A Defining Moment - email from John Kerry

[Feanorcurufinwe]

A Defining Moment

Thank you all -- and thank you to voters from coast to coast who truly did make this a Super Tuesday for our campaign.

With your help, our campaign has reached a defining moment.

I believe that in 2004, with one united Democratic Party, we can and will win this election. If you agree, please contribute now:

https://contribute.johnkerry.com

We have no opportunity to savor today's victories. We must act quickly to respond to tomorrow's challenges.

Democrats face months of effort and challenge. We have no illusions about the Republican attack machine and what our opponents will try to do, but I know we are equal to the task, because this campaign is about replacing doubt with hope, and replacing fear with security. This campaign is about the big issues and great challenges that we face as a nation.

We've come this far by fighting for every vote and answering every challenge, and I want to thank you again for standing with me.

I ask you now: celebrate our victory with a donation of $50 so that we're prepared for the fight ahead.

https://contribute.johnkerry.com

Warm Regards,
John Kerry

I admit it, I am a shameless shill for John Kerry! (btw, if you don't have $50, don't let that stop you, even tiny donations will add up)

If you are still nursing a grudge, and can't bring yourself to contribute to John Kerry, here is an alternative: https://www.moveon.org/donatec4/creditcard.html

Or find a Democratic candidate in a local or state race to help with money or time - we're all in this together!

[jmaier]

1. I agree

Made a donation last night and I'll make another on payday. It's important to get Kerry the war chest NOW and not post-convention since he, and Bush, will no doubt take Federal funds for the last laps of the campaign.


BTW: for Clark supporters, please record your donations to Kerry at www.wesclarkdemocrats.com/kerry_donate.asp

[molly]

2. Done and kick

:kick:

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Or you could donate to your local homeless shelter or food bank

They'll be needing it more than Kerry will.

[ibegurpard]

5. Indeed

I'm sure Kerry has a few more mansions he could mortgage.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Kerry will be moving

into a new mansion soon:




but only if he has our help in evicting the current resident!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Hopefully, that is something you do regularly,not just in an election year

Sometimes difficult challenges require more sacrifice - this is one of those times.


You also need to think about the future - how many more families will be thrust into homelessness if the current Republican assault on America is allowed to continue?

[DuctapeFatwa]

9. Indeed. That is why I suggest it as an alternative

For those who would feel a bit odd writing checks both to the poor and to a man who believes medical treatment should be a commercial product and opposes a living wage, this is an excellent year to give the homeless shelter a little extra.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. You present a false choice

Obviously, it is not a choice between giving to the homeless and contributing to the Kerry campaign.

Your overwhelming imperative to say anything that you possibly can to undermine John Kerry's campaign to beat Bush is showing, lol.

What bizarre motives drive you in this quest? That's what I'm wondering.

Is it simply the misguided and uninformed belief that there is really no difference between the parties?


By the way, it is an absolute falsehood to say that Kerry opposes a living wage. Why are you unable to make your arguments using the truth?

[DuctapeFatwa]

14. His positions are available on his website, and he has been on TV

quite a lot recently, orating on them.

If you support Kerry, focus on his strengths.

A lot more investors vote than people who are being priced out of the housing market.

Kerry's policies are very friendly to both business and investors.

A Living Wage would be less so, which is why shrewd politicians like Kerry opppose one.

He has consistently supported lower capital gains taxes.

Why not focus on that?

Don't think of it as no differences between the parties, think of it as broad bipartisan support for mainstream American values.

Like the crusade. Except I think you are supposed to call it "progressive intervention" now.

Or like empowering low-income Americans to make wise decisions with their personal wealth, and use their cash on hand to pay for medical treatment - Kerry promises them an extra tax break at the end of they year!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. You repeated your falsehood

it was false when you said before, and it is still false, no matter how reasonable you try to make it sound.

Kerry does not oppose a living wage.

