George,

I support Dr. Dean, and I also support the idea that far too many African-American citizens are being incarcerated by an unjust system. This is not a "weepy, liberal" issue, it is a question of truth, and for Dr. Dean, it is a question of practical need. We in the party need everyone's support, and to attain it requires a recognition of the basic needs in the electorate. As Rev. Jackson said:

"If Blacks vote in great numbers, progressive Whites win. It's the only way progressive Whites win. If Blacks vote in great numbers, Hispanics win. When Blacks, Hispanics, and progressive Whites vote, women win. When women win, children win. When women and children win, workers win. We must all come up together. We must come up together."

If minority constituencies could be inspired to vote in proportionate numbers and in line with their historical preferences, a populist candidate would need less than 40% of the white vote to constitute a majority. In other words, in a 100 million vote election, 12% Black at 90%, 12% Latino at 65%, Asian at 60%, White Women at 53%...leads to only 25% of white men needed. The theory is that by truly energizing the progressive base, we can further effect this shift to the left, and that is no cause for tears.

Thomas Kester (electronic mail, October 8, 2003)