Home > An Open Letter to Progressives: Vote Kerry and Cobb
by Medea Benjamin/Peter Coyote/John Eder/Daniel Ellsberg
There is no greater political imperative this year than
to retire the Bush regime, one of the most dangerous and
extremist in U.S. history. As people dedicated to peace,
economic justice, equality, sustainability and
constitutional freedoms, we are committed to defeating
Bush.
The only candidate who can win instead of Bush in
November is John Kerry. We want Kerry to replace Bush,
because a Kerry administration would be less dangerous
in many crucial areas, including militarism, civil
liberties, civil rights, judicial appointments,
reproductive rights and environmental protection.
But while helping Kerry-Edwards defeat Bush-Cheney, we
don’t want to endorse Kerry positions that are an insult
to various causes we support, including movements for
global justice and peace that have burgeoned in recent
years. Indeed, we want to communicate to Kerry and the
world that we oppose many of his policies, including
some that are barely distinguishable from Bush policies.
Accordingly, we encourage progressives to organize and
vote strategically this year.
1. In "swing states," where few percentage points
separate Bush and Kerry, we encourage activists to
mobilize voters behind Kerry. (A frequently updated
list of swing states is posted at www.swing04.com.)
2. In "safe states" (and Washington, D.C.), so
overwhelmingly pro-Bush or pro-Kerry that we can be
confident of who will win in November, we encourage
activists to mobilize voters behind Green Party
presidential candidate David Cobb.
3. In all states, we encourage activists to engage in
election-year vigilance to ensure that all votes
count, especially those of racial minorities — and
to advocate for instant runoff voting and other
reforms so that voters in future elections can
support the candidate they most believe in without
risk of electing the candidate they most oppose.
David Cobb has earned our endorsement in safe states by
deftly steering the Green Party toward a nuanced
strategy dedicated to ousting Bush, while seeking to
grow a grassroots party that stands unapologetically for
peace, racial and social justice, economic democracy,
civil liberties and genuine ecology. The Green Party
gives political voice to movements that challenge Bush’s
Iraq policy and resist trade arrangements that trample
on workers’ rights, human rights and the environment.
Despite a Democratic Party base that is increasingly
progressive, anti-NAFTA/WTO and anti-war, John Kerry has
lost the strong, brave voice he had as a young man who
challenged the Vietnam War and now offers a faint echo
of too many Bush policies — from Iraq and military
spending to the global trade regime and corporate
coddling (e.g. Kerry’s plan to reduce corporate taxes).
We are disappointed that, four years after the Florida
disaster, Kerry and leading Democrats (with exceptions
such as Dennis Kucinich, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Howard
Dean) do not promote common-sense electoral reforms like
instant runoff voting that would once and for all
eliminate the "spoiler" risk that deforms U.S.
elections.
With our electoral system yet to be fixed, we are left
this year with the improvised solution of endorsing one
candidate in some states and another candidate in other
states. This dual-endorsement solution is preferable to
endorsing either a candidate with important positions we
oppose or a solidly progressive candidate whose votes in
swing states could help Bush get four more years.
In this crucial election year, we encourage progressives
to work tirelessly to vote Bush out — as we build
grassroots networks and coalitions to hold the Kerry
administration accountable to the progressive values and
policies shared by most Americans.
Medea Benjamin
Peter Coyote
John Eder
Daniel Ellsberg
Angela Gilliam
Kevin Gray
Tom Hayden
Elizabeth Horton Sheff
Rabbi Michael Lerner
Robert McChesney
Norman Solomon
(Signers endorse this statement as individuals, not as
representatives of any groups.)
Medea Benjamin (Code Pink, Global Exchange); Peter
Coyote (actor); John Eder (Maine state legislator/Green
Party); Daniel Ellsberg (Pentagon Papers whistleblower);
Angela Gilliam (professor/feminist scholar); Kevin Gray
(Jackson ’88/Sharpton ’04); Tom Hayden (former
California State Senator/activist); Elizabeth Horton
Sheff (Hartford City Council/Green Party); Rabbi Michael
Lerner (Tikkun); Robert McChesney (communications
professor/author); Norman Solomon (author/columnist)