My first campaign.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Kephart <kephartforsmwd@cox.net>
Date: Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 1:47 AM
Subject: Re: Campaign Assistance
To: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>


Barrett Brown wrote:

Mr. Kephardt-

Howdy. My name is Barrett Brown, and I'm working with Ellen Johnson of
GAMPAC on some ways in which we can advance the organization's
influence a bit. It's my understanding that they're helping you out a
bit with some funds, but that you understandably wish to keep your
distance from the organization, being a candidate in Orange County and
all. I'm originally from Dallas myself, and worked on my first
non-partisan race there when I was a teenager, so I can sympathize
with the difficulties you're going to face. Ellen also forwarded me
your e-mail so I'm caught up on some of the pecularities of this
campaign.

I'd like to help you out a bit more, but in a way that won't get you
burned at the stake, so to speak. Although I'm helping out Ellen
Johnson, I'm not officially connected to GAMPAC in any way. I'm a
freelance writer based in Brooklyn, and my work has appeared in dozens
of publications including National Lampoon, McSweeney's, The Onion
A.V. Club, and plenty of lesser-known public policy journals, trade
pubs, and regional magazines. My first book, Flock of Dodos: Behind
Modern Creationism, Intelligent Design, and the Easter Bunny, was
released last year to praise from Alan Dershowitz, Rolling Stone, Air
America Radio, Skeptic, and other sources. I also do some freelance
marketing work here and there and work as a community organizer here
in Brooklyn.

Everything I'm going to offer you will be on a pro bono basis, and, of
course, you're free to reject it. Most of it will be information -
opposition research, advice on campaign talking points - but I can
also do a simple-yet-effective viral video for YouTube which will, I
think, manage to turn a few heads in your direction and take care of
the problem with name recognition and incumbent advantage.
Additionally, we can easily turn you into a "netroots" candidate with
a couple of posts on Daily Kos and MyDD, where I am fairly well-known
among the administrators - which is to say we can get you some
additional campaign cash by way of donations from activists across the
country. What I'd like most to stress to you for the moment is that
the five board members will not be prepared for what I'd like to
inject into the race.

If you'd be interested in discussing this further, e-mail me back or
give me a ring at 512-560-2302 at your convenience.

***

This does sound interesting, and thank you for contacting me. Just to
let you know, I'd classify myself as a bit risk-adverse, so I want to
make sure whatever you have in mind has a good chance of working.
I post every once in while on DailyKos as well. Mostly comments,
actually. I'm friends with Ron Shepston (canyoubeangryandstilldream)
and I know thereisnospoon and hekebolos. My only campaign diary is
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/23/1125/41741/457/540597.
However, more posts could only help.

So, thanks, and I will call you. I'm pretty darned busy, but I'll try
to call you within the week. How's that?

Thanks,
 Gary

--
Candidate for Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors
http://kephartforsmwd.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Kephart/15488424061