We are at a crossroads in America. A large majority of the population now says that they believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, that the war in Iraq hasn't made the world or us safer, that the reasons we had for going into Iraq don't justify the loss of lives and financial cost to America, that President Bush doesn't share their ideas and goals for their lives and that he's doing a bad job on fighting terrorism, improving education, handling the economy and making the United States respected and admired throughout the world.
This should be a galvanizing moment for the Democratic party. We should be forcefully articulating our message, providing an alternative vision to the frightening one the Republicans have foisted on the country, and working together to insure more Democrats are elected to office in 2006 and 2008. Instead, the only cause you and the Democratic leadership in Washington can seem to coalesce around is attacking the new DNC Chair, Howard Dean, for speaking the truth. What in heaven's name are you all thinking?
Are you so worried that Chairman Dean will transfer power out of the hands of the few - the large donors, political consultants and Washington elite, and put it in the hands of the many - the newly energized, highly vocal, and fervently active grassroots base, that you're willing to see the Democratic party remain toothless and ineffective? It can't be about the money raised, because it's an undisputed fact that Howard Dean has raised more money for the Democratic Party than any other DNC Chair at this point in their tenure, including that hyper-fundraiser, Terry McCauliffe.
There were numerous reasons why so many of us were excited and inspired by Howard Dean's campaign for the Democratic nomination in 2004. Perhaps the most significant reason was that he represented a smart, courageous, honest and articulate change from the leadership, or lack of leadership, coming out of Washington.
Running the party the way it has traditionally been run, and the way it seems that those of you in Washington still want it run, has cost us the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives and most of the State Houses. Is maintaining your own personal power bases so important to you that you're willing to go on sacrificing the good of the party and the country to protect it?
There's an old saying, "united we stand, divided we fall" and like most old sayings it is steeped in truth and wisdom. It is time for you to stop attacking Howard Dean and start attacking the Republicans who represent such a threat to everything we hold dear in this country. It is time for you to put aside your own personal self-interests and start representing the interests of our party and our nation. If you don't we can expect the Republicans to continue running roughshod over this country for a very long time.