the system of government and the Constitutional rights that our nation’s founders fought and died to defend.

At stake in this election year is nothing less than the fate of our Republic itself.

What Can You Do?

First, recognize that we need a change of direction.

Second, support that change at every level of government.

Defeating the secretive, destructive, aristocratic agenda of the Bush administration is only the first step toward genuine freedom and progress. Those of us who believe that America can do better must stand up and fight for the rights of everyday citizens. We must restore a government that is truly responsive to the needs of our citizens by electing to Congress people who understand those needs.

To make these changes happen, I need your help. I am a small business owner, a general contractor, a carpenter, and a teacher. My wife, Pepper, and I have four children who are now young adults, and we’re deeply proud of them. I’m committed to the difficult task of trying to unseat a wealthy Republican incumbent because our family firmly believes that Oregon’s Second Congressional District deserves representation that will truly reflect the needs and aspirations of working people, rather than the interests of the rich and the powerful.

I don’t accept money from special interests. My campaign is financed entirely by the donations of individual citizens. If you believe that President Bush has set our nation on the wrong course and that we need to do better, then please support my campaign. I need your contribution, and your vote!