Jen's Blog

Wednesday night’s debate between Jennifer Lawless and James Langevin is proof that Langevin is out of sync with the issues that matter most to Rhode Islanders in the 2nd Congressional District. Lawless cut right to the point, challenging Langevin’s dismal record in his six years in Congress. Langevin has supported President Bush’s “stay-the-course” strategy in Iraq, has voted 27 times against a women’s right to choose, has voted in favor of the Patriot Act, and has failed to lead the fight against Republicans in Congress. Jennifer Lawless made it clear to voters that she will take on the Bush administration, bring our troops home from Iraq, fight for a women’s right to choose, and protect our right to privacy.

Throughout the debate, Jennifer Lawless made it clear that she represents the true values of Rhode Island families. She closed the discussion with the following zinger, “If you believe in Democratic values, in change and in holding the Bush administration accountable, then the choice is clear and I would appreciate your vote.”

What did YOU think?

Jen has officially been endorsed by In Newsweekly, New England’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender newspaper. Their editorial endorsement reads:

Gay and lesbian Democrats in the state's 2nd Congressional District have a choice - incumbent Congressman Jim Langevin or Brown University Professor Jennifer Lawless. Langevin is a reliably pro-gay Democrat, so gays could do a lot worse than reelecting him. But in this race, there is a stronger and more impressive choice in Lawless.

Langevin does not support marriage equality, while Lawless does, telling In Newsweekly, "I believe in protecting civil rights and I think this is a civil right." (Although, to be fair, Langevin supports civil unions.)

As far as some core Democratic issues, however, Langevin is more conservative. He is anti-choice on the issue of abortion rights and Lawless has been critical of Langevin's initial support of the Patriot Act.

Over the past six years, Langevin has largely been a go-along-to-get-along Democrat, instead of an advocate for the gay community. Lawless promises to be such an advocate.

Jen is and always will a strong, outspoken advocate on issues from the war in Iraq, to a woman's right to choose, to the right to privacy, to real marriage equality. It's time for a real Democrat in Rhode Island's 2nd District!

In an article dated August 20, 2006, the Associated Press writes:

U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin is hard to pigeon hole. He has taken seemingly contradictory positions on the war in Iraq, medical marijuana and stem cell research.

The article continues:

Lawless has tried to portray Langevin as a war supporter similar to Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who lost his Democratic primary earlier this month.

Langevin voted in December to reject a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq. He says now that was intended only to show support for the troops.

Meanwhile, as the Jennifer Lawless campaign continues to gain momentum, the Providence Journal profiles Jen here:

"If we want to stop what's going on in Washington, you have to elect real Democrats who are going to try to halt the Bush administration and the Republicans in Congress," Lawless said. "It's not enough to wait for Democrats to take back the majority. Too many Democrats have stopped fighting."

Post your thoughts on the race here!

Just over a week ago, a prominent national blogger and Democratic activist, Matt Stoller, wrote a post on one of the best-read national blogs (MyDD.com) about the Jennifer Lawless for Congress Campaign. A day-long discussion about Jen and the campaign ensued, and ultimately there were more than 60 comments on the campaign!

From local and national newspapers and blogs, including the Providence Journal, The Phoenix, Roll Call, Rhode Island's Future, and MyDD.com, this campaign for progressive leadership is starting to catch fire. We urge you to read democratic blogs, including MyDD.com, and even post about the race!

Also, feel free to post your thoughts and comments on this blog as well!

In an exciting week for the campaign, Lawless announced that she met and exceeded her fundraising goal for the most recent quarter and that she has put together an impressive team of campaign professionals as she works to win this race.

The Lawless team now includes media consultants Laguens, Hamburger, Kully, & Klose (LHKK), who not only recently brought Jon Tester to victory in Montana, but have also advised the DSCC, Planned Parenthood, and Debbie Stabenow to name just a few. Margie Omero, President of Momentum Analysis is the campaign’s pollster. Omero has worked for Tom Daschle and Richard Gephardt, and – interestingly – also was James Langevin’s pollster back in 2000. Robert Pilon, who most recently helped Matt Brown’s Senate campaign raise over $1.5 million, rounds out the consulting team as National Finance Consultant.

