Send Alex to Philly for the DNC!
Hello to all my friends, family, and progressives all over America! My name is Alex, and just a few days ago I was elected by all the county-level Bernie delegates from Nebraska's First Congressional District as Nebraska's only male alternate to the Democratic National Convention next month in Philadelphia. From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who put their trust in me to represent them in Philadelphia. I am honored to not only share in the Sanders campaign's ideals, but to carry them forward with your blessing! I would also like to thank my sister Leah, my parents Rick and Marcia, and my girlfriend Eve, all from whom I draw an amount of support I can't even begin to describe.
Here is an idealized version of the 60-second speech I delivered to Sanders supporters at the CD1 Caucus (and I say "idealized" because nerves and time constraints contributed to some unplanned omissions!):
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"Hello everyone, my name is Alex Houchin, and I'm from LD28 in south Lincoln. I stand before you today as a brand new Democrat, one of many brought into the party thanks to the inspiring campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders. Though I am new to the party, I am not new to activism: I was heavily involved in Occupy Lincoln, and in the time since that involvement I have taken action on many of the issues that movement focused on. Although I have volunteered for several local and state Democratic campaigns and I have helped in the battle to eliminate the death penalty, my primary form of activism has been my multi-year involvement in Citizens Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan group focused on building bipartisan support for a national carbon fee and dividend program in order to stop climate change. When Senator Sanders was asked during a televised debate what he thought the greatest threat to the American way of life was, he answered - without any hesitation - 'Climate change.' I agree whole-heartedly. In fact, to this day, he remains the only Democratic candidate who has ever voiced his support for a carbon fee and dividend program!
"After my participation in Occupy Lincoln, I briefly considered running for office myself. When I met with representatives of the Nebraska Democratic Party over whether I should run as a Democrat or as an Independent, I remember saying to them, 'I just don't know if your party is progressive enough for me.' The young man across the table looked at me and said, 'You know, if everyone who ever said that actually joined the party, we would be.' While I ultimately decided not to run, that conversation has stayed with me ever since.
"...And now here I am. I joined the party. I volunteered for the Sanders campaign, I canvassed, I hosted and attended phonebank parties, I stood up and spoke as a precinct captain during our March caucus, I was chosen as a delegate to the Lancaster County Democratic Convention, and I was elected there as an alternate to the State Democratic Convention. Even though I was an alternate to State, I showed up anyway - and since some LD28 delegates couldn't make it, I was seated. And now I speak before you.
"I'm asking you to send me to Philadelphia to carry this important work forward as a national delegate. When Sanders talks about taking the 'Political Revolution' to Philadelphia and beyond, he means that we need to start finding candidates who believe in these ideals and get them elected at all levels of public office: PTA boards, city councils, county boards, statehouses, and even the US Congress itself. When he talks about taking the 'Political Revolution' into the future, he means that if we can't find these candidates, we need to become these candidates. When we unite to do this critical work and carry on his legacy, together, we have the power to transform this party, this nation, and this world - with PEACE, JUSTICE, COMPASSION, and LOVE.
"Thank you all."
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I did not make the cut as one of CD1's two Sanders delegates to National, but by virtue of the March 5th caucus results, CD1 Sanders state delegates were allowed to elect the state's only male alternate to National, and they chose me. I imagine some of you might read this and think, "If he's only an alternate, why should I help him go? He might not even get a chance to participate!" Well, I was also "only an alternate" to the NDP state convention, but because I showed up for all three days, I was seated as a delegate to help shape the state party platform and, hopefully, its future. There's always a chance that any of the 15 Sanders delegates to National could fall ill or be otherwise forced to miss it, so as the only backup, I aim to once again be there, ready to roll up my sleeves and jump in.
I'm asking for your support because, well, I'm not the 1%. It's going to be expensive! The hotel bloc that the Nebraska delegation will share with the Nevada and Colorado delegations is estimated to cost between $500 and $600 each night, for five nights, which doesn't even include the cost of travel (or possibly even food). I've set the goal at $3000 to reflect those realities.
If this funding campaign goes over the goal, or if it gets close enough to the goal that there are any funds left over after the trip, I will donate any remaining balance to the Lincoln chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby.
Thanks for your time and your support!