Via Wonkette:
Never let it be said that John Kerry doesn’t remember the little people. After the campaign was over, he sent an email to all his staff and volunteers saying that he and Teresa wanted to “[t]hank you for your remarkable work and dedication. … Punch line after the jump:
You did not do this for the money (which was minimal) or the perks (which, aside from the occasional motorcade ride through rush-hour traffic, were slim).”
And this wasn’t just lip service. As Kerry wrote, “I’d like to be helpful to those of you who could use assistance.” Of course, he sent the email yesterday. But that makes him especially generous: It’s been six months since the election and everyone’s unemployment benefits have probably run out.
John Kerry: He remembers the little people, he just needs a little time.
I don’t know if this is fair or not. If it’s fair, it’s very disappointing.
Disappointing or a problem with his e-mail server.
Unfair I think. This comes across as a rather petulant crochet on the part of the commentator and borders on being an ad hominen assault with the distinct aftertaste of sour grapes.
If memory serves, JK has been more than generous with his praise of his staff and volunteers on numerous occasions subsequent to the election. This may, in fact, signify the official end of the disassembly [ha!] of the campaign organization…you don’t just turn out the lights and lock the door on Nov 3.
That being said, I find the email itself able to stand on its own in terms of validity and substance, and have no reason to doubt the sincerity of its content. I find it most refreshing, in fact, that he has reached out and established an avenue for he and his staff to provide personal assistance for those still in limbo…something, I am sure,gwb most certainly lacks the grace to ever consider.
I will not personally judge JK negatively for this, nor will I castigate him over the 04 election…there is more than enough of that still occurring. It is my intention to respect him as an honorable man until/unless I am given cause to change that opinion.
I could not say it better nor add anything of consequence.
I hope so. The one thing that sticks in my craw is the night, during the primaries, when he fired his top campaign staff, and wasn’t very good about communicating with the remaining, rather upset staff. I forget the details now, but it was rather unpleasant how he handled it.
I wasn’t paying much attention to this kind of thing during the race, so I don’t know the details either. But I wonder if the “unpleasantness” was real or just negative Kerry-spin by the RWCM. I tend to take everything about the “horserace” aspects of media coverage during elections with a grain of salt. And of course, during this last go-round, it seemed the Dem candidate was going to get every dubious negative report highlighted – over and over – more than usual. (Dean “scream,” anyone?)
I think that the email was very gracious and thoughtful. And as someone else pointed out, this is hardly the first expression of gratitude from Kerry since the election.
Personally, I can’t stand Wonkette. I think she’s petty and way too full of herself.
That is simply not true. On Nov. 3, 2004 at 4:44:36 p.m. I received an e-mail from John Kerry entitled, “A sincere thank you.”
The text of the letter contains, “Dear Laurel, …To all of you, my volunteers and online supporters, all across the country who game themselves, thank you. Thanks to William Field, a six-year-old who collected $680, a dollar at a time selling bracelets during the summer to help change America…”
On Nov. 19,2004 at 7:20:52 p.m. I received another e-mail entitled, “The next step.” It says, “Dear Laurel, I want to thank you personally for what you did in the election–you rewrote the book on grassroots politics, taking control of campaigns away from big donors. No campaign will ever be the same. You moved voters, helped hold George Bush accountable, and countered the attacks from big news organizations…”
On Dec. 23, 2004 at 3:24:54 p.m. an e-mail entitled, “A year-end massage of thanks to our troops” “Dear Laurel, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones enjoying the holidays. I have been thinking a lot about what our johnkerry.com community can do to mark the end of what has been an extraordinary year…”
Since then, I have received several more e-mails.
Those e-mails were “signed” by John Kerry–not Mary Beth Cahill.
John Kerry wasn’t my first choice, but the more I learned about him, the more I liked so I rallied to the cause. I find myself wondering if he really did make those anti-gay remarks.
“A year-end massage of thanks to our troops”
Wow! I never was in the military but I’d love to sign up for a “massage of thanks” 😛
Pax
The letter is fairly straightforward. I don’t understand her attitude either. Seems to me more than fair for the campaign workers. Anyone else send out offers of help? Dean? Gephardt? Edwards?
I wasn’t very enthusiatic about John Kerry becoming the democratic nominee but he grew on me as the campaign went along. It was very difficult to choose because I loved Howard Dean, John Edwards and Wesley Clark. I love Dennis Kucinich as well but realistic enough to know he had no chance. Kerry’s major failing was not challenging George Bush’s war on Iraq and not keeping his word to make sure that every vote was counted. I still think he is a decent dignified person and would have been a great president. I don’t know why dems dump on other dems so much.