On Monday I received an e-mail—as I often do—from John Edwards’ presidential campaign. They were putting together a petition to send to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and they wanted signatures.
But it wasn’t an ordinary petition. The petition would come on a copy of the United States Constitution. For each signature, the Edwards campaign would send Gonzales a copy of the Constitution. And if the Edwards campaign collected more than 25,000 signatories, they would print up a giant copy of the Constitution—I’m not sure how giant, but it’s what they said—and have it delivered to Gonzales’ office.
A stunt? Sure. But a worthwhile one, as it Gonzales really seems to need a copy of the Constitution as he’s not really sure what it says.
Today, the Edwards campaign sent out another message, looking for more signatures, and asked to forward it on. Not being one to do e-mail forwards anymore, why not post it here, on the blog? And even if Edwards isn’t your candidate of choice, that’s no reason not to add your signature to the Big Damn Constitution the Edwards campaign wants to send Gonzales’ way. 😉
Dear friend,
Today, we need your help to send a message to insiders like George Bush’s Attorney General Alberto Gonzales who have no respect for the rule of law, our rights and freedoms, or the Constitution.
Gonzales, the man who helped enable torture at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and illegal spying on Americans, is now facing a possible perjury investigation for lying to Congress.
President Bush may be incapable of admitting when he makes a mistake (yes, too many to count)—but you and I and the American people still have the power to tell Gonzales that it is time to go!
Add your name to our message to Gonzales today.
www.johnedwards.com/action/sign-petitions/gonzales
We have a simple message to deliver to Gonzales:
Remember the Constitution that you were sworn to uphold?
Remember what this country stands for?
Remember the laws you were supposed to defend?
If you do, then do what is right—just once—and resign.
But then again, maybe it has been so long since Gonzales read the Constitution that he forgot what this great document says.
Well, let’s remind him.
www.johnedwards.com/action/sign-petitions/gonzales
For every signature we collect (and this is where friends and family become very helpful), we will send Gonzales a copy of the Constitution. You can even add a special message like:
“Do the right thing for once – resign.”
“What will it take for you to resign?”
“I believe perjury is against the law.”
“R-E-S-I-G-N”Add whatever reasonable note you think could make him do what is right.
But here’s the best part—with your help, we can send Gonzales a
really BIG message.If we gather over 25,000 signatures online, we’re not just going to mail them.
We’re going to put them at the bottom of the largest copy of the Constitution you have ever seen, and deliver it straight to Gonzales’ office at the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Department building in Washington, D.C..
How big a copy of the Constitution? Big. Really big.
And maybe—just maybe, when he sees that Constitution with all of your signatures, Gonzales will remember that his job is not to protect George Bush—it is to protect the rights and freedoms of the American people.
And maybe—just maybe, if enough of us speak out he will once—just once—do what is right, and resign. No matter what he does, history will record that at this critical moment you and I took a stand. And we’re going to keep standing up for what is right when our nation needs us—because that’s what this campaign is all about.
So if you want to join the fight for real change, then please add your name right now and help send Gonzales a message he will never forget.
www.johnedwards.com/action/sign-petitions/gonzales
Thank you,
— Joe Trippi
Monday, July 30th, 2007
Even if Edwards isn’t your candidate, Gonzales broke laws. Even if you’re a Republican, Gonzales has deliberately misled Congress.
It’s a stunt, but it’s a stunt that can get Gonzales’ attention.
Who’s with me? 🙂