Capito and the Have Mores (updated)

Tonight, in Charleston, West Virginia, the President will be the Honored Guest at a fund-raiser for Shelley Moore Capito (R - WV-02Abramoff). This will be a private event and the price of admission is the maximum allowable donation per individual, $2,100 - or $4,200 per couple.

Yessirree! Ol' Shelley will be partying with HER base, the local Haves and Have Mores.

Mike Callaghan, the Democratic challenger for WV-02, is hosting a little soiree for a lesser fee. A fee that the Regular People can afford - $21, or $42 per couple.

I received an email from Mike Callaghan today - here's a great quote:

Being rich and famous, or being able to cut a check for $4,200, has it perks, like this private event. But in reality it shows how out-of-touch my opponent is with her constituency. The interest she holds close are not those of the people of West Virginia. Her interests are the interest of the Bush administration, their cronies and the less than one percent of voters who have the resources to attend this event. Independent voice she says, I think not.

Since I suspect most of us don't have a Lear Jet standing by to whisk us to Charleston, how about we send Mike some love via the 'net? Try to roll up your bills really tight so they don't get stuck in the tubes! But seriously, he's set up for PayPal and ActBlue.

As an alternative to Capito's private Bush fundraiser, my campaign staff is hosting "The People's Party" an event open to the public. This party will be making a statement that it is the general public who matters; they are the ones who are supposed to be served by Congressional representatives. I invite all of you who can join us at the event, being held Wednesday, July 26 from 6 to 8pm at 1550 Virginia Street East in Charleston. Contributions of $21 per person, $42 per couple/family are appreciated.

Mike has a solid background and is a great guy from all I've heard. (No, I've not met him personally) He's served as State Democratic Party Chair, Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection in WV, and has published papers supporting the Second Amendment. What's not to love here, folks?

West Virginia is a very Democratic state, it's just that some of the folks have been tricked into thinking they're not. There are still a lot of Yellow Dog Democrats here - you know the story, "I'd rather vote for that ol' yellow dog in the street than vote for a Republican!" If we can back Mike Callaghan and help him get his message out to the people in a gerrymandered district, he has a good chance of taking Capito out.

UPDATE: According to the Charleston Gazette, Capito's campaign will be billed for the expenses incurred by the police dept.

And - even better! - protesters have been given places along the motorcade's route where they'll be seen! Whoo hoo! Charleston Democrats - you ROCK!

So, welcome to West Virginia, Dubya!