An Open Letter to President Obama
This is a plea for President Barack Obama to take action and intervene with the massive number of issues associated with American citizens being denied their right to vote or have their vote being counted during the recent Democratic Primaries in the states of Arizona, Illinois, Florida, and New York. This letter was sent by email to President Obama on April 23, 2016.
Dear President Obama,
I am writing this letter to ask you to step in and take action to put an end to the corruption and gross incompetence that has taken place in the 2016 Democratic Primaries. As the President of the United States, I think it is your duty to protect the rights of Americans who have been cheated out of their basic right to vote.
If the voting problems had only happened in one state, that would be understandable. It could easily be attributed to mishandling, lack of planning, or poor execution from one Board of Election. But these issues have consistently occurred in closed primary states like Florida, Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, and now, New York. There have even been issues with the computer system in the open primary that took place in Illinois where a hand count later determined that Bernie Sanders actually did win Chicago. I find it more than coincidental that thousands of people have had their party affiliations changed, been dropped from the rolls, experienced up to 6 hour waits in line because polling locations were severely reduced, or been turned away because “machines were down” or they ran out of ballots. I also find it suspicious that the vast majority of voters who have experienced these issues just happen to be ONE particular candidate’s supporters.
I’m pleased to see that there have been investigations and audits launched in most of these states — that’s a good thing. But it does not address the REAL issue: People who followed the rules (changed their party affiliation before the deadline, went to the right voting site, brought the proper ID, etc.) still did not get to cast their vote. That’s the most important thing we should be focusing on. How can we say, “Your vote counts” and then not count their vote? Investigations should definitely continue. Hold the proper people responsible for the many shady issues that have plagued this election. Get to the bottom of it. Change all primaries to “open.” BUT, in the mean time, the least we can do is give these voters an opportunity to help determine which candidate will be the nominee for the Democratic party.
I want you to know that numerous people have told me that writing this letter would be a waste of time and energy. Some remarks I’ve heard about you describe you as being “part of the establishment” and “a puppet for the DNC and/or 1%.” I defend you. I believe a person must be given an opportunity to respond to a request before you assume that he or she will ignore or deny it.
I have always defended you, even when you made some decisions that I questioned. I have been appalled as the Republican Congress and Senate have done everything within their power to prevent any bill or piece of legislation that was in any way attached to you from passing — even if the bill or legislation was something that would be an overall positive thing for their constituents and the country. I cannot imagine the frustration you have felt. One of the many reasons I have always liked you is because I see that we are similar types of idealists…we both assume that, if approached respectfully, most people are rational and open to listening to different ideas and opinions. We assume that grown adults can exchange conflicting opinions and then work together to find common ground, thereby arriving at a solution that is agreeable to everyone. It leaves us bewildered when we come across a person or, in your case, a large group of people who essentially shut down the moment we open our mouths.
I believe I and many of your supporters owe you an apology. In some ways, we are to blame for that frustration you have experienced these past 8 years. We, your supporters in 2008 and 2012, did not help you get the right group of co-workers. We did not do our best to ensure that the right people were elected to the Senate and Congress. I voted for you and whomever else ran on the Democratic ballot during those presidential election years. I did not vote in the off years. I should have. I did not realize how important it was until it was too late.
I do not think you’re “part of the establishment.” I still believe in “Yes, We Can!” and all of the principles you wrote about in The Audacity of Hope. I still think you believe in those things as well. I think part of the reason so many of us are Bernie Sanders supporters is because of your influence and your message that “together, we can make a difference.” That is what we’re still trying to do. Looking back, I think we learned a lot about our responsibilities from your presidency. Those lessons include:
- Change takes time. It is unrealistic to assume that a new President will fulfill campaign platforms within 6 months of taking office. Instead of impatiently demanding to know when those changes are going to happen, we must ask, “What can we do to help make things happen?”
- Getting your candidate elected is only the first goal. We must see it through and actively participate in getting like-minded candidates elected to the Congress, Senate, and at the state level, as well.
- Compromise is part of the process. There are times when a President must decide what is most important for the American people and, to get that done, sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice other, less significant issues.
All of these lessons were critical to learn in preparation for the next trail blazer who dares to change things for the better…for the leader who says, “Yes We Will.”
At this moment in time, there is a desperate movement from millions of Americans to restore the middle class, provide free education for all Americans, break up the too big to fail banks that have a monopoly on our well-being, hold Big Business accountable for paying their fair share of taxes, establish universal healthcare, and protect the environment. These are the issues that are critical to MOST Americans. Bernie Sanders has a viable plan to help achieve these goals. We believe that he is the best candidate — so much so that we have donated millions of dollars to his campaign and volunteered thousands of hours phone banking and canvassing.
When I contribute to Bernie Sanders, I feel as if I am making an investment for a better future. When I talk to a voter who is undecided and I educate that person on Bernie’s unflappable integrity and his plans to improve the lives of the 99% and then I see that person suddenly have their hope restored, I feel like I have handed them a life line. It is empowering. This campaign is about people…not a person.
