A Message to Senator John Kerry:

[David Zephyr]

Let it go, Senator. Just let it go.

You have had my respect for decades in your commitment and willingness to stand up and fight for social and economic justice in our nation. From your heroic and inspiring leadership against the tragic Vietnam War after returning home from fighting there to your consistent and dependable voice in Congress during the Reagan-Bush years in the 1980’s and 1990’s, you always were far more than a just another politician, you were an inspired voice.

Your vote in favor of the War Resolution last year was a mistake. You of all people know this, Senator. You do not need to defend your decision anymore.

The young men and women wearing American uniforms in Iraq today are in the same thankless place you once were. Those that have now left Iraq in coffins or on stretchers need a champion now. They need someone who will raise the very roof of hell against this current Administration who has clearly shown that the blood of American troops is less valuable them than the profits that can be realized by granting of contracts to cronies and family members. Who is speaking for them now?

The great majority of Americans felt the same way you did about going to War with Iraq, Senator Kerry. They were in favor of military action against Saddam Hussein. Those of us who opposed the War from the beginning, who marched in the streets against this War, were the minority. We understand this. We also understand how the Republicans drove the War Resolution to a vote in Congress just in time for the November elections last year. Still, we were more than just disappointed by the Democratic Party’s absence of courage during that decision, we felt betrayed. And yet, there is no solace in having been “right” about the War. How can there be? Our nation…no, our planet is endangered more each day with the policies and actions generated by men like George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, John Ashcroft and Donald Rumsfeld.

The American people are clearly having far more than second thoughts about the current military occupation in Iraq. Every day the support for Bush’s position falls. They were mistaken and are having the same hard time confronting it that you are. So do something about it, Senator. Admit the truth. It will set you free.

You will never get your voice back, your passion back, that fire-in-your-soul back by merely critiquing how the Bush Administration has handled the aftermath of the War. You will not recapture your moral compass back by claiming that you were “misled” into supporting the War either. You will get absolution only by becoming absolute. You made a mistake. Guess what? So did the great majority of the American people. Help them now deal within their own hearts by being a refreshing example to them. What a sea change in public opinion that could take place by your own contriteness. It never ceases to amaze me how people respond to truth---if it is spoken.

Admit you were wrong. And then get mad. The American people were cynically manipulated by fear and lies by the White House into this War. Get mad at how much this War is costing us. Get mad at how many young people are dying. Get mad at how our national image has been damaged in the world community. Get mad at how they still do not have a clue as to how to extract us from this quagmire. And get mad at yourself.

Tell the folks around you that you no longer care about winning if you can’t be the John Kerry that made you proud, made us proud. Tell your campaign staff that if a moment of blunt honesty costs you a shot at the Presidency that then so be it.

Let it go, John. Can you do it?

We need you back again.

--David Zephyr

[mitchum]

1. This is a great post

thank you, David Zephyr

[ibegurpard]

2. I could support that John Kerry without hesitation.

n/t

[Eloriel]

18. Me too. In fact, I'd feel honor-bound to do so.

(Not instead of Dean, but as 2nd.)

Authenticity. Give it a try.

Eloriel

[frank frankly]

3. excellent

well said and respectful.

I agree completely.

Thanks, David!

[jpgray]

4. You are asking a fish to live out of water

Career politicians (this includes nearly everyone running) just do not do this sort of thing. Rather than strike it head on, I believe almost any one of the other candidates would do what Kerry's doing--try to break out of it sideways and hope everyone forgets about it. That's just the way politicians work. Don't hate him for being what he is.

But yeah, I wish like hell he'd do what you say.

:toast:

[WilliamPitt]

5. Extraordinary post

Send it to the campaign. Now.

[Egnever]

6. If only

Well said and agree 100%

I dont know if it is too late or not for him to do this. But It would restore the respect for him I had at one time that is now missing completely.

[kentuck]

7. Bravo David !

Good one!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. Hey Chris Kerry..if you are reading this...give it to John!

:thumbsup: Excellent David!

[JI7]

12. do you mean chris heinz ?

i think you mean chris heinz who is john kerry's stepson. his father is the late senator john heinz. and his mother teresa is married to john kerry.

