Kerry Donates 1 Million to DNC; Rest May be used for 2008 Bid

[Corey_Baker08]

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) is contributing $1 million to the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) to support efforts by the next chairman, Howard Dean (news - web sites), in building grassroots support for the party at the state level.


Reuters
Slideshow: Democratic Party




"Join me with a contribution of your own to show the incoming DNC chair that you want to support organizing in your own community," Kerry wrote in an e-mail to about 3 million supporters on his e-mail list.


"A new DNC chair will be elected at the end of this week," Kerry wrote of his onetime political rival. "Let's make sure he has everything he needs to start strong."


Kerry said Democrats need to have strong organizations at the state, local and precinct levels. Republicans were very effective at grassroots organizing in the last election.


EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Larkspur]

1. The difference between Dean and Kerry raising money on the Internet

is that Dean has natural charisma and Kerry only got it after Dean got ambushed in Iowa. Dean broke Clinton's fundraising record twice in 2003 in a 9 person field. Kerry didn't set it until after all his major contenders were out of the race.

Kerry also forgets that he got most of his money from ABB types who wanted bush out, not Kerry fans. ABB expired after the election ended on Nov. 2, 2004.

[Corey_Baker08]

2. Kerry received Money by the ppl who supported him.....

The fact remains the money Kerry did receive was by people who did support him for President, Democrat, Republican, Independent, ABB it doesn't matter, anybody that donated wished him the best of luck as President.

Dean and Kerry are on the same page now with Dean being the DNC Chair he no longer can run for President in 08 so I think its time for the disgruntled Deaniacs to get over it (not speaking to you directly)

[sybylla]

3. I find it curious.

Since the 2000 selection, most DUers turn purple when some conservative tell them to "get over it, Bush won."

And yet, many of those very same people happily tell "Deaniacs" to get over it as if they are blind to the condecension and hypocrisy in it. (not speaking to you directly)

[Corey_Baker08]

4. I Understand what your saying.....

Your basically saying that I'm a hypocrit for trying to unite the deaniacs with the rest of the party. If you ask me Deaniacs are almost as bad as Republicans, they are constantly nagging about how if it weren't for that "flip flopper" kerry being nominate Howard Dean would be President

Those are the hypocrits, the people that vote for Kerry only to turn around and trash him because he did not win when they could have had Howard Dean. Its about having faith in your party, letting go of the past and progressing towards the future as Democrats, not disgruntled Deaniacs and Kerry bashers.

[sybylla]

5. (not speaking to you directly)

on edit: yeah, criticism is the first rule of unity. :wow:

[Larkspur]

6. I don't have faith in the Democratic Party nor the Democratic Leadership

The Democratic Leaderhsip has led the Democratic Party into minority status. Why should I support Bush-lite Dems, like Kerry and Lieberman
? I don't have to and I certainly can critisize Kerry, Lieberman, and other Hill Dems who think becoming Republican is the answer to the Democratic election win drought.

I'm telling you this now, I, a CT Demomcratic voter and member of my town's Dem Committee, will NOT be voting for Joe Lieberman for senator in 2006. I will be writing in Rachel Corrie's name instead. There is no way I'm suporting pro-war, pro-Israeli-brutality, pro-corporate Joe any more.

Robert Greenleaf, who developed the Servant Leadership paradigm, said that followers are not to be sheep following the herd. Followers are there to enable leaders and that means we participate in the decision making process. When leaders, like Kerry, Lieberman, etc. act like aristocrats and hold the people with disdain, that is when these clowns should not be followed because they have their own ambitions, not the people's interests in mind.

On the otherhand, you have a leader, like Howard Dean, who trully acts like a Servant Leader and seeks to empower his followers, instead of using his followers to enrich himself.

I thank the Goddess that I never donated a penny or a minute to Kerry's campaign. He sat on $10 million that he should have used to go after Bush. It just shows you that he had no faith in those that claimed to support him. If he did trust his supporters, he would have exhausted that $10 million fighting Bush, and if he needed more to fight vote fraud, he could have asked his followers for more. But he chose the cowards way out and Bush is still sitting in the White House today.

