Open Letter to John Kerry

Dear Senator Kerry,

We write this open letter as a group of bloggers whose audience you respect enough that you advertise on our web sites.

We are deeply disturbed that former staff members of your campaign and other Dean rivals now working at the so-called “Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values” have resorted to the Willie Horton campaign tactic of linking Howard Dean to Osama Bin Laden. Vigorous competition among Democrats is expected and welcome, but all Democratic leaders should denounce these kinds of tactics.

Given your staff link to this attack through your former press secretary, Robert Gibbs—the new group’s spokesman— we feel it is incumbent on you and your campaign to make it clear that this kind of attack is unacceptable. Otherwise, there will be the appearance of covert cooperation by your campaign in supporting this effort.

If your campaign does not make clear that you have no link to this scurrilous attack, all of us will have to reevaluate our willingness to allow advertising by your campaign on our web sites.

We don’t expect to have to make that decision, since we have faith in your integrity and expect you to quickly make clear your denunciation of this destructive and anti-democratic operation.

Yours,

Atrios- Eschaton
Jeralyn Merritt- Talk Left
Nathan Newman- NathanNewman.org
Oliver Willis- Oliver Willis
Jesse Taylor and Ezra Klein- Pandagon

Update: Kerry and Gephardt deny they have anything to do with the ad.