Cross-posted at www.garnetdonkey.com

What do Paul Hackett and Ciro Rodriguez have in common? It was the netroots, the progressive blogosphere, that made their campaigns competitive. The Democratic establishment wrote off their campaigns and left them for dead. But the netroots did what they are best at: they stood up, and said, "This is a great candidate running against a weak opponent - why isn't everyone paying more attention?"

The blogosphere, more than just a place for conversation, can play a significant role in campaigns. And there are a few things we are particularly good at:

1.    Raising the profile of a candidate
2.    Forcing news media to pay attention to the race
3.    Mobilizing volunteers
4.    Raising money

That is why PA-7 is the perfect race for the netroots. The races in PA-8 and PA-6 get a lot of attention, but Joe Sestak's campaign for congress here in Pennsylvania's Seventh is one where the netroots could make a HUGE difference.

The websites of College Democrats chapters are usually pretty boring. Many are stale lists of upcoming events updated maybe once a month. Why does it matter? More and more, young people are turning to the internet for their news and information. College Dems chapters need a solid internet presence more than the national party does!

While Republicans invest thousands in college organizing, the Democratic Party takes young people for granted. Our generation is cynical about government and political parties, and too many young progressives fight single issue campaigns -AIDS, sweatshops, the environment, peace, intellectual property rights - instead of working to put a progressive party in government.

Maybe that is because our party doesn't seem too progressive anymore. So College Democrats, the messengers of the Democratic Party, are ignored. We are left with a national party whose messengers are failing to communicate in the fastest growing medium.

That's where Garnet Donkey comes in.

The Swarthmore College Young Democrats, in coalition with the DelCo Action Seniors, will be hosting a rally to save Social Security this Wednesday, April 13 at 10 AM at Swarthmore College, just outside of Philadelphia.

More info below the fold

Good Joe's comments today prompted me to write him, something which - as much as I might organize others to do, as part of the Young Dems - I have never done before!

"Senator Lieberman,

I have had a great amount of respect for you over the years. You are a fine public servant.

But your recent comments on Social Security disturb me. We know from documented evidence that the only reason most of the conservative right is onboard with privatization is to fatally undo social security. Why do you echo their false calls of panic and call for conciliation at a time when Democrats of all ideologies need to stand united to win? Don't sell out your friends and allies in our party.

I am a 19 year old student at Swarthmore College. I want to be a speechwriter, to work on campaigns, and message framing to benefit Democrats everywhere.

And if you give aid and comfort to the opposition  now by selling out the party on SS, I will come to Connecticut and volunteer to work for no pay for what ever Democrat runs against you in your next primary."