Given what happened yesterday, I feel it's important I repost my earlier diary on who are the GOOD Democratic challengers when it comes to FISA.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  (For the Senate, I'm only including those who voted against cloture yesterday for the bill.)  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

All across the country Congressional elections are revving up. Primary season has ended and in many parts of the country the "dog days" of summer are fixing to heat up many races. I must say that across the board I think my party has fielded some excellent candidates in many races, all with inspiring stories. I wanted to share some of the ones that have inspired me most.

In the last couple days, there have been several posts across the blogosphere citing what various candidates running for Congress have said on FISA and retroactive immunity for the telecoms.  But so far, it's been all over the map.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

I am Barry Welsh amd I am the Democratic Candidate for United States Congress in Indiana’s 6th District.   I am also a long time member of the Netroots Nation.

A quick update from the campaign:

We held the Indiana State Democratic Party Convention this past weeekend.

There are reports at most of the great Indiana blogs, including, but not limited too; Blue Indiana which I highlight and link because that page links other fine Indiana blogs and reports.

I wanted to post this yesterday, but catching up with obligations did not allow me to finish writing.
I returned back to Indiana Wednesday night and this was started yesterday. BW

For those that do not know, I am Barry Welsh and I am the Democratic Congressional Candidate in Indiana’s 6th District and a longtime member of the Netroots.

Last night I had a unique opportunity.  I sat at a table with five patriots.  
I listened as they talked on their individual expertise with passion.  I could not help but think back over the history of this nation, and how many times conversations like the one I was listening to became a spur to progress.  From the revolution that brought the birth of this nation, to the industrial revolution, to the technological revolution, all were fueled by the passion of progressive visionaries.  

Progressive and Netroots favorite Barry Welsh, who is running against the noxious Mike Pence in the 6th District of Indiana, will be at a meet and greet on Capital Hill tonight.  Barry is in town seeking to develop support for his run against Pence.  Below the fold I will offer some details about the race, and about the response Barry was able to develop yesterday.

We really want you to come and meet Barry.  Like Tom Perriello, he is a person of faith (Barry is an ordained minister) who is also a strong progressive, yet capable of winning a district currently held by a Republican.

We will be at Hawk 'n Dove, 329 Pennsylvania Ave SE, from 5-7:30 this evening.  We will be in the 1st floor party room.  This is your chance to come and meet Barry, if you do not already know him.  The event is free (cash bar), because we want to encourage you to come.

Please keep reading.

I'm afraid I may be writing this diary with some bit of jealousy, unwilling mind you, after all Barry is my husband.  My husband is Barry Welsh, Indiana’s 6th Congressional Democratic candidate and I’m his wife.  I’m Sherri and I pen my diary as Congressional Candidates Wife.

Enough said, back to the matter at hand.  Barry is in Washington, DC.  He’s at the NDC tonight for dinner with teacherken.  Many Members of Congress have graciously and hospitably greeted him.  It was so exhilarating to hear how excited Barry was, no matter what, we are getting there – Barry Welsh WILL be the next Representative of Indiana’s 6th.  I’m very proud of him; I can tell he’s very honored by the timbre of his voice.  His excitement is contagious and reminds me of the spirit and intent of our Democrat Presidential nominee Barak Obama and how infectious it is.

Congressional Candidate Barry Welsh, running in the Indiana 6th against Mike Pence, is going to be in Washington next week.  I have set up a meet and greet / meetup event at Hawk 'n Dove on Wednesday at the close of the work day.

Barry is an active member of the DailyKos community.  If you were in Chicago for YearlyKos 2007 perhaps you had a chance to meet him.  Below the fold I will give a bit more of his background.

For now, consider just this.  In the May 6 Indiana primary, Barry got 94,924 votes while Pence received only 43,795.  While this is not an easy race, it is clearly doable, which is why Barry is meeting with the DCCC.

So hold the date and time and prepare to come on

Wednesday June 11
5-7:30 PM
Hawk 'n Dove
329 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

we will be in the party room.  It is a cash bar.  Not a fundraiser (although feel free to contribute on the web page), but a chance to meet a great candidate.

Sorry for the note more than the diary here.  There is a quality diary from Barry Welsh sliding off the page.  As many here know, he is running in IN-06.  Also, he's the guy who took a punch for voter registration rights.  Seriously.  Anyone out there want to show him some love and get his diary on the Rec List?