Why do you find it necessary to use false statements in order to attack Kerry?

[DuctapeFatwa]

21. Attacking him? Hardly. I am defending his position, although I do not

support him. If you do, why don't you defend it?

A Living Wage would be nothing less than a redistribution of the wealth.

It would involve fundamental changes in the economic system.

Voters, regardless of party affiliation, are generally in the top 25% income tier.

That's no accident, and Kerry is no socialist.

He is a shrewd politician who is well aware that everyday investors are not interested in radical changes in the economic system.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. You can say Kerry is for mining green cheese on the moon,

but that doesn't mean anyone is going to take your misrepresentations seriously. Or that I am required to "defend Kerry's plan to mine green cheese on the moon". lol

You are making false statements about Kerry's position, and I doubt anyone is fooled. But thanks for the kicks to my fundraising thread!


By the way, since you so obviously hope that Kerry does not get elected President, who do you want to be President? Just wondering.

[DuctapeFatwa]

25. I have made no false statements. If Kerry were to advocate a Living Wage

he would alienate most of his base, and give a nuclear warhead of ammunition to the Republican branch of the American political industry.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. You stated that Kerry opposes a Living Wage. That is false.

Sorry, but you'll just have to take responsibility for your statements.

They are right here in black and white in the thread for everyone to see, so compounding things by denying what is in front of everyone is not likely to gain you any credibility.

One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

28. See post 25. He is running for President, not Revolutionary Hero

I don't think you do him a lot of good by trying to paint him as some kind of radical socialist.

He is not, and the fact that he is not is precisely why he has so much support among the voting class.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

31. By making false statements about Kerry, as well as me

you do yourself a disservice, and reveal the utter bankruptcy of your position.

Do you really think anyone reading this thread believes I am "trying to paint him as some kind of radical socialist" ?

That's so pathetic, it's almost not funny.



Sorry, but you'll just have to take responsibility for your statements.

They are right here in black and white in the thread for everyone to see, so compounding things by denying what is in front of everyone is not likely to gain you any credibility.

One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

33. That's an interesting interpretation of what I said

I would suggest to any supporter of any candidate the same thing: focus on his strengths.

Although Kerry has an exceptional talent for ornate and intricate sentence clusters that include memes that can be and are eagerly seized by both his fans and his detractors as evidence that he supports their respective diametrically opposing views on any given issue, no candidate can be all things to all people.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

36. I'm not interpreting at all. You said, in post 9 and post 14

that Kerry is opposed to a Living Wage.

It is not an 'interpretation' to note that as a blatant falsehood.



One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

43. He is opposed to it, and if he wants to win, he better be. Reality check

Don't know if you noticed, but Kerry has gotten a lot more support, a lot more press, and a lot more contributions than any candidate who has called for a Living Wage, health care, or even running the crusade off on UN letterhead and having the crusaders wear blue hats.

A very small percentage of the population votes.

Very few of them are in favor of radically restructuring the economic system and redistributing the wealth, socialized medicine, or peace.

They are much more likely to be everyday investors or business owners than minimum wage workers or homeless people.

Quite a few of them are disenchanted to one degree or another with bush's personality, his manner of speaking, his oily smirk.

Kerry offers the reassurance of maintaining the status quo, enhanced by some very visible cosmetic changes, and a much more attractive presentation of policies that very few people can make sound as palatable as he can.

Kerry does not need the votes of the radical fringe who are as opposed to bush's policies as much or more than they are opposed to his smirk. Nor does he need the votes of the poor. He DOES need the votes of those everyday investors, and he does need the support of business.

Bush's campaign will try to paint him as an anti-war liberal. Most of their campaign will be devoted to that. Do you think they need your help to do it?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

45. It's false no matter how many times you repeat it.

Obviously, the rules do not prohibit making false statements, any more than they prohibit me from pointing out that they are false.