Lawless also announced that she raised over $110,000 last quarter! This more than doubles her previous best fundraising quarter and puts her with over $160,000 cash on hand. With contributions from over 600 individuals, the campaign is gaining serious momentum!

Get on board the wave of change!

On June 19th, Jen's primary opponent, James Langevin, announced his re-election campaign by implying that Jen was running a single-issue race. In response, Jen said:

From the soaring gas prices and the cost of health care to the war in Iraq, it is clear that our elected officials are not doing their job on behalf of working people. Unfortunately, that includes James Langevin. I agree wholeheartedly with [him] that this campaign should not be waged on one issue. While his efforts to take away women and families' ability to make their own private, personal medical decisions is appalling, it's also disappointing that he's not fighting harder on so many issues important to Rhode Island families.

This is a campaign to let Rhode Islanders know that we can and will do better with new leadership!

Rhode Island needs and deserves strong, progressive leadership and an advocate on the issues that matter most!

On June 8th, Jen’s primary opponent, James Langevin, voted for the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act (COPE), a bill which allows large telecommunications companies to create a “tiered internet” that would likely mean inferior internet service for many web users. Jen supports “network neutrality,” or free access to the internet for all, which prevents large corporations from offering preferential treatment to the wealthiest web users. The COPE bill, however, passed the House of Representatives with no such stipulation.

Without a law protecting network neutrality, individuals not capable of paying high premiums for their internet could receive poorer-quality service.

In response to Langevin’s disappointing vote, Jen said:

James Langevin’s siding with corporations instead of advocating for the interests of Rhode Island families makes this another issue on which he’s behind the curve and out of touch. We need leaders in Washington who are willing to fight for our values and principles, even and especially when special interests are on the other side.

Ninety-six Democrats in the House fought for an equal internet by voting against this measure.

Post your comments here!

NARBERTH, Pa. — If the Democrats have their way, the 2006 Congressional elections will be the revenge of the mommy party.

Democratic women are running major campaigns in nearly half of the two dozen most competitive House races where their party hopes to pick up enough Republican seats to regain control of the House. Democratic strategists are betting that the voters' unrest and hunger for change — reflected consistently in public opinion polls — create the perfect conditions for their party's female candidates this year.

"In an environment where people are disgusted with politics in general, who represents clean and change?" asks Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Women."

Republicans, who have prospered in recent elections by running as the guardians of national security and clearly hope to do so again, dismiss this theory. But it will ultimately be tested in places like this Philadelphia suburb, where Lois Murphy, a 43-year-old lawyer and Democratic activist, lost a Congressional campaign in 2004 by just two percentage points.

Click Here to read the rest of the article.

Post your thoughts here! As Jennifer Lawless has said, "Now is the time to send a woman to Washington!"

On Tuesday, Jen’s opponent, Jim Langevin, helped President Bush and House Republicans by voting to renew the Patriot Act. The bill passed with just two more votes than needed under special rules requiring a two-thirds majority. In response to Langevin’s disappointing vote, Jen said,

I am appalled that Jim Langevin has once again aligned himself with President Bush and the House Republicans to vote for the Patriot Act. Rhode Island deserves a Representative in Congress who will work to protect both our nation and our civil liberties, not one who plays into the politics of fear and paranoia.

Nearly two-thirds of House Democrats, including Rhode Island representative Patrick Kennedy, voted against the bill.

Click Here to read Jen's press release on the vote

In his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Jim Langevin has proven time and time again that he does not stand for women's rights.

*** Rep. Langevin has cast over 25 votes against a woman’s right to choose

*** Rep. Langevin put military servicewomen at risk by voting to deny women in the military access to safe and legal abortion services which they would pay for with their own money

*** Rep. Langevin has received 0% ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America

Click Here to read the Washington Post article