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Rep. Keith Ellison
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ELECTION 2014 | CONGRESS | 15TH DISTRICT | Hoping to burnish his progressive credentials in advance of the June primary, Rep. Eric Swalwell received the endorsement of Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, one of the most progressive members of Congress.
“Congressman Swalwell is willing to take stands for what is right–whether it’s protecting Social Security for all Americans by rejecting harmful benefit cuts, or calling out hatred by condemning the actions of Tea Partiers waving the Confederate flag in front of the White House,” said Ellison.
The outspoken Ellison, however, was not always in Swalwell’s corner. When an East Bay Citizen reporter questioned Ellison, the co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus, last March at a fundraising event in Oakland, he seriously questioned Swalwell’s liberal ideology and registered lament for the defeat of Pete Stark.
“We will lean on him to do progressive stuff and make him declare to be on our side,” Ellison told The Citizen. Specifically, Ellison said, if Swalwell “doesn’t play well with the progressives” he would be open to replacing him.
A few days later, Ellison’s office scrambled to diffuse the comments threatening Swalwell’s re-election in 2014. “Eric is a friend, and neither the Progressive Action PAC nor I support a challenge to Rep. Swalwell,” said Ellison. “In fact, the Progressive Action PAC seeks to elect more Democrats to Congress and does not target incumbents. I called Eric this morning to set the record straight and I look forward to continuing to work with him this Congress.”
However, even during the subsequent conversation with Ellison’s staff following the clarification, they privately maintained skepticism over whether Swalwell’s moderate political ideology was a hindrance to their progressive causes.
With Ellison’s endorsement Tuesday afternoon, the rare moment of political honesty is again a topic as Swalwell faces an intraparty challenge from the more progressive State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett.
ebcitizen.com 
Ellison won't help Swalwell because most don't know who he is.
Ellen Corbett will come in first in the primary with well over 40% of the vote. With a credible Republican in the race your candidate will be lucky to come in second. If the Republican can get in the high twenties your candidate could easily come in third.
Then what good will all that big business and corporate money do him. It will be good for the economy though. Voters in our district don't reward people who try and buy the election. They also don't reward candidates who flip flop on issue after issue.
Senator, soon to be Congresswoman Ellen Corbett is the breath of fresh air.
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Mrs. Miller and I will be supporting our outstanding CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL. We can't support novices who have no idea what they are doing and would be in above their head. We also would never support anyone who whores for the unions. The public knows that teachers and nurses' unions are nothing but whores for the special interests. They resonate with special interests only.
We'll be supporting a breath of fresh air, CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL 2014!
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This is why Ellen Corbett will win:
1) The letter Steven Tavares cited in another EBCitizen article has a press release form Swalwell's Office saying; “Rep. Swalwell Refuses Paycheck During Shutdown until Working Federal Employees are Paid”
2) In the same press release there is Swalwell himself saying “in the event of a shutdown, I will refuse my paycheck until federal employees who must work during the shutdown are paid.”
3) Citing a a letter Swalwell wrote to the congress: “In the event of a federal government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed. Others, who are deemed to perform essential services, will be forced to work. Despite the fact that these latter employers have to work, they will not receive paychecks during the period of a government shutdown. However, it is my understanding that I, as a Member of Congress, will continue to receive a paycheck.
I believe it is simply wrong and unfair for me to receive my salary while Americans working hard across the country as part of our federal workforce receive nothing until this appropriations crisis is resolved. Therefore, I ask that until federal employees who must work during a federal government shutdown are paid, I not be given my paycheck.”
3 counts of lying to the public in one day. You really disappointed me Congressman. Ellison can't save you.
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I'll never vote for a two faced flip flopper who says one thing to one group and the opposite to another. Even if I don't agree with everything Ellen Corbett does she is sincere and Swalwell isn't. It's Ellen Corbett for my family.
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Nobody in our district cares what Ellison thinks. They just like Ellen Corbett more than Eric the flip-flop congressman!
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It's all's well that's Swalwell!
Copyrighted.
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Well, even though Swalwell has this guy's support and agrees with gay marriage I'll still vote for Ellen Corbett. No other choice.
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The president of the United States is supporting our great congressman. That's more than good enough for us. Oh yeah!
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I'll never vote for a two faced flip flopper who says one thing to one group and the opposite to another. Even if I don't agree with everything Ellen Corbett does she is sincere and Swalwell isn't. It's Ellen Corbett for my family.
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We are not going to vote for that mistake prone, lying and flip-flopping congressman. Ellen Corbett will be our next Congresswoman because we trust her sincerity more.
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We are not going to vote for that mistake prone, lying and flip-flopping congressman. Ellen Corbett will be our next Congresswoman because we trust her sincerity more.
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Nobody in our district cares what Ellison thinks. They just like Ellen Corbett more than Eric the flip-flop congressman!
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Well, even though Swalwell has this guy's support and agrees with gay marriage I'll probably still vote for him. No other choice.
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We are not going to vote for that mistake prone, lying and flip-flopping congressman. Ellen Corbett will be our next Congresswoman because we trust her sincerity more.
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Yeah, I don't support the gay marriage or this radical guy, but got no one else to vote for.
Guess I'll be voting for CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL!
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It doesn't matter what Ellison does. It matters what Swalwell did when he voted to cut off benefits to 1.7 million Americans just before the holiday season. 200,000 military veterans were also affected. What an a–hole! He had the gall to try and defend his actions by saying he was doing the right thing.