Much has been made of the courageous sit-in, conducted in the University's Massachusetts Hall, which demanded raises for approximately 1,400 of Harvard's employees paid less than a living wage. But on top of giving these workers a shot at a better life, the broad support the sit-in garnered suggests that the Harvard Living Wage Campaign stands as a promising model for nationwide, grass-roots, progressive coalition building.

<snip>

In local and state governments the ability to supply resources and votes is crucial to gaining power, which is why union and minority support is so crucial. Moreover, effective grass roots organizing can form the basis for a resurgence of interest in progressive causes in national electoral politics. In fact, the Harvard sit-in crawled with politicians. Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy visited once and spoke via-cell phone at the victory rally; Democratic Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Paul Wellstone of Minnesota also endorsed the campaign, as did Congressman Barney Frank and numerous local politicians.

The living wage issue is slowly registering on the national radar, and this bodes well for progressive politics -- even as Bush and the Republicans continue their conservative assault. As Ed Chiles, a union representative, said on the last day of the Harvard sit-in, "You have woken a sleeping giant, and that is us." There are promising signs that this "sleeping giant" is an ever-more-powerful progressive coalition, one that may soon make an entrance on the national stage.
Awakening The Giant:How the Living Wage Movement Can Revive Progressive Politics

One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

49. I acknowledge your zeal, but the words do not even appear on his website

Even in the paragraph where he says he supports increasing the minimum wage, a safe enough thing to say, since getting a nickel over a 5 year period through congress could easily take the better part of a 4 year term.

Which is why every Democratic politician says it. It sounds good. Everybody knows that any actual increase will be a token amount, carefully phased in over a period of time, involving a long battle in congress, thus enabling all those who vote for it to brag what magnanimous and bountiful Lords of generosity they are, and at the end, what is delivered is utterly irrlevant to the people who earn minimum wage, who do not, I believe I mentioned, vote in large numbers, and contribute to political campaigns even less.

That is American political reality, that is how the game is played.

bush has $200 million campaign chest. That's not a lot compared to Mrs. Kerry's fortune, but it's not such a pittance that the bush people need you to help them try to paint Kerry as a liberal.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

53. "I am in favor of X" means "I oppose Y" ? That just makes no sense.

You said that Kerry opposes a Living Wage. That is factually incorrect as I have demonstrated with documentation.


Now, you are reduced to insinuating that Kerry is the enemy because his wife inherited money.

One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

56. I have no reason to suppose that he is hiding anything. His website is

available, and anyone interested can read his position statements, which are very cleverly written.

Politics is a business. Candidates are products. Your product is what it is. Focusing on its selling points will be more effective than calling attention to its weaknesses.

The campaign, as you pointed out, is against bush.

It's not about the people changing their government, just a routine asshole transplant.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

59. What are you in favor of? Are you just anti-everything? What should we do?

Since you obviously do not believe that donating money to or supporting in any way Democratic candidates can promote positive change, what are you advocating?

Or are you just trying to remind everyone that you think everything sucks?

Do you believe that is some type of original or insightful viewpoint?

[molly]

11. Why not both? ENABLE those that are down and out

to a winning situation. BTW - JK spoke about a living wage just last evening - I guess you musta missed it? Or, ignored it?

And, could you - would you please explain your statement "man who believes medical treatment should be a commercial product". ?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. Well Kerry believes that the road towards universal health care

begins with expanding coverage under our existing system. He continued statements that health care should be a right, not a privilege, don't sway those who would rather use idealogically pure arguments than actually take steps to help people.

[molly]

13. If anyone has a better plan - let's hear it

(didn't intend to respond to you)

[DuctapeFatwa]

17. Stop killing other people's kids and buy medical care for your own

There's a better plan. It's a lot cheaper, too!

[molly]

19. Excuse me?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. When challenged to provide constructive dialogue

the answer is often this type of emotional attempt to push buttons.

