As most of you already know, MyDD, SSP, and DailyKos endorsed Karen Carter for Congress in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District run-off election.  John and Joe in DC over at AmericaBlog have done the same.  My Left Nutmeg and Spazeboy joined the party from the friendly confines of CT as well.

Why?

For starters, there's the corruption.  If we are ever going to convince the American people we truly want to "drain the swamp" and clean out the House, we need to prove we are willing to clean out our own house first.  As the Blue Majority fundraising page notes, "send a message that the Democratic Party doesn't tolerate corruption on either side of the aisle."  Coming out of the Republican culture of corruption, it's time to take away the primary GOP talking point on the issue of ethics reform:

There's Katrina -- the storm and the flood.  Unfortunately, one of the problems up on the Hill is "Katrina fatigue."  Having been down here for a few days now, I can assure you the people of the 2nd Congressional District do not share a similar affliction.  They need help, and Congressman Jefferson is really in no place to deliver it.  He was stripped of his committee assignments by the Democratic Caucus, and continues to place his quest to retain personal political power above the needs of his constituents.   Personally, I've been impressed with Carter's willingness to tell it like it is even in the face of political fall-out.  Some of you might remember the policemen with shotguns and dogs dispatched to stop New Orleanians from crossing the bridge into the "West Bank."  In Spike Lee's documentary, "When the levees broke," Carter called the action un-American.  It made her a hero to many in the district, but a villian to some in power on the other side of the bridge (also in her district).  Her willingness to stand up found her on the butt-end of a nasty 25,000 person mailing, literally paid for by the people who called in the dogs.

I have little doubt she will be the same outspoken voice in House of Representatives on behalf of her constituents still suffering, and those of us who believe our government could and should do better post-Katrina -- much like Paul Hackett was our voice on Iraq last August, and Ned Lamont this past election cycle.  Our support, and her victory, will send a powerful signal to those in D.C. that we are not only paying attention, but demand more action than has been forthcoming until now.

Karen Carter has also taken some courageous stances on "social issues."  She is pro-gay marriage, choice and stem-cell research.  These are not easy positions to take in the deep South.  Indeed, her opponents (primary, run-off, and future) are hammering her, primarily through a network of churches, for those positions.  In the face of that pounding, she refuses to run from her convictions.

"I believe in treating people as I would like to be treated."

There have been a few concerns in the comments about her position on economic issues.  To alleviate those concerns, if only partially, I asked her about a few of them.  For instance, she would have voted against the bankruptcy bill and would never vote to privatize Social Security.  Her words.  But most importantly, this race is about corruption and Katrina.  One and two.  It's about showing the American people we are willing to hold our own to account while "draining the swamp" in Washington, D.C.  

The Louisiana Democratic Party has endorsed Carter.  So have the blogs.  It's because we all know how important this race is.  It's not just one out of 435 seats up for grabs every two years -- there's a lot more at stake here.  That's why so many within the party, and outside of the party, are standing with Karen Carter between now and December 9.