You need to sign this pledge
From the folks at I Own My Vote. I know there are a bunch of petitions floating around, a lot of different PUMA groups to join, a plethora of “why we fight” statements. But this particular manifesto looks like it has legs. It could end up being the unofficial head count of our movement, the bargaining chip laid before the DNC. If you’re any kind of PUMA, you need to sign this one.
When you read the I Own My Vote Pledge, keep in mind that the demands it contains are not admissions of defeat, nor are they conditions precedent to your vote. Hillary’s campaign is only suspended, not ended. And only you can decide when your vote has been earned. Whether you are a PUMA activist, a WomenCountPAC donor, a Just Say No Deal blogger, a Clinton Democrat for McCain, a yellow dog Democrat for VoteBoth, or simply a Hillary Clinton supporter who feels like the Party leaders and their presumptive nominee are ignoring everything that you value, the most powerful statement you can make right now is that YOU OWN YOUR VOTE. Only in finding that common ground will we be counted, for only in that common ground will we be able to count ourselves.
On Saturday, June 7, 2008, Hillary Clinton suspended her historic campaign for President. To her 18 million voters, it may have seemed like an end, but I pledge to make it a beginning … a beginning of a movement to achieve the democratic and just country that Hillary has envisioned for America.
I stand together with Hillary Clinton’s 18 million voters to demand that Senator Obama and the Democratic Party:
- Bring us together by seating 100% of the Florida and Michigan delegations in Denver with 100% of their votes, allocated in accordance with the popular vote of each state.
- Bring us together by adopting policies on the Platform Committee that Hillary Clinton has championed.
- Bring us together through reform of the primary and caucus system to reflect the basic principle of one person/one vote.
- Bring us together through outspoken denunciation of all gender bias, racism and other forms of discrimination.
- Bring us together by fairly and respectfully including Hillary and her supporters at the Democratic National Convention in Denver by, among other things, placing her name in nomination for President, conducting a roll call vote, and providing her a prominent speaking role during prime time on August 26th, the 88th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
I own my vote. It does not belong to any party. It does not belong to any candidate. It does not belong to any mob that would impose its will on me. Only I can decide how to use my vote, and I can decide based on any criteria I choose. Therefore I pledge not to give my vote to anyone who does not earn it.
Click here to sign the pledge: http://iownmyvote.com/
14 Responses to “You need to sign this pledge”
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Anna Belle says:
I signed a while ago. It is the best collective statement out there, I think, even though it doesn’t address the corruption in the DNC itself. But it does includes that demand for August 26th, which is a brilliant request as Democrats love that kind of sentimental stuff. Heck, I love that sentimental stuff when it comes to the history of women’s movements in this country.
Anyway, I concur. Go. Sign. Be a part of the movement.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:25 pm EST -
sassysenora says:
It’s a good statement and I signed but in my opinion even if all those things are accomplished, it will only be a small step in the right direction. It will not be nearly enough to earn my vote for Obama or my financial or volunteer support for the DNC, the DSCC, the DCCC or many downticket Dems. As far as I can see, all the things listed (except seating the FL and MI delegations at 100% in accordance with the popular vote) are just “sweetie-talk” with no substantive action required. It’s the political equivalent of a bouquet of roses - an inconsequential gesture that says “I’m glad you came back. I knew you would. Nothing is going to change. I’m still going to ignore you and take you for granted. You should be happy I’m giving you these damn flowers.” I want more.
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Violet says:
It’s a good statement and I signed but in my opinion even if all those things are accomplished, it will only be a small step in the right direction.
I agree, sassysenora. And I think that when the DNC refuses to do even those small things (which is what I expect), it will set up a very, very interesting situation.
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Apostate says:
I’m on fire from watching Iron Jawed Angels. I will become a citizen in a few months.
Not voting for Obama.
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kenoshaMarge says:
I signed a while ago. I believe this is an important step in owning your vote.
No one owns our vote except us. Not a party, not a politician urging us to vote for someone and definitely not some celebrity endorsing any candidate.
I voted straight Democratic ticket for 40 years. I regret that very much. Now I own my vote. Now I will vote for whomever I believe is the best choice for the things I believe. And that may not always be a Democrat. It’s getting harder and harder to tell the two parties apart anyway.
How about just calling them the Corporate Republican Party and the Corporate Democratic Party?
I don’t care about gender
I don’t care about race
I don’t care about religion (except keep it to yourself)
I don’t care about marital status
I don’t give a rat’s ass about a candidate being hip or cool. Save that for American Idol.I do care about issues. I do care about someone having the integrity to change their mind if circumstances merit them doing so. I do mind if someone flip-flops on promises without a damn good explanation for doing so.
For all these reasons plus the penultimate crime of painting the Clintons as racists I will never, ever support Obama. He’s shown himself unfit for public office. Any office.
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e2gatto says:
I tried to sign the pledge, but it did not let me because I do not belong to any organization. Do you only want people who have websites?
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m Andrea says:
Sorry, I will not bargain with people who treat me like shit.
“WE ARE NOT YOUR BITCHES”!!!!
I am a McCain girl now, let them fucking rot. I no longer care. Let the women see just how much men really love them.
“We are not your bitches, that is not a leash in your hand. Our bodily integrity is not a choke chain you may use to threaten us. If you think it is, you are no better than the Republicans. And yes, the “But! But! But!” Roe stick is just that - a threat. Politically involved women know exactly where we stand on Roe, and we know the Democrats haven’t been all that bothered to even look like they’re trying to protect it, these last seven years. We know what an anti-choice Supreme Court looks like, because we read Gonzales v. Carhart and our hearts broke in fear for ourselves and our sisters and nieces and daughters.
When you tell us that we’d better get in line and vote for Obama, OR ELSE ROE, you are holding our own bodies hostage against us, as if they were yours to take. You are actively, proudly, literally threatening us with our lives. Is that the change we should believe in?”
That sums up my feeling perfectly for the last 30 years while they whittle away at access to abortion. Fuck them, I am tired of bargaining. Monthy menstrual extraction, and we can BE OUR OWN CHANGE.
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m Andrea says:
oh, from:
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donna darko says:
Congratulations, Apostate, that’s fabulous. Couldn’t happen to a better person.
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Apostate says:
Thanks, Donna. :)
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Violet says:
Apostate, we need to have a citizenship blog party for you when it happens.
e2gatto, the organization fields are optional. I didn’t fill anything in there and it let me sign.
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Susie Devine says:
looking for kenoshaMarge!
Please look me up at meetup.com 18 million voices Wisconsin Group! I’m trying to find local HRC supporters.
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Janis says:
Signed.
In order to keep at least one party on the straight and narrow in this country, we have to kick the Democrats in the teeth so hard that their heads ring like church bells. They need to be slapped down from this precipice so hard that they never, ever, EVER consider pulling shit like this again.
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kenoshaMarge says:
Susie Devine, I went to the website, added it to my favorites but couldn’t find ya. Let me know what, if anything, a retired, low income, health challenged old bat can do. I may be down but I’m not out and I will do what I can do!
Because I loathed the Republicans when they pulled this crap. I am not hypocrite enough to enable the Democratic Party, that I have supported for 40 years, to do the same damn thing.
As another poster said, I believe it was one called Miss Marple, they’re forcing me to channel my Granny Whup Ass. Beware the wrath of retired old ladies. We got nothing to do but fight this crap and all damn day to do it.