[Corey_Baker08]

7. Republican Lite?

Listen, I will be a first time voter in 2008 because I'll be 18. I know that it is time to regroup and revitalize the Democratic party. I also would never vote for Liberman, I have seen the stuff he has been doing as of late but what I dont get is why you would never vote for Kerry and call him Republican lite, thats ridiculous.

Kerry was one of the few Democrats that voted against Condi and Gonzales, hes continuing to fight their budget, their healthcare and their tax plans along with many others. That to me is not Republican lite. To ay that you didnt donate single dollar to his campaign is absolutley your choice, but when you proudly go around flaunting that I believe that shows the Republican Lite in you.

In my beliefs if you call yourself a Democrat you should act and support your fellow democrats including but not limited to the Kerry campaign running for President.

[sybylla]

8. Seig Heil

Lock step only stifles input. The Democratic party is a party of people, not politicians. We define ourselves from the bottom up, not the top down. If you think politicians never forget that, you need another social studies class. If politicians never forgot it, we wouldn't be out here criticizing our own representatives and there would be no such thing as DINO and Republican Lite.

Personally, I think if you call yourself a Democrat, then you VOTE Democratic. The rest is earned.

And I think if you run for President, you don't leave any money on the table. You honor those who nominated you, who contributed to your campaign, worked on your campaign, bought materials from your campaign, wrote letters to the editor on your behalf and more by giving the effort all you have. REAL candidates don't leave any money on the table.

[Corey_Baker08]

9. I Know What The Democratic Party is...

If you think that because I am only 15 that I dont know any of what im talkin about your wrong. Don't tell me what the Democratic party is because my family is the heart and soul of the Democratic Party. I am not some snob kid trying to be a big shot on here I am a 15 year old living in OH with 2 layed off parents from their Ohio manufacturing jobs.

I work 2 jobs just to help pay bills and whatever else needs helped out with around the house. I know the values of the Democratic Party because I live the values.

Let me say you are damn wrong when you say, "Personally, I think if you call yourself a Democrat, then you VOTE Democratic. The rest is earned." That is ridiculous you think if you vote democrat that makes you democrat. You have to live democrat and believe in the fundamental values of the party, not just cast your vote every election. Its about supporting the party with more than your checkbook its about supporting the party because you believe in it, and from that last post I dont think you do.........

[sybylla]

13. Congratulations, you live Democratic

If you think no one else on this board does, you're sadly mistaken.

Perhaps it is an age thing. Because if you've been a Democrat all your adult life, worked slightly more than minimum wage while putting yourself through college on student loans, started a business of your own just before the tech bubble burst and raised two young men who are now in highschool, simultaneously facing the draft and an expensive tour of college with zero financial assistance from Uncle Georgie, you get pretty damn sick of do-nothing centrist Dems. Apparently you aren't at that point yet in your life.

Yes, I vote Democratic. Yes, I live and breathe Democratic ideals. But I only support Democrats who support those ideals. They don't get a free pass merely because they show up and call themselves Dems. They have to do their job or they get nothing from me. You see, in the Democratic Party, the people are the boss, not the other way around. They don't dictate to us what Democratic party ideals should be. They don't get to set the agenda. They don't get to determine the party platform. I do, along with millions of other Dems. Yeah, they represent an entire district and I cut them all a little slack when it comes to voting for their district. But we're the boss. And if they appear to forget that, as an increasing number have in the last decade, then they can win their election without my support.

Believe it or not I admire your idealism. But, as a Democrat, I don't check credentials at the door when it comes to letting people in. If someone wants to vote for a Democrat, I don't care that the reason for the vote isn't to support pure Democratic ideals. This isn't an ideal world. As a long time Democrat, I can say I've learned to take votes where I can get them. We are the big tent, dude. We're not like the Bushies giving passes only to those who salute when told to. Seig Heil. And I think we're much stronger for it. Just look at the debate it stirs.

Lastly, if you can presume, merely because I challenge your definition of what a Democrat is, that I don't do more than support my party with my checkbook, you do have loads to learn.

BTW, I would advise that you not give too much information about yourself in any post on any website. Several DUers have learned the hard way about the kind of harassment freepers are capable of. Your discussion doesn't need to get that detailed to be effective.

And don't go around telling people your age. It isn't necessary to the discussion. We all look the same here. If you want the discussion to focus on the merits of your post and not your age, then don't mention it. Trust me, being 15 won't cut you much slack so it isn't worth it.

