I'd like to say a few words now that we have a nominee

[bluestateguy]

I want to say a few words here tonight to the many DUers who supported another candidate for the Democratic nomination. The primary season often became very heated on this board, sometimes much more heated than between the campaigns themselves. Everybody, myself included, was very committed to their candidates and the issue agendas associated with them. Today, I feel like all 10 candidates brought something positive to the race, and that each of them made John Kerry a better candidate as a result. We are not like the Republicans. Since the days of Jefferson and Jackson, we have been a fractious, divided party, a big tent for a variety of perspectives. We believe democracy is best served that way, even if it makes party discipline more difficult to achieve. The primary battle was like a long, hard workout at the gym, where you suffer some setbacks along the way, but emerge all the stronger for it at the end. The primary battle was good for us, even if we all took some knocks along the way. We all fought the good fight and engaged in spirited debate because we realize that the election of George W. Bush to the presidency is a danger to the nation and we want to see the best person represent the opposition party in the fall campaign.

The Democratic primary voters of America had their say and without ambiguity they chose John F. Kerry. He was not the first choice of most people on DU. Indeed, there were clearly some hard and hurt feelings from many supporters of the other nine candidates, and even some hints of Election Day defections. It took some time, but I have been very pleased to see how all of us here have come together to see the bigger picture and the importance of replacing George W. Bush this November. Many of us here who were not initially Kerry supporters have even come to like him.

We now have a Democratic nominee, no technicalities about it. Today one of two men in this country will be elected president in November. Any sane person knows who those two men are. Anything other than a vote for John Kerry in November is a vote for George W. Bush, whether it's a non-vote, a Nader vote, a Green vote or a Libertarian vote. Now is the time for all patriotic Americans to come to the aid of their country and evict George W. Bush from the White House.

[eleny]

1. That's a few words?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. lol

:spank:

[Sugarbleus]

6. LOL....... and yeah, what the others said... lol

[Chovexani]

2. Wow.

Great post. A front page contender for sure!

[greenbriar]

4. this should be sticky

:kick:

[Cha]

5. Yeah, that was Sweet of Kerry to thank them all from

the stage, too.

And Amen to what you said.