I am writing this realizing that it will, undoubtedly, never be read by you, but, hopefully it will be a cathartic exercise for me. Even though my words may never reach you, I will know that, at the very least, I have spoken my piece and weighed in with my opinion.
Yes, Mr. President, I voted for you. I donated to your campaign even though times were tough and money was tight. I worked a phone bank on your behalf, knocked on doors, and engaged in many internet activities to help you get elected.
As you spoke in Grant Park on the night of that victorious moment, I stood in absolute awe of you and of my country. As the tears streamed down my cheeks, I danced with a sense of excitement and hope - something I had not felt in a very long time. You were my hero and you were going to make things better - I just knew it.
What happened, Mr. President? Why do we no longer feel that excitement or that hope? Why did you allow that feeling of energy and renewal to die, both in your constituents and in yourself? Honestly, I feel as if someone kicked me in the gut and I can't breathe. It's beyond mere disappointment - it's that feeling of betrayal - betrayal committed by your closest friend…your mother…or your father.
You know, I realize that in the last two years you have experienced the most outrageous obstructionist Congress in our history. I realize that the job you were elected to do has met with serious pitfalls and obstacles. I realize that many of your hopes for the recovery of this country have been dashed and decimated by the opposition.
But, Mr. President, do you realize that those who oppose you so vehemently do so not because of the policies and legislation you want, but because they truly hate you with all the fervor they possess? And, do you realize that they will continue their campaign of hate throughout your term in office no matter how many compromises you make or how many attempts you engage in to placate and accommodate them? Do you realize that Mr. President?
In my lifetime, I have witnessed that kind of hatred, Mr. President, and it was the ugliest of all things ever experienced. To watch this being played out at the peril of an entire nation and a people is devastating. In my lifetime I have watched - not at all silently - as attempts were made to thwart and subjugate any progress made by anyone of color. I have been witness to the oppression and despotism that trammeled all hope and initiative for a better future - a better tomorrow. It took decades to overcome, and we're still working on it. What is currently happening in Washington is just another manifestation of racism and bigotry - and the fear of white people losing power. You do realize that, don't you?
That kind of hatred cannot be legislated out of existence, and no amount of compromise, concession, or accommodation will ameliorate it. The only way to deal with this is to defeat it. The bullies have bloodied your nose - now you have to fight. You have to stand up for what you know is right for you and for this country.
Yes, Mr. President, you can do that - we can do that. But…you have to gather your base - those who have your back. You have to stop alienating your people - those who pledged their allegiance to you through their votes. You must lead with resolve and with determination and without capitulation to the bullies.
No more watered down legislation to appease your enemies. No more buckling demands. No more caving in to tranquilize the radical right. It won't be easy, but this is a fight that we must win.
Yes, Mr. President, yes we can. You have an army at your disposal - all of those millions who cast their votes and signaled that they wanted you to be the change they wanted to see in the world. We still want that change. And, with the right tenor, you could invigorate and deploy that army on your behalf. It means picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and looking the bully in the eye. It means being mad as hell and deciding that you aren't going to take this anymore. It means having the courage of your convictions and having the guts to say no to those who would destroy us to further their agendas of hate.
If you don't do these things, Mr. President, this country will fail and the blame will rest squarely on your shoulders. This is not the time to cow-tow or to bend over. This is not the time to give away the store or surrender to the oppressor. This is not the time to succumb to manipulation or brow-beating. This is the time to reject the noise of those on the right. This is the time to overpower hate. This is the defining moment, Mr. President.
As we move into a new year, the extremes on the right who permeate our government are hell-bent on seeing to it that you fail. That's their objective…that's their sole purpose for being. That's what the plan has been all along. For you, and for all of America, you must not fail.
If you can reach deep enough and if you have the courage, we can create a better tomorrow. One that dawns on an America that cares for her people. One that assures that no child ever has to go to bed hungry and that no family has to seek shelter in an abandoned car. An America that provides, not just adequate, but the best health-care for ALL her people. A country that values equal rights and human rights across the globe.
Yes, Mr. President, with fortitude and perseverance, we can achieve peace. We can bring our men and women home from the battlefields of unjust and unrighteous wars and can assure the world that we are no longer an insane entity that chooses to annihilate innocent men and women for our own selfish desires. We can break the stranglehold of corporations and corrupt bankers and become a nation that values its' workers and its' citizens.
It will be a dog-fight, Mr. President, but if you refuse to give in, you can build an America that puts people back to work, assures them that their homes are secure, and that their children will be fed and clothed. You can build an America that assures quality public education and assures that every child can attend a university. You can do that…but, only if you will stand and fight and not turn tail and run.
Yes, we can do all of that. And, while we're at it, we can close Gitmo and demonstrate to the world that torture and inhumane treatment of people will no longer be tolerated. We can pass the DREAM Act. We can end Don't Ask Don't Tell. We can end the oppressive laws that dictate who a person can choose to spend the rest of their lives with. Together, we can make America into the truly free country that it purports to be.
The possibilities are endless, Mr. President. But, the timing is not. It has to be NOW. This is the reality. All of these things and more are feasible, but only if you will lead…only if you will be on the front row as we stare down the bullies…only if you will refuse to settle for anything less.
Sincerely,
a supporter
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