Stick around, Corey, we have loads to teach each other.

[Corey_Baker08]

15. Were Both living Democratic...

Well I'd have to say that your right, but I dont believe I am wrong either.I respect your ideas and your way of thinking and I hope you do mine. I'll be the first to tll you age is not a matter to me, its the beliefs that you carry and the beliefs you present.

I know that I still ahve alot to learn and im glad I got people like you on DU that are willing to challenge my ideals and support my beliefs. Ever since coming to DU I have learned so much and it has become part of my home.

I would like to personally thank you for this whole little conversation because believe it or not its taught me somthing that alot of other threads couldn't, the practice of respecting somones elses ideals and beliefs, and respectfully diagreeing.

Thank-You and I hope to keep in contact and learn more from you visions and ideals....

Ps

any Freepers want to harass me go ahead because if they are as low life to come on our forums because they have no life at all but to sit around and defend the cowards running this country, go right ahead.

[sybylla]

17. I'm sure I'll see you around.

:headbang: Fight the good fight.

[Phoenixblade444]

28. you gotta be kiddin me

Come on, buddy, Kerry will reward us all with a bid for office in 2008. Be happy for his 1 mill to the DNC. The Democratic Party is weak, and lacks a strong enough base. You leftists gotta hit the precincts. I will be voting for the first time in 2008, but I campaigned for Kerry as a Moderate Leftist, and I have to say that if the Democrats want power they will rock the vote even harder... assumin' it's legit.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

36. Real candidates

Leave money on the table when they can see that fighting on to the bitter end when there is no chance of victory will not merely do no good, but will damage the party by turning voters away.

[Larkspur]

10. I voted against Bush for Prez in 2004 that means I cast my vote for Kerry

Kerry is always behind the times and is a slow learner. He's also an elistest snob and he is getting older, so by 2008, he may not be physically or mentally fit to run for Prez.

Kerry won't get my vote in 2008 for Prez because he has already proven himself unelectible. He said in 2004 that he was electible and it's obvious he's not.

My pride in not donating to Kerry's campaign shows that I abhor poor leaders, like Kerry. I also didn't donate to Bush's campaign nor to Nader's, but I did donate to Dean's DFA PAC and to my local Democrats. Dean did say to his supporters if our conscience wouldn't allow us to donate to Kerry, then find a Democrat we could support. That's what I did.

[seito]

22. WTF

"He's also an elistest snob and he is getting older, so by 2008, he may not be physically or mentally fit to run for Prez"

Surely you can do better than that. :eyes:

[Corey_Baker08]

27. Damn Disguntled Deaniac

Damn Disguntled Deaniac

[Donald Ian Rankin]

35. No, because

Now Republicans and Democrats are still on different sides, but Dean and Kerry are now allies.

Dean and Kerry are essentially now on the same side, so Dean's supporters, while under no obligation to change their beliefs (and indeed I'd think less of them in some way if they did) should accept that Kerry beat Dean last time, and that that particular fight is now over.

If aliens ever invade earth, and Democrats and Republicans are forced to make common cause against them, then I'll advocate that Democrats get over losing to Bush, but not till then.

Actually, that's essentially what tends to happen in coalition governments in wartime, like the one in WWII here in the UK, now I think about it.

[Larkspur]

11. People donated to Kerry to stop Bush, not because Kerry was their

idea of a good leader.

Kerry is under the delusion that people will donate to his bid in 2008. He forgets that he rode the ABB wave, which won't be there in 2008. But hey, I'd love to see Kerry learn the hard way that people don't like him, so he can go ahead and squander the $10 million he has left from the 2004 campaign.

[politicasista]

14. Whatever Kerry does it's NEVER good for you

What else do you want? The man is trying to reach out yet you are berating him for it. If you didn't like him, why did you vote for him?:mad: :mad:

[BamaLefty]

18. Kerry Is A Repub

Yeah, and pigs can fly. :eyes:

[pauliedee]

25. I got Kerry's back all the way in 2008

Kerry energizied the Democratic party and slapped Bush silly in the debates. John Kerry will be strong come 2008!!!!

