Cookies & Cakes
for a Cause
Served up by
Local & US Dem's
Kenneth E. Sokolowski
April 17, 2004 ---
Wethersfield, CT ---
Jennifer Shafer of Wethersfield today participated in a nation-wide "bake sale" with a political filling.
No, she did not have to go to some central U.S. convention center to join others in some bake off. She and her conscientious bakers just had to step outside to her corner house in Olde Wethersfield.
Shafer partcipated in what has been dubbed as a bake sale to "Bake Back the White House" from President George W. Bush. This nationwide fundraiser and morale booster was originated and orchestrated by the political action organization called MoveOn PAC.
Their home-made "Bake Sale for Democracy" is intended by its participants to be a demonstration on the part of thousands of small donors in contract to the "big-money" supporters of Bush's reelection campaign.
Donors to the sales sometimes did not even take the time to stay and visit. Shafer found "loaves of bread on my front door step and cookies too" in anticipation of the sale, which was also mentioned in today's Hartford Courant.
Funds raised from this event are to be forwarded on to MoveOn PAC for the support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and others who will work to oppose Bush's reelection bid.
According to Shafer, about 17 other communities in Connecticut participated in this "Bake Sale." In her corner yard alone, she had personal help and baked goods provided by visitors from at least Middletown, Hartford, Glastonbury and Manchester.
Shafer is no stranger locally to liberal, progressive Democratic, anti-war efforts. She participated in last year's inaugural "Walk for Peace" by the group "Wethersfield Peace and Justice."
She is now concerned that the economy is "very bad" and that we are in a "war that we don't belong in." She admits that she still "has problem with" the 2000 election which Bush won under what some consider to be questionable grounds.
Dina Tracy, Cindy Love, Nora Mills, John Daly, Judy Gardner and many other visitors to Shafer's sale, hoped to "get Bush out of office" by supporting this event.
Others spoke of their belief that Bush has "trashed the environment" and "trashed the economy." Others disliked his "policies overseas," the "war in Iraq," his "energy policies," and what has gone on in Iraq.
Some donated their time baking, others volunteered at the site and others contributed by purchasing the baked goods. Among those seen supporting the effort today was Wethersfield Town Counciler Christine Fortunato.
In addition to the bake sale, applications for voter registration were available for still unregistered voters to complete right then and there.
Within Connecticut, similar baker backers for Democracy took advantage of the delightful spring day in West Hartford, Newington, Winsted, Stamford, Branford, Ridgefield, Westport, New Haven, Hamden, Middletown, New London, Cheshire, Storrs, Hamden, Niantic, Stratford, Stafford Springs.
The bake sale, according to Shafer, would go on until we are "tired and sold out."
By the end of the day, both tired and sold out, Shafer reported that her group had raised $734 for the MoveOn PAC and had registered seven citizens to vote.
Encouraged by the day's brisk activity, Shafer enthusiastically concluded, "This is what Democracy is all about - the people - and not the special interest groups who wind up with candidates in their pockets."
-W.N-