When a candidate who is sponsored by a Super Pac does not run a successful campaign, it is a minor disappointment for the campaign contributors. It is a tax write-off. For the paid members of a campaign staff, it is disheartening. If Bernie is forced to abandon this campaign because issues related to voter fraud and tampering, his supporters will be demoralized — because they lose out on their investments of money, time, and, most important, hope.
I want to be clear…I think all of us knew that when we embarked on this journey with Senator Sanders, the odds were not in our favor. I feel that we could be gracious in defeat if the defeat were to be attained honestly from a fair and impartial election process. If his opponent did not have a history of deceit and dishonesty, we would be inclined to switch our support over to her. However, Hillary Clinton is not worthy of our allegiance. She has been working behind the scenes since 2012 to make deals and alliances with Super Delegates to commit their support to getting her elected, regardless of the popular vote. She has been courting Big Business for financial contributions since 2010 during her time as Secretary of State. She has been preparing for this election since her defeat 8 years ago. And it seems she intends to win by any means necessary. It is unfair to the millions of Americans whose votes win their state for Bernie Sanders have their vote discounted by a Super Delegate who has struck a side deal with Hillary Clinton. It goes against democracy. It is unjust for voters to be disenfranchised, suppressed, or have their votes not counted because of shady practices being committed at the voting polls. Again, it is a slap in the face of democracy. And since our tax dollars pay for elections, it could be considered taxation without representation. Every citizen’s vote should count. And the tally of all those votes should always guide the vote of a Super Delegate.
I’ve read articles that claimed you have held closed-door meetings and instructed Democrats to throw their support behind Hillary. I don’t know if this is true. All I can tell you is that the overwhelming majority of Sanders supporters, myself included, believe that voting for Hillary is not an option. We would be willing to tolerate 4 years under Trump than put someone we know to be corrupt in the White House.
I will ask you this question: If you think Hillary Clinton is the best choice for President, then why did you not choose her to be your running mate?
If your allegiance to your party affiliation is one of the reasons you have chosen to do nothing about the issues voters have experienced during the primaries, I would recommend that you use your influence to sway people over to vote for Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders would restore the reputation of the Democratic Party being the party for the common man. This slogan does not apply anymore. Most of us feel that the party is just as out of touch with the struggles so many of us face as the GOP. For the future of the Democratic Party, Bernie Sanders is the right choice. Because here is the unique situation the DNC is facing:
The Republicans have long been alienating large groups of people beginning with Generation X. This is evident by the current mess their party is in when it comes to the horrifying candidates that represent their party in this election. On the Democrat’s side, there are two viable options. However, one of those candidates claims to be for the people and the other one has proven it time and time again.
I am unsure as to why the DNC has hitched their wagon so readily to the Clinton campaign. With her, there is always scandal. She has very low approval ratings (the latest show her coming in at well under 50%) and most Americans do not trust her because she has violated that trust on countless occasions. Her words and actions while representing the people have always been more conservative and GOP-like. In my opinion, she is a Republican who happens to be pro-choice. That is why it puzzles me as to why the DNC is so dedicated to her. I can only assume that there is control by the 1% to get her elected. Is the DNC willing to risk the future of the party by alienating the largest group of voters who also happen to be the youngest? Is a Hillary Clinton presidency worth the risk of the Democratic Party becoming obsolete?
I spend a lot of time talking to Millennials. Their energy and passion are amazing. For many, this is their first election and they are ecstatic about having a hand in deciding their future. Bernie Sanders has harnessed this energy and incorporated it into a movement. It’s more than just a presidential election — it is potential history being made. The Democratic party, however, has consistently insulted this group of voters. They have called them “entitled,” told them to do their research, and, just recently, Bill Clinton accused this group of being the problem with America. They have been told over and over that their candidate cannot win (even though he has more delegates than you did in 2008) and that they should “fall in line” behind Hillary. I’m not sure if the DNC’s agenda is to reduce the number of Democrats in this country, but this is what it looks like from the outside. Because you cannot effectively recruit a group of people to join your team by stacking insurmountable odds against their leader, insulting them, and then demanding that they “fall in line.”
My children are part of this generation so I feel I have a deep understanding of this large portion of our population. Millennials advocate compassion and are willing to fight for justice. They are team oriented — they enjoy being part of something larger than themselves. They are also more likely to be loyal to a person or a cause than an antiquated institution. They will not jump on board the Hillary Train just because of the party affiliation that is listed on their voter ID card. Especially when a large number of members of that party have so viciously worked to defeat their cause. I strongly encourage the DNC to rethink their commitment to Hillary Clinton.
In closing, I am not asking you to officially endorse Bernie Sanders. I am just asking that you take action to restore some credibility to THIS election. Investigations, audits, making all primaries “open”, and establishing proper protocol for voting polls in future elections are all well and good — and badly needed. But these things do nothing to assuage the injustices that have taken place during this election. And the only way to do that is to allow the provisional and affidavit ballots to be counted in every state that has experienced these issues. We are so often told that voting is a futile act…that the winner has already been determined by the 1%. I am begging you to prove this to be wrong. Let people’s votes matter. Not in the November election. Not in the 2020 primaries. Let those votes count in this election that is taking place NOW.
Thank you for your time, for your service, and for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Angie Still
