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Front Page Story
More Trouble for John Kerry and the Democrats - Representative for Kucinich for President Campaign Breaks Ranks and Speaks Out To Canada Free Press
by Marinka Peschmann, Special to Canada Free Press
August 11, 2004
In public the Democratic Party and Presidential hopeful John Kerry put on a happy unified face, but behind the scenes in the DNC there's a stark split, the dissent is wide and so far, according to long time Democratic supporter, Jerry Wilson, the debate over America's national security has been silenced or ignored.
Canada Free Press has obtained a letter sent to DNC staffers, Kerry-Edwards headquarters, and fellow ‘Democratic Party platform drafting committee members,’ penned by Jerry Wilson. Wilson was appointed by former Democratic Presidential nominee Dennis Kucinich to ‘represent the Kucinich for President Campaign on the national Democratic Party platform drafting committee’ on June 5th in Baton Rouge. His appointment came after Kucinich ‘discovered the convention rules that allowed him to send his own (non-voting) representative--after the first platform draft hearing had been held.’ The committee's mission was to ‘gather testimony’ on ‘national security.’ But according to Wilson ‘the draft committee was a rubber stamp exercise.’ He was ‘shocked to see what the Democrats had up their sleeves.’
An active Democratic supporter, Wilson told CFP that in 1984 he was George McGovern’s biggest financial backer in his Presidential bid. Featured in a Money Magazine cover story during the rise of Soloflex, a company he founded and helms today, Wilson's shared experiences of ‘slaying utility company dragons’ created a natural alliance with Kucinich. According to Dennis Kucinich, Wilson ‘will make an important and positive contribution to drafting the Democratic Platform.’
But Wilson who had ‘expected to participate fully in the hearings’ to discuss the issues says he was ignored.
Further when ‘Kerry was alerted’ to Wilson's appointment ‘he appointed another non-voting member himself.’ In Wilson's letter sent on July 3, 2004, he writes, "The committee has 16 voting members, all Kerry appointees. Clearly they [Platform Draft Committee] wanted no embarrassing questions asked by the peace and prosperity candidate's representative. I was seated separate from the panel, behind the testifiers, and given no microphone. It was clear that the chairman, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), was not going to permit me to ask any questions. After all, the party must appear unified; in total agreement with Kerry. No democratic debate allowed here.’ Calls and emails to Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT) office as of press time were not returned.
"Not a single person replied to my comments," Wilson told CFP, "the silence was deafening."
But New Mexico Businessman Bill Garcia who served on the platform draft committee told CFP, "The process for adopting the platform was very democratic…. The full committee proposed alternatives and the Kucinich supporters were there to lobby for their positions. At the end of the day, the platform that was published was voted on and was I recall, adopted unanimously."
But Wilson remains firm, "Debate among draft committee members was limited to grammar and syntax; never issues. It is the serious issues confronting the U.S. that were not in the platform that bothered me. Mr. Garcia's reply does not question the accuracy of the comments I made… I understand the theory that the Democratic Party should appear united to improve their chances at the polls."
Wilson's letter concludes, "This Kerry appointed draft committee does not reflect the views of the majority of democratic delegates at the convention, or the majority of registered democrats. Kerry would not have won the pledged delegates he did had he stated his true intentions up front. He got his votes by portraying a war protester when his real goal is to further militarize society. As more democrats become aware of Kerry’s real intent this dissent will grow. No delegate has any moral or legal obligation to vote for Kerry on the first round and I pray they won’t."
CFP contacted Washington lawyer, Peter Choharis, who advised the Kerry campaign on ‘foreign and legal policy’ and was appointed the Platform Executive Director by DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe last May. Choharis, who had spoken with Wilson ‘to prepare’ for the then upcoming hearings has been unable to be reached for comment. Calls to McAuliffe’s office have yet to be returned.
John Kerry and John Edward’s face a challenging political dance that could split what has often been described as a country already divided. How to satisfy the Democratic voters who are against the Iraq war while persuading the swing voters that a Kerry-Edwards White House will ‘destroy’ terrorism and protect America. Will the Kerry-Edwards ticket and their future ‘committees’ fully and clearly address this divide within their own party? Jerry Wilson certainly hopes so.
Marinka Peschmann is a freelance writer whose first book collaboration, the best-selling The Kid Stays In The Picture; was made into a documentary. She's contributed to several books and stories ranging from showbiz and celebrities to true crime and politics.
