Podcast: OpEdNews Long-Time Writer Mikel Weisser Running For Congress As A Democrat in Arizona

Broadcast 10/20/2014 at 2:25 PM EDT (6 Listens, 18 Downloads, 1309 Itunes)
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While Opednews is non-profit and can't endorse a candidate, I thought it would be of interest to our members to hear about one of our own's experience running for office.

Mikel Weisser's member page.

Rough Interview Notes

Mikel Weisser

http://www.mikelweisser.org/ spelling of cities and counties.

what is the republicanism mentality?

conservative values agenda

xenophobia, war on the poor, fundamentalism,

Tell me about your opponent?

Paul Gosar

Cliven Bundy

voted against ACA, against, minimum wage.

How long has he been in office?

second term

District is heavily republican. In a state where indecent or other is the number one registration, democrats only got 22% of the vote in his district.

One percentage, in your district are democrats, republicans and independents

21, 27, 32, and then libertarian and green for the rest.

All of America is becoming more and more progressive, even Arizona.

What kind of responses are you getting-- how are you campaigning?

TV ad, campaign signs, literature

How much money have you raised so far?

$33,000 and countless amounts of good will-- people putting him on at their house, giving rides .

Will you have a debate with your this opponent?

Arizona has not been kind to the Democrats.

In Kingman AZ, the editor said he didn't want to cover Democratic events because they didn't take place at convenient times.

What about your support? Who's supporting you?

Progressive activists around the state.

Progressive Activists of America-- PDA

State DFA Democracy for America has endorsed his work

National not supporting.

Stonewall Democrats

Biggest support comes from the Marijuana community because he's director and legislative liaison of Safer Arizona-- a marijuana legalization advocacy organization

What have you learned from this? It sounds like you're in a very unhill battle.

Just because you are expected to lose, you don't have to feel you've lost if you are"

Like the black people in the civil rights era in the sixties.

The world can change when you stand up against something even though it seems like there are impossible odds.

Every time I go into something where I am guaranteed to lose, I don't come out feeling like a loser.

ONly 85,000 votes. cast in the 2014 primary.

So, your 15% increase over 2012 could be enough to help swing some statewide elections.

What are the demographics of your constituents in District 4.

Oldest, whitest and second poorest. We have a significant hispanic population. But by and large it's retirees, anglos and people who have conservative values.

How has your opponent been relating with you? Does he attack you, ignore you"?

Why aren't you having a debate with him?

We've arranged a place at a community college. People have been doing letter writing campaigns. Bu his campaign manager Tom Van Flein, says it does nothing for his campaign.

You need to have an establishment left, because the establishment right is always working. Includes moveon, greenpeace, PDA, DFA"

Do you have a campaign team?

My wife".

We need to create a movement"

Telling the Right They're Wrong!" 2014 style (You Tube Video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxLk70jpLwI&feature=youtu.be

"Telling the Right They're Wrong!" 2012 (same audience):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDp1ZvXarBM

Also:

Website: http://www.mikelweisser.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikelweisser

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikel.weisser