Camille Abate for Congress 5th District NJ

Background:

Civil Rights and Criminal Defense attorney for 25 years; very active in the Howard Dean presidential campaign 2003-2004; was active in campaigns before marriage: ran Mario Cuomo's governor's race in Greenwich Village through the Village Independent Democrats; active campaigner in Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential run; supported Ted Kennedy for President in 1984 before he dropped out. Married with three teenage boys.

Goals:

As my website says, I am running because I am sick of the namby-pamby democrats who are afraid to say anything and will not oppose and fight the radical nature of the Bush Administration; I am running because I am worried that my children and grandchildren will not live in a free country and will not know what an open society is like; I am running because my opponents in the primary speak in vague language and carefully avoid saying anything concrete, and I believe we will not take back this Congressional seat unless we become the Democratic Party that was the voice of reason, on the side of the common man, the champion of freedom and the upholders of the Constitution -- and that means shaping the debate and speaking out.

Issues:

1. Preserving and protecting the Constitution -- abolish torture and stop warrantless spying on Americans

2. Education is a National Security issue; make America number 1 again in education

3. Stop global warming by creating a "Manhattan Project" that commits talent, time, and money to solving the problem.

Grassroots Support:

Grassroots organizing is at the heart of my campaign. I rely on local groups of activists to help me get my message out, and I have gone door to door myself to meet the people in my district. I have held open houses similar to the Dean open houses, and plan to do much more of that in the general election. I am mobilizing volunteers to work the phones and stuff envelopes, write notes to constituents and contact friends and neighbors, just like we did in the Dean campaign.

DFA Values:

I've spent my entire working life enmeshed in the Constitution and using it to keep the government honest and to give a voice to the poor, the disenfranchised, the accused. I believe in cutting corporate welfare -- we should not reward or subsidize compa