BRIAN KELLY ASKS PA 8th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VOTERS TO DO THE AMERICAN THING: "VOTE FOR THE UNDERDOG."
After a lot of thought, Brian Kelly, a lifelong Democrat, not a socialist, or communist such as Matt Cartwright, launched his write-in campaign for Congress in January 2016. Why is Kelly not trying to get on the ballot? In a few words, money and kindness. Kindness because his friends and family need not work so hard for a cause that is highly unlikely to be successful. Though they would be pleased to help, the electorate often does not care how pure a candidate may be. The system must change first before Brian would ask his friends to participate again. Money is obvious. Write-in campaigns permit frugality.
For 1000 verified signatures, at least 1500 would be required. To accomplish this a candidate not willing to pay $5.00 a signature for such a service as most politicians do, would have to devote 250 hours over three weeks (not a minute more) in the coldest weather of the year, to collect the required number of signatures himself. At eight hours per day, this would take about 32 days to accomplish. But, there are only 21 days permitted by the state.
Candidates are not permitted to start early or finish late. They are not permitted to take their three weeks in the summer while on vacation and while most neighbors are easier to find. They are not permitted to do anything that may not force them into spending a lot of money on their campaign. And, so most regular people choose not to run for political office.'
Regular citizens have seen those seeking office with their petitions but most of us do not realize the job they have to do. A candidate must get anywhere from 100 to 2000 signatures depending on which office they seek.
Since only 50 names fit on a sheet and there are many mistakes and often the sheets of good friends may have as few as two or three signatures. it is not obvious that each signature sheet (petition) must be notarized at the candidate's expense.
Then, instead of getting more signatures on the last day, you have to summarize and then drive the petitions to Harrisburg to wait in line for hours to have each signature go through a preliminary evaluation.
If you are one signature short after verification, you're "o-u-t." Sorry Charley! This is a formidable obstacle. The process is designed by state politicians so that only incumbents or entrenched politicians or those who can pay others to do their work can afford the time or expense to run for Congress. Anybody with a real job is immediately excluded.
Brian Kelly told his supporters in 2016 what he was all about and that he believed he had just as good a shot at winning the primary election as a write-in candidate than by having to pay many just to get on the ballot. Kelly's plan of course depends on the media honoring the fact that he is running, and so far the media, other than the Citizen's Voice has completely ignored him. Brian hopes all Times Leader subscribers switch to the Voice. The Voice gives regular Citizens a voice. The Times leader has ignored direct communication to editors and writers.
Kelly believes that what separates himself from Matt Cartwright is that he is not a politician, has never been a politician and does not ever want to be a politician. Moreover, according to Kelly, Cartwright is a socialist on most matters and a communist on many others. He has not represented the people well and he deserves to be thrown out. Kelly is prepared to do his part to assure that this happens.
By all accounts, Kelly is the one underdog in what is now a two-person race in the Democratic Primary. Kelly is not endorsed by the Citizens Voice but at least they help him get out his message, whereas the Times Leader chooses to take in the ad revenue from Cartwright.
Brian Kelly will not be on the ballot simply because he cannot afford to be a politician and so he is the declared underdog. Everybody loves an underdog, especially in this case, in which the underdog is a patriot who pledges to work to undo all of the harm that Matt Cartwright and Barack Obama together have forced on our wonderful country, America.
We can do better. Help Brian Kelly help you by writing to your papers, calling in to the radio, and writing the TV News stations, especially Public TV.
Why is it that just about all elements of the press will have Kelly slotted as a non-entity in the primary? Besides the newspaper coverage, there more than likely will be no TV coverage at all. Even Public TV will choose to stay out of the race in the 17th District. Why is that? No debates? Which public are they helping?
Kelly thinks he knows the answer to those questions:
"Regular citizens are not newsworthy. A regular citizen may make a fine representative but he or she doesn't sell air time or newspapers. Regular citizens with their paltry subscription fees support the press but the ad revenue keeps the presses rolling."
"Politicians, on the other hand---they are exciting. They are always doing something interesting in their chases for office. They do sell air time and they sell newspapers but that does not help regular Joes. Unfortunately, politicians do not make good representatives as we have more than discovered over the past years."
Brian adds:
"I am a regular guy appealing to regular people who do not have to sell air time or newspapers. I trust the people more than the media to make the right decision. For every regular Joe out there who knows they could do a better job for the people, "than the bums that are in office," when you go into the voting booth, look at the ballot position and select write-in [OTHER], and then type in Brian Kelly.
I am a regular person who has had a very successful career with IBM and as a college professor. I am competent like yourself. Like you, I can do a heck of a lot better for the people than the politician that we elected the last two terms. We can do a lot better with you or I in office. This time I am running write-in Brian Kelly." Next time you run, it will cost you hard work and time but if you go the write-in route and more people tune in. you can be elected and it will cost you next to nothing.
This time, Brian Kelly is counting on Americans in PA District 17 doing the American thing on April 26th. Americans root for the underdog. In this case, the voters in Northeastern Pennsylvania can vote for a citizen, not a politician, who has been made into an underdog by the media simply because he is not a politician.
Say no to politicians on April 26. Brian Kelly would be pleased to represent your interests, and not the special interests, in Congress. He owes nobody any favors.
God bless America!
Vote for the Underdog... Just write in Brian Kelly this time. It's that easy! Next time, send out a memo like this, and we'll all be voting for you and it will not cost you a dime… I think!