Center Street - A Call to Courage

Help defeat extremists and help elect grown ups | View Online

Friend,

George Washington once said, "Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." He was talking about the need for a democracy to be led by men and women of virtue, who would put the needs of their constituents and communities ahead of personal ambitions.

He was also warning us about what we face today.

Marjorie Taylor Greene. Lauren Boebert. Madison Cawthorn. Ilhan Omar. You know these names, but probably not for a very good reason. They are constantly on partisan news channels or social media saying or doing the most outlandish things possible in order to get attention, raise money and get re-elected. Extremism is profitable these days. I speak from experience.

I’m Joe Walsh, former Congressman from Illinois and 2020 Presidential candidate. If you’re familiar with me, then you're familiar with my unique journey from Tea Party rebel to Donald Trump's most outspoken conservative opponent. Along the way on this journey, I engaged in extremism and said some "outlandish" things. You see, extremism is profitable, especially today. I know this from experience. I spoke from the heart, pushing ideas I believed, and often times I stepped over the line and at times stoked division. And I've been very public with my regret for those moments.

Right about now you’re probably asking yourself, “Why is 'crazy' Joe Walsh talking to me about extremism?” Because I’m probably one of the most qualified to do so. Because I used to be an extremist.

There’s been a lot said about how we got here, and it’s most often blamed on Donald Trump. Trump deserves a lot of blame for where we are today. But if we’re being honest, our country was divided before him. Many of us on both the left & the right helped to fan the flames of outrage. In fact, Trump is a product of that division, not the initial cause. Trump is the product of a broken political system.

Extremists used to be on the fringes of our political process. But as our tribalism and partisanship grew, they crept closer, whether in the media landscape where I was once a key player, or as a “fighter” elected to Congress to wake up “establishment politicians.” Extremists, most dangerously, are now the mainstream of the Republican Party.

Now we have too many radical extremists in Congress, and they’re fighting for an unrecognizable America. They’re intentionally pulling us apart, convincing us our political opponents are our enemies, worse than Vladimir Putin. We can’t even count on party leadership to rein them in! Extremists are coddled and kept at the center of the action, while people like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are punished simply for standing against extremists and demagogues who attack our Constitution. We deserve better. But the only way we’re going to save the country from these lunatics is by voting them out.

So, I’m excited to announce a new effort I’m part of called Center Street PAC. Center Street PAC is completely nonpartisan. Our mission is simple: Help defeat extremists and help elect grown ups. Our mission is also unique: We’re supporting Democrats, Republicans, AND Independents. We aren't tribal. We aren’t focusing on specific issues like abortion or tax cuts. We’re not running ads just to prove a point. Instead, we’re focused on ridding Congress of the extremists destroying what is left of our national discourse. We’re focused on supporting candidates who act like adults and promote stable and effective governing policy. Changing our political direction will take all of us. But it is absolutely essential to ensure our great nation persists.

Thanks,