Meet America’s most progressive Senate nominee: Shenna Bellows of Maine

[DonViejo]

Former ACLU leader Shenna Bellows discusses heroin, the "surveillance industrial complex," and Medicare for all

JOSH EIDELSON

In a cycle which may see Democrats pick off zero GOP Senate seats, longtime Maine ACLU head Shenna Bellows is out to oust popular incumbent Susan Collins. Bellows out-raised Collins in the last fundraising quarter, but was only endorsed by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee after the passage of last month’s deadline for alternate candidates to file. Running unopposed in the primary, it looks like she’ll be this cycle’s most progressive Democratic Senate nominee.

In a recent sit-down with Salon, Bellows urged that the government legalize marijuana, break up big banks, institute “Medicare for All,” repeal the Patriot Act, halt mass surveillance, tax financial transactions, expand Social Security, reject the Keystone Pipeline, turn away from education privatization and extend Civil Rights Act protections to LGBT people. She hedged on whether she’d support the Assault Weapons Ban, and on whether heroin should ultimately be decriminalized. A condensed version of our conversation follows.

The Washington Post is reporting that a Senate report accused the CIA of misleading the government and the public about torture and about black sites. Does there need to be major reform of the CIA?

I think the first step is transparency… But certainly, given the revelations that the CIA was monitoring the computers of members of the Senate Conference Committee, I think there need to be internal reforms and stronger oversight by Congress.

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/04/07/americas_most_progressive_senate_nominee_meet_shenna_bellows_of_maine/

[djean111]

1. Ah -

"Bellows out-raised Collins in the last fundraising quarter, but was only endorsed by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee after the passage of last month’s deadline for alternate candidates to file."

Because the DNC just does not want liberal candidates or candidates who are not Third Wayers. This sort of thing is where the "elect liberals at the local level" hits the wall, at times.

[polichick]

3. God forbid there be more liberals standing in the way of the TPP.

[elleng]

5. which is why I don't contribute to the Dem party.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. "In a cycle which may see Democrats pick off zero GOP Senate seats"

I thought that Grimes is doing well in KY and Nunn is competitive in GA? Has the polling dramatically changed?

[elleng]

4. Guess Salon thinks so.

[Robbins]

6. What i don't understand

why Collins keeps winning.Maine has since clinton been won by dems. Yet collins won In both 1996 and 2008. She is not as moderate
as some think. Most of time she supports republican fillerbusters.

[RBInMaine]

7. She is EVERYWHERE in Maine when she's home. Visits schools, clubs, etc. She is seen as moderate.

I'm for Bellows, but THAT is why she is so popular. She is seen as moderate and so gets lots of male and FEMALE support.

[RBInMaine]

8. I've met Shenna and her father. She is SHARP. She is FIGHTING for what she believes.