The Democrats’ Congressional campaign arms have sent out a pair of fundraising e-mails from two big names that were involved in passing the health care bill, in two very different ways: Vice President Joe Biden, who spoke with Senators throughout the process — and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), whose switch to supporting the bill, after he’d previously opposed it for not going far enough, helped bring it over the finish line.
“Just over a year ago, President Obama and I were sworn into office to preside over a country in desperate need of change,” Biden writes in his e-mail for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “One year later, we have signed historic health care reform into law. Republicans want to exact a political price for our success. Their plan is this: Use the midterm elections to strengthen their numbers, weaken Democrats, repeal health care reform and destroy President Obama. And they are more than willing to lie to do it.”
In his e-mail for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Kucinich acknowledges his own differences with the bill, but he takes pride in the accomplishment and the progress that he sees in it.
“I am pleased to have played a role in helping to make this important moment possible,” Kucinich writes. “For we Democrats united to prove to millions of Americans that we could rise above our disagreements and elevate the health of the people of our nation to the highest priority. Even those of us, such as myself, who felt the bill should have gone farther understand the great progress that Democrats have made in overcoming extraordinary resistance to chart a new beginning for our nation.”
Here is the Biden e-mail:
Dear Friend,
Just over a year ago, President Obama and I were sworn into office to preside over a country in desperate need of change.
One year later, we have signed historic health care reform into law. Republicans want to exact a political price for our success. Their plan is this: Use the midterm elections to strengthen their numbers, weaken Democrats, repeal health care reform and destroy President Obama. And they are more than willing to lie to do it.
That is why I’m writing to you today.
The DSCC is the only organization tasked solely with supporting Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate. They are our first line of defense against the Republican lies and obstruction. And believe me, their help has never been more indispensable. I served in the Senate for 36 years, and in all of that time, I have never seen more Republicans committed to permanent, unyielding obstruction.
We never said that change would be easy or quick. It takes grit and determination to take on our challenges and overcome them. It’s hard work to change people’s circumstances. But that is what President Obama and I were elected to do.
What happens in the midterm elections this November will determine the success or failure of each of those efforts, and how successfully we’ll be able to respond to the challenges of the future.
That is why there couldn’t be a more important time for you to stand with us and the DSCC.
Please stand with me and President Obama by standing with the DSCC. Together, we can do more than win in November. We can give hard-working Americans a fighting chance to realize their hopes and aspirations. And we can diminish the prospects of conflict around the world. We can move forward instead of backward.
That’s what’s at stake. And that’s why we need your help.
Sincerely,
Joe Biden
Vice President of the United StatesP.S. We simply cannot go back to the politics of the Bush-Cheney era, but if Republicans have it their way in November, we will. What we do now matters.
Please stand with President Obama, me and the DSCC.
And here is the Kucinich e-mail:
Friend —
On Tuesday, I was present with Democratic Members of Congress and witnessed an historic ceremony at the White House, where President Obama signed health care reform into law. I am pleased to have played a role in helping to make this important moment possible.
For we Democrats united to prove to millions of Americans that we could rise above our disagreements and elevate the health of the people of our nation to the highest priority. Even those of us, such as myself, who felt the bill should have gone farther understand the great progress that Democrats have made in overcoming extraordinary resistance to chart a new beginning for our nation.
And our continued progress depends upon your continued financial support for our party.
Contribute $5, $10 or more before our critical FEC deadline March 31st.
Today the American people have a renewed confidence in our Democratic Party. Today the American people know that we have made an important first step toward reforming a health care system that has been unaffordable and inaccessible. Our ability to take further bold steps will depend upon you and your support.
There is much more work which needs to be done, not only in health care, but in putting America back to work, helping to keep people in their homes, broadening educational opportunities, making credit more widely available to our small businesses and working for peace. Now we can approach all of these challenges with the knowledge that we have the ability to deliver. Now we can set our sights higher, our horizons broader to achieve great things.
On Sunday, March 21st, we Democrats proved “Yes We Can”. Your support will help Democrats in Congress echo the power of the people across the land as we strive to create the America which we know is possible.
Thank you,
Dennis J. Kucinich
United States Congressman
