The Kerry Message

Today John Kerry issued an email and video statement with three strong messages: first, count the votes in this election (indicating that until this is done, the outcome is still not known); second, stay strong and united in the fight against Bush conservative takeover and in support of values; third, on the first day of the next session of Congress, Senator John Kerry will introduce legislation to guarantee health care for all American children. He asks that the people become the cosponsors of this bill, and attaches a petition that will be part of the bill. The link to sign it is:
Protect Every Child

The timing is apt. Just as a trial balloon floats around indicating the Bushies plans to eliminate business deductions for employee health insurance, potentially more devastating than a huge new tax on working people, Kerry has chosen expanding health care as his issue. Though we at American Dash will not benefit directly, and we are among those millions of Americans who lost health insurance on Bush's watch, we fully support this effort, and have already signed up.

Just as heartening is the call to make certain that an honest vote is once again the most sacred element in the American political canon.

"Regardless of the outcome of this election, once all the votes are counted -- and they will be counted -- we will continue to challenge this administration. This is not a time for Democrats to retreat and accommodate extremists on critical principles -- it is a time to stand firm.

'I will fight for a national standard for federal elections that has both transparency and accountability in our voting system. It's unacceptable in the United States that people still don't have full confidence in the integrity of the voting process. I ask you to join me in this cause.'

'And we must fight not only against George Bush's extreme policies -- we must also uphold our own values. This is why on the first day Congress is in session next year, I will introduce a bill to provide every child in America with health insurance. And, with your help, that legislation will be accompanied by the support of hundreds of thousands of Americans."