My letter to the NYT...

[YvonneCa]

...this morning:


>>>>>>>>>>>>




NYT Editor,



I wish John Kerry were President. The country really could use an intelligent, truthful, experienced and articulate leader right now. That's who John Kerry is, and anyone who has paid attention to his patriotic efforts in support of our country AND our troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan since the 2004 presidential election knows that...including President Bush. Like many Americans, I'm really getting tired of the 'spin' that keeps being applied to... even ordinary events...during an election season, with the goal of winning an election. I believe that is what is happening now, with Senator Kerry's remarks on Monday in Pasadena.



I attended the rally for Phil Angelides in Pasadena, California where Senator Kerry spoke. I would like to provide an 'eye-witness' account of the event that may be missing for readers of your article, "Kerry and GOP Spar Over Iraq Remarks", dated October 31, 2006. It is my hope that providing some context to your readers may allow for a more fair judgement of the remarks made by Senator Kerry.



I attended this rally because of my great respect for both Senator John Kerry and Senator Barbara Boxer (both in attendance that day). I looked forward to hearing what they would have to say about the serious issues facing our nation, and about their hopes for my Democratic Party. I know that Senator Kerry has been relentless in his efforts to support Democratic candidates across the nation for the past two years...and I have watched in amazement as he has given money and traveled from state to state campaigning in recent months. He has spoken out consistently and strongly against Bush Administration policies in Iraq. He has spoken out consistently and strongly in support of health care, the environment, the middle class and our troops. His words have been supported by his actions in the Senate, and his leadership has given hope of a better direction for our country to many Americans, like me.



What I saw on Monday in Pasadena was a hardworking, patriotic Senator Kerry...standing up for Phil Angelides, standing up for my state of California, standing up for the students at Pasadena City College, and ... as always...standing up for our troops around the world. He may have been a little tired from working so hard to turn this country around by standing up for Democratic candidates. After all, how many cities has he visited in the past week? How many in the past month? Plenty. He may have been tired enough that he botched a line he has delivered correctly a hundred times at other rallies. But his passion for and dedication to our troops both during and after the battle came through loud and clear.



I have been angered and dismayed at what I have read today about this incident. Republicans are magnifying and using an insignificant error to attack John Kerry again...Swiftboat II. Why? I think it's because they are desperate to win on November 7th. They know John Kerry is leading the charge for the Democrats, and he has truth on his side. So they took a simple verbal gaffe...from a good man who is as articulate as they come...and decided to repeat their dispicable 'swiftboating' technique against Senator Kerry AGAIN. How pathetic that this is all they know how to offer.



This time will be different, though. The American people are awake and they know the truth. And this time, I'm confident that John Kerry will WIN.

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Keep up the fight, Senator! We're not leaving.
:patriot:

[beachmom]

1. Great letter. Something in it gave me an idea:

You said that he's told this joke before, and correctly? Do we have video of that? Because if we do, not sure if that would be a good counterargument showing in no uncertain terms that the joke had nothing to do with the troops.

[Inuca]

4. We must have....

...typed our replied at the same time and with the same idea :-)

[Inuca]

2. Beautiful

Great letter Yvonne, hope it gets published. Question: do you know for a fact that he used the same line in earlier speeches? Is there a link, quote, video, something that you know of to prove this?

[wisteria]

3. Nice letter! I hope it gets printed. n/t

[MBS]

5. thanks for writing this good letter

If NYT doesn't publish, please do send it somewhere else: LA Times or wherever..
The more people can see what an extraordinary president that Kerry would be, what an extraordinary public servant he IS, and that "Kerry is leading the charge for the Democrats, and he has truth on his side", the better.
Once again, this is a test not just for the politicians, but also fot the voters. Will they ALL be able to look at the larger picture, and the real issues, or are they going to , once again, let themselves be swayed by the truth-distorters and the fearmongers?

I loved your PS to Kerry. Right on the money!!