Long time readers will know of my work helping to establish the United States government, as well as my more recent foray into musical theater. But you may have forgotten about my work to protect civil liberties.

I come before you today to state unequivocally that, while I have fought with Thomas Jefferson on like seventy-five diff’rent fronts, when all is said and done he was correct when he described our self-evident right to liberty.

So it is with great alarm that today I warn you of a heightened threat to those great civil liberties — the reelection of Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Senator Burr is Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. This committee, was founded in the wake of the Watergate affair to put democratically elected civilians in a position of oversight of our nation’s intelligence agencies.

And my esteemed friends, we know how important that oversight job is. North Carolinians know that it’s not the FBI’s business to hack into our private computers without cause or a warrant; North Carolinians know that the emails we send to our loved ones shouldn’t be shared with any and all police and intelligence agency that exist — for no other reason but they can.

As Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, it is Senator Burr’s responsibility to protect those liberties we cherish. He is, quite literally, in the room to ensure that it happens. But time and again he has failed to take that stand, instead continually eroding our rights by supporting ever -increasing power to intelligence agencies.

I would ask Senator Burr, Sir: what is it that makes you to sell your constituents’ rights down the river? Is it potentially the incredible amount of donations you receive that pressures you to deliver?

Some may respond to this missive by declaring that the actions of the esteemed Senator from North Carolina were taken in the interest of keeping us safe — that the dangers in our time are so great that they demand an erosion of our privacy, rights, and liberty itself.

Alas, I admit that we live in dangerous times. Even more reason for North Carolinians to elect a senator that loves liberty and that is unencumbered by the fetters of the lobbyists and corrupt class that has plagued DC. What this state needs is someone who is capable of leading with conviction and morality; a fresh alternative who has beliefs.

We are thus fortunate that the young and scrappy Ms. Deborah Ross has emerged as a clear alternative. Ross has fought for civil rights and the constitution for more than 25 years in this state and, even though Senator Burr has an enormous financial advantage, in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll she is leading by two points.

Gentleman and Ladies, thank you for bearing with me; I just want to emphasize that you can make history.

Do not throw away this shot.

Rise up for Ms. Deborah Ross for U.S. Senate.