Jerry McNerney's website

Thank You!

Finally, we can all stop refreshing the front page of JerryMcNerney.org!

At 9:29 p.m. tonight, just 2.5 hours before the midnight FEC deadline, an individual made a $250 contribution to fill the $100,000 Boot!

Jerry has asked you time and again to step up and take this campaign into your own hands. You did it again, tonight.

When we originally asked you to raise $50K in five days, we had no idea that you would actually raise over $100,000. One small donation at a time -- $25, $10, $50, $100 -- you kicked the boot up to six figures with minutes to go. This is a simply staggering accomplishment.

On behalf of the entire McNerney for Congress campaign, THANK YOU so much for the depth of your generosity. You have given everyone on the campaign a huge boost in momentum and a wonderful reminder of how people power is the renewable energy source that will fuel Jerry to victory on November 7.

You.

Are.

Amazing!

Your McNerney for Congress Team

P.S. stay tuned for more info on campaign events and activities. This is going to be a big week!

The Clock is Ticking...

It's Saturday morning -- the big day.

After a long day of meetings on Friday, our field team is ready to go this morning, kicking off eleven walks across the district this weekend, from Stockton and Lodi to Pleasanton and Morgan Hill. Our communications team is gearing up for the impending arrival of George W. Bush in Stockton on Tuesday. And our finance team is attending three events with Jerry today, including a reception with Congressman Pete Stark.

The big question on everyone's mind? Can we fill the $100,000 Boot by tonight's Federal Election Commission deadline?

If yesterday's uptick in online contributions is any indication, this one is going to be close. Unless we go over $100K in ONLINE contributions before midnight tonight, we may not know the final tally until Monday, when contributions from today's events are processed by the finance team.

Will we make it by midnight? Will you save our supporters from developing carpal-tunnel syndrome from refreshing the front page all day to monitor The Boot's progress?

It's up to you! Kick The Boot right now (and no later than 11:59 p.m.) by making a secure contribution in whatever amount you think will help us get over the top!

The clock is ticking...

Eden w/ McNerney for Congress

P.S. I've received some funny "boot" emails today. Aren't you glad we don't have to fill this one? ;-)

SATURDAY: Chouinard Winery reception w/ Congressman Pete Stark

Please join

The Honorable Congressman Pete Stark

&

Chouinard Vineyards & Winery

For a Reception Honoring

Congressional Candidate Jerry McNerney

33853 Palomares Road
Castro Valley, Ca. 94552

September 30th
5 pm – 8 pm

The Chouinard Family invites you to an evening of award winning wines, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, live entertainment & stimulating conversation among thoughtful people. Come meet Jerry McNerney, share your concerns and listen to his plan for a brighter future for America.

Live music by rock/folk guitarist Kardinal & vocalist duo SIS (Sisters in Song) Dawn Coburn & Sherilyn Gordan.

100/Person
Suggested Contribution
(all contribution amounts greatly appreciated)

RSVP Nicholas Hatten at Nicholas@jerrymcnerney.org or 925 556 7077

###
Paid for by McNerney for Congress

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For more McNerney for Congress events, please click here!

Unbelievable!

Wow!

It's almost unbelievable.

Almost 48 hours ago, our campaign set a new goal of raising $50,000 by this Saturday's Federal Election Commission reporting deadline. It was a very difficult decision. You had JUST filled our $1 Million Boot and we worried that asking you to contribute to another important goal so quickly would be too much to ask, too soon.    

But we felt we had no choice. As Stockton Record reporter Hank Shaw wrote on his influential blog yesterday, "federal records show the National Republican Congressional Committee has polled Pombo's 11th District at least twice since late August... (and) spent a staggering $300,000 on (Pombo's) behalf." With a blizzard of money and lies being unleashed on us by Pombo and the nervous NRCC, and George W. Bush on his way to Stockton on Tuesday to raise more money for Pombo, we knew we had to ask you to step up again and support our campaign for change.

So we decided to bring back "The Boot" for Bush -- to raise $50K with just five days left before the all-important FEC deadline. It seemed like an ambitious goal. . . until I opened our web site today. As our dynamic Boot logged real-time contributions, I was floored by what I saw.

