February 12, 2010 07:50 PM UTC

Repost: "Be The Change" Poll and Event

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• by: peacemonger

This diary was deleted after a blogger broke on-line blogger community rules in the comments section following the diary. It is reposted by the author as a courtesy to those who still wish to discuss it.

“BE THE CHANGE” Welcomes Bennet Supporters and Jared Polis

“Building to Be the Change” planners recently announced Congressman Jared Polis will be appearing at this Saturday’s event on Senator Michael Bennet’s behalf. Until recently, the event, planned by “Be The Change”, a group of “Mike Miles for Senate 2004” supporters, were told the Senator and his campaign would not be participating in any way. Congressman Polis will be joining Andrew Romanoff for a “meet the candidates” forum, where Congressman Polis, who has endorsed Michael Bennet in the 2010 US Senate race, will speak on his behalf.

Last week, it was reported on a POLS blog diary that “Be The Change” was an exclusively pro-Romanoff group. A follow-up email from a BTC board member stated there were at least two Board members (that he knows of) who supported Michael Bennet for Senate. The board consists of eleven members, according to the BTC website. This diary author regrets sharing inaccurate information, and feels obligated to set the record straight.

On February 4th, a “Romanoff for Colorado” email was sent to supporters asking them to vote for Andrew Romanoff in an on-line “Be The Change” poll, and to share the poll on Twitter, facebook and elsewhere. The Bennet campaign did not participate in the polling. The poll can be found at http://www.btc-usa.org/joomla1… (Coloradans will be shocked when “Be The Change” endorses Andrew Romanoff tomorrow, I am sure.)

Saturday’s event will begin at 11:30am and last  until evening, with the “Dinner with your Legislators” portion beginning at 5:30pm. Speakers at the dinner will be introduced by David Sirota with Mike Miles serving as moderator. Admission is $25 with discounts for early registration. Workshops will include such topics as: health care reform, climate change, corporate rights, campaign finance, and citizens lobbying. Registration for the event can be found at http://www.btc-usa.org/joomla1…

The “Be The Change” website was founded after Mike Miles was defeated in the 2004 Colorado Senate primary by now-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.  This is from their site:

Be the Change USA is a grassroots political organization which promotes progressive issues and principles first espoused by the Senate campaign of Mike Miles. Be the Change USA is steadfastly committed to progressive ideals: Compassion over greed, effort over pedigree, service over wealth and the common good above all. Founded in the late summer of 2004, its initial short-term goal was to support progressive candidates and issues in the November 2004 election. Over the long term, it will continue to support progressive political issues and work to increase grassroots involvement and influence in the Democratic Party in particular, and in the political process as a whole. The name “Be the Change” was Mike Miles’s Senate campaign slogan, and comes from the quote by Gandhi: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”