This is what pisses me off about the Kerry Campaign

John Kerry, via the DNC, sent around an email inviting all of us to join "A grassroots campaign to change America."  That's great.  Howard Dean had a lot of success with it and I always argued that this component is what will be necessary to excite past non-voters to come out and vote.  I really think Dean was right that the key to a Democratic victory in November is to convince just a small number of those who don't vote that there is a good reason why they should.  I'm all for Kerry really jumping on this grassroots theme.  I still hope he goes to Dean and steals every last one of his tools to build the kind of movement that Dean started.

So.. back to the email.  I am eager to see what Kerry has planned.  I read the email.  It talks about building a great grassroots campaign where we can all have a part.  It ends, once again, with a request for a contribution.  Fine.  He never seems to send an email that isn't a plea for money... but fine.  At least he includes this paragraph:

"Out on the campaign trail, people ask me what they can do to help with the campaign. The DNC is the only political committee in the country that can work with our campaign every step of the way, right up to Election Day. But they can't do it without your help. The DNC is depending on your strong support to build a nationwide, grassroots campaign that can change America. I urge you to play an enthusiastic personal role in this effort."

Excellent.  Finally.  What does Kerry think we should do?  Dean would have answered... go to MeetUp.  Plan a visibility event.  Write a letter to an undecided voter.  And a whole lot of other volunteer events that allowed you to get personally involved.  

Kerry's email provides a link.  I'm thinking.. cool.. finally, there will be somekind of grassroots action via his website that will give us some kind of centralized theme that we can rally around the way we did with DFA.

I click the link... and where does it take me?

You guessed it:  How much would you like to give today?

Money is important.  I understand that.  But John Kerry's campaign had better start mobilizing the grassroots for things other that just sending personal checks.  Howard Dean made even more money by asking more from us than just our checks.  That got us to excite others who then sent in more checks.  So far... every piece of communication I've ever received from John Kerry has been about giving money.

Now.. I know bitching about Kerry right now may seem annoying, but I'm not bitching about Kerry the politician.  I'm not demanding perfection from the politician.  I want Kerry to win now.  Desperately.  I'm bitching because I think there are things Kerry can do to help him win and I worry he's not doing it!