Face The State Staff Report
A dozen students dressed as pirates gathered on the 16th Street Mall Friday to show their support for Republican George Lilly, the long shot candidate challenging Democrat incumbent Diana DeGette in Colorado’s First Congressional District.
DohertyFTS Staff Photo
Sean Doherty, Lilly’s campaign manager and a student at Metro State College of Denver, organized the event. Doherty and fellow students dressed up as pirates to “illustrate how pirate lobbyists have taken over Washington D.C. Specifically, we're talking about Diana DeGette, who voted yes on the bailout bill."
Robert Myers, a representative for The Leadership Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based group that encourages students to participate in the political process, was excited to see a group of such politically active students. “This demonstration is great because it is bi-partisan. You’ve got Republicans and Democrats and Independents here today, and they’re all working together.”
Lilly and his supporters criticized DeGette for her yes vote on the $700 billion federal bailout. Lilly said he would have let the private sector and free-market fix the credit crisis. “It’s a rip off of giant proportion,” he said. “DeGette is a progressive, which is a nice word for socialist, and on that basis she likes to spend your money faster than you can earn it.”
Students protest DeGetteFTS Staff Photo
But DeGette’s spokesman, Chris Eisenal, defended DeGette’s vote, saying, “Congresswoman DeGette took important action to stabilize our economy and restore confidence in the world financial system.
Formerly a member of the American Constitutional Party, Lilly says if elected, he would use the Constitution as the basis for all of his decisions. Lilly ran against DeGette in 2002 and 2004 as a member of the ACP, but is now on the ticket as a Republican. In this Denver district, Democrats out number Republicans 2-to-1. DeGette won 80 percent of the vote in last election.
“The purpose of this demonstration is also to bring to the attention of the voters that Diana DeGette, my congressional opponent and the incumbent, she feels she’s so secure she doesn’t need to debate me,” he said.
Eisenal said DeGette is always willing to discuss the issues with her constituents.
Lilly - DeGette and the bailout
On October 7th, 2008 NeroWoof says:
Two points:
1. I contacted all of my elected representatives regarding the bailout. Senator Salazar responded in depth. Representative deGette did not. So much for responding to constituents.
2. deGette's vote was to "stabilize markets." Hmmm. The same markets that are worse off than before?
I disagree with Lilly on a number of issues. But he's sound on the economy and a man of integrity. More than enough to get my vote.
Young People Should Vote
On October 6th, 2008 KLewis says:
I think young people are really disenchanted. They're told that there won't be enough $$ left in social security to support them. The housing market was so inflated they couldn't afford homes. Now that homes are cheap they can't get the credit to pay for them. What next? I don't think Congress pays much attention to younger voters becasue they are not high efficacy. In fact, I just think they don't pay attention to how people suffer because of the economy. I found this site that is collecting comments about how the economy is affecting us. They plan to assemble the comments so they can tell our stories to congress. I like the idea. ...
http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/email/wall_street_3.html
I think congress has to hear from young voters . . .since the decisions they make today will affect their future. I'm really interested in what other people send in.