Conyers endorses Bonifaz for Secretary of the Commonwealth!

[paineinthearse]

by email



Dear Friends,

Congressman John Conyers, Jr. announced today his endorsement of John Bonifaz for Massachusetts Secretary of State. Below is the press release we issued today on this exciting news. And for other updates on our campaign, visit our website at www.johnbonifaz.com.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 28, 2006

CONGRESSMAN CONYERS ENDORSES BONIFAZ FOR MASSACHUSETTS SECRETARY OF STATE

BOSTON, MA - Congressman John Conyers, Jr., the second most senior member in the United States House of Representatives, announced his endorsement today of voting rights leader John Bonifaz for Massachusetts Secretary of State.

"In the wake of Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004, it is more important than ever that we have a Secretary of State like John Bonifaz who will fight for our democracy," said Conyers (D-MI), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Congressman Conyers and Bonifaz have worked closely together in fighting to protect the integrity of the electoral process, and in challenging the Bush administration on its illegal war in Iraq. In December 2004, Bonifaz, the founder of the National Voting Rights Institute, joined Conyers for hearings the congressman held in Columbus, Ohio, and in Washington, D.C., on the irregularities of the 2004 election in Ohio. Bonifaz led the fight in the courts for a full recount of the 2004 presidential vote in Ohio. The recount fight contributed important evidence to the report Conyers issued, "Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio," which led to the historic challenge in the US Congress in January 2005 to the counting of Ohio's Electoral College votes.

In February 2003, Bonifaz served as lead counsel for Conyers and other Members of Congress, along with US soldiers and parents of US soldiers, in a federal lawsuit in Boston challenging President George W. Bush's authority to launch a first-strike invasion of Iraq absent a congressional declaration of war or equivalent action. In June 2005, Bonifaz joined Conyers again as a key witness testifying on the Downing Street Minutes in hearings the congressman held in the basement of the US Capitol. The Downing Street Minutes, first reported by the London Sunday Times, revealed that the Bush Administration had decided, as of July 2002, to invade Iraq and that the "intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."

"John Bonifaz has been a remarkable asset to me and to the nationwide movement to hold the Bush Administration accountable for its abuses of power," Conyers said in his announcement today. "Massachusetts deserves a strong, proven leader like John Bonifaz. Our country needs to elect more principled progressive candidates like John Bonifaz."

"I am deeply honored to receive this endorsement today from Congressman Conyers," said Bonifaz. "Congressman Conyers is an extraordinary human being with a long history of standing up for what is right. He believes, as I do, that we must fight to return voters to power and to uphold the basic promises of our democracy. I am proud to stand with him."

To read the full text of the Conyers endorsement, go to: http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000413.htm


P.O. Box 300007, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 - www.johnbonifaz.com - [e-mail]

Blogged by JC on 03.28.06 @ 08:47 AM ET


Meet John Bonifaz, Running for Massachusetts Secretary of State
My dear friend, John Bonifaz, is running for Secretary of State of Massachusetts and he needs our support. Some of you may recognize John from his work with me as...

My dear friend, John Bonifaz, is running for Secretary of State of Massachusetts and he needs our support. Some of you may recognize John from his work with me as a panelist on my Downing Street Minutes basement hearings. He also was an ally of mine in Ohio where he led the fight in the courts for a full recount of all the votes cast for President in the 2004 general election.

Meet John Bonifaz.

John Bonifaz has been a remarkable asset to me and to the nationwide movement to hold the Bush Administration accountable for its abuses of power. Massachusetts deserves a strong, proven leader like John Bonifaz. Our country needs to elect more principled progressive candidates like John Bonifaz.

Any race for statewide office requires funds – and this race is no exception. John is challenging an incumbent in this race – an entrenched incumbent. Your early donation is critical to John's campaign. Massachusetts campaign finance law allows individual contributions up to $500 per calendar year, and your support this month is critical.

I urge you to visit his campaign website today and to contribute as generously as you can.

I am proud to stand with John, and I hope you will join me in supporting him. Visit his campaign website today to learn more about his work:

1. Founding the National Voting Rights Institute;
2. Defending the Massachusetts Clean Elections Law; and
3. Drafting the Voters' Bill of Rights.

In the wake of Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004, it is more important than ever that we have a Secretary of State like John Bonifaz who will fight for our democracy. I hope you will join me today in supporting this campaign for Massachusetts and for the nation.

[Kat45]

1. That is so cool!

You NEVER see endorsements, especially from out of state, for races like Secy of State. As I've said here before, I'm very impressed with Bonifaz, but he does have an uphill battle; perhaps endorsements like Conyers' will get people to look at him, then they'll like what they see.

[paineinthearse]

2. Are you aware he was endorsed by Rep Jesse Jackson?

A couple weeks ago.

[Kat45]

3. No! I hadn't heard that! That's great!

Thanks for letting me know. Hope the momentum builds.

[paineinthearse]

4. ....and others

details at www.johnbonifaz.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter.

[Kat45]

5. I though I had signed up when I saw him speak.

Maybe they couldn't read my writing when I wrote my e-mail address. :shrug: