Caucus99percent: My open letter to the DSCC

[brooklynite]

Caucus99percent:

Dear Senator Testor: (sic)

Like many progressive Democrats, I’m eagerly looking forward to the weekend retreat at Martha’s Vineyard from June 24-26. Many of us progressives have been deeply troubled of the process of which the presidential primary has occurred. Through a series of events that we feel the DNC has been responsible for, some questionable tactics from the Clinton campaign, the influence of Super PAC’s, and the mainstream media, we feel disenfranchised by our own party. The accumulation of all this came to ahead today with the major media outlets reporting that Clinton has clinched the Democratic nomination when this is factually wrong. To date she is still several hundred behind the required number and the only way she goes over the top is with super delegates who do not vote until the July convention.

I’ve attended several of these weekend retreats and I know well that many of the people attending will be super delegates and senators up for election or contesting a seat in November. Many of these are good progressive candidates that I’m proud to support like Ann Kirkpatrick and Jason Kander. I look forward to meeting them and others and listen to their stump speeches. However, I will not stand idle if any candidate attaches their speeches referring to Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee or presumptive nominee since this is a fallacy. To many of us, it reeks of an attitude of fall in line or else. If speeches go that way, I might as well leave not only leave the retreat but the party as well. To paraphrase Malcolm X, we don’t feel we left the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left us. This is why Bernie Sanders is an Independent because our own party by in large has moved to the center. He’s a New Deal Democrat, which is something other candidates need to embrace and make a priority in their campaigns and on Capitol Hill.

Let me be clear. This isn’t about sour grapes. This is about letting the Democratic process play out as it’s supposed by its very own rules. This is about transparency. It’s also about a fight for the very heart of the Democratic Progressive movement, which has inspired millions of new voters to get involved in the process who never would have before. We also donate time, money, and we vote. Please do not make a tragic mistake. Tell those speaking that Bernie’s votes and his voters do matter and nothing has been decided until the convention. Denying us that right and the dignity we deserve would have horrible consequences.

Observation 1: I find it interesting that someone who professes to be a member of the "99%" has attended "several of these weekend retreats" which require a max-out contribution of $33,400 (I've gone once)

Observation 2: Bernie appears to be a regular at these events (my wife and I had dinner with him and Jane at one) so I'm guessing he can take of this himself--if he cares.

Observation 3: I believe the hotel room is non-refundable (also not cheap at $500+ a nigh), so, might want to hang out for the rest of the weekend.

[NurseJackie]

1. I imagine that Sen Tester's staff will just make a tally mark in the "crazy" column ...

... and toss the letter into the rubbish bin. At the end of the month, the totals for each category will be shown to him so that he can get a reading of what the general mood is.