ProgressOhio

It's often said that all politics are local, but in a presidential election year, it just doesn't seem to work out that way.

Typically, national campaigns suck up all available resources like a black hole.

Several times each week, I have to explain over the phone to some earnest volunteer for the DCCC, DSCC, DNC, etc., that any loose change in my pocket that the oil companies missed has to go to local candidates for Congress, the state legislature, the county commission or local judiciary.

No doubt, sitting in Washington, they find this notion quaint but not particularly helpful in the coast-to-coast game of dialing-for-dollars.

Which brings me to David Robinson, Democratic candidate in the 12th Congressional District, who is hosting a modest fundraiser this Thursday night in Powell, Ohio.

Robinson is seeking to depose 4-term Republican Pat Tiberi who enters this year's re-election race with huge advantage in terms of funding and name recognition.

(As of March 31, Tiberi reported $757,719 cash-on-hand as compared to $7,611 cash-on-hand for Robinson who -- at that time -- was just getting organized.)

And it's unlikely that Robinson will get much help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) unless he can show significant local support by the end of this month.

Robinson is one of the most interesting new faces in local politics in years. A Columbus businessman, he brings degrees in fields as varied as accounting, psychology and theology to issues such as global warming which he engages as a volunteer speaker in Al Gore's campaign. Since his win in the March primary, Robinson has been working the grassroots 24-7 and has become a frequent visitor to Licking County, which shares the 12th with eastern Franklin County and parts of Delaware County.

You can learn the basics at www.robinson2008.com but you really have to meet Dave Robinson to experience the energy and enthusiasm of the man.

The only prospect as depressing as a Third Bush Term under John McCain would be a Fifth Tiberi Term dedicated to more slavish boosterism for the Bush-McCain-GOP platform of prolonging the war in Iraq, cutting taxes for the rich and jerking back the safety net for everybody else.

I encourage you to attend this week's Robinson event or take the opportunity to support his campaign in the weeks ahead. Remember, without more progressive Democrats in Congress, it may not really make that much difference who takes the presidential oath of office next January.

Wedgewood Fundraiser

David Robinson
Candidate for
Ohio's 12th U.S. Congressional District
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wedgewood Golf and Country Club
9600 Wedgewood Blvd.
Powell, Ohio

Cash bar, Light Hors D'Oeuvres
$25 Suggested Donation at the Door
R.S.V.P. to Rob Doersam at: rdoersam@robinson2008.com
- or - 614-294-2900
If unable to attend, donations can be made at www.robinson2008.com
or at Robinson for Congress, PO Box 8246, Columbus, OH 43201.