Bringing Dean supporters over to Kerry
I spent this afternoon (it took a surprisingly long time — pretty much the whole afternoon) writing this letter. What do you think?
You may remember one of the things we talked about was wooing Dean
supporters, and that I believe it would be harmless for Kerry to
sing Dean's praises. It could make a very big difference for him
to turn all of those depressed, weary Dean supporters, each worth
a single grudging vote, back into active, enthusiastic volunteers.
The way to do it is to appeal to their sense of empowerment.
Empowerment is what drew most people to Dean; it was a stronger
draw than the issues. Most Dean supporters disagreed with Dean
on a few of his positions, but they didn't mind because Dean told
them they had a voice. Everyone felt like they could really have
an impact on the country. That is what Kerry must get across.
The theme of empowerment can carry over to his platform. I think
if Kerry were to talk about ideas for opening up government and
engaging citizens in dialogue with the White House, that would
excite a lot of Dean supporters and voters in general. Putting
this all together, I imagine he could stir up a great deal of
support by saying something like the following. I'd like to know
what you think, and if you like these ideas, please pass them on
to people who might be able to influence what he talks about, if
you can. Thanks!
"I respect Howard Dean, and I want to thank him for reviving
the debate in this country. We've had our differences in the
past, but what's more important are the things we have in common
with each other. We both want affordable healthcare, a well-
funded education system, and a fair tax system. We both believe
that all Americans should enjoy equal rights regardless of gender,
race, or sexual orientation. And we both believe in rejoining
the international community and working together with other
nations to ensure the safety and security of our people.
"But there is something else I want to tell you about. Howard
Dean and his campaign have taught me something very important.
He said it, and now I will say it, because we all know it is
true: You Have The Power.
"I know what you're thinking. He took Dean's line! (laugh)
Well, yes, that is Howard Dean's line. But you know why i'm
saying it? Because — he is right.
"The government of this country must listen to its people. And
the government of this country must be held accountable to its
people. And the people of this country need to believe in that.
"The people of this country want a President who is strong enough
to stand up for ordinary Americans, stand up against the special
interests and the corporate control of politics. A President who
is not too arrogant to listen to his own people. A President who
recognizes that the People have the Power.
"As President, I will start a comprehensive program to open up
government and bring citizens into the governing process. This
program will have three parts:
- First, we will help the government listen. President Bush
is living the politics of the past. He would rather be
ignorant of what the people are thinking and saying. But
the Democratic party realizes that there is a tremendous
change happening right now. The Internet is connecting
people like never before, people are getting involved like
never before, and so many more people are talking, learning,
and listening. But right now, the government is left out
of this conversation. We have a great opportunity here.
We can use technology to bring people into the process and
give them a voice in a way they have never had before. Today
White House staffers read e-mail messages one by one, and all
you might get is a form letter or no response at all. We can
and must do much better than that.
- Second, we will make government more open. Future
politicians will find it much harder to engage in the kind
of deception we have seen in the current administration.
Projects like Vote Smart are a great step in this direction.
We must keep doing better. As President, I will support
nonpartisan efforts to provide better information about the
decisions we make in government and how they are made. And
I don't just mean more information, I mean better information.
- Third, we will ensure that voters are enfranchised. This
means reviewing election procedures and equipment and making
them reliable and verifiable. It also means protecting
elections from manipulation, and finding better ways for
voting systems to represent people's wishes. It is a disgrace
that our system forces people to vote for candidates they
don't like, and that gerrymandering renders votes meaningless.
As President, I will take steps to make sure every vote counts
and that votes continue to count even after I leave office.
"The power of Dean's campaign, and the power of every campaign,
lies in its people. Now I am telling you: you have the power to
change this government, take it back from the special interests,
and make it a government of the people, by the people, and for the
people once again. This campaign is ready to listen to you, and
starting next year, we will make a government that listens to you.
"We are going to do something extraordinary this summer and fall,
everyone. We are going to give the American people a reason to
get involved and be proud of their country's government again.
"All of us are going to have to work together, and work very hard.
I want to thank you, for how hard you have worked and how far you
have brought us so far. But I'm sure you all know that there is
so much ahead of us, so much more to do. Every single one of you
can make a difference. Host meetings; talk to your friends; visit
my website at johnkerry.com to organize your own events and groups.
Use your power, and we will win. Thank you very much."