Kucinich for President turns the corner
The following email was sent by the Kucinich campaign on November 16, 2004
***
In our bold campaign to elect Dennis Kucinich President of the United States, we shared a vision and an expression of American values which holds up peace, liberty, justice, caring, fairness, unity, and honor, and we took decisive steps ahead toward a renewed Democratic party and a renewed America.
I am proud to announce that, thanks to you, the campaign debt of Kucinich for President, Inc. is now completely paid. Our public campaign, which has continued in wind-down mode since the convention solely to retire this debt, now will close. Our national headquarters in Cleveland closed several weeks ago. Our only remaining operations will be internal work to liquidate a few remaining assets, balance the books, and deliver an accounting to the Federal Election Commission. If additional funds are found to be required after the audit, appropriate action will be taken at that time.
Sales of our retrospective campaign video will end tomorrow - Wednesday, November 17. If you have not yet ordered a copy for yourself and any copies you wish to give as gifts, this is your last chance. The video is available on VHS and DVD from http://www.kucinich.us until tomorrow only.
As we digest this month's events, think about values, and reckon with the choices some have made that differ from our own, among the things each of us has to be very proud of is how we performed in our work here over the last year and a half.
Those who might argue that an electoral victory is all that matters would too soon dismiss the hearts and minds that have been moved by this campaign, and by the patriots across America who worked to register voters and worked for John Kerry after he won the nomination. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers and supporters in every state and county in America did hundreds of little things, one thing at a time, each of which will be seen as part of an enormous shift taking place in America. A shift to honesty and integrity in politics, to walking the talk, to a new respect for the process - for the way politics is done. And to a higher level of expectations for politicians who would seek to lead us.
Campaign finance reform is part of that shift. It is not easy to run a presidential campaign in such a way as to honor these laws which exist to level the political playing field. Some of our supporters with greater means wanted very much to donate more than the limits allowed, but it was not an option. At the times this campaign was broke and struggling to make payroll, to say nothing of buying advertising, when we had to refund overpaid amounts we had accidentally accepted from people who had reached the limit, we wanted to cry. But that is just part of walking the talk.
And here we are. Dennis promised to appear on the ballot in every state of the union, and he did. He promised to give every American who agreed with his progressive vision a chance to vote for him, by not dropping out before the convention, and he did. He promised to take his campaign to the convention and do everything in his power to influence what the Democratic party stands for. And with respect for the process even where he disagreed with it, he did. Through fifty states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa, and on to the convention in Boston, Dennis Kucinich walked his talk.
Dennis will remain a leader in Congress, and a leader in America. The Web site http://www.kucinich.us will relaunch shortly, to serve as a platform for education and organizing around issues with Dennis Kucinich as our spokesperson, teacher and leader. Those of you who elect to remain on this mailing list will continue to hear from Dennis on the issues we share responsibility for as Americans.
The presidential campaign is over, but Dennis is still just beginning. Our work has never been more urgent, the unity of *all* never more important to celebrate, and the way we express our shared American values so critical. Without cynicism, without meanness, without depression, without despair - with resolve, with confidence, with vigor and with joy - we turn this corner and set about our work with a renewed sense of purpose.
With humble thanks for working alongside us and great admiration for all that you do - and how you do it,
Turo Dexter
Kucinich for President
http://www.kucinich.us
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