From
bernie.org:
Dear Friends:
This last week has been cataclysmic for Vermont politics. As you no doubt know, Senator Jim Jeffords has announced that, for health reasons, he will not be seeking re-election in 2006.
All of us owe Senator Jeffords an enormous debt of gratitude. Alone among nationally elected Republicans Jim Jeffords said “enough is enough” - and then bolted from a party which had moved so far to the right that he could no longer support its extremist agenda. As a life-long Republican this was not an easy decision for him and his family and required great courage. As recently as a few weeks ago the leadership of the Vermont Republican Party was continuing to attack him viciously.
I have known Jim Jeffords for over 30 years and want to take this opportunity to wish him and his wife Liz the very best in their future endeavors. It has been an honor and privilege to have worked with him over the last 15 years.
I have told Vermonters for several years that if Senator Jeffords decided not to seek re-election, I would run for that seat. And that is exactly what I intend to do. With 15 years of experience in the U.S. House I feel ready to represent Vermont and working Americans throughout the country as a U.S. Senator in the fight for social and economic justice.
I have no illusions that this will be an easy race. Quite the contrary! By running for the U.S. Senate we will be taking on the most powerful, well-financed and mean-spirited political organization in American history – the Republican National Committee and all of their affiliates.
Because the Republican Party faithfully serves the interests of the rich and corporate America, they will have an unlimited amount of money to spend on this campaign. Because their party has nothing significant to say about the real problems facing the American people, their campaign will no doubt reflect Karl Rove’s politics of personal destruction.
As Vermont’s Congressman and the only Independent in the U.S. House of Representatives, I am proud of the fights I have led in standing tall for workers’ rights, our environment, civil liberties, peace, family farmers, veterans – and for all those Americans not being represented by a government dominated by Big Money interests and right-wing extremists.
As I embark on this historic effort to become the first Independent elected to the U.S. Senate in modern American history, I am asking for the support of all Americans who want a U.S. Senator who is prepared to help lead the effort against the most reactionary government in modern American history. Your support is all the more important because I do not accept corporate PAC money.
Make no mistake about it. The Republicans and their proxies are prepared to open the money spigot in order to win this seat. But with your help we will have the resources to run the kind of grassroots campaign that we need to keep President Bush and Karl Rove from gaining another loyal foot solider in the U.S. Senate.
Please donate online today to let them know we are ready to fight for our democracy! Checks can be sent to Sanders for Senate, PO Box 391, Burlington, VT 05402. Thank you in advance for all your support.
Sincerely,
Congressman Bernie Sanders