You filled The Boot before my eyes! Over two days early! In 48 hours, you have raised over $50,000 to meet our goal!

The big boost came from the netroots yesterday -- thousands of dollars in small donations from people realizing their power to revolutionize the political process by contributing their change for change. As an example of how special this is, over 5,000 contributors have now made 7,423 donations during this election cycle. Average contribution? $141! 

Your unique and incredible generosity has inspired the campaign to do what we didn't think was possible before. We're DOUBLING OUR GOAL by setting a final FEC goal of $100,000 by the all-important FEC deadline at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday night.   

Please don't stop now! If we are going to defeat Richard Pombo, it's going to take every last nickle and dime to do it:

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

I think we can do it, but it's asking a lot, more than we ever have in such a short time. But you know what –- you’ve come through for me whenever I’ve asked, and I believe you’re ready to help me finish the job. This is a high-risk, high-reward campaign and we shouldn't hold back out of fear of "not making it."

Go for it. That's what we did when no one thought it was possible to defeat Richard Pombo. We went for it. Because we knew that standing up to Pombo was the right thing to do.

Please stand up right now and GO FOR IT!

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

To those who have given, I want you to know how grateful I am for your enthusiastic support. A.J., our campaign manager, has told me that -- in all of the campaigns that he has worked on -- he has never witnessed such a deep commitment to a candidate. Our other staff members are equally amazed at your outpouring of steadfast support.

If you are considering whether or not to contribute again, you have until midnight on Saturday to amplify your strong and clear message to the pundits and power brokers that we, the people, can put an end to the era of Pombo Politics.

Before 11:59 p.m. on Saturday night, please click here to contribute $25, $50, $100, $250 or whatever you can afford up to the federal limit of $2,100!

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute   

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Our finance team has been getting this question from a number of supporters, so here's the answer: Yes, even if you contributed up to the $2,100 federal limit during the primary election, you can still contribute any amount up to the $2,100 federal limit for the general election. These are separate elections and the contribution limits are separate as well.

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Thank you for everything you are doing to put our campaign in such a strong position to defeat Richard Pombo and put an end to single-party rule in Washington.

P.S. looking for an opportunity to get on-the-ground and make an even bigger difference in this election? Come out and walk neighborhoods this weekend in Stockton, Tracy, Dublin, Lodi, and Morgan Hill! You can pick from 11 walks this weekend throughout the district and plenty of other volunteer opportunities by clicking on Upcoming Events (one week) or on our full Campaign Calendar. Join us to walk or phone this weekend -- there are only two weeks left until absentee ballots are delivered to voters!

P.P.S. these neighborhood walks -- and the field organizers that coordinate them -- would not be possible without your financial support. Please contribute what you can right now so we can put more feet on the street!

Richard Pombo: Big Oil's Best Friend

Richard Pombo is in hot water again, this time over his failure to conduct oversight hearings on corruption in the Interior Department and looking the other way while oil royalties go uncollected.

The beneficiary of Pombo's neglect as Chair of the House Resources Committee? Big Oil, of course.

As the Oakland Tribune reported yesterday:

The New York Times reported Thursday that four government auditors who monitor leases for oil and gas on federal property have sued, claiming the Interior Department quashed their efforts to recover money due the public. This news came atop lawmakers' previous concerns over royalty-free contracts and oil companies' short payments.

Seven House Democrats including Resources Committee member George Miller, D-Martinez, wrote to Pombo, R-Tracy, on Thursday complaining he'd ignored calls for oversight hearings on royalty-free leases.

Pombo wrote back to the seven Democrats on Friday, citing a Feb. 15 New York Times article which noted he'd begun an inquiry into oil companies' royalty-free drilling leases. This inquiry, he wrote, revealed the Clinton administration had signed these contracts back in 1988 and 1989, costing taxpayers up to $13 billion.

The Resources Committee and the House then passed a bill in June to recoup that $13 billion by forcing oil companies either to renegotiate their leases or to face fees equivalent to royalty payments, he noted. The Senate has not yet acted on this legislation.

