To begin with, let's understand the stakes. It’s not enough to shake our heads and shrug off this latest derangement as one more fundamental misunderstanding of our Constitution and the rule of law. This isn’t just some Tea Party protester with a handmade sign and a tricorne hat. This is the national Republican Party embracing and endorsing a discriminatory law that has been struck down by the Supreme Court.

The whole party is putting all its chips on red, if you know what I mean. I spoke about this on MSNBC on Wednesday morning (nice and early on the West Coast, by the way).

There's no reforming from within coming any time soon. We need to elect more and better Democrats, or the Republican base will keep at it until they get their way. Endorsing an unconstitutional position doesn't leave much room to negotiate. It's time. We have to win.

I fought against this racist and illegal agenda when the Arizona legislature first introduced SB 1070, and I will keep on fighting. I'm fighting for our freedoms and the basic belief that we're all equal in the eyes of the law. I know you are too.

The two opponents in my primary are Republicans running as Democrats. They say I'm not being tough enough on immigration. Well, they never said a peep about SB 1070 during the debate – Amanda Aguirre even skipped the vote – and they haven't spoken up against Sheriff Arpaio's brutal tactics. They want to position themselves as above the fray and paint me as creating all of Arizona's problems.

Let me assure you: when it comes to violations of civil rights, constitutional rights or human rights, I'll never be "above the fray." I'll be fighting for equal treatment and equal access to justice every step of the way. I hope you'll join me in bringing more Democrats to Congress not just to create the jobs this country needs, and not just to end the war on women once and for all, but to stop this conservative activist attack on our system of governance.