[frank frankly]

23. yes, him

please pass it on to Senator Kerry.

a whole lot of us here at DU would have been 100% for him without the IWR vote...as explained better above by David.

thanks!

[ChrisHeinz]

36. This letter was delivered this morning.

I dont know how JK will react (I had to fax it to him). I think he feels boxed in on IWR. But I agree with what DZ said and was motivated to pass it along.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

37. JK's vote was correct

it's Bush's way of handling things that was (and is) wrong. John has nothing to apologize for.

[David Zephyr]

41. No Apology Asked For.

I am, by no means, asking John to apologize.

[David Zephyr]

40. Thanks Chris.

Thank you.

[blm]

42. Thanks, Chris. David Zephyr is one of the good souls here.

But, I guess you can tell the sincerity in the post.

[ibegurpard]

9. A big fat kick

:kick:

[Spazito]

10. Wow, well said!

*

[robsul82]

11. Very well said, bro.

"Admit you were wrong. Then get mad" should be hanging above his bed at night.

Later.

RJS

[jumptheshadow]

13. Don't write him off

It's not too late.

Most Americans and most Democrats are still making up their minds.

Howard Dean has hit their radar screens because of the current buzz surrounding his campaign. He's a good man but he does not have this race sewn up yet and his campaign persona is a little too "hot" for the mainstream voter.

On the other hand, you, Bob, and my man, Wes, need to turn the juice up a notch. The others, with the exception of Gephardt, have to get out of the way. They all have important roles to play in our future, but not as our President. Not now.

[aldian159]

14. Great

I work for the Kerry campaign here in Chicago, and i just e-mailed that letter to my boss. Hopefully she'll move it up the line (likely). It's really good. Thanks for writing it.

I gave full attribution, in case you were concerned.

[WilliamPitt]

20. EXCELLENT

Thank you!

P.S. Why won't the Kerry campaign respond to my repeated attempts to get an interview with him?

[aldian159]

22. I don't know, but I'll ask...

n/t

[IndianaGreen]

15. Excellent post

Bobby Kennedy supported the war in Vietnam, but he turned against it. Gene McCarthy supported the war in Vietnam, and he too turned against it. Hubert Humphrey was a cheerleader for the war in Vietnam, and he ended up calling for a US withdrawal.

Wayne Morse was one of two Senators, I don't remember the other one, that voted against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

Admitting that a mistake was made is not fatal, what is fatal is to go in denial mode and continue to support "peace with honor" policies that will bring neither peace or honor.

It's your move, Senator Kerry!

[David Zephyr]

46. Thanks, IndianaGreen.

"Admitting that a mistake was made is not fatal, what is fatal is to go in denial mode and continue to support 'peace with honor' policies that will bring neither peace or honor."

[Hoppin_Mad]

16. Bravo ! -eom-

nt

[woofless]

17. I support John Kerry

and have since before he announced. I agree with your post 100%. Get it out and off your chest. The American people will understand and respond IMO. I avoid all the candidate bashing threads here and am content to wait for the nomination. I will then vote for whomever gets the nomination. No matter who. Kerry can still be that man I believe. Thank you David for your articulate post.

Woof

edit:spelling

[PurityOfEssence]

19. Yes

The macho notion that admission of error is politically fatal is a fallacy. Were he to do this, it would be electrifying.

[Eloriel]

21. David, -- that's one of the most profound things I've read on DU

Thank you.

Eloriel

[DrFunkenstein]

24. In The Darkest Chamber of My Heart

I feel just as you do. It has been a terrible burden having to defend someone who I feel is absolutely the best candidate in the field because he made what I believe in my heart to be a great mistake.

I have said many times that I understand why Kerry voted the way he did - he was confronted with two options that did not represent his own beliefs, and he voted for what he felt was best for the long-term security of the American people. That said, I feel it was wrong to have trusted Bush to any level of competence.

I do not feel that Kerry was part of the "rose gardeners" - the people that just wanted the issue off the table - but, despite his best intentions, he made a mistake.

I also have been genuinely disappointed by the distance Kerry has kept from the anti-war part of the Party. Like most people at DU, I was bitterly opposed to this needless war, and I took to the streets to make my voice heard. At the same time, I recognize that Saddam needed to be held accountable. I don't believe it would have been difficult to reach out to other Democrats like myself - I am certain there are plenty of them out there.

