Subject: Join me in drafting Matt Gonzalez for congress

Dearest Friends,

I would like you to consider joining me in a campaign to ask Matt Gonzalez to run for congress. Like many of you, I am deeply passionate about creating and defending peaceful, sustainable life for all humanty on this planet. I believe the time has come when we must ask for this with straightforward words at every level in our society.

I believe it's time we send someone to Washington to actually represent the peaceful and compassionate views of the fabulous eastern half of San Francisco.

Our current representative, while powerful and liked by some, has often supported the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, NAFTA, No Child Left Behind, and NSA wiretapping, as well as, here in San Francisco, the privatization of the Presidio, corporatization of the local economy, and unbridled gentrification. Nancy Pelosi certainly can talk the talk when in the right company, but on the largest issues she simply does not walk the walk. Despite endorsing the call of Rep. Murtha (R-PA) for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, she voted against immediate withdrawal just one day later, on Nov. 18, 2006, helping to kill the momentum to force a timetable for troop withdrawals.

Matt Gonzalez is the best person to run against Pelosi. As he did as President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, he will stand for peace and sanity and for the hopes, dreams, and needs of San Franciscans -- even in the face of a gale storm. And best of all, Gonzalez has the faith and fame among San Francisco voters to win. His campaign for mayor in 2003 galvanized a fantastic, festive grassroots movement that came from way behind to fall only a whisker short on election day. This time we'll start earlier, and this time the whole conservative west side of the city falls in a different district.

I am not in personal contact with Matt, yet I know he has heard about this sprouting campaign and is considering it. We must convince him that we stand with him before the deadline to submit his name as a write-in candidate for the primary. That deadline is May 23, and the time has come to get started.

If we want the Iraq War to end, and we do not want more wars started, it is time that we speak.

Please sign the petition at http://www.draftmatt.com if:

* You want to elect Matt Gonzalez of the Green Party to congress, or
* You personally are not yet sure which candidate you will vote for, but you want Matt to run in order to hear a real debate on the war and on the global, national, and local issues facing our community, or
* You do not live in San Francisco but believe there is a need for a true voice for peace and sustainability in congress.

Full disclosure: I am in fact the one (along with several friends) coordinating this campaign to draft Matt Gonzalez to run for congress. I have been interviewed by a reporter for the SF Bay Guardian, but the piece hasn't yet run.

We want to get at least 100 signatures today to kick off the website with a bang.

Please go sign the petition now, and then forward this to all of your friends, lovers, enemies, pets, and family members.

In peace and for truth,
Tony

http://www.draftmatt.com

ps: Please let me know if you would like to become (even slightly) more involved in this campaign.