The Democrats who signed Thursday's letter voted against that bill, Pombo noted. "Pardon me if I am not impressed with your sincerity, as I provided you a solution to this problem, and you voted against it. Sometimes actions speak louder than words."

But Pombo deliberately placed the royalty-recoup provision in a larger oil-drilling bill he knew Democrats would oppose, Miller's chief of staff, Daniel Weiss, said Friday. Had the provision moved alone, Democrats would've passed it in a heartbeat, but Pombo "failed to show the proper kind of leadership by simply moving the royalty provision."

That's not all...

Also, despite long-standing allegations about Interior Department corruption, Pombo has yet to convene an oversight hearing. A House Government Affairs subcommittee held one last week, wherein Interior Department Inspector General Earl Devaney told lawmakers that "short of crime, anything goes" at the department's top levels.

Pombo is "the only chairman I know of who cedes jurisdiction to other committees," Weiss said Friday. "His answer to everything is 'Someone else is holding a hearing' ... so he doesn't have to."

Simply put, it's time to replace Big Oil's best friend with a renewable energy expert committed to honesty, integrity and accountability.

Listen to Jerry on "Will & Willie" live online

Jerry McNerney will be a guest on KQKE, The Quake's "Will & Willie" program Wednesday morning (9/27) from 7-7:40 a.m.

If you can't listen in by radio, click here to listen live on the internet at KQKE's web site.

Enjoy!

Eden

Letter to the Editor: "Don't let his ads fool you..."

From time to time, we will post excellent Letters to the Editor on Jerry's Blog.

Susan Piekarski, a teacher from Pleasanton, wrote the following letter using our letter-writing tool. It was published by the Contra Costa Times on Sept. 21:

Vote for McNerney

Guess who's coming to dinner? Don't let his ads fool you, Richard Pombo is running scared straight into the arms of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Apparently the Republican Party has finally realized the strength of the Jerry McNerney campaign and is sending out its big guns to help raise money.

After 14 years in office, hasn't Pombo had ample opportunity to fix traffic congestion and air quality? If you are like many and question Pombo's ethics, oppose his efforts to eliminate the Endangered Species Act, and disagree with his support of President Bush and Iraq, you have a choice in McNerney.

McNerney has committed to end the "culture of corruption" in Washington. His support of renewable energy will be parlayed into a better economy, better health, and less dependence on foreign oil.

As a local teacher it is appalling to me that Pombo makes no mention on his re-election Web site about his position on education. In contrast, the California Teachers Association has endorsed McNerney. Leave a better world for your children, vote for McNerney.

Susan Piekarski
Pleasanton

Inspired by Susan's letter? Write one of your own!

On our web site, we've got a very useful "Letters to the Editor" tool that actually tracks the number of words you write, with a suggested limit of 200 (per most newspaper guidelines). With the click of a mouse, you can write to one or all of the newspapers that serve the district:

Brentwood Press       
Contra Costa Times       
Pleasanton Weekly
Sacramento Bee    
San Francisco Chronicle    
San Jose Mercury News
Escalon Times    
Gilroy Dispatch    
Lodi News-Sentinel
Manteca Bulletin    
Modesto Bee    
Morgan Hill Times
Pinnacle    
Danville Weekly    
Ripon Record
Stockton Record    
Sun Post    
Tracy Press      
Tri-Valley Herald

Check it out!

Eden w/ McNerney for Congress

Be "The Decider": Send Bush a message (+ our new mail piece)

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Scroll down to see our new direct mail piece AND don't miss Jerry McNerney on Air America's "Will & Willie" program (KQKE, "The Quake" 960 AM) Wednesday morning from 7-7:40 a.m PST!

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"The Republican Party appears increasingly nervous about Rep. Richard Pombo's (Calif.) prospects for re-election, pouring . . . over $280,000 on direct mailings, polling and phone bank operations in his 11th District so far this month. And President Bush will attend a fund-raiser for (Pombo) early next month, the most recent in a string of visits by party leaders." -- Alex Kaplun, writing in today's Environment & Energy Daily, an industry publication read on Capitol Hill

It's time to send George W. Bush a message.

