An Open Letter to Michael & Ralph: Dog John Kerry and the Democratic Party!

Dear Messrs. Michael Moore and Ralph Nader:

I know you two had a falling out, but it's time for you to make up, join hands, and dog John Kerry and the Democratic Party together.

Paucity of voting machines in Black, Latino, and other working-class precincts: "many polling places in inner-city neighborhoods had fewer voting machines than during the last presidential election" in Ohio (Geoff Dutton, "Suburbs Were Busiest, Even with More Machines," Columbus Dispatch, November 5, 2004). 155,428 provisional ballots and 92,672 "spoiled" ballots in Ohio, both predominantly cast by Black, Latino, and other working-class voters. Paperless electronic voting machines. The list of problems goes on and on: see, for instance, Bob Fitrakis, "None Dare Call It Voter Suppression and Fraud" (The Free Press and Dissident Voice, November 7, 2004); Greg Palast, "Kerry Won" (TomPaine.com, November 4, 2004); "CNN Just Changed Their Ohio Exit Poll Page" (DemocraticUnderground.com, November 3, 2004); and Greg Palast, "An Election Spoiled Rotten" (TomPaine.com, November 1, 2004).

Why let John Kerry and the Democratic Party get away with conceding without consulting rank-and-file Democrats, disregarding their votes, ignoring violations of their voting rights? Dog them and make them demand a recount! Make them fight for equal protection!

Better yet, lead activists to stage sit-ins at John Kerry's offices and the Democratic Party offices nationwide and to hold big raucous rallies in front of them.

Begin with Ohio.

Here's the Ohio Democratic Party contact information:

Dennis White, Chair
dennis@ohiodems.org
614-221-6563 x128 (voice)

Dan Trevas, Communications Director
dan@ohiodems.org
614-221-6563 x129 (voice)

Hanna Greer, Executive Director
hanna@ohiodems.org
614-221-6563 x100 (voice)

Address: 271 E. State St. Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-221-6563 (voice)
614-221-0721 (fax)
http://www.ohiodems.org

Then, go to Massachusetts and D.C., pursuing John Kerry.

Office Locations
Washington D.C.
304 Russell Bldg.
Third Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742 - Phone
(202) 224-8525 - Fax
Click here to email Senator Kerry

Boston
One Bowdoin Square
Tenth Floor
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 565-8519 - Phone
(617) 248-3870 - Fax

Springfield
One Financial Plaza
Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 785-4610 - Phone
(413) 736-1049 - Fax

Fall River
222 Milliken Place
Suite 311
Fall River, Ma 02722
(508) 677-0522 - Phone
(508) 677-0275 - Fax

Worcester
90 Madison Place
Suite 205
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 831-7380 - Phone

Make as much ruckus as you can.

This is a win-win situation for all of us.

If John Kerry and the Democratic Party refuse to demand a recount (you know they will), the refusal will expose their commitment to bipartisan plutocracy more clearly than ever in the eyes of all outraged activists in Ohio and other states who care about voting rights. We can win more and more of them to independent political action.

In the unlikely event that John Kerry and the Democratic Party get compelled to demand a recount due to pressures of activists in Ohio and elsewhere, it will help put George W. Bush's so-called "mandate" into question.

If, against all odds, John Kerry demands and gets a recount, wins Ohio, and takes the electoral college majority, the next POTUS will be weaker than if Bush won both the popular vote and the electoral college fair and square.

Whatever happens, you, Mr. Nader, will be able to show all liberals and leftists (many of whom unwisely attacked you or failed to support you in this election cycle) that it is you, not the Democratic Party, who really care about their voting rights, helping them declare independence finally.

You, Mr. Moore, will get to shoot a great documentary. Dude, Where Is My Voting Machine?

Sincerely,

A Nader/Camejo/Green Party Supporter, Columbus, Ohio