[karynnj]

20. I donated to Kerry

because I thought he would be an exceptional President.

[KoKo]

38. Some of that could be MY money which I gave for ads to Fight Swift Boat

Liars. I'm shocked that he didn't spend the money that so many coughed up who had already given and given during the early primary. That he would "tuck that money away under the mattress" to run again says he's not the candidate I would support in 08. No body is going to tell me to vote ABB again when they don't use the money to fight against the Repugs til the last penny is spent.

I think this is so arrogant. I went door to door for that man..in my Repug neighborhood which revealed that I was a Dem to those folks. Those of us in Red States put our ass and reputation on the line for him and he keeps millions for another run?

Give me a break here. And, where is he helping those of us fighting in our own states to get rid of those "Touch Screen Voting Machines."

We are paying out of our own pockets to put together packets of information to lobby our state legislatures and where the hell is the Democratic Party?

And, John Edwards ran in my state but he hasn't said a thing about the machines that threw two NC counties into chaos and both counties had the "paperless trail" machines.

It's disgusting.

[karynnj]

19. Kerry has charisma

Various Democratic opponents then the Republicans spent most of last year repeating that Kerry has no charisma. While, not a Bill Clinton. People who bothered to read anything about Kerry, watched Going UpRiver, or watched some of the rallies in October on C-Span could see that he was a very likable, appealing person with more character than any politician in a least the last 20 years.

[seito]

23. Notice how the right wing talking point are repeated even here

Things that make you go hmmmmm...

The media painted him to be a "elitist snob" and "out of touch", and many bought into that image. If something is repeated enough, it becomes reality.

[Timothy]

32. Kerry plays guitar, ice hockey etc.

Tells good jokes, etc. He does EVERYTHING....excellent athlete also...The charism is NOT a problem...:kick:

[pauliedee]

26. Kerry is better than ANY candidate in the country

John Kerry would have been a great president. We missed out bigtime.
In 2008 Iwill bust my ass to get Kerry elected. I donated and I'm NOT anybody but Bush. America can do better...And JOHN KERRY is on the way in 2008!!!!

[SLJ1992]

12. SUPPORT KERRY 08 WRISTBANDS

We just found a great website http://www.supportkerry08.com . They are selling Support Kerry 08 wristbands and bumper stickers for just $1.00. They are awesome! Let's push this movement and let's see people on every street corner wearing these just like the Lance Armstrong band. KERRY '08!

[democratic4ever]

24. Thanks. I just ordered the bracelet and the bumper sticker. eom

[erpowers]

16. Give It All

Kerry should give the reminder of the $15 million to the Democratic Party.

[njdemocrat106]

21. Hey, if Kerry does run I'll support him again

As much as I like Howard Dean, I think we're better off with him as DNC chair, and I think it's good the DNC has a leader who isn't afraid to speak his mind. In my opinion, under Dr. Dean's leadership, we can flip a few red states into the blue column. Personally however, I think we need a fresh face to run in 2008, one that won't be afraid to give the neo-cons hell. I'd vote for Kerry again, no problem, but I think a Clark/Warner ticket is the way to go in 2008.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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

[Phoenixblade444]

29. I would gladly

Support him in '08.

[politicasista]

30. Hey Phoenixblade444

Welcome! :hi:

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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

[foreverdem]

34. I'm with him

I was with him all the way in '04, and I'll be with him all the way in '08.

[Patch64]

37. Kerry Donates

Please read this message from John Kerry: The filibuster is in
danger please go to John Kerry site and sign support:  
Senator Frist, the Senate Majority Leader, has a plan to make
President Bush's judicial nominations immune to a Senate
filibuster. If he can convince enough Republican Senators to
go along, the nomination and confirmation of judges will
become a tightly-controlled, one-party affair.

We're calling on Republican Senators to pull their party's
leaders back from the brink. It's time to stop advancing a
dangerous tactic that would deny millions of Americans any
meaningful role in decisions vital to America's future.

http://www.johnkerry.com/usatoday
                      

[Ganton]

39. Amen!

Amen to that!

[newyawker99]

41. Hi Ganton!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Moderator]

40. Corey_Baker04

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source
and provide a link to
the source.


Thank you.


DU Moderator

[Corey_Baker08]

42. OK Then

Sorry