Believe it. Nominated just this last Saturday at the Montana Democratic convention, Amanda Curtis might be considered by some to be a token candidate. But if you look at her background and her determination, her affinities with the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown, this woman is progressive in her heart and soul. And she's already calling out the corporations for buying influence in state government.
In her TED talk - presented at the Butte Public Library - Amanda Curtis offered the slogan "Show Up And Say Yes!" as an answer to the apathy among voters and citizens when it comes to participating on election day and in civic affairs. She's a math teacher, and her father's a Union guy. Union insurance paid for her dentistry and health care as a child, and her family on occasion needed food stamps - so she knows what workers face in this country.
As a State Representative, Amanda has used YouTube to great effect, chronicling the 87 days of the last legislative session with 87 videos, one for each day. Once she finds her stride as a candidate, which admittedly has to happen fast, she can use the YouTubes to define and contrast issues with her republican opponent with great clarity and at reasonable length, especially to call him out for refusing to state positions that favor moneyed interests over those of the Montana people.
If she takes her opponent apart issue by issue this way on YouTube, detailing a new issue every day or two (in good humor), Ms. Curtis can force her opponent to spell out his support for positions that run counter to Montanans' interests, to show his alliance with the national party and the too often corporate ownership of legislation. There IS enough time, and with national democrats bringing key support at pivotal moments, this could prove to be an exiting and successful race for soon to be Senator Curtis.
We can always use another democratic woman in the Senate, another natural progressive, born and raised with well used plates and discount silverware at the dinner table, with family pride and democracy often on her mind.
We can support her in our own way by also showing up and saying yes!
Instead of dissing her chances and blowing off the possibility of her potential win in Montana, let's see if we can pull off a progressive surprise, and see if she can't be mentored into the senate by some of the more seasoned progressives, so she can then serve Montana and our country with an even wider intelligence and greater distinction.
I honestly believe she can do it, with some help from her party and those of us who want to see this happen. Especially to help keep the Senate in democratic hands...
Let's do this. Let's help Amanda Curtis win Montana!
Amanda Curtis YouTube: Amanda Curtis YouTube channel
Amanda Curtis TED talk from Butte Public Library: https://www.youtube.com/...