| QUESTION: What makes you a netroots candidate?
ANSWER: Learning some of the skills and the discussions that take place here aren't just about the netroots. It's not just about the online community. It's about the future of politics. This is a once in a generational opportunity. It gives you a chance to interface with folks doing what we're doing in NY-26 but doing it across the country.
It's been an interesting to watch it from this year to last. Some of the new faces but also some of the folks we got to know last year. The excitement and energy they have about this year (campaign season) and everything they talked about last year is coming around to happening. The challenge is that this doesn't stop in November. The challenge is not only to win in November but to do something with this in January when we will be turning Powers Platoon into a service group and have "Service Saturdays" quarterly in NY-26 to clean up a park or whatever things could help in the community. I think that's the bigger challenge that we face. But I think this is the year to do it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be running.
Q: What role will the netroots play when you are elected to Congress?
A: We will be reaching out and keeping folks informed. The conversation doesn't stop at end of campaign. This is a two-way discussion. I think you can create the political space to do what you need to do by utilizing the netroots to build a coalition. I think that's exactly what Al Gore is doing (with WeCanSolveIt.org). That helps with the tough policy decisions that we have to make.
Q: What do you see in the future of the netroots, not just for bloggers, but also for candidates and the movement as a whole?
This is taking us back to the roots of our founding fathers. Citizen legislators, activists, soldiers, it's allowing every day citizens to have a voice again. I think that is the core of our democracy. We launched this National Service Program on Thursday to get folks to serve to be a part of this country. I think the reason we are in the position we are in today is there has been a lack of that - a lack of leadership.
Q: Where do you stand on net neutrality and universal broadband?
A: I support net neutrality. We need that open dialog to take place. I also support universal broadband. In this information age, we got to work to get that information out. In the rural parts of the district, there will be a challenge with things like health care. Allow people to get online and check e-medical records and make sure that we can get that information to hospitals in Dansville (for example). |
It has been nearly a year since Chicago and over a year since Powers started his campaign for the 26th congressional district seat. What that means for Powers' campaign is clear to him.