It's time to hold Bush accountable.

It's time to take back Congress.

We can do all of the above by giving Richard Pombo the boot.

Today.    

Next Tuesday, October 3, George W. Bush will be in Stockton to raise tens of thousands of dollars for Pombo. Pombo is already in the pocket of Big Oil -- now you can add George W. Bush's deep pockets to the list.

What is Pombo going to do with Bush's money? Pombo has no volunteers willing to call voters, so he's setting up Paid Phone Banks. Pombo has nothing positive to run on, so he's paying for even more direct mail hit pieces on Jerry.

Pombo has Bush and the extreme right-wing. And we have you. It's the people vs. the powerful. That's why, for Bush and Bush only, we're bringing back "The Boot"!

To defeat Pombo, we need to match Bush dollar-for-dollar. And we need to do it before the all-important Federal Election Commission deadline at 11:59 p.m. Saturday.

You can be "The Decider" right now.

Please help Jerry raise "$50K by FEC Day" right now by contributing $50, $100, $250, $500, or any amount up to the $2,100 federal maximum!      

http://www.JerryMcNerney.org/contribute

You are the reason why Pombo is calling on Beltway big shots to bail him out. Your people power – not Washington fat cats or Big Oil cronies – has helped Jerry raise just over $1 million for this election cycle (and over $16,000 since Sunday!).

You might be asking -- if we raise $50K by the FEC deadline, how will it help Jerry's campaign? What will it pay for?

Good questions. First, it will show the pundits and power-brokers in Washington that we have the resources necessary to defeat Pombo on November 7.

But, more importantly, it will help Jerry get his message out to as many voters as possible. For example, it will help us pay to expand our current mailing of "He's My Dad" -- the universally praised direct mail piece describing how Jerry was inspired to run for Congress by his son Michael:



Your contribution will also help pay for our most recent direct mail piece: "Count On Jerry McNerney". This piece highlights Jerry's protection of Social Security and Pombo and Bush's attempts to privatize our social safety net for seniors:

With only 42 days left, this is just scratching the surface. To raise Jerry's name recognition in the electorate, we need to air TV and radio ads as often as possible. Another ad is in the pipeline, but we need your help to air it as soon as possible.

Help Jerry put that ad on the air and send Pombo and Bush a message right now:

http://www.JerryMcNerney.org/contribute

Raising contributions online for a political campaign is usually difficult. But we've got the real deal -- Jerry McNerney -- at the right time. Now all we need to do is get his name and his vision to as many people as possible. Because, we know that if people know who Jerry McNerney is and what he stands for, they'll be proud to vote for him.

It doesn't take very much to send George W. Bush a message by sending Richard Pombo packing. But we need to do it before Saturday's all-important FEC deadline.

If you believe in Jerry's people-powered campaign, please contribute $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or any amount up to the $2,100 contribution limit right now at:

http://www.JerryMcNerney.org/contribute

This race is ground zero for real change, right now. You and I know we can’t afford two more years of unchecked single-party rule. With your contribution before the FEC deadline, we can defeat Richard Pombo in November and restore honesty, integrity and accountability to Washington.

A.J. Carrillo
Campaign Manager

P.S. Remember "The Squeeze"? This is just another great reminder of what we're up against. Click the pic and do something about it:

You did it!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead    

You did it!

I am absolutely thrilled to report that, a full 24 hours before our goal, you have raised over $1 million for Jerry McNerney!

I am amazed. Amazed at your incredible generosity. And amazed at how far we've all come in the last two years.   

The People versus Pombo: An Amazing Journey   

From the moment I met Jerry in 2004, I knew there was something special about this man. I was inspired to meet him after reading that Jerry had decided to run for Congress because his son Michael, who volunteered to serve in the armed forces in response to 9/11, asked his dad to serve his country by running as a write-in candidate against Richard Pombo.

