Nervous Progressives for Kerry

Dear John

We write to you representing the liberal, progressive, and voting citizens of the United States of America that support your candidacy for president. We are the voters who pride ourselves on accepting nothing less than complete economic justice and civil rights for our citizens, and a commitment to peace and fair trading practices abroad. We are writing to you because we fear that if we cast our votes for you in November we will dangerously compromise these values and give our country four more years of the same.

Under different conditions many of us would be supporting Ralph Naders independent candidacy or David Cobb of the Green Partys candidacy. We have chosen not to do so because we have fallen in line with the Anybody But Bush rhetoric that exists in much of todays left-leaning politics which proclaims that a vote that isnt for you is effectively a vote for Bush. Indeed, George W. Bush represents the worst qualities of American politics. Corporate greed, unfair discrimination, unilateral and militaristic empire-building, and a continued exploitation of Americas working poor have all flourished under the Bush Administration. But we still need to be assured that you will do everything you can to reverse these trends.

In this years primaries, many of us voted for Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton, or Howard Dean. We did so because we were tired of Democrats who sell out their principles just to seem more centrist or electable. Kucinich's continued support for the establishment of a Department of Peace, Sharptons vocal support of civil rights and economic development, and Deans steadfast opposition to the war are all representative of what we as progressive, voting citizens demand from our government. We do not want to settle for anything less.

We are concerned that a vote for you in November is a vote for the militaristic status quo. We agree with what you said in your interview with Rolling Stone: Bush fucked up the war in Iraq. But will you play the Good Cop to Bush's Bad Cop, continuing an immoral, violent, and unpopular occupation of Iraq because youre afraid to appear soft compared to the militarism of the Bush Administration? Estimates of civilian deaths in Iraq as of August 1, 2004, range from 11,000 to 37,000. Estimates of U. S. money spent in the war are currently above $125 billion. Will these numbers continue to increase under your administration?

We are concerned that a vote for you in November is a vote for the discriminatory status quo. When the Senate defeated Bushs discriminatory Constitution al amendment, it was not a victory for equal rights so much as a rain delay. Many of us live in states that will be voting to outlaw same-sex marriage. Some of these states have decided to put the issue up for a referendum in November. How much sense does this make? The rights of a discriminated aga inst minority are being put in the hands of the popular majority. With much work left to be done to eliminate heterosexism in this country, do you honestly believe that forfeiting the decision over same-sex marriage to our opponents is the correct strategy to ensure civil rights?

We are concerned that a vote for you in November is a vote for the corporate controlled status quo. You like to mention how you think that health care is a right, not a privilege, but how does this rhetoric jive with your acceptance of over $3 million in campaign contributions from the corporate health car e industry or your acceptance of the current for-profit, investor-owned system?

The list of our objections to many of the decisions you have made during this campaign could go on and on. Yet we will still vote for you because we believe that you are not only the best chance for defeating George W. Bush, but for championing progressive values for our country. We remain skeptical because of your votes for war in Iraq, votes for the Patriot Act, votes for Plan Columbia, and so on. We remain skeptical because corporate influence over both the Democratic and Republican parties is worse t han ever. Please dont sell us out over the next four years. We progressives have had to make a huge sacrifice in supporting your candidacy, and we do not want to be taken for granted. Consider this an opportunity not only to take back the country, but also to take back the voters who are di sillusioned with the Democratic Party and politics in general.

When you are elected in November, we will be the vigilant citizens who know that it is not so much a victory for progressivism but a rain delay for politics-as-usual. It will be your decision to call the game off or to contin ue to be in the pockets of corporate backers and the military-industrial complex.

We, the undersigned, pledge to vote for you in 2004, and we hope that your administration does not make us abandon you in 2008.