The disheartening truth for those who wish the Democratic party will fail is that we are more united than ever before, and

[oasis]

42. NEWSFLASH!!!! It's over get over it. We are attempting to defeat Bush.

Either lead, follow or kindly step to the sidelines.

[DuctapeFatwa]

50. You are attempting to defeat the man, not his policies

see previous posts, 33, 43, and I think 49

[Feanorcurufinwe]

54. Your viewpoint that Bush and Kerry have the same policies

is unlikely to catch on as a mass delusion here at DU.

One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

58. How are the candidates who supported even a slight deviation from the

status quo doing so far? Do you think Kerry's results in the primaries last night was a mass delusion?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

61. Are you in favor of anything? What is it? What is your alternative?

Many here at DU believe that you are wrong to believe that no good will come from electing John Kerry as president instead of George Bush.

But assuming for the sake of argument that you are correct - what conclusion do you draw from your beliefs? What course do you recommend in favor of, since you are recommending against the course of supporting Kerry?


What are you for?

[DuctapeFatwa]

16. No one can accuse him of advocating "socialized medicine"

that's for sure. Or of abandoning the insurance companies.

[DuctapeFatwa]

15. He mentioned raising the minimum wage, I did hear him. Edwards did too

Edwards was going to raise it a whole dollar fifty.

The average apartment now costs almost 4 times the minimum wage now, according to the government's figures.

A Living Wage would not be in the best interests of businesses or investors.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

20. So if I advocate raising the minimum wage by 'X' amount

that means I am oppose raising it by 'Y' amount? No, that is false reasoning.


For a simple example that is completely within the context of this discussion, take the case of 'Joe' who is employed by 'Mr. Smith' at $6/hour. Joe goes to Mr. Smith and asks for a $1.50/hour raise.

According to your logic, that means Joe is opposed to getting a $10/hour raise, lol.



Perhaps this type of illogical reasoning explains your implacable opposition to the Democratic party.

[DuctapeFatwa]

24. As long as it is not raised enough to keep people in housing when the

"free" market has determined that they are due for being priced out, a token increase in the minimum wage, especially if phased in over several years, can be an effective gesture politically without adversely affecting business.

I have no doubt that a politician with Kerry's skills and experience is well aware of that, and will employ it to advantage.

I think we are discussing two different things here. I understand you have great admiration for Mr Kerry, and for the business of politics.

I am talking about the reality of people who cannot even scrape together a few thou to qualify as an ordinary investor.

What happens to those folks is not really relevant to Kerry's campaign, or to his policies.

That has to do with the natural effects of the transition from capitalism to feudalism, it's unavoidable.

edit typo

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. I think it's funny how the only way you can pretend to dialogue

with me is by completely ignoring everything I say. :eyes:


Your false statements concerning Kerry and the Living Wage do reveal your faulty logic, but they don't shed any light on your motives.


What is it that you are advocating for again? What are the solutions that you propose to the problems we face, and what are the steps we can take towards those solutions?

Who are you hoping will be elected President on November 2, 2004?

These are the relevant questions on a discussion board whose stated purpose is to advance the Democratic party and beat George Bush.

[DuctapeFatwa]

29. LOL I am suggesting that if you support him, defend his positions, focus

on his strong points, on the issues that are important to the voting class, to his base, to investors.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

32. LOL, you are welcome to attack Kerry based on positions he doesn't hold.

Sorry if it upsets you that I point out the inaccuracy of your statements.




One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

35. see post 33

[Feanorcurufinwe]

39. Why? What or who are you FOR? Are you in favor of anything or anybody?

What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[sangh0]

30. He is advocating for a President not a Revolutionary War Hero

by remarking on how Kerry supports increasing the minimum wage, but opposes a Living Wage, and how Kerry supports insurance companies and is against socialized medicine.

Hey, I didn't say it makes any sense. :shrug:

[Forkboy]

34. Amen

[Feanorcurufinwe]

37. Clever

[Forkboy]

40. say what?

