Cheney Comes to KC – A Double-Edged Sword

Tomorrow at lunchtime, Vice-President Dick Cheney will be appearing in downtown Kansas City to raise money for US Rep. Sam Graves (R). The Kansas City Star asks “Is Cheney a boon or a bane to the Graves campaign?” If you actually read the article, it seems to be asking the question, “Is Cheney’s appearance merely good for Graves, or great?” After all, if it’s a question of how many hundreds of thousands Cheney can raise for the local incumbent, that’s got to be a net plus for Graves, right?

Of course, Cheney is a deeply unpopular figure, closely tied to the misadventure in Iraq. And majorities in virtually every congressional district in the country (check out the map at Open Left) favor troop withdrawals – Graves’ district is no exception.  Publicly embracing the unpopular Iraq War hardliner isn’t going to help Graves. Neither is the fact that the Bush-Cheney Administration is trying to cut children’s health insurance programs, while Democrats in Congress are trying to expand them.

The best way to make sure that Cheney’s visit gets noticed is to speak out! Missouri ProVote is organizing a Speak Out right across the street from Cheney’s appearance at the Marriott. Details below!

Date: Monday, September 17th.

Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Place: Meet at Barney Allis Plaza, across the street from the Kansas City Downtown Marriott. 200 W 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. Click here for a map.

Let ProVote know if you are coming! Email them at kcprovote@sbcglobal.net.

UPDATE: Don’t forget to send Sam Graves’ challenger, former KC Kay Barnes, some cash.