To Chairman Howard Dean,
When you were running for president back in 2004, you stated that the people “had the power to take back their country” Well in light of former Senator Mike Gravel being omitted from past debates and now with Congressman Dennis Kucinich being barred from an upcoming debate: Where is the power of the people to decide who they get to hear from? I do not see it, Chairman Dean. This is surely not democracy, but censoring the words coming from both candidates.
Please let me remind you of the bravery shown by both candidates. On one hand you had former Senator Mike Gravel single-handedly end the draft in Viet Nam saving countless lives and shutting down that war. He also exposed the Pentagon Papers showing the criminality of the Nixon Administration. Then you have Congressman Dennis Kucinich at least introducing articles of impeachment against this present administration. No such bravery has been exhibited from any of the top-tier candidates in your party. Candidates like Gravel and Kucinich are the candidates that all Americans deserve to hear from and they should NOT be censored.
Upon losing the nomination and going on to win the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, I wrote to every single New York State delegate on your behalf, Chairman Dean, yet you are mute in standing up for two of your own. Where exactly is your leadership, Chairman Dean? If we are to believe you are the arbiter of a fair and just party, you have only showed your cowardice and complicity in muzzling their voices. Now I am ashamed to have written those letters on your behalf. I have written several columns cheering you on and now wish to take them back.
I do not care what conditions a candidate must meet in order to gain access to these debates, those conditions are set by the parties and the media and not we the people. No conditions should be set when it comes to any message relayed to the American people or have you forgotten that, Sir?! It is ‘we the people’ who get to decide whose message we shall pay heed to and whose we shall dismiss.
I once believed in democracy in this country which is supposed to be the shining star world-wide, but I no longer believe it to be so. I see examples of pure democracy taking place in other countries and we dare to criticize leaders of other countries such as Venezuela. What hubris we as Americans have. The arrogance of the Democratic Party is clearly seen in this move.
Well, Chairman Dean, I left the Democratic Party because I did not see it as being different than the Republican Party. I am now an independent without any party affiliation. The reason I stated that your party is no different is because a few months back the chairman of the Michigan GOP, Saul Anuzis wanted to bar Congressman Ron Paul. Well we the people let him have it and no such move came about. Democracy does take place when the people’s wishes are made known and any official does hear them and more importantly acts upon their expressed wishes and demands. Now where is your voice and power, Chairman Dean?
We the people deserve to hear from candidates like former Senator Mike Gravel and Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Our founders would be ashamed not only at you, your party, the Republican Party, but they would be spinning in their graves seeing a media abridge free speech. They put up a fight and won our independence from tyrants and through blood spilt gave us a wonderful document known as the United States Constitution. It is about time you stand up for this document especially the First Amendment.
I am circulating this letter written to you as a column not only for my blog, but other web sites that choose to publish them. I am also including your contact form: http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/chairman/fcvnzw and phone number: 202-863-8000.
Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
Contributing writer for OpEdNews.com
