Actually the e-mail which came from Carville's address was signed by Rich Harris, who explained that he was answering because Mr. Carville was out of town.
Any of us who travel on the big time circuit understand how vital it is to have someone physically back at our home base to answer e-mails... Who among us could read, let alone answer emails while away from our desks and ergonomic support seats?
Mr. Harris also shared that James had received a lot of e-mails in support of keeping Howard Dean as party chair, but he knew that I was somehow already aware of that. I appreciate his confidence in me.
His complete and friendly email to me after the jump ~
Thank you for your message regarding Mr. Carville's endorsement of Harold Ford over Dr. Howard Dean. As you might imagine, a great many people have contacted us expressing their support for Dr. Dean. Mr. Carville is currently out of town, but I know he will be interested your comments and will offer them to him when he returns. Thank you as well for your continued Democratic Party activism. Although we in the party will surely have our disagreements, vibrant discussions such as these only help to make our party stronger.
Thanks again,
Rich Harris
It must be nice being Rich, don't you think? I wish the guy who answers my e-mails was Rich. Imagine the places I'd go then...
And I sure do hope he does offer my comments to Mr. Carville upon his return, because I think I'm pretty effective as a communicator and damn near persuasive when I get half a mind to be. And having that whole vibrant thing going for me too is another big advantage. So I'm kind of counting on having James Carville hear my comments and change his mind and his endorsement.
I'm guessing he'll want to call Harold Ford and read him my e-mail too, maybe even have Rich forward my email to Mr. Ford - unless Mr. Ford is traveling. I think Harold will change his mind when he reads my comments too.
Call me a dreamer, if you like, but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us.
And the world will be as one.
Here's my original e-mail to Mr. Carville:
Dear James,
I always enjoy your witty and entertaining appearances on television and I admired the work you did for Bill Clinton as showcased in "The War Room."
But I strongly disagree with your call to replace Howard Dean with Harold Ford.
I want you to know that my family believes it was Howard Dean's 50 state strategy that made a huge difference in this mid term election.
I am an active member of MoveOn.org because of Howard Dean, and with all due respect nothing you have done since George W. Bush has been President has motivated me to donate one dime or take one minute of volunteer action. But I did make over 300 calls to voters in key battleground states over the last three weeks as part of MoveOn.org's Call for Change campaign.
And despite the fact that I'll gross only about $50k this year I still dug down and donated money in these midterm elections to try and help make the 50 state strategy a success.
That's why I gave Barbara Boxer's Pac for Change $50.
I donated $100 to MoveOn.org
I gave Jerry McNerny's campaign $25
I gave Jon Tester's campaign $25
I gave Jim Webb's campaign $25
I gave John Rinaldi's campaign $25
None of those people ran for office in my district. But I was working with Howard's 50 state strategy and sending my money where I thought I could make a difference.
Your suggestion to put Harold Ford into place as party chairman smacks of back room deal politics and really disrespects the grassroots heart of our Democratic party. It makes me think of you the way Jimmy Stewart thought of Mr. Potter in "It's a Wonderful Life." In fact I'd say it's an anti-Capra-esque move.
Those of us who make under six figures a year don't appreciate it when ultra rich TV celebrity Democrats like yourself try to fix the game and screw the guy who rolled up his sleeves and did the unglamorous heavy lifting.
I urge you to do the right thing, acknowledge Howard Dean's contribution to winning both houses of Congress and start seriously supporting his efforts, so that next election we'll have the benefit of your formidable skills and talents working together with us for the common good.
Right now, I have to say, it feels like you're working against the people and for "The Man."
Thanks for you time and consideration in reading this.
Your pal,