“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” – Peter Marshall
I was going to write something completely different today – but I just got off of the phone with a friend who’s considering running for Congress in a red, gerrymandered, district.
I was glad to help him externally process the pros and cons.
As we spoke, he mentioned the various events from his real lived experience that would probably end up as campaign fodder. He’s been knocked down more times than any human should have to be knocked down, to be honest. To have any painful experiences exploited and framed as personal failings would hurt anyone.
I could tell it was weighing on him – how much would his personal life – his past – be on display?
This isn’t a new issue, or a unique conversation. Too often I see excellent potential candidates shy away from running because they’re concerned Democratic voters will see that they’re not perfect – and consider the obstacles they’ve overcome as reasons not to vote for them.
I see it as the exact opposite. I think voters – even Democrats, who all too often search for purity (see, e.g., Al Frankin) – really want to see someone who has resilience.
You don’t get resilience without being tested.
Being tested means you’ve had hardship. It also means – more often than not – you’ve made your fair share of mistakes. We all have.
It’s not the hardship or the mistake that matters. Your response to it does.
Life happens. Careers do not go the way you’d expect or want them to go. Relationships sour. Wars break out.
And yeah – sometimes good people can even make stupid mistakes.
But you can view those mistakes either as personal failings or as opportunities for growth. He’s leapfrogged over adversity plenty of times. And from what I can see (and I know him pretty well), he’s grown exponentially each time.
People are not perfect.
We don’t need them to be. And frankly, we shouldn’t want them to be. We should want them to have had the same kinds of experiences as the people they want to represent.
I mean, really – would you rather have a candidate who had nothing remarkable in their background (except some fancy degrees from fancy schools in fancy places), or someone who has been knocked around quite a bit – who’s gone toe-to-toe with adversity and has come out the other end a successful and well-adjusted person?
I know my answer. I can guess yours.
Anyway, I hope this friend of mine runs. I think he’d be such a wonderful Congressman, and an amazing candidate.
And if you’re considering running but have felt squeamish about some of the trials and tribulations of your life being on full display, I hope you’ll take these words to heart. People aren’t looking for perfect.
They’re looking for the kind of person will get knocked down seven times and get up eight – because that’s the kind of person who will fight for them. So don’t consider those bumps and bruises of life as a liability.
Think of them as the part of your resume that proves your resilience.
Let’s get to work.
Actions for the Week of October 17, 2023
Tonight: Call Republicans Who Voted No on Jordan:
Thankfully, GOP Rep (and flamethrower) Jim Jordan lost his first vote for Speaker of the House. Right wing media is telling MAGA members to “melt their phones” to try to get the following 20 lawmakers to switch their vote to Jim Jordan for speaker (who would obviously be disastrous).
Please give them a call as counter-pressure – especially if they are your rep.
The next vote will be tomorrow – Wednesday. Jordan is saying he won’t back down – and also that no one in the Republican caucus wants to see a coalition govenment with the Democats. Let’s prove him wrong.
Script: On behalf of a majority of Americans I’m calling to thank the Congress(wo)man for voting no on Jim Jordan. He’s the wrong choice for speaker. Please stay strong and continue to vote no. Thanks.
