“…Mike Bloomberg’s campaign is the only presidential campaign to reach out to ours–and they’ve done it multiple times–to help amplify our message…But appearing at Bloomberg events. Speaking at Bloomberg events. Encouraging my supporters to attend Bloomberg events gives the appearance that I support Mike Bloomberg…And I do not…”

Lindsey Simmons (D) [2020 file photo].

Late last night:

Lindsey Simmons @LynzforCongress
I will not vote for Donald Trump in 2020. Full stop.

And I have no real interest in voting for Mike Bloomberg, either. That’s why it’s my job to advocate on behalf of the candidates I think would make a wonderful President.

A THREAD
1/
11:20 PM · Feb 17, 2020

I’m running for Congress in #MO04. We aren’t taking a dime of corporate PAC money and are 100% people funded.

Mike Bloomberg’s campaign is the only presidential campaign to reach out to ours–and they’ve done it multiple times–to help amplify our message.

2/

In some ways, this could be seen as a positive–additional exposure can be helpful.

But appearing at Bloomberg events. Speaking at Bloomberg events. Encouraging my supporters to attend Bloomberg events gives the appearance that I support Mike Bloomberg.

And I do not.

3/

Some staffers have pointed out that Bloomberg has offered to hire field staff and other full-time organizers salaries north of $5,000/month.

I cannot compete with that. Few campaigns can.

And it results in a buying up of talent in this rural area, where the bench is thin.

4/

Mike Bloomberg is not a Democrat. He is an authoritarian. And my single-issue in 2020 is preserving our Constitution.

That cannot be achieved by electing someone who systematically imposed racist policies against communities of color.

5/

It cannot be achieved by electing someone who buys name recognition and, in turn, votes during the primary.

It cannot be achieved by electing someone who boasts that he hasn’t taken in any donations from supporters–b/c that translates to not having real people behind him.

6/

It cannot be achieved by electing someone who refuses to answer questions during interviews and who has yet to appear on a debate stage.

It cannot be achieved by electing someone who dismisses families like mine–rural farmers who he sees as beneath him.

7/

It cannot be achieved by electing someone who refuses to invest in and support unions.

It cannot be achieved by electing someone who makes derogatory, disparaging remarks about women and then holds their voice prisoner with non-disclosure agreements.

8/

Around here, there’s a sense that if you are wealthy and if you are successful that you must have worked hard to get there.

And, hard workers are noble people.

Thus, there’s this implied notion that Bloomberg is a noble, admirable person–based solely upon his wealth.

9/

But selling financial products is not the same as working the fields from dusk til dawn.

As a farm girl turned Wall Street lawyer, I’m here to warn you–don’t be fooled. Don’t be distracted by the billions. Don’t give up your values in the blind pursuit of defeating Trump.

10/

We should not trade one New York (pseudo) billionaire who wishes to dominate the world for another New York (actual) billionaire who wishes to dominate the world.

There are better choices. There are more qualified choices. There are more honorable choices.

11/

Defeating Trump at all costs cannot be the goal.

Defeating Trump is not worth shredding the Constitution.
Defeating Trump is not worth embracing a misogynist.
Defeating Trump is not worth abandoning our morals.
Defeating Trump is not worth embracing an authoritarian.

12/

I realize the temptation.

I’m running for Congress against the most anti-woman + anti-LGBTQ+ member of Congress. She won a freaking award from a hate group last week.

We need money to beat her.

So I get the temptation. I understand.

13/

We are afraid. Afraid because we know how dangerous the President is. How dangerous a DOJ abdicating its responsibility is. How dangerous a Senate ignoring the separation of powers is.

But we mustn’t be so afraid that we forget who we are and what we stand for.

14/

We must be brave enough to believe that we can elect a new President.

Brave enough to believe we can retain our principles in the process.

Brave enough to believe we can defeat the divisiveness in our communities.

Brave enough to believe we deserve better.

15/

These tensions that exist between family members, friends and neighbors over whether they support the red or blue team–those tensions have led us to a Cold Civil War.

To get out of it–we must do more than win at any cost.

16/

Because the real victory isn’t in Trump’s defeat–it’s in the defeat of the anger, the depression, the disenfranchisement, the demonization that pervades our country.

17/

Real victory is families not fighting during the holidays.
Real victory is friends not blocking each other on Facebook.
Real victory is your neighbor not fearing what might happen to her property if she identifies as a Democrat in a red area, or a Republican in a blue one.

18/

A real, honest to God, victory means we all care less about which party the President belongs to and more about that person’s actions, beliefs, and policies.

Because until that’s the case–we’ll continue to back figures like Trump and Bloomberg.

And we can do better.

19/

Lindsey Simmons (D).

Lindsey Simmons (D) [2020 file photo].

Previously:

Lindsey Simmons (D): on a mission in the 4th Congressional District (November 26, 2019)

Lindsey Simmons (D) – in the 4th Congressional District – Sedalia, Missouri – January 25, 2020 (January 26, 2020)

Lindsey Simmons (D): campaigning in the 4th Congressional District (February 8, 2020)