Wetterling Message
"Letter to Editor"05/25/2005
Dear Friends,
In the midst of all the partisan fighting going on in Washington lately, something extraordinary happened last week at the U.S. Capitol.
The cause of protecting America’s children managed to rise above the bickering and bitterness of the debate over filibusters and judges.
It’s a cause that brought together leaders as disparate as Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Democratic Senator Joe Biden of Delaware. A cause that touches the heart of every American.
Last week, I was proud to fly to Washington and lend my support to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as it was introduced by Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of Florida and Democratic U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer of Alabama.
It’s a bill that places new, stringent requirements on those who commit the most devious and deplorable crimes against our children. And it was a moment that reinforced my commitment to be Minnesota’s next United States Senator.
As you may know, fifteen years ago, my son Jacob was abducted. It feels trite to refer to it as a family tragedy. The incident was simply devastating.
But I had two choices: Either allow Jacob’s abduction to consume me, and have both my will and my spirit go missing along with my son, or turn the search for Jacob into a larger quest to create a safer and better world for all of our children to grow and thrive in.
So I pulled myself together, and put myself to work.
I helped lead the fight to create Minnesota’s AMBER Alert system, an invaluable tool that brings our state together as one in the search for children who’ve been abducted. Because of the AMBER alert system in Minnesota, 10 kids are home safely with their families.
In 2003, the AMBER Alert system went national. And today, it is not only one of the most effective means our country has of recovering missing children - but AMBER Alerts are an integral part of America’s homeland security communications infrastructure as well.
To me, the AMBER Alert is not merely a beacon that can bring America’s missing children back to safety, but a beacon of hope that Washington can actually work on behalf of everyday people - when it puts its mind to it, and comes together around something bigger than itself.
And it is proof that everyday citizens, people like you and me, can make a meaningful difference in a place like Washington, and the United States Senate - where of its one hundred members, more than 60 are lawyers and over 40 are millionaires.
I am neither of those. I’m a parent. A public school teacher. And I am an activist, determined to go to Washington and make a difference for everyday Minnesota families in the United States Senate.
To give the United States Senate something it sorely needs: A citizen’s perspective. Like yours, and mine.
To be a Citizen Senator for Minnesota.
But to get there, I need your help. Unfortunately, it takes an unbelievable amount of money to run for office. You’re the lifeblood of my campaign and I need your support to become your U.S. Senator. Please send your gift of 35, $50, $100, $500 or $1000 today.
http://www.pattywetterling.com/donate/
I look forward to continuing to work together to get things done.
Thank you,
Patty Wetterling
P.S. We need a new voice in Washington. I have been an effective leader and now need your help to get to the U.S. Senate to continue my work on behalf of everyday people. Please join my effort and make a gift to my campaign today.