An Open Letter Snail-Mailed to All Democratic Party Candidates


From: Democrats for Regime Change

TO: The Honorable Senator ___

December 23, 2007
Dear Senator,

Ronald Reagan, God bless him, did have one good idea. (Actually someone else originally proposed it, but he championed it.) That idea was his “Eleventh Commandment”: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."

To win the Presidency in 2008, Democrats must adopt that approach; “thou shalt attack no other Democrat.”

We Americans aren’t looking for someone to assert the argument that they will be a good President; we’re looking for someone who is already demonstrating the way they’ll conduct business as President. We need to see the leadership qualities NOW. As a voter, I don’t need to see you fighting for you. I need to see you fighting for me.

I propose that we Democrats embrace the following message:

“We talk about learning from experience. And this experience, of running for President, teaches you a great deal about character, passion, intelligence, and the real life challenges of the people who ARE this great nation.

“You also learn about what drives the content of our process. For example, tonight, yes, this is a forum for our candidates; but it’s also a TV show. And what makes a TV show successful? Conflict. It’s in the interest of broadcast and cable companies for us to fight with each other. It improves their ratings, and gives the talk shows more to talk about. When we fight with each other, they call it ‘great television.’

“However, OUR interest, as Democrats, and as leaders, is to help the people of this country move America forward.

“So I am not going to attack the valiant Hillary Clinton, whose advocacy for the children of this country, and service to our nation make her an important force in our party.

“I’m not going to attack the insightful Barack Obama, whose community activism, energy, and innovative spirit are vital to the renewal of our party.

“How can I attack the compassionate John Edwards, who refuses to stand by while the Bush administration short-changes working people, and starts wars without provocation.

“Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden? Their records of service to this country, and steadfast advocacy for a better America, in the United States Senate, are qualities I support, not attack. They’re the backbone of the Democratic Party.

“In any other circumstance, at any other time, Bill Richardson would be an ally of mine. Here’s a man, passionate about ending the war, who has already faced down world leaders, served in the UN, as Energy Secretary, and as a progressive Governor of New Mexico.

“Mayor and Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s greatest dream is to empower those Americans without a voice in our society. And to bring peace. No one with a conscience can attack that.

“We are Democrats. And we need each other to overcome whatever strategy the Republicans are going to use to try to convince our weary public that what we really need is four more years of incompetence, secrecy and deceit.

“I believe I’m the best choice to lead. So ask me questions. I’ll answer honestly and directly. But not by bickering with people whose work I admire.

“It is time to overhaul this tradition of beating up each other for months at a time, then coming to a convention trying to bind up the wounds we have inflicted on each other.

“My fellow Americans, and my fellow Democrats, we’re not here to see how many punches we can land.

“We’re here to restore hope in America. We’re here to restore America’s moral leadership in the world. We’re here to restore the American dream.”

Thanks for your time,

Democrats for Regime Change