Senators Cantwell and Murray,
As you well know, any citizen of this country who is not a white male is a member of a group of citizens who have historically had to fight for their right to vote in America. As members of one of these groups, and furthermore as leaders in our progressive state – which has seen fit to make history by being represented by three women at our highest elected offices – I would expect that a fair, honest, safe, and secure voting system would be of the highest priority to you personally.
Senators, in a near repeat of the 2000 debacle in Florida, we are witnessing a voting travesty from the state of Ohio. You are aware, I am sure, that Rep. John Conyers from Michigan will be contesting the counting of the Ohio votes. This protest will occur at 1:00p.m. tomorrow. Tomorrow. Rep. Conyers, like members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 2000, needs but a single Senator to support his voice. I expect that he will have at least two.
I voted Democrat in 2004 for the first time since 1992, when I gave President Clinton my vote for his first term. Sometime between 1992 and 1996, the Democrats lost me. I felt that represented little different than the Republicans, that they were in the pocket of corporations and “big money” as much as the Republicans. I looked for representation in other parties that I felt represented the progressive values that I hold dear. The stolen election in 2000 was enough to bring me back to the Democrats in 2004, along with the passion and boldness of a true progressive, Howard Dean. Do not take that for granted. I sense a general feeling in the Democrat party that Democrats are so scared of Republicans that their votes for the reelection of Democrat candidates are all but locked up already. They are not. There are millions of progressives who will turn elsewhere for a voice and for representation if their concerns are not met right here and now.
Tomorrow.
I have met both of you, and I have corresponded with both of you in the past. I know you are strong, and I know that you know right from wrong. Show the Democrats – better yet, show the Republicans – that we will no longer tolerate voter fraud, intimidation, and violations of the Voting Rights Act. If we do not, we no longer live in a free country.
Respectfully,
Jason J. Call
Mike's Blog Round Up
44 minutes ago
2 comments:
Word out is that Senator Barbara Boxer has given her name to the protest, and Congress will recess to debate the evidence of voting irregularities. My letter to Cantwell and Murray still stands, however, and if they are not part of the voice of this protest they are not earning my vote in the future. It's time for leaders and candidates with backbone.
Apparently the Senate Will BE SILENT. I watched some of the debate, after Sen. Boxer had given her signature, and further explained why she had given her signature to the objections raised in the Ohio vote. Naturally the Republicans denounced the challenge, with strong criticism from Voinovich and Trent Lott, but there were statements of support from Dodd, Obama, Minority leader Reid, and others. But as far as I know (and I didn't watch the final vote tabulation) still only Barbara Boxer voted for an investigation. I know that Maria Cantwell did not. I did not hear Patty Murray's vote. And did you catch the supremely lame letter from John Kerry, in which he said he supported an investigation into the election irregularities but would not be voting for that investigation.
Can somebody find me a spine? Or do I have to go back to California for that? What a joke.
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