-Don Bacon of Nebraska: (202) 225-4155 or (402) 938-0300
Ken Buck of Colorado: (202) 225-4676 or (720) 639-9165 or (970) 702-2136
Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon: (202) 225-5711 or (503) 387-8651 or (541) 604-3141
Anthony D’Esposito of New York: (202) 225-5516 or (516) 739-3008
Mario Diaz Balart of Florida: (202) 225-4211 or (305) 470-8555 or (239) 348-1620
Jake Ellzey of Texas: (202) 225-2002 or (469) 550-7150
Andrew Garbarino of New York: (202) 225-7896 or (631) 541-4225
Carlos Gimenez of Florida: (202) 225-2778 or (305) 222-0160 or (305) 292-4485
Tony Gonzales of Texas: (202) 225-4511 or 210-806-9920
Kay Granger of Texas: (202) 225-5071 or (817) 338-0909
Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania: (202) 225-5406 or (724) 342-7170 or (724) 282-2557
Jen Kiggans of Virginia: (202) 225-4215 or (757) 364-7650 or (757) 666-6020
John James of Michigan: (202) 225-4961 or (586) 498-7122
Nick LaLota of New York: (202) 225-3826 or (631) 289-1097
Doug Lamalfa of California: (202) 225-3076 or (530) 645-6225 or (530) 223-5898
Mike Lawler of New York: (202) 225-6506 or (845) 743-7130
John Rutherford of Florida: (202) 225-2501 or (904) 831-5205
Mike Simpson of Idaho: (208) 334-1953 or 208-523-6701
Victoria Spartz of Indiana: (202) 225-2276 or (317) 848-0201
Steve Womack of Arkansas: (202) 225-4301 or (479) 464-0446
Two Ohio Postcarding Campaigns
Ohioans are going to the polls right now to vote on the referendum in support of Reproductive Rights. Write to remind Ohio Democrats to vote YES on the referendum in support of Reproductive Rights. Short and clear script. Sign Up Here (Note: If you are having trouble accessing Postcards To Voters via text, see all the alternative ways of getting addresses here.)
You can also write to Ohio voters via ACTIVATE AMERICA‘s postcard campaign. The script is a social pressure campaign. Get Addresses Here
Join the Cast of Hamilton And Vote Forward For Letter Writing!
Join members of the cast of Hamilton and volunteers from across the country as we write Vote Forward letters to voters in Virginia and Ohio!
At this virtual event, you’ll learn about how Vote Forward letters have been proven to increase voter turnout, get tips and training on refining your message to voters, and have your letter writing questions answered by the Vote Forward team! All while hearing from the current cast of Hamilton.
It’s on Monday, October 23, at 8pm ET. RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/votefwd/event/587710/
CALL YOUR SENATORS: Ambassador to Israel ConfirMation Hearing Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Biden’s nominee for the Ambassador to Israel – Jack Lew – has a confirmation hearing. (Watch live here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?531024-1/ambassador-israel-nomination-hearing ) For obvious reasons, Democrats have been keen to fast-track this process – but there are signs that Republicans want to block it. (https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/16/politics/jack-lew-gop-opposition-ambassador-israel/index.html) Senator Cotton is calling Lew an Iran sympathizer, Marco Rubio is saying that we need the “right” ambassador to Israel, and all signs point to this being a race to the closest Fox News microphone.
This is ridiculous.
So let’s call our senators:
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m concerned about the Republican Caucus’s blockade of national security positions – and reports that the GOP will block Jack Lew’s confirmation as Ambassador to Israel. This is dangerous: Tommy Tuberville has blocked hundreds of military promotions— we have no senior military defense official in Israel because of him. We have no Israeli Ambassador because of Rand Paul. We don’t have Ambassadors in Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, or Kuwait, either. We have no confirmed top USAID official for the Middle East and no State Department Coordinator to Counterterrorism. All because of Republican obstructionism. We are in a moment of crisis in the Middle East. These blockades – some of which have been going on for years – are endangering our national security and hindering our ability to help our allies. What is the Senator’s position on these blockades? How does s/he think that it is in America’s best interest to simply block critical national security jobs from being filled? Thanks.
WHEW! GO TEAM!
P.S.: Why don’t you make someone’s day and send this pep talk to a friend or two? I bet they need it.
If you’d like to sign up to get this pep talk and action list in your in-box each week, you can do that here. Welcome, friend!
P.P.S.: If you want to help support this work you can do so via Patreon at
https://www.patreon.com/smalldeedsdone or via paypal at https://www.paypal.me/smalldeeds
My deepest gratitude in advance.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for writing. I read and respond to every email! We’re in this together. Don’t you forget it.
Small Deeds Done 