A letter sent to DNC Chair, Howard Dean on behalf of Gravel and Kucinich

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12176

A letter sent to DNC Chair, Howard Dean on behalf of Gravel and Kucinich
2008 Elections
by MaryMacElveen | January 16, 2008

To Chairman Howard Dean,

When you were running for president back in 2004, you stated that the people “had the power to take back their country” Well in light of former Senator Mike Gravel being omitted from past debates and now with Congressman Dennis Kucinich being barred from an upcoming debate: Where is the power of the people to decide who they get to hear from? I do not see it, Chairman Dean. This is surely not democracy, but censoring the words coming from both candidates.

Please let me remind you of the bravery shown by both candidates. On one hand you had former Senator Mike Gravel single-handedly end the draft in Viet Nam saving countless lives and shutting down that war. He also exposed the Pentagon Papers showing the criminality of the Nixon Administration. Then you have Congressman Dennis Kucinich at least introducing articles of impeachment against this present administration. No such bravery has been exhibited from any of the top-tier candidates in your party. Candidates like Gravel and Kucinich are the candidates that all Americans deserve to hear from and they should NOT be censored.

Upon losing the nomination and going on to win the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, I wrote to every single New York State delegate on your behalf, Chairman Dean, yet you are mute in standing up for two of your own. Where exactly is your leadership, Chairman Dean? If we are to believe you are the arbiter of a fair and just party, you have only showed your cowardice and complicity in muzzling their voices. Now I am ashamed to have written those letters on your behalf. I have written several columns cheering you on and now wish to take them back.

I do not care what conditions a candidate must meet in order to gain access to these debates, those conditions are set by the parties and the media and not we the people. No conditions should be set when it comes to any message relayed to the American people or have you forgotten that, Sir?! It is ‘we the people’ who get to decide whose message we shall pay heed to and whose we shall dismiss.

I once believed in democracy in this country which is supposed to be the shining star world-wide, but I no longer believe it to be so. I see examples of pure democracy taking place in other countries and we dare to criticize leaders of other countries such as Venezuela. What hubris we as Americans have. The arrogance of the Democratic Party is clearly seen in this move.

Well, Chairman Dean, I left the Democratic Party because I did not see it as being different than the Republican Party. I am now an independent without any party affiliation. The reason I stated that your party is no different is because a few months back the chairman of the Michigan GOP, Saul Anuzis wanted to bar Congressman Ron Paul. Well we the people let him have it and no such move came about. Democracy does take place when the people’s wishes are made known and any official does hear them and more importantly acts upon their expressed wishes and demands. Now where is your voice and power, Chairman Dean?

We the people deserve to hear from candidates like former Senator Mike Gravel and Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Our founders would be ashamed not only at you, your party, the Republican Party, but they would be spinning in their graves seeing a media abridge free speech. They put up a fight and won our independence from tyrants and through blood spilt gave us a wonderful document known as the United States Constitution. It is about time you stand up for this document especially the First Amendment.

I am circulating this letter written to you as a column not only for my blog, but other web sites that choose to publish them. I am also including your contact form: http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/chairman/fcvnzw and phone number: 202-863-8000.

Sincerely,

Mary MacElveen

[peace13]

1. Oh wow

I just called the phone number. I expressed my opinion about Kucinich being excluded last night and asked if there was going to be a debate with all of the Democratic candidates and she said that that was up to the candidates! It's their call. Go figure. Why does anyone send these people a dime. Peace, Kim

[peace13]

2. Kick.

We need to make the call people.

[Desertrose]

3. How angry will the people have to get before they take their country back....

or is it too late?

.....and why aren't more people angry about this??



Excellent letter, thx.

[AlertLurker]

4. "If we are to believe you are the arbiter of a fair and just party..."

Unfortunately, candidates like Gravel, Kucinich, Dodd and Biden can no longer AFFORD to believe this.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Great letter!

I will contact Dean as well. NBC already got a "fuck you very much" letter from me re: last night's debate. :mad:

I did watch most of the debate last night, and was struck by how the three of them appeared to be just various shades of the same color without the others there to contrast them. It was really disheartening.

[madfloridian]

6. Let's see...how many lawsuits can a DNC afford? How can they fight every battle?

The DNC just stepped into the Nevada Caucus lawsuit...asking to be a defendant along with the culinary union and the at-large caucuses. I think that is great. Is there anything in the news? No, there is nothing. Not a word on a search. Except a Kos Post and a post here a DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4082033

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/16/1811/01320/708/437621

Let's see the battles they have been fighting.

Bill Nelson's lawsuit...costs money and time. DNC won.

Vic DiMaio's lawsuit against the DNC and FL..costs money and time.

The lawsuit by a gay community activist..long and involved with private emails being posted on line hurting some good people.

Attacks on TV by party leaders in MI and FL...no way to respond without being said to be anti-Hillary.

It is not good that some are excluded, but you are getting into areas where both sides of the issue need to be seen.

How many battles can a party fight while large groups of Democrats are withholding funding.

Riddle me that.