CP: Sure, absolutely. Not only are they gonna get used to me, they're going to wake up and they're going to follow me. Eventually, they're going to follow what's right, we're going to turn the corner and work to restore majority control based on those core Democratic values that have always been central to the American promise.
ND: You have a lot of faith.
CP: I have to. I teach this stuff. I've been teaching American history and I've been living it for 33 years as a political organizer and community leader. This is our challenge. It's our responsibility. It's our duty, in my judgment, as Americans to fight to the very last to make sure that the American promise is available for each and every American. I don't think anything short of that will allow us to become a great nation once again, nothing short of that.
ND: Then we're talking about waking up not only those in office, but also waking up the people. You're a grassroots candidate, and I know that when people hear what you have to say, your ideas, they respond. That's evident in the poll that OpEdNews did through Zogby that as soon as people knew what you stood for, what Casey stood for, what Santorum stood for, a majority of the people supported you. So, how do you get your message to the people - and then, how do you push them to actually take action, to be proactive in improving their government? How do we get the people to take more responsibility and become better informed when they do cast their ballots?
CP: Well, it requires challenging people. It requires challenging them to take up the mantel, to take on the responsibility that is ours as American citizens. We have to motivate them. The one thing that the Republicans have taught anybody who is paying attention is that the way they've been able to establish so much power is by engaging in perpetual political activity. [Their activities are] highly cynical, highly self-serving, highly greedy [and] highly secretive, but nonetheless, that's the level of political engagement that's required of Democratic Party members as well as non-members in order to win back, in order to take back, our government. In other words, what American citizens have got to realize is that it's not simply about an election in Pennsylvania on May 16 where I have to beat Bob Casey or an election on Nov. 7 where I beat Rick Santorum - it's about pushing a movement. It's about people power, about people writing letters and blogs. It's about people calling their neighbors and hosting house parties. It's about people digging for the truth. It's about people demanding of their government day in and day out and calling 202-224-3121 [the Congressional switchboard] to reach Capitol Hill and demand that your senators and House members do the work that they were elected to do, which is to represent the people's interests.
Article comments
1 - Dave De Vetter
I truly believe that Chuck Pennacchio is our only hope of beating Santorum in November. He will actually represent the people's interests instead of giving in to the corporations and righ-wing religious extremists. I hope everyone who reads this visits his site and contributes to his campaign or signs up to volunteer (even if you don't live in PA, there's much you can do). We're an all volunteer campaign fighting for the future of democracy.
2 - Austin
that site is www.chuck2006.com
3 - Natalie Davis
Chuck's name in the essay, as does the Pennacchio button graphic, links to the campaign Web site.
4 - Brenna Lorenz
If you have a chance to hear Chuck speak, absolutely do go. He will have you jumping out of your seat ready to do battle. You can't imagine how wonderful it is to hear a candidate talk sense!
When people ask him tough questions, he doesn't hedge, waffle, change the subject, flinch or dodge. He answers head-on, decisively. He's going to make mincemeat of Santorum.
This man is a true leader.
5 - Natalie Davis
Yes, Chuck is a principled, empowering presence. And a straight shooter. But the fact remains that the Democratic powers that be, including a lot of the major Democratic blogs (Kos, MyDD, etc.) are pushing the centrist-conservative Casey. That makes it crucial for progressives to spread the word far and wide throughout Pennsylvania: Casey is nothing more than a pale image of Santorum. He does not support the basic issues so crucial for Pennsylvania and that represent core Democratic values. I understand that people are used to caving in to the right wing; they're accustomed to bending over for the conservatives and losing for their self-degradation. But come on - a progressive can win and god knows, a change is needed YESTERDAY. It's time for a real progressive, a real people's candidate. If Santorum is destined to win (and I maintain that he is NOT), isn't it better to lose standing tall rather than on one's knees? Casey is the candidate for the acquiescent, the cowardly, the weak. Pennacchio is the candidate for the courageous, for those who want power to rest in the hands of the PEOPLE rather than the fatcat, money-motivated pols. Spread the word.