URGENT-- CONTACT THE DNC NOW!!!

[no name no slogan]

Here's a message from the Progressive Caucus of MN, which is a group of DFLers concerned about peace and progressive issues.

The DNC has said that they have not heard from any "peace people" yet about the Iraq war, so consequently they're not paying any attention to it as an issue. Let's show them that rank and file Democrats DO care about the sovereignty and future of Iraq!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

This is an urgent message letting you know that the Democratic Party needs to hear from you by this Wednesday, June 16. At that time the Democratic Platform Committee will begin to chart the Party's course.

Your input is VITAL!
Currently, it is the impression of the Party that we Democrats do not care about a strategy to get out of Iraq. Together we can correct this misconception by reaching our goal of sending 10,000 email messages to the Democratic National Committee at http://democrats.org/platform/index.html. Do this with the same urgency you felt before the war started when you joined the world's biggest peace demonstrations ever. It is that important.

While it's true we could not stop the war, we still have an opportunity and a responsibility to influence the manner in which we withdraw from it. No longer will the Democratic Party be able to say that the peacemakers have been all but silent on this issue; we will clearly tell the DNC that:

* The US must withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible and with the best interest of the Iraqi people and US soldiers and allies in mind.
* Iraqis must be able to govern themselves.
* Iraqis must control their own assets.
* Iraqis must be able to hire contractors of their own choosing for the purposes of rebuilding their infrastructure.
* The US must pay for rebuilding Iraq.

Make a difference in the minute it takes to send an email!
To do this, go to http://democrats.org/platform/index.html. to send the DNC a message using their web email form. Either write your message in your own words, or copy and paste the sample letter below. Additionally, let the DNC know if you're a representative or official in a peace organization or the Democratic party. Together let us take the next step toward a long-term goal ofpeace and social justice for all.

Help us measure our success!
Send a quick email to [e-mail] and let us know that you contacted the DNC about this issue.

PLEASE BE SURE TO FORWARD THIS TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LISTSERVS YOU ARE A MEMBER OF!

Thank you for your help!

View a sample letter here.

[FloridaPat]

1. Thanks Done.

[no name no slogan]

3. Thanks! (n/t)

[sui generis]

2. what a bunch of horsecrap

I have written the DNC, and others both here on DU and in real life have written the DNC about their lack of a position on the war. If they "haven't heard" then they are clearly selectively hearing.

[no name no slogan]

5. Yeah, that's what they've said

At the New Orleans meeting a couple weeks ago, they said that nobody from the "peace community" had contacted them to testify-- whoever the hell the "peace community" is (I would think if you prefer peace to war you'd automatically be a member of the "peace community").

IMHO this is a HUGE issue that we can use against the Repubs in November. To ignore it or brush it under the rug is to lose one more key difference between the Dems and Reps. After all, most Democrats in the House of Reps voted AGAINST the IWR, as did many Senate Dems. And those Senate Dems who did vote for the IWR are now aware of what a scam it was by BushCo.

I just hope there's enough time for the party to listen to us...

[Robbien]

8. I have sent dozens of emails to them

And I know many people have. The DNC will continue to walk the GOP-lite party line even if they received a million responses from center-left voters.

[benburch]

4. Done! eom

...

[LisaM]

6. They "haven't heard" because they don't include it in their surveys!

I did go ahead and make a submission, and I mentioned that. I get survey after survey after survey loaded with issues for me to rank and peace/war issues are never on them.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. When did the DNC say that it had not heard from any 'peace people?'

:shrug:

[goodhue]

10. See June 6 NYT article re Baton Rouge platform meeting

No one with a distinct antiwar view testified, and none asked to do so, said the executive director of the platform committee, Peter Choharis.

NATIONAL DESK | June 6, 2004, Sunday
THE 2004 ELECTION: THE PLATFORM; Democrats Seek a Stance on Iraq That Won't Split Party
By DAVID E. ROSENBAUM (NYT) 701 words

You have to pay to access it at this point I'm afraid, but it went around various list serves when it came out. (Mods please excuse my slightly exceeding four paragraphs here in order to hit highlights):

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/06/national/06platform.html

June 6, 2004
THE PLATFORM
Democrats Seek a Stance on Iraq That Won't Split Party
By DAVID E. ROSENBAUM

BATON ROUGE, La., June 5 - The Democratic Party took the first, tentative step on Saturday toward writing a platform plank on the war in Iraq that it hopes will distinguish Democrats from the Bush administration without creating the divisions that afflicted the party during and after the Vietnam War.

* * *

"I don't know of any serious person, especially John Kerry, who's advocating cutting and running," Mr. Hart said. "We're going to have to be there for a long time."

* * *

"Vietnam divided our party, and it has continued to divide our party," Mr. Hart said. But Senator Kerry, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, "bridges the gap that separated our party in Vietnam more than anyone else I know," he added.

* * *

Democrats this year seem determined to avoid a repeat of the divisions of 1968 and 1972. The witnesses on Saturday, in addition to Mr. Hart, included retired generals, academic authorities on foreign affairs and representatives of veterans organizations.

No one with a distinct antiwar view testified, and none asked to do so, said the executive director of the platform committee, Peter Choharis.

Robert L. Borosage, co-chairman of the Campaign for America's Future and the organizer of a conference of liberal policy advocates in Washington this week, said the people on the party's left were supporting Mr. Kerry fully even if they did not agree with him on Iraq.

"People aren't geared up to have the old, big, divisive fights we used to have," Mr. Borosage said. "Bush so much organizes the left that nobody is paying much attention to Kerry's positions."