I just said amen,what are you reading into that? As someone who has needed the help of a food bank I think DF's idea is excellent.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

44. Charity is good for solving immediate needs

and if DF - or you - believe that the only good that can be done in the world is through alms-giving, I urge you to devote your energies to that cause.

However, most people are sophisticated enough to understand that the beneficial results of giving alms do not constitute a reason to not contribute to the Kerry campaign. :eyes:

[Forkboy]

47. I agree

[Democat]

38. Sometimes you have to look at the long term, not just the short term

It is very possible that getting rid of Bush will do more for the local homeless people than direct donations, in the long run.

It's great to support charities who are doing important work right now, but don't forget the long term goal to make the country a better place so that less people need to rely on charities.

[DuctapeFatwa]

46. see post 43

[Feanorcurufinwe]

48. Why? to read another attack on Kerry as no different from Bush?

Is that the entirety of your message?


One more time, the questions you don't want to answer:


What or who are you FOR? You've made it obvious that you are AGAINST John Kerry. Are you simply opposed to everyone and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[DuctapeFatwa]

51. He is a much better speaker, much more telegenic, taller, and I believe I

have mentioned, has a most extraordinary talent for putting the most appalling policies into much nicer words.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

57. We get it- you are against Kerry.Who or what are you FOR? Anti-everything?

Are you just anti-everything and everybody? What are your goals? What are some possible solutions to the problems we face and what steps can we take to work toward those solutions?

[oasis]

41. I have given and will give more. Those who won't please don't hamper our

efforts here.

[Adelante]

4. I will be giving monthly

to John Kerry's campaign.

LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS! - The Magistrate

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[BootinUp]

7. I am about due

for my second contribution to Sen Kerry.

[Tank in Texas]

52. I thought Kerry...

...had plenty of money already. Hmmm.

oh well, if he is the nominee he'll get my vote in Nov.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

55. Nope, we need your help, your Texas vote is unlikely to do much.

[Tank in Texas]

60. Don't Concede Texas!

I believe that anyone whom thinks we should forget about doing battle in Texas once a nominee is chosen is certifiable. Bush carried Texas in 2000 but there are NO guarantees he will in 2004. Even if we, as Texas Democrats, don't manage to defeat Bush in the Presidential race, we can make enough noise down here that his campaign feels he has to spend money in the state that is money he won't have elsewhere.

In addition to that, by offering hope to Texas Democrats we can get more people out to vote and make certain we keep our Congressional Dems IN OFFICE despite the Republicans' redistricting fiasco.

John Edwards was about believing everything is possible. That's one big reason I supported him. I can only hope the nominee feels the same. I have met so many Democrats in the last few months that have a defeatist attitude- some even going as far as giving Bush 2004 and concentrating on the halcyon of Hillary in 2008. That is NOT GOOD ENOUGH in my opinion. I have done whatever I can, person-by-person to change these peoples' minds. ACTION follows BELIEF- the only way you can exert your will to make changes in the world is if at first you BELIEVE your goal can be achieved.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

62. I'd have more hope to win Texas

if I heard about Texas Dems ponying up some cash for the cause, ;)

I concede nothing, my main goal in life right now is to win Montana for Kerry, for example. But really, the fact is, Kerry does not have all the money he needs, far from it. Even five bucks would help: http://contribute.johnkerry.com

[Tank in Texas]

63. Tell ya what...

... if he picks a good VP I'll pitch in five.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

67. I'll take whatever I can get, lol.

[Walt Starr]

64. Not one penny, not one second of time

Nothing but my vote.

That's all he gets.

[WillyBrandt]

65. I will both work hard for Kerry, and donate to him because

I don't want a destroyed Seoul or a war in Syria. Or a busted budget.

It's for America far more than it's for Kerry.

[Walt Starr]

66. I cannot give anything more than my vote

and he gets that only grudgingly.

NBMV

Nothing But My Vote