Glenn Greenwald for congress?

NY-02 is hardly a district the DCCC should be leaving uncontested as a red stronghold. But they do, especially under Steve Israel, a longtime crony of Peter King's. The district's PVI is R+1. Democrats represent 15 districts that are R+1 or worse. They are winnable seats, as Democrats like Carol Shea-Porter (NH), Raul Ruiz (CA) and Joe Garcia (FL) showed last year when they beat Republican incumbents in R+1 districts. The trick to it, though, is that the Democrats need a viable candidate and need to wage a real campaign. This is not something Peter King has had to face. When King first ran in 1992, it was an empty Democratic seat that Congressman Bob Mrazek had left so he could run for the Senate). King won 49.56 to 46.46%. But he never had a serious challenge after that. Blue America backed Dave Mejias in 2006 and he came close with 44% but the DCCC stabbed him in the back, Mejas spending only $908,135 to King's $2,075,502. And its been worse since then with the DCCC discouraging anyone from running and undercutting those who tried. Last cycle Vivianne Falcone took 41% of the vote after spending $11,115 (against King's $1,201,207), Needless to say, the DCCC spent exactly zero trying to help her, wasting millions of dollars are far redder districts where their conservative candidates had no chance at all.

King, probably best known for supporting violent foreign terrorists in Ireland, for his intense bigotry against Muslim-Americans and for picking fights with Michael Jackson, is back in the news this week.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) made waves yesterday on a Fox News interview in which he called for “legal action” to be taken against Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald. The congressman’s comments were delivered in his usual stentorian style, with absolute certainty and conviction, even though they appear to lack any factual basis.
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His words yesterday don’t speak to his acumen as a public servant, either. As argued previously in this space, the recent explosion of leak news has highlighted the centrality of governmental self-restraint in preserving freedoms.

Blue America is trying to recruit [Glenn] Greenwald to run against King. A prominent constitutional lawyer and author, Glenn was born on Long Island and got his law degree from NYU. Although he'd love to see Peter King retired, he doesn't want to serve in Congress. I can't blame him-- but I'm still trying to persuade him... and I'm willing to pledge a maximum legal contribution personally and endeavor to raise as much money for his campaign as we have done for Alan Grayson and Donna Edwards, each over $100,000 from Blue America donors.