Mr. Kerry's position is that Mr. Bush made a mess of Iraq by not having a sound plan and not enlisting more international support. But now that the United States is so heavily involved, Mr. Kerry would keep occupation forces in Iraq indefinitely, increasing the number of troops there in the short term, while reaching out for more assistance from allies.

[no name no slogan]

11. At the platform committee meeting in New Orleans a couple weeks ago

They said that no "peace groups" had asked to testify in front of them. It's possible a group didn't petition to testify, but they also didn't ASK for any groups to testify, either, and they didn't exactly spread the word that they wanted any testemony, either.

Besides, it's not just the organized groups, either. It's individuals who may not be affiliated with a group that need to speak up, too. But that's nearly impossible to do in the way that they structure the committee meetings-- they're deliberatly structured to make it difficult to testify.

[sandnsea]

12. New Orleans???

You're getting all in a tizz over what Democrats from Louisiana think? And trying to make that into a statement about the DNC in general? :crazy: Do you seriously think this gives you credibility when you make stuff up this way?

[goodhue]

13. The DNC Platform Committee met in Baton Rouge on June 5th.

Please blame the DNC for the crazy location, not NNNS! :crazy:

[no name no slogan]

15. thanks, goodhue!

I guess not that many people know about these meetings, judging by responses.

[sandnsea]

21. My sincerest apologies

I didn't understand, I thought it was the Louisiana Democratic Party. I'm usually the one who gets mad at other people for not clicking the link and reading thoroughly. Shame on me. :dunce:

[no name no slogan]

23. No worries

If I were trying to convince the Louisiana Democrats of something, I would hope you'd be there to dopeslap me into my senses. ;)

[goodhue]

14. DNC Platform Committee Schedule

In case anyone is unfamiliar with the DNC Platform Committee and its schedule of ongoing meetings across the country, here it is (BTW, the June 11 Columbus, Ohio meeting was cancelled because of Reagan death):

http://democrats.org/platform/schedule.html

Platform Events Schedule
May 22 :: Portland, OR
"Securing Our Homeland"
From improving port security to funding first responders, Democrats know how to make America more secure. Drafting Committee Members will hear from police and firefighters, public health officials, and community leaders about how to address America's homeland security.

June 5 :: Baton Rouge, LA
"Protecting America's National Security"
Democrats will protect America through strength and leadership. Experts in national security and U.S. veterans will testify about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terror, nuclear proliferation and other national security topics.

June 11 :: Columbus, OH
"Achieving Economic Strength"
* This hearing has been canceled due to the commemoration of President Reagan. The topics of the Columbus hearing will be included in the Drafting Committee Hearing in Santa Fe on June 18-19.

America will never be secure with record unemployment, lost manufacturing jobs, huge budget deficits, beleaguered rural communities, and unfunded education mandates. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, workers, farmers, economists, and educators will tell their stories and share their ideas for restoring America's prosperity.

June 18 - 19 :: Santa Fe, NM
"Progress for All"
Tens of millions lack health care, Social Security and Medicare remain in jeopardy, civil rights protections are in jeopardy and the environment is in danger. Democrats understand that we cannot prevail against enemies abroad, if we ignore social problems at home. Health care providers, seniors, environmentalists, civil rights workers, and others will testify about how to protect our citizens and the environment.

July 9-10 :: Miami, FL
"A Plan for America" — Meeting of the Full Platform Committee
The Platform Committee will meet in Miami at a location to be determined. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Los Angeles City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa are the Chairs of the 186 member Platform Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the draft and recommending a proposed National Platform for approval at the Democratic National Convention. The Committee's Report will be voted on by the delegates to the Convention.

[goodhue]

16. Just to be clear, a few more words about the platform process

There are really two different bodies--the Drafting Committee and the Platform Committee. The Portland, Baton Rouge, cancelled Columbus, and Santa Fe meetings are hearings of the drafting committee. The Platform Committee itself will meet in Miami and ostensibly approve the work of the Drafting Committee. DNC Delegates in Boston will vote on the report of the Platform Committe.

The Platform Committee has 186 members but generally they have little opportunity to affect the substantive content of the platform other than by voting on proposed draft in Miami.

The 16 member Drafting Committee actually have some ability to shape the platform draft in a meaningful way. The 16 drafting committee members are:

U.S. Representative Rosa L. DeLauro of Connecticut

U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley of Nevada

U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon

U.S. Representative Hilda Solis of California

Tallahassee Mayor John Marks

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Bill Perry

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of HUD Roberta Achtenberg

Michigan Education Association President Lu Battaglieri

Clayola Brown International Vice President of UNITE

New Mexico businessman Bill Garcia

West Virginia AFT President Judy Hale

Former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Bill Lann Lee

Kevin O'Connor with the International Association of Fire Fighters

AFL-CIO Public Policy Director Chris Owens

Paul T. Williams, Jr., Attorney

[genius]

17. They are lying. They have heard from us and they know we know.

I know virtually everyone who is in the DNC from California. Maxine Waters, who wants peace, is on the DNC. Clearly someone high up in the DNC just wants to silence us by pretending we don't exist. It's time we got a new chairman.

[MaggieSwanson]

18. Thanks and done! nt

[no name no slogan]

19. Thank you maggiefaye!!! (nt)

[JayS]

20. I call but all I get is the message...

...Insert Coins. :)

[missedherniceguy]

22. Why bother? They know we will vote Kerry no matter what

They have us by the nads.

[no name no slogan]

24. Thanks to all who have written!!!

Our initiative was also picked up by www.ProgressiveVote.org, and distributed across the country! We've received an overwhelming response so far, and are continuing our effort to convince Kerry that discontinuing the occupation is a winning issue for him.

:toast: