I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.

This year is one of the few years when Democrats have a real shot at winning the Alaska Congressional seat. Dissatisfaction with the Republicans and some Republican scandals are making Alaskans consider a Democrat for Congress. On Feb. 11th New Yorkers have a chance to meet the person who might just be that Democrat who wins the Alaska House seat.

This comes from Democracy for NYC:

We are now in a favorable position to elect more Progressive Democrats than ever before. In the long-prized effort to turn Congress a deeper blue, it is my privilege to introduce a singularly unique candidate, Diane Benson, running in 2008 for the only Congressional seat in the State of Alaska - a very big prize, indeed.

An exceptional person, Diane is a member of the Tlingit Native American People, a matrilineal culture. Diane's mother suffered from tuberculosis, and Diane was often homeless as a child and teenager, growing up in foster homes and logging camps with her Norwegian father. Despite this, she volunteered with senior citizens and in hospitals from the age of twelve. The hardships of life have influenced her thinking to this day.