Where Do We Go From Here?

For many of us, the months since Election Day have been difficult and challenging – difficult accepting the disappointment of the outcome of the very hard fought campaign for the Presidency, and challenging to renew our courage and commitment to the struggle for social justice and peace.

What we worked for over so many months to prevent has come to pass. Not only has George Bush been re-elected for another four year term, but also the Republicans have added to their majority in the House and the Senate.

Now our progressive movement will truly be put to the test.

My friends, we have so much to be proud of -- we have just witnessed the most widespread and energetic movement for voter engagement in American history. From your work here in the 9 th district to register new voters in West Oakland and South Berkeley, to Team Lee members who traveled to swing states every weekend to mobilize disenfranchised communities, to the volunteers who worked across the country with Move On, ACT, and Driving Votes, none of us has cause to say, “I wish I had done more.”

All of your efforts paid off with thousands of newly registered voters, dramatically increased turnout of young people, and majority support for John Kerry among low-income communities of color who have been most hurt by the President’s failed economic agenda.

You should be particularly proud of your work in California where thousands of volunteers contacted 1.5 million voters in our base communities. Because of your efforts, 37 Californian counties had an increase in their percentage of Democratic voters from 2004, and Senator Barbara Boxer won by two million votes for a 20 point led over her conservative opponent. This was the largest win for a U.S. Senator from the 1970’s!

In California John Kerry had a 1 million vote lead over George Bush, winning the state 54.4 to 44.5%. Meanwhile, here in Alameda County, Kerry won in a landslide 75% to 23.7%!

We are disappointed that Propositions 66 to fix Three Strikes, and Proposition 72 for healthcare, lost by such narrow margins. But you worked hard to defeat Proposition 62 for Open Primaries, and you won. Your tireless work also helped pass Proposition 71 to fund Stem Cell research.

Nationally George Bush won his slight margin in the election by energizing his radically right, evangelical base with promises to advance their conservative agenda. He won despite a majority of Americans who do not approve of the direction of this country (56%), do not support the war in Iraq (51%) and disagree with his failed domestic policies (52%). And he won through an emotional appeal to fear – fear of change and uncertainty, fear of terrorism, and, frankly, fear of differences.

The majority of Bush’s support (88%) was from white voters, while Kerry won big margins among African American, Asian American, and Latino voters. Bush won the high-income vote, while Kerry had a majority support from workers who earn less than $50,000 a year.

George Bush won a majority among voters ages 30 and up, but Kerry won a landslide among the 18 to 29 age group; in California this age group voted 61% to 38% for Kerry. 4.7 million more young people voted than they did four years ago—that is a larger youth vote than in any election since 18 year olds were given the right to vote in 1972!

We lost this election by only 3%. This is not an insurmountable obstacle!

So, where do we go from here?

The multi-ethnic movement that you helped build was successful in its goal to empower and mobilize new voters. We must work to ensure that this movement lasts beyond this election and that we continue our work of bridging cultural, ethnic and socio-economic boundaries.

As we move ahead, let us remember that this is a movement for progressive change and peace and not simply against the radical conservatism that tries to thwart aspirations and reserve benefits for a privileged few.

Remember that when 55 million Americans voted for John Kerry, they were also casting a vote for economic justice, for healthcare, for a realwar on terror to ensure the security of our homeland, for s trong diplomacy built on strong alliances, for peace keeping, and for social justice and a commitment to human rights.

When 84% of you in the 9 th District (that’s 23,000 more votes than two years ago!) voted to send me back to Washington D.C. you made it possible for me to rally our progressive troops and carry our positive and inclusive message not only around our my district, but around the country as well.

Let me close with these thoughts from our great champion for social justice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “ We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Let us take the time to rest and enjoy the holidays with our families. But let us not lose hope and let us not give up.

I thank you so much for your support.

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