Last week we in the Connecticut office were fortunate enough to have Bob Edgar visit our small state.  While planning his visit, we  knew we had to have at least one event with our activist community.  We are so lucky in Connecticut to have a large group of people dedicated to grassroots activity.  They've stood on street corners every Saturday for five years holding up signs to try and stop the Iraq War.  They came in droves to phone bank for campaign finance reform.  They door knock and lit drop and attend rallies and marches.  Connecticut Activists Rock!  And in August of 2006 they helped pull off a primary upset that sent signals around the nation when Ned Lamont beat Senator Lieberman. But as the war wears on, as our national government continues to be run my the money machine, as our media keeps on embracing its role as the corporate mouth piece, activists are getting tired.  Is their tireless work actually producing any fruit?

What better way to help keep these dedicated troops energized and to introduce Dr. Edgar to some of the best folks in the state then by hosting a forum with both Dr. Edgar and Ned Lamont?  Both of these men know first hand how important the grassroots are to any effort to speak truth to power - and so the plan was set in motion.  Follow me after the jump and I'll tell you how the evening went.

Today is the Democratic primary in Connecticut.  Ned Lamont is challenging incumbent Joe Lieberman for their party's nomination.  Plenty of newsprint and blog time has been spent analyzing the merits of each man's case. Common Cause would like to highlight the fact that both men have taken the Voters First Pledge.

In fact, all four candidates for Senate in Connecticut have taken the pledge.  We hope they take it seriously.  Ask your representatives and the candidates you meet in the street and at public events what they think of it.  If they don't like the idea of putting you first, you might not want to put them first.  We think public financing of elections is vital for the integrity of our political institutions and the people who fill them.  You can make sure the connection between politics and special interests through campaign contributions and kickbacks is broken.  This election is the first step.

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