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I
need your help. Defeating George W. Bush will not be easy. His strategists have
a $100 million war chest available to transform his failed record into an avalanche
of misleading "morning in America" advertising. What
is the best response? To defeat George Bush, the Democratic Party and its nominee
must stand up strong for our principles, not paper over our differences with the
most radical White House in our lifetime. We must directly expose the ways in
which George Bush’s policies benefit the privileged and right-wing ideologues.
To
win, we must confidently advance an agenda rooted in hope and real American values
–opportunity, integrity, corporate responsibility, and community. People
want back the country they believed in, a fair country where middle-class people
could make a decent living and send their kids to college. That is not only the
right way to take on George Bush; it is also the most effective way to succeed
with voters who might be tempted to support independent or third-party candidates. First,
Democracy for America will be committed to strong, sustained grassroots involvement
in the democratic process. Today, half of Americans don’t even bother to
vote. People see what the problems are, but they are cynical about the system
and prospects for change. Only through acting will people recognize the power
they have to change this country. Second,
Democracy for America will be committed to promoting an America where candidates
and office holders tell the truth about policy choices and stand up for what they
believe. The era when politicians equivocate about matters as fundamental as war
and peace must end. Third,
Democracy for America will be committed to fighting against the influence and
agenda of the two pillars of George W. Bush’s Washington: the far right wing
and their radical, divisive policies, and the selfish special interests who for
too long have dominated politics. Fourth,
Democracy for America will be committed to fighting for progressive policies,
like health care for all; investment in children; equal rights under law; fiscal
responsibility; and a national security policy that makes America stronger by
advancing progressive values. To
help defeat George W. Bush and his agenda in 2004, Democracy for America will
focus on key battleground states, mobilizing our supporters and the groundbreaking
organizing tools we developed during our campaign – planting seeds on the
Internet, meeting face to face at the grassroots, bringing new people into the
process. We will use these same tools to support congressional, state, and local
candidates across America who stand for our principles. In
the coming months, we will: 1.
Recruit and encourage progressive candidates to run for office at every level.
We will help them find the resources to campaign successfully with small donations
from grassroots supporters, to begin to break the stranglehold special interests
have on the political process. 2.
Raise funds for Congressional candidates for whom financial support could be the
key to winning, and whose election will be key to winning back a House of Representatives
that has become the tool of the Republican right wing. 3.
Develop strategic partnerships with other progressive organizations to maximize
resources for candidate recruitment, training, and organization. 4.
Build relationships with other political initiatives to focus on the failed, destructive
policies of the Bush administration. 5.
Harness the power of the Internet to enlarge and support our grassroots organization
committed to taking back America from special interests that control the right
wing leadership of our Congress and the White House. The
Democrats will win in November – if we can continue the innovative campaign
techniques learned through our nominating process -- and if we have the have the
courage to stand up and tell the truth about our stark differences with this failed
President. Please
join me in making Democracy for America a powerful tool to continue the battle
for America’s future. I hope you will support us with your ideas and your
energy, as well as financially, as we move toward the November elections and beyond. Sincerely, Howard
Dean
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