Honestly, I haven't felt that the Jordan wing of the campaign felt much need for grassroots supporters. However, I have talked to other Kerry activists and it seems that the Boston faction has consistently backed the voices from below (I don't mean this literally - there are plenty of DC people that are simply wonderful). I genuinely hope that now that the power has shifted, the campaign will be more openly responsive to input from the front lines.

I'm not sure if it is a politically smart move to admit that it in hindsight it was mistake, like Clark has done, but as matter of my own heart, there is nothing I'd like to hear more. I am sure the other candidates - and the GOP - would respond brutally to such a "flip flop," but it would square things with my conscience.

I have the greatest admiration for the Senator, and have spent months of my life fighting for him - even at a time of great difficulty for myself - because I believe he could actually right the course of the 21st century. I mean that with all my heart. I believe he could change the course of this century.

God, I hope he wins.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

25. That was beautifully said, Dr. Funk

I know you've defended Kerry's IWR vote passionately on this forum, and I also know that you felt uneasy about it, because of your personal convictions.

I will never forget the sense of anger and betrayal I felt after that vote -- by that point, I had already all but given up on the Democratic party, and this vote about sealed it. Knowing what I know about Kerry, I never would have expected him to vote that way. And I know many many Dems who can never forgive him.

I don't expect him to admit his mistake, not at this late hour, but it would be an amazing moment.

[DrFunkenstein]

27. I Actually Taped His Floor Speech Off C-Span

And I just remember watching it and thinking "Holy crap, he's gonna vote "yes." I wrestled within myself for a long time after that vote. As I took apart his arguments, I could see that this man knew exactly what needed to be done in the situation if he were President. Ultimately, I decided that his abilities as a President outweighed his single fault as a Senator - but I also recognized that this was a decision not everyone could come to.

I still have bookmarked about 5 or 6 major IWR threads from back in the day, as I battled through hundreds of posts - taking on a bunch of different people at once (Bruce Lee!) - trying to at least clarify the context of his vote. I felt if people knew the whole story, I could at least know that they made their decision for good reasons. Alot of people at the time - and still now - reject Kerry out of hand without knowing the whole story.

I don't mind if people legitimately disagree, but it drives me nuts when people are so closeminded that they won't even listen. To me, that's the point of DU: to maintain an open mind and work passionately through debate to better our democracy.

Now that I now Kerry's floor speech inside and out, I watch it on tape once again. I can actually point out what asides were not transcribed as I watch it. That would have never happened if I didn't debate with the Dean people, and ultimately I glad for it. I've gotten to really know an impressive man and an impressive mind at work.

I'd give anything to turn back time and put Biden-Lugar on the table. I really feel like the IWR was the only thing that kept Kerry from sweeping up the field. Gore dropped out because he was slipping behind Kerry. Now Kerry's in for the fight of his life, and we'll see just what he's made of.

[woofless]

28. Dr.F

From your mouth to God's ear. Right on!

Woof

[ibegurpard]

29. I said this to you in another thread

And hopefully it won't be hijacked again by the same stupid little knee-jerk twit that did it there: the sentiments you have expressed tonight have done SO much more to make someone like me receptive to both your point of view and the candidate you support than all of the usual stuff you post about Howard Dean. You are one person on this board I never thought I would be saying that I respect but what you've said tonight paints you in a completely different light for me.

[Tatiana]

26. Have you sent this to his campaign yet?

WELL? HAVE YOU?

Phenomenal post. Heartfelt, and oh so very true. If only Kerry would just admit he was wrong... the true would set him free. Win or lose the nomination, at least he would go down fighting like the true champion we all know.

[ibegurpard]

30. another kick

for morning folks
:kick:

[phillybri]

31. Awesome post....

Get it to the Kerry campaign, ASAFP....

:thumbsup:

[IndianaGreen]

32. A proud kick for a great post by David Zephyr

:kick:

[sendero]

33. I fMr. Kerry...

.... could express himself as clearly and openly as you have here, he would not be in this situation.

I'll never for the life of me understand people who cannot admit a mistake. All of us make them. And most people are completely willing to forgive a mistake admitted.

