Cross posted on Bluehampshire
Below the fold is the letter to the editor I am sending out to NH papers. It is so hard to know what activities are useful. I have blogged and called and knocked on doors and sent money and hosted parties and campaign workers. Waiting for the primary is like being a kid waiting for Christmas. I can't wait for it to come, I don't want it to be over. Unless John Edwards wins of course.
Well, the primary is truly upon us (less than a month away) and while I long ago decided who I would support in this process I know that many fellow New Hampshire citizens are struggling to decide which candidate to support with their vote. This is a very important election and every vote will make a difference. That means our votes are very important. No pressure, just the health of the planet and the future of the world as we know it is at stake. So, I am writing to share my reasoning in an attempt to sway voters to my chosen candidate or at the very least to help undecided voters decide. It is essential that we all take part so that the system can work.
I was not raised a Democrat. My grandmother told me "we are Republicans because it is the party of Lincoln, fiscally conservative, socially responsible and protectors of the environment". When the Gingrich "contract with America" was voted in she (in her 80"s at the time) went down to town hall and changed her registration. I had left the Republicans long before during the Nixon years. I believe that the current Democratic Party represents the traditional values of conservation, frugality, and civil liberty that were the hallmark of the NH Republican Party of the last century.
So, which Democrat is the question. First, the defining issue for me is the environment. My theory is if we don’t save the planet the rest isn’t going to matter. John Edwards is the strongest environmental candidate. "Friends of the Earth" which is a well respected and long standing organization dedicated to environmental issues endorsed him. He is also the only candidate in either party who has taken Nuclear Power off the table. That is important to me because if we spend time and money on that source it becomes a distraction from exploring other forms of alternative energy, which don’t have the problems that nuclear does.
Second, electability is important. It shouldn’t be. It’s not right or fair. But, we must nominate a candidate who can win. The latest CNN poll which matches the top three Democratic candidates against the top four Republican shows John Edwards as the only one who beats all the Republicans and he does it by 16 points. This means that in addition to getting elected he will have coat tails, which will give us greater majorities in the House and Senate. There is work to be done and serious damage to be undone. We can’t afford a close call or loss.
Finally, we need a fighter to get our government back. Multi-national corporations (oil, insurance, drugs, agricultural) have perverted our system. It was not the intention of our founding fathers to have legislation written by corporations. John Edwards spent years in the courtroom taking on big corporations on behalf of average citizens (us) and he won time and time again. Please understand that this is not an anti-business perspective. It is the same battle that Theodore Roosevelt fought. It’s not business it’s the "robber barons" gone wild that need to be brought into check. I trust John Edwards to fight this battle for us. He is not part of the problem; he is not "beholden" to anyone. When elected he will be working for us.
If you are still undecided, please take the time to learn about the candidates. John Edwards has an 80-page booklet, which outlines his positions. He says that since he’s asking for your vote you deserve to know where he stands on the issues. All of the candidates have active campaigns, which will be happy to tell you about their positions. And please, vote in the primary. If everyone votes then even if the outcome is not what we want at least we know it’s the public will.
See you on election day. I’ll be the one standing at the polls with the knit cap pulled over my ears holding the John Edwards sign.
Best!
Sandy Mucci
Meredith, NH