Meet John Courage, The Next Texas Netroots Hero

by Richard Morrison, Tue Sep 20, 2005 at 11:14:32 AM EDT

I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine who's running for Congress here in Texas: John Courage. John is a school teacher from San Antonio, an air-force veteran, and a committed Democrat. He's running against Lamar Smith, the man who has done more to erode civil liberties than any other single member of Congress. Oh yeah, he's Tom DeLay's good friend too!?!

You might have seen some blogs talking about Smith's confidential immigration policy memo to Karl Rove that leaked yesterday. There's a lot more about Lamar's nastyness here.

With his strong showing in the DFA grassroots balloting, Courage has emerged as the strongest netroots candidate in Texas this cycle. He's got a chance to win Democracy for America's "Grassroots Allstar" election. The winner will get an email sent to the entire nationwide DFA list, announcing their endorsement of him or her. Vote for him in the finals here: http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/

When I was selected in the first Dean Dozen in 2004, that ultimately meant more than $60,000 in contributions to my campaign by DFA members.

More importantly it meant priceless volunteer support from DFA members across Texas and the country. John's success in making the top ten has already significantly raised his profile nation-wide. An outright win will put him into the top tier of congressional challengers.

Even the Texas Democratic establishment realizes that we need to make a run for every seat in 2006 John must show strong grassroots support and fundraising to attract the big money which will help him send Lamar Smith out to pasture.

John has a very real chance to win -- the district was redrawn in 2003 and now almost half the votes come from heavily Democratic Travis County, including the University of Texas at Austin campus. If you believe in the Texas netroots and that we're going to turn this state blue again, please support John Courage in the DFA Grassroots challenge.

Click here to vote: http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/

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I posted this...
...on another diary down below but wanted to repeat it here...

The district has changed alot.  In fact, I've lived in it both in 2002 and will for 2006.  It used to be 14 counties, some of the most Conservative in the state, against an incumbant who hadn't been challenge bascily since he was elected 6 terms before.  John raised over $150,000 back then with absolutly no help from committees or otherwise.  Now, the district is 5 counties.  The district swung by almost 11 points to the Democrats this last election against a no name placeholder candiate (who has since run for San Antonio Mayor and now in the Republican primary for Governor, he's not credible, and didn't spend any money).

It's a 60-40 district when you look at it, but that's good by Texas standards.  We took back a house seat in Austin that was supposed to be 56% Republican.  Another one we almost won by 187 votes and it's even more Republican (and that district is within Courage's CD-21).  My point is, helping Courage helps the Texas statehouse (at least 3 races). This time he'll have support from the major party committies, he's run for Party Chair in San Antonio, is well known in Democratic communities, and is closing in on raising $20,000 having only officially launched his campaign last Saturday.

He's working with the Progressive Netroots on building technology solutions for the long term. He's not just in it for himself, but for the candidates around him and for a Party in Texas that needs to be built on the ground.  We had a Texas Blogger conference call with him last night. He's one of us.

by KTinTX 2005-09-20 06:53PM | 0 recs
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Yeah, Congress needs Courage.
I spent the day last Saturday "on the bus" with John and about 60 of his supporters, as he toured Texas-21.  It was so inspiring to see how it is done grassroots-style - an old van was the advance bus, loaded with a small, battery-operated loudspeaker, a banner, some bumperstickers and maps.  The rest of us crowded into a big yellow school bus (John is a teacher) with our knees hitting our chins, jumping out to greet supporters throughout the district, and listening to John's stump speech 5 times (or was it more?).  I got goosebumps hearing it the first time and the last time - he tells the truth in such a heart-felt way, and with such common sense, you can't help but believe him when he says everybody in Texas-21 is his family.  Meet John Courage here.  This is what he says: "Bush needs a brain, Cheney needs a heart, and Congress needs Courage!"
by dksbook 2005-09-21 06:24AM | 0 recs
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great bus tour report
Thanks for that note about the bus tour! I was only able to see his speech in Austin, but didn't get to join the bus tour around the district.

We posted a report (with pictures) of John's bus tour on his campaign blog. One picture that I didn't include on the blog is his "advance van" that dksbook mentions in his comment.

Also, take a look at this cool Texas Democrat picture that Courage supporter Al Brooks took at the Austin kick-off rally for the bus tour.

You can see all of the pictures from the Austin rally here.

by clockwerks 2005-09-21 08:08AM | 0 recs

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