Kerry is not my choice but I do have great respect and admiration for him. I do not think it fair or right that a single vote becomes his definining moment, and yet until he comes to grips with it, that is exactly what will happen.

[Karmadillo]

34. Excellent post. I hope

he gets a chance to read what you've so eloquently written. The potential of Kerry as President is immense and it would be a tragedy if his campaign fails because he decided to forgo the opportunity to speak what he knows in his heart is true.

[mrgorth]

35. I've been asking for him to do this

the campaign has no idea how much weight it would carry. I suggested it on a Kerry yahoogroup and was told to forget about it. I hope he does this. I fear that, instead, he is going to keep complaining about Dean.

[_NorCal_D_]

38. An eloquent,

even-handed letter. Nice work! B-)

[nomaco-10]

39. What an eloquent plea....

that sums up how many of us feel, thank you David. John Kerry was my first choice back a few months ago, I gave him every opportunity to come out with both guns blazing to announce to his constituents "I was duped by bush* over the war and I'm MAD AS HELL". This didn't happen, and then Howard Dean came along, a little known candidate from the small state of Vermont with a fire and and a determination to get this country back on track that excited and exhilarated many of us that thought our voices weren't being heard. When Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich and Bob Graham spoke out against the war during a time when it was tantamount to political suicide, that to me was real bravery. John Kerry was a hero on the battlefield of Viet Nam, but Howard Dean is a hero just the same in my very humble opinion.
Sadly, I think it is too late for John, alot of us have put our enthusiasm and support elsewhere, but John Kerry will always have my respect for his past service to this country and his esteemed career in the senate.

[Jacobin]

43. I'm sorry to say this but your piece has a very misleading assumption

The "vast majority of Americans" did NOT approve of going to war without a UN resolution. We didn't get it. Remember? Smirky swore one week he was going to force a vote and when it became clear that it wouldn't pass, he decided to go to war without the resolution.

Then he dragged the country along, claiming they would be "unpatriotic" if they didn't support the invasion.

Kerry is not supposed to be a babe in the woods and uninformed. He's supposed to be a seasoned United States Senator, an esteemed (formerly) member of a co-equal branch of the federal government.

He tossed his grave responsibility aside and voted for an invasion and gave Smirk the authority to enter into an illegal and idiotic invasion.

He was wrong then.

It is worse now for him to try to spin it.

He voted for a war crime. He should issue an abject apology and do everything in his power to undo the horrid suffering and damage he has caused in this country and in Iraq.

And THIS from a fricking Vietnam vet. It's disgusting

[Uzybone]

44. Excellent

I still think (even with the ridiculous IWR vote) that Kerry is the best in the field. If only he would admit his vote was dead wrong. Do it John!

[Padraig18]

45. AWESOME post!

I can forgive much, once I hear "I made a mistake, and I'm sorry" from someone. Please, Senator Kerry--- I very much want you to regain my respect.

[JohnKleeb]

47. David that was great

[mitchum]

48. kick for eloquence

[HPLeft]

49. You should post this at the Kerry Forum or the Blog

where the campaign staff will read it.

I personally better now understand Kerry's reasons for his vote, and also believe that the threat of force did, in fact, work (as the NY Times reported last week, in its story about the Lebenese-American businessman) - and Hussein did offer to cooperate, even if he didn't have the alleged weapons programs. Who knew that Bush-lite (with Bush 41 being the real Bush) would turn out to be such a bungler, ideologue, and war monger? This invasion is a disaster on almost every front with regard to United States policy - and it is exactly the kind of project that his father would never have attempted.

I'd be fine with Kerry taking heat for his vote if the heat were being dished out equally, and intelligently. Yet, I see Doctor Dean being celebrated as an anti-war candidate, even though he told Salon.com in February 2003 (a full 4 months after Kerry's vote) that:

"if the U.N. in the end chooses not to enforce its own resolutions, then the U.S. should give Saddam 30 to 60 days to disarm, and if he doesn't, unilateral action is a regrettable, but unavoidable, choice."

Fantasy has overtaken reality in this build-up to the 2004 primary season. People are seeing candidates as they want to see them, not as they really are. Empty, cliched rhetoric, anger and emotion have replaced objectivity and common sense. These are terrible indicators for the future of our Democracy, at least in my opinion.