Letter from a young supporter

As a first time candidate, I find it difficult to know what to say. (And for those of you who know me, you know how unusual that is!)

A thousand different thoughts are running through my mind, and even if I could figure out the select few to say in “debriefing” this campaign, I know this is not the time. Our nation is in a moment of great excitement and hope right now (not to mention exhaustion), and analysis can wait until later.

Mostly, though, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who contributed to this campaign – with your time, your talents, your money, your energy and your enthusiasm.  You don’t see those things in a number at the end of the day, but it’s what made this campaign real, fulfilling and alive. Hundreds of people joined to help our campaign, and collectively we reached out to thousands more.  And against ridiculous odds we were able to break through the mainstream media’s “blackout,” raise new issues, get the incumbent’s attention in a major way, and garner almost 6,000 votes. (Probably more than 6,000, once the absentee ballots are counted.) Those of you who know politics and the electoral system will realize just how significant an accomplishment that is for a first time, third party candidate. And what a foundation it is to build on for the future. There was no “losing” in this campaign.

All of that work and time and energy is based on hope, of course, and the message that we put out (and will likely put out again in 2010 – stay tuned!), is immensely appealing to people, once we can break though all the barriers to reach them. Turning away from militarism and mindless, casino-style capitalism while embracing a monumental green energy revolution is and will continue to be the only path forward to create a world worthy of our children (heck, and ourselves). The work we did in this race has brought us a little bit closer to that future.

That same level of effort and involvement is what we’ll continue to need to make that vision of the future into a reality, even with an Obama Administration. As the President-elect himself said, his victory on Tuesday is not itself the change we are looking for, but just the chance for a change. And, as it has been throughout our history, the only way to take advantage of this opportunity for change is to continue working just as hard or harder in the coming year as we did in this past one.  Ultimately it is people who change history, not Presidents (or members of Congress).

So that’s where I’ll leave it for now, and once again with my profound thanks and gratitude to all of you.

Oh, and the letter – I received this in the campaign mailbox the morning after the election, and it rings of the promise that has animated this campaign and which will carry us forward.  It is for you too:

“Dear Mr. Clark -

I found out about you five days ago and decided to check out your website because I support the Green Party. What really got my attention was how you disagree with Congressman Van Hollen on a lot of things, like ending the Iraq War (something that I agree with.) Even if you don’t win this year, I hope you run in 2010 and I would like to contribute to your campaign.

By the way, I’m 12 years old.

-Jake Baskin
Chevy Chase, MD”

With warm wishes and renewed energy for a better tomorrow,

Gordon Clark