Fellow Kossacks,
I am writing to apologize for my ill-considered diary of yesterday, which needlessly reopened old wounds. I read through ALL of the comments and decided that DHinMI, hamletta, slee, pacific city, and others who wrote that my diary was a mistake were right. I thought the best way to undo the damage would be to post this diary close to the same time as I sent yesterday's (so, hopefully, most of the same people will see it).
For those who may have missed it, I read through John Kerry's fundraising email yesterday and from its (it seemed to me) self-aggrandizing tone assumed that when Kerry wrote
"To help kick-start this, I will make a contribution to support grassroots organizing at the Democratic National Committee in the amount of $1,000,000. Join me with a contribution of your own to show the incoming DNC Chair that you want to support organizing in your own community."
He meant that people should give him money to add to his million that he would then turn over to the DNC (or a special fund within the DNC).
Obviously, I glanced over the actual link and did not click on it to find out that he meant for people to give directly to the DNC, since that is where the link went.
When several people pointed this out, I updated and retitled my diary but still asked people to avoid using Kerry's link.
THIS WAS WRONG OF ME.
In retrospect, I have taken the advice of the first person to post on yesterday's diary and removed both of my email addresses from Kerry's list. Since I don't feel that Kerry represents me, there is no reason I should continue to receive his emails. The reason I got on his list was because I donated to Kerry during the general election campaign. I stayed on his list after out of pure inertia.
So, absolutely, give in response to Kerry's solicitation -- especially if you can afford to give more than once (and don't mind that Kerry will get "credit" for your donation as Bob Johnson pointed out in his diary earlier today). Those who can't and who feel more allegiance toward Dean than Kerry may want to wait until Dean is Chairman and give via Kos's fundraiser on Monday and/or in response to Dean's own first solicitation on behalf of the DNC, but this is NOT a choice anyone should push on anyone else, and I was wrong to do so. The important thing is that the DNC gets the cash.
Just as many (if not most) Deaniacs swallowed our bitter feelings and donated to and worked for Kerry's campaign against Bush (including yours truly), I hope those who were rightfully upset at my diary yesterday will not hold any grudges against Dean or his most ardent supporters and will work as hard to help Dean rebuild the party as Deaniacs did to try to get Kerry elected President.
Peace,
Jim
P.S. I have to go out for the next couple of hours but look forward to reading your comments (and responding to them, if warranted) when I return.