Kossacks! Editors! Grammarians! lend me your help!
I have a letter I want to send to other folks in a person-to-person activism in swing states. (I've signed up for MoveOn PAC's Precinct Partner Program and will do some solo stuff too.) My target audience are the "swing" voters, or the disaffected Republicans who don't know why they should vote for Kerry. I want to focus on security (since anyone focused on domestic issues should be pro-Kerry). I want to be warm, genuine, and not strident. I'd like the letter to build.
Your suggestions and comments are welcome and appreciated. (Right now, it's 2 typewritten pages - don't ask which font.)
Every four years, a miracle of human achievement occurs. At the helm of our country - the greatest and most powerful country on the planet - is the most powerful person on the planet, our President. Every four years, the planet's most powerful person retains or resigns his (or her) power based on our choice - we the American voters. We have not the kings, emperors, or Presidents-for-life that have plagued lesser nations. We have a shining example of democracy that is the admiration of the world. But we need to decide, and we need to vote - all of us - you too.
I have always voted, but I have never before written letters asking others to vote. So many have said this election is the most important in our lifetime. It may be. And yes, as a father of two I am concerned about the domestic issues of education, providing for their future, the economy, jobs, and healthcare. Still, I think there is little question that the over-riding concern for the upcoming election is the safety and security of our nation.
And our world is an ever more dangerous and complicated place. I do not understand how geo-political events affect our national security, and during an election year, it is hard to find non-partisan voices on the subject. As the son of a career-Army officer, I have a great respect for our military leaders and their charge to act in our country's interests while serving whatever party the American people choose. In June of this year, when 27 former military leaders and high-level diplomats, representing every administration since Truman, went public with a caution that America has been weakened under the Bush-Cheney Administration, I listened. These professionals, mostly Republican-appointees, usually consider it their duty to remain non-partisan, and had never before joined to take a public political stand. They did so this year because of their even greater duty to the safety of our country. I read the statements from the "Diplomats & Military Commanders for Change" group, and I was convinced. For the good of our country - America needs a change of leadership. These leaders were moved to act by their duty to country, and I too must do what I can - I am writing you.
Of course the Bush Administration will say they are making us safer. What else would they say? But saying it doesn't make it true.
By now, you may think that I'm against Bush, and that I fear attacks against our nation's image and reputation more than terrorist attacks against our cities, industries, friends, and loved ones. Nothing is further from the truth. Combating anti-American terrorists must be our highest priority, and to ensure this priority becomes policy, I'm not going to vote against Bush in November.
No, I'm not voting against Bush. I'm voting for John Kerry, and I'd like to tell you why.
I didn't vote for Kerry in the Democratic primaries, and I didn't know much about him when he became the frontrunner, so I did some reading on my own. (Who expects to learn anything of value from commercials?) After reading about his lifetime of service and statesmanship, I now hold John Kerry in the highest esteem, and am convinced that as President, John Kerry will be the best President since Roosevelt.
How did I come to this conclusion? Certainly not by listening to the talking heads on TV - they seem to only care about polls, horse races, and hearing themselves talk. I read about John Kerry's thirty years of exemplary public service. Just read a little, and you'll find that John Kerry is a man who emphasizes substance over image, and integrity over political posturing. Often, we wish that someone in government would do the right thing for our country, without worrying about whether it is popular. Consistently, that someone has been John Kerry.
When we needed to end the war in Vietnam, Kerry was a leader in this effort despite the conventional wisdom that being anti-war was suicide for any future political career. Kerry did want to be a politician, but doing the right thing for America was more important. As a young junior Senator in 1988, John Kerry began to disentangle the networks of banks, drug cartels, terrorist organizations, and governments. His BCCI and later Iran-Contra investigations were extremely unpopular, but they were the right thing to do for America. John Kerry's efforts revealed the nature of the growing threats to our country's safety, and the world's stability. After a decade of work in this area, John Kerry's book "The New War" predicted that the nature of the conflicts in which we are now engaged. There are many many more examples of his service to his constituents and the nation, but I recommend you look them up yourself - you'll believe it more.
He doesn't grandstand, he doesn't seek out the spotlight, and he doesn't try to be your buddy. John Kerry leads, John Kerry acts, John Kerry relentlessly does the right thing for our country.
Why am I voting for John Kerry? Given our need to secure Iraq, to battle terrorist groups with complex political and economic networks, and to stimulate a struggling economy, John Kerry truly has the ideal background. Not only does he have proven track record of success in these matters, but at JohnKerry.com, he also has an on-line book with full details of his domestic plans.
I don't trust everything I read, and you shouldn't trust me - look it up for yourself, and decide. Let me know if you find me to be wrong, or just if you would like to discuss this with me. And whatever your decision, please vote!
Praying for a safe and secure future for our country and our children,
PS - If you would like to help get a better leader for America, please pass this
letter on, talk about it with friends, or write one of your own!