Dear Motorcyclists' Rights Volunteer,
In Election 2000, MRFPAC, the political action committee of the Motorcycle
Riders Foundation, endorsed 263 candidates for election to the U.S. Senate,
U.S. House of Representatives and the Presidency of the United States. We
called our body of endorsed candidates the MRFPAC RIDERS' MAJORITY -- because
it is a majority we need in Washington to advance the cause of safety and
freedom of the road. Our endorsements were provided to members by direct
mail, the internet, and in some cases, by e mail. In addition, MRF-member
State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations and many friends of MRF provided
the MRFPAC RIDERS' MAJORITY to their members and associates.
Our call to action to the motorcycling community was outreach: persuade 3 other people to vote our way. I believe, in the majority of races, MRF and SMRO members responded to this call.
Numerous races across the nation were exceptionally tight contests decided by voters who numbered far less than the potential rider-voter population. In New Jersey's 12th Congressional District, for example, Republican Dick Zimmer defeated Rush Holt by a razor-thin 56--vote margin.
Based on election returns as of 10 a.m. eastern, November 8, there are 5 undecided House races (CA-36, CA-49, FL-22, MN-2, WA-2) in which MRFPAC was involved. And, as every voter learned from the news this morning, the presidential decision awaits a recount of Florida returns. Less these races and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (who was not up for reelection but endorsed to support his leadership PAC), the MRFPAC RIDERS' MAJORITY consisted of 233 endorsed candidates who won election or reelection and 23 candidates who lost. Less undeclared races, then, MRFPAC's success rate for Election 2000 is an impressive 91%. If all MRFPAC-backed candidates in the undeclared races are defeated, MRFPAC's success rate would still be no less than 89%.
Among the MRFPAC RIDERS' MAJORITY were 20 candidates for the House and Senate whose leadership on our issue prompted us to dub them MRFPAC Champions of Motorcyclists' Rights and Safety. Of these 20 champions, 19 were elected; John Koster's race in Washington's Second Congressional District is one of the undecided contests.
We know of no race in which incumbent support of helmet law repeal was attacked. Likewise, in no race was MRF support or motorcyclist involvement viewed as a campaign negative. On the contrary, as discussed in last Friday's alert, our riders were engaged in numerous, high-visibility activities to support their candidates -- from sign making to biker rides and rallies -- and candidates and their surrogates publicly praised our involvement.
In the race in which motorcyclist involvement attracted press attention, MRFPAC-endorsed George Allen defeated Chuck Robb for the U.S. Senate seat in Virginia. Motorcyclists and our reputation were made an issue in this contest when, on behalf of Robb, the Virginia Democratic Party launched an advertising campaign that sullied our reputation. Thanks to the effective response by riders nationwide, the ad was modified, minimized and pulled from the air ahead of schedule. The Robb effort galvanized rider-voters nationwide and resulted in the victory of Allen who, in a letter to MRF, personally pledged his support for MRF and motorcyclists' rights and safety.
I am grateful to every MRF and SMRO member who responded to the call to vote and to reach out to other voters. I fully realize that some of us felt the push and pull of numerous issues of importance to ourselves, and our families. For many, voting this year was no easy task. Perhaps it never should be. But I am thankful that so many of us decided to vote for the MRFPAC RIDERS' MAJORITY and, by so doing, Ride with the Leaders.
With appreciation for a job well done, I remain,
Yours for the right to ride,
"Tom"
Thomas C. Wyld
Member, MRFPAC;
Vice President for Government Relations, Motorcycle Riders Foundation
November 8, 2000
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