Thanks

UPDATE:  His diary made the Rec List.  Thanks everybody!

(Cross posted from EENR)

Things have been hectic since we had our voter explosion in the primary.  For those that don't know, here in this district of Indiana, my opponent had a decrease in his primary base of over 5500 voters in a Presidential year, and we had an increase of over 70,000 new voters across the district.  We doubled my opponent's vote total when all was said and done.  We have him in a position he has never been in before.  It is an exciting and hopeful time here in East Central Indiana.  Oh and also he keeps putting his foot in his mouth, so that doesn't hurt.
See below

This is Congressional Candidates Wife, I am Sherri and my husband is THE soon to be elected Congressman of Indiana's 6th Congressional District Democratic Candidate Barry Welsh.

I have to suck in some air after saying all that.

So, ask me how the election went last night?

Yeah, go on ask me!

Final Numbers in the title  Our base exploded His stayed home.

Update-Still 3 Counties to report in this district.  For those that don't know this district, in 2004 the Primary results were Pence 61794 Fox 31231

I know the focus is on the Presidential and Gubernatorial here in the Hoosier state but...

There are still a few counties that haven’t posted, but things are looking good here in the 6th District of Indiana!

I have lost one out of 19 counties and that was by 300 votes.

Barry Welsh, who is currently running against far right Republican Mike Pence made waves two weeks ago when he was punched in the face defending Muncie reporter Nick Werner. As many of you know, Republican official William Statom was angry that Werner and Welsh were demanding that all voter registration forms were be processed. Statom repeatedly punched Werner until Barry stepped in and tried to break it up. Statom punched Barry Welsh in the eye and was later hauled off to jail. Barry may not be a bully like Statom but he sure will fight for our rights and progressive values. I would like to tell you a little about the man behind the fighting spirit. Follow me below the fold.....

For those that have been following the story of the Republican Official attacking a reporter and me getting hit in the eye while stopping the attack, it was all worth it!

For those that may not know the background, here are a few quick links.

Link 1 News Link Indiana with video at the end of the piece.

and

Link 2 CBS News The Politco

and

Link 3 Yesterday’s Indianapolis Star

More below

For the sixth year in a row, the percentage of uninsured Americans is on the rise. Just in 2006, 2.2 million Americans joined the ranks of the uninsured. Back in 2002, The Institute of Medicine released its second installment of a six part report on what happens to thousands of Americans who lack health care coverage in America. The result was shocking, 18,000 Americans die every year because they lack health care coverage.

Crossposted at EENR Blog

I know the title sounds corny, but it is true.

First, I want to thank everybody in the Kos community and all of the Netroots Nation for the support and well wishes that have come my way because of this incident.  I must give a HUGE personal thank you to sarahlane, pontio, bluestatemeant, JR, Daily Activist, Pioneer 111,  along with everyone for their comments, and the great folks at EENR and Democrats.com.

Now, the story that has not been told is what happened in that meeting.  Everything has been overshadowed by the violence, and what took place in the meeting itself needs to come out.

The story is not dying locally as the attacker is in the Muncie paper today calling the attack an "attention getter".

Republican registration worker calls attack an 'attention-getter'

"It (the attack on Werner) wouldn't have happened if you hadn't promoted it," Statom said. "When you promote illegal activities, there's ramifications."

He is blaming the newspaper!

More below

I thought I would give an update on the status of Barry Welsh, Indiana’s 6th Democratic Congressional Candidate.  It’s me, Sherri Welsh I’m the wife of Barry and also aka Congressional Candidates Wife.

I thought the outpouring of concern, care and support that all have shown for Barry and the Electoral process in Indiana’s 6th should be heartfelt and sincerely thanked.
Thank you to all that have posted encouragement, care and concern both for Barry and especially for the dust up that happened yesterday in Muncie.  In the event that some haven’t heard, there was a reporter from the Muncie Star Press that had been, for lack of a better phrase, attacked.  The gentleman had been shoved into a wall, wrestled to the ground and was in the process of being choked when Barry dove in to help free the reporter.  At that point, Barry had been hit in the eye.

...on ActBlue!

After hearing about the attack on Indiana congressional candidate and longtime kossack Barry Welsh and a reporter by a local GOP official, I decided we should do something to recognize Barry for (literally) fighting for our rights.

So I wrote a quick ActBlue page, and I hope you'll chip in $5 to show your support for a Democrat we can count on to go to the mattresses for us in Washington.