Barbara lee did the right thing and stood up to the leadership and voted against cutting off those benefits. We need more women who seem to care more about the middle and lower class. That's why I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett.
I have a friend and her family that was affected by the decision of this current heartless congressman and they will probably lose their home.
Vote Ellen Corbett in 2014 because Swalwell doesn't deserve our vote after what he did to those who lost their job through no fault of their own.
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We are not going to vote for that mistake prone, lying and flip-flopping congressman. Ellen Corbett will be our next Congresswoman because we trust her sincerity more.
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Congressman Eric Swalwell!
Enough said.
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I'll never vote for a two faced flip flopper who says one thing to one group and the opposite to another. Even if I don't agree with everything Ellen Corbett does she is sincere and Swalwell isn't. It's Ellen Corbett for my family.
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Yeah, I don't support the gay marriage or this radical guy, but got no one else to vote for.
Guess I'll be voting for CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL!
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It doesn't matter what Ellison does. It matters what Swalwell did when he voted to cut off benefits to 1.7 million Americans just before the holiday season. 200,000 military veterans were also affected. What an a–hole! He had the gall to try and defend his actions by saying he was doing the right thing.
Barbara lee did the right thing and stood up to the leadership and voted against cutting off those benefits. We need more women who seem to care more about the middle and lower class. That's why I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett.
I have a friend and her family that was affected by the decision of this current heartless congressman and they will probably lose their home.
Vote Ellen Corbett in 2014 because Swalwell doesn't deserve our vote after what he did to those who lost their job through no fault of their own.
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Well, even though Swalwell has this guy's support and agrees with gay marriage I'll probably still vote for him. No other choice.
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Well, our little or should I say BIG Space HO is back. We were certainly hoping that she had left this world for good. Oh, well. Bitch sure had her head handed to her with her loser Whorbett losing out with any hope of an endorsement.
That's the real world smell of Victory that the Swalwell team has going for it.
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I'll never vote for a two faced flip flopper who says one thing to one group and the opposite to another. Even if I don't agree with everything Ellen Corbett does she is sincere and Swalwell isn't. It's Ellen Corbett for my family.
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Well, even though Swalwell has this guy's support and agrees with gay marriage I'll probably still vote for him. No other choice.
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It doesn't matter what Ellison does. It matters what Swalwell did when he voted to cut off benefits to 1.5 million Americans just before the holiday season. 200,000 military veterans were also affected. What an a–hole! He had the gall to try and defend his actions by saying he was doing the right thing.
Barbara lee did the right thing and stood up to the leadership and voted against cutting off those benefits. We need more women who seem to care more about the middle and lower class. That's why I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett.
I have a friend and her family that was affected by the decision of this current heartless congressman and they will probably lose their home.
Vote Ellen Corbett in 2014 because Swalwell doesn't deserve our vote after what he did to those who lost their job through no fault of their own.
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I'll never vote for a two faced flip flopper who says one thing to one group and the opposite to another. Even if I don't agree with everything Ellen Corbett does she is sincere and Swalwell isn't. It's Ellen Corbett for my family.
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Anon above–you seem to be a Swalwell staffer posting during work hours. That is illegal because you are posting on the taxpayers dime. I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett who doesn't keep changing her mind on controversial topics. Thanks to the EBCitizen for there informative articles.
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Well, even though Swalwell has this guy's support and agrees with gay marriage I'll probably still vote for him. No other choice.
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Nobody in our district cares what Ellison thinks. They just like Ellen Corbett more than Eric the flip-flop congressman!
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Can only go with Swalwell. Nobody else even comes close.
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I'll never vote for a two faced flip flopper who says one thing to one group and the opposite to another. Even if I don't agree with everything Ellen Corbett does she is sincere and Swalwell isn't. It's Ellen Corbett for my family.
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Well, even though Swalwell has this guy's support and agrees with gay marriage I'll probably still vote for him. No other choice.
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So stoked about Eric, now that he has the Ellison endorsement! Really had to be earned. I'm with him for sure.
My daughters and I are going to be celebrating all night long at his re-election victory.
Wondering if Whorbett will be as fucked-up as Fortney or whether she'll make her concession call. Needs to be gracious in defeat–if she's even a candidate. Don't think she has the 'balls' to run. Oh well.
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Shame on Swalwell for cutting off benefits for 1.3 million Americans. The extension of federal benefits was started by Bush and continued by both parties when the unemployment rate was this high.
It's about real people, people with families struggling to meet mortgage payments, struggling to put food on the table, to make ends meet, and includes 200,000 military veterans among those folk who are losing their benefits.
This is why my friends and I will be voting for Ellen Corbett this year….she has a heart and cares about the 90% of us who aren't rich too.
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Nobody in our district cares what Ellison thinks. They just like Ellen Corbett more than Eric the flip-flop congressman!
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And no one here in the East Bay knows Mr. Ellison. His endorsement means squat.
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What's her son's name? You're probably the one who didn't get his name right earlier.
And she's running.
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Most people on my block are talking about supporting Ellen Corbett for the reason stated above. They don't trust Swalwell.
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Predictably, Eric is going to take this endorsement to progressives in the district and never talk about the back story. He talks out of both sides of his mouth.
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Even a radical like this guy knows a winner when he sees one.
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