From his Air Force outpost over two years ago, Michael wrote in his father's name on an absentee ballot. The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the last two years, I've seen Jerry's campaign move from one incredible accomplishment to another. It's been an amazing journey. I was there when we first walked precincts in Stockton to let voters know about Jerry. I was there when Jerry won a recount of the write-in votes by one vote to get on the ballot in the 2004 General Election. And, like many of you, I was there when our grassroots campaign won the 2006 Democratic Primary, overwhelmingly defeating a very formidable opponent who spent twice as much money.

And now, with just one week left before the all-important September 30th Federal Election Commission deadline, you have raised over $1 million for Jerry during this election cycle!

Think about it. From an asterisk in the polls to $1 million in total contributions, Jerry is being fueled by one of the most amazing grassroots congressional campaigns this country has ever seen. It's the people versus Pombo -- thousands of small contributors versus Big Oil's Best Friend.   

This Is What Democracy Looks Like   

How did this happen? It's not money. It's people power fueled by word of mouth. Like so many others, I told my friends about Jerry’s campaign and then my friends decided to get involved. Then those people told their friends and THEY decided to help. And then their friends told their friends. The word just keeps spreading, from concerned citizen to concerned citizen.

But, if we are going to defeat Richard Pombo and his money machine, we need to reach a whole new critical mass.

It's up to you to spread the word far and wide. We have a cool "Tell-A-Friend" tool on our brand spankin' new web site. You can help Jerry right now by inviting even more friends, family and neighbors to join our movement for real change, right now.

• Tell three friends right now about Jerry's people-powered campaign to hold Richard Pombo and George W. Bush accountable.


• Tell three friends right now that we can replace Big Oil's Best Friend with a renewable energy expert.


• Tell three friends right now that we can get rid of one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress and elect an honest man fundamentally committed to restoring integrity and accountability to our government.

Because of your ability to get out Jerry's positive message, Richard Pombo is running scared. After many years of paying more attention to his corporate paymasters than the people, Pombo's field campaign is now virtually dead in the district. Pombo's reaction? Spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV, radio and mail to attack Jerry and depress turnout on Election Day.

We can overcome Pombo and his paymasters. Please take 3 minutes to tell 3 of your friends about Jerry's campaign for change right now!

Thank you for everything you have done over the last two years to keep hope alive. With your help, we can show Pombo, the pundits and the power-brokers that there is no power greater than the people.

Vicki Cosgrove
Scheduler
McNerney for Congress

P.S. we just added a very cool new feature to our new web site. You can now request a sign for your lawn online! Click here to "Request a Yard Sign"!

P.P.S. there are several excellent events this week, from volunteer opportunities to fundraisers for Jerry. Click here to check out our "Upcoming Events"!

We're thisclose to "$1 Million for McNerney"!

On Friday morning, Jerry McNerney sent an email to all of our supporters celebrating the good news of the last week. From our new mailers, TV and radio ads to the people power that Rob Caughlan described in the last blog post, our campaign -- as Jerry said -- is really on a roll.

And now, as of 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night, we've raised an incredible $998,600.06 -- just $1,400 away from the most important financial goal of our campaign: $1 Million for McNerney!

Can you help Jerry hit the $1 million mark and show the pundits and power-brokers that we can put an end to Richard Pombo's corrupt career on November 7?

http://www.JerryMcNerney.org/contribute 

A.J. Carrillo, our campaign manager, hoped we would cross the magic million mark on Monday, but -- because of your tremendous generosity -- it looks like you might do it a full 24 hours earlier than expected! With the Federal Election Commission deadline coming up this Saturday, this incredible accomplishment couldn't come at a better time.

All it takes is just a few more dollars. If nine people contribute $175 (our campaign's average contribution) in the next 24 hours, we can do it.

Help Jerry fill the $1 Million Boot right now by contributing any amount you can afford -- $25, $50, $100, $250 or any amount up to the $2100 maximum.

http://www.JerryMcNerney.org/contribute

We've come a long way -- from an asterisk in the polls to putting Richard Pombo on the ropes. Without you, none of this would have been possible.

Thank you for everything you are doing to help elect Jerry McNerney and restore honesty, integrity and accountability to the People's House.

Eden James
Online Content Director
McNerney for Congress