AN OPEN LETTER TO THOSE CONSIDERING
VOTING FOR RALPH NADER

This election is about ending the reign of George Bush, who is intent on dismantling and destroying all that we – and Ralph Nader – have worked for years to achieve. Your vote on November 2nd will determine not only the Presidency, but the survival of progressive values that you, Ralph, and we, hold so dear.

For years, often alongside organizations created or inspired by Nader, we have fought for social and economic justice, equality for all, access to health care, a cleaner environment, better education for our children, and better jobs for workers.

Make no mistake: A second Bush term will demolish our already-weakened environmental and consumer protections, decimate our public education system and civil liberties, eliminate a woman's right to choose and medical privacy, ship millions more jobs overseas, and drain programs that help the poor and working families to give tax breaks to the very richest among us. Do we really want to live in a United States where Republicans control the Presidency, both houses of Congress, and the federal Judiciary for years to come? Experts tell us that if Bush wins again, Republicans will control the government for a generation or more.

Conservatives understand power and they want to keep it. They will continue to use whatever means are necessary. They collected ballot signatures across the nation for Ralph Nader. They sent him tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. Republicans are using Ralph Nader to divide and conquer the progressive vote.

We cannot let the right wing win. We cannot let our democracy be stolen again.

We share Ralph's passion for America's workers and consumers. We stand with him in demanding that all have access to healthcare. We agree with him that we have to work to keep our economy strong, our children healthy and our communities safe.

We, too, value a peaceful world where the United States is again respected.

But we will not vote for Ralph Nader this election. We will not give George Bush four more years to destroy the programs on which we have worked.

Your vote is your voice in this election. Make your voice heard, and make your vote count on November 2nd. Voting for John Kerry and John Edwards is the only choice for those of us who want to safeguard progressive values.

Please stand with us in preserving democracy, liberty, civil rights, and progressive American values – vote for John Kerry for President.

Sincerely,

Gaylord Nelson, Former U.S. Senator and Founder of Earth Day
Spencer Black, Wisconsin Representative
Dave Blouin, Sierra Club Four Lakes (Dane County) Group
Dave Cieslewicz, Mayor of Madison
Chuck Erickson, Dane County Supervisor & Sierra Club Four Lakes Group Conservation Chair
Beth Gross, Dane County Supervisor (Progressive Dane Party)
Bob Hudak, Co-Director of Wisconsin Citizen Action
Brett Hulsey, Sierra Club Senior Midwest Regional Representative & Dane County Elected
Austin King, Madison Alderman (Nader 2000 Supporter)		 Peg Lautenschlager, Wisconsin Attorney General
Emily McWilliams, Chairwoman, Associated Students of Madison
David Newby, President of Wisconsin AFL-CIO
Mark Pocan, State Representative, 78th Assembly District
Sheldon Rampton, Co-Author, Banana Republicans and Weapons of Mass Deception
Joel Rogers, Director of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and Founder of the New Party
Kelda Helen Roys, Pro-choice leader
John Stauber, Author, Banana Republicans and Weapons of Mass Deception

*Affiliations listed for identification purposes only.

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United Progressives for Victory
Paid for by United Progressives for Victory, a federal PAC and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.