Hey folks—Cliff here.
You ever have one of those shows that hits you right in the gut, because it reminds you what the hell we’re fighting for? Yeah, that was this week.
David Shuster and I brought on Fred Wellman, former Lincoln Project senior advisor, Iraq War vet, and now congressional candidate for Missouri’s 2nd District. A seat that’s been in Republican hands for over a decade.
And here’s the thing about Fred who, full disclosure, has been a good friend for a decade. Fred isn’t just running for Congress as a Democrat.
Fred’s running without fear, without caution, without polls forming his positions and scripts setting his speeches. He leads with his values, with the experiences that forged the person he is today, and with it his belief system.
By not bowing to trivial tripe pushed by some Democratic Leaders, calling out the billionaire bilkers crony-capitalizing our economy. Making clear this fight’s about creating a democracy and economy that work for all Americans, Fred nailed it.
For his race and beyond he’s sharing crucial messaging, very similar to what Rep. Greg Landsman talked about on our show last week. Democrats all over are getting it, and that is huge, but also not a surprise with Wellman.
Fred talked about what’s broken—and what we can fix—if we grow a damn spine. He told us how his own kids, grown adults working full-time jobs, can’t afford homes.
How small businesses are struggling, farmers are getting squeezed, and veterans are barely hanging on. While billionaires who look like cyborgs throw $50 million weddings in Venice.
That’s the America we’ve let happen to us—a place where people who built the country can’t afford to live in it.
But what Ilove about Fred, is he’s not here to whine. He’s here to fight.
He’s running a professional, national-scale campaign in a swing district where Democrats can win—if we show up. The guy’s got 3,700 donors in just two weeks!
He’s got energy, humor, humility, and one of the rarest things in politics: honesty. And you can sense it when you talk to him.
He came right out and told us he’s been broke, he’s been shot at, he’s buried people he loved—and he still believes America’s worth fighting for and saving.
Fred also told a story that stuck with me.
An 80-year-old man telling a canvasser he was worried about bathrooms, about “boys in girls’ sports.” But then he admitted his wife could only afford her medication one week per month.
That’s the real issue—human pain buried under culture-war nonsense, which is exactly what right wingers, lakcing majority support, exploit.
Fred called it “getting to the third answer.” We’ve all got to start doing that.
Peel back the noise, get to the truth.
And that’s what this show is about. Cutting through the bullshit. You want to talk about who’s ruining this country?
It’s not immigrants, it’s not drag queens, it’s not kids in libraries—it’s weird, right-wing billionaires and their bought-off politicians hollowing out the middle class and taking away our freedoms as they divide us.
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Fred gets it. He’s seen how the “ownership class” hoards everything while the rest of us—working, middle, even upper-middle class—are one illness, one layoff away from ruin.
He’s running against Ann Wagner, a banker’s banker who likes to bank in her spare time, who’s tripled her net worth while in Congress while refusing to hold a single town hall.
Her idea of public service is making sure her public disclosure forms show much larger numbers in her bank and investment accounts each year. Fred has a weird idea he should represent regular people.
Listen to them. Show up. And fight like hell. Which led him to say something truly inspiring: “Every fight’s worth it.”
And I believe that, as do the rest of us at Blue Amp, which is why we’re engaged in this battle. This is one of those fights that actually matters.
Because if we lose democracy and a fair economy at the same time, there’s little chance of coming back.
So yeah, I’m endorsing Fred Wellman. The whole Blue Amp team is.
Because this is the kind of Democrat we need—one who doesn’t hide behind talking points or consultants, one who will actually say what needs to be said and take the punches, spit out a tooth and say “that’s all you got?”
If you’re in Missouri—or even if you’re not—go to wellman4mo.com.
Chip in. Volunteer. Hell, if you can’t give money, give time. Write postcards. Make calls. Wave a damn sign on the road!
We don’t need perfect candidates. We need fighters who know who they are and the values they stand for. Fred’s one of these people. The kind we’re supposed to elect to Congress.
Shit, if we had a Congress full of people like him, this country would be in a helluva lot better shape than it is under ossified, orange Captain Kangaroo in the White House.
Let’s get to work. Let’s go kick some fascist ass.
Sincerely, Asshole For Freedom,
—Cliff
