Democrats and pot

There is an important distinction between the Democratic presidential candidates not mentioned in your endorsement piece ["Endorsements," 2/18/04]: The Bush Justice Department has conducted a series of raids that have terrorized medical marijuana patients and caregivers throughout California. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina has said it would be "irresponsible" to end these raids, apparently seeing no problem with Drug Enforcement Administration agents pointing automatic rifles at sick and dying people. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has pledged to end the raids, and at least indicated an open mind toward changing federal law to permit medical use of marijuana – not as strong a stand as some of us might like, but a vast improvement over the policies of George W. Bush, or of President Clinton before him. Ohio representative Dennis Kucinich has gone even further, saying he supports medical marijuana "without reservation" and would immediately act to end the federal war on the sick. A full guide to the candidates' positions on medical marijuana (including candidates who have now dropped out) is available at www.mpp.org/candidates/home.

Bruce Mirken, Director of communications
Marijuana Policy Project
San Francisco

The litmus test

The Bay Guardian has proven that political "litmus tests" are not the exclusive property of the right wing and Christian fundamentalists. In your editorial endorsing candidates for Democratic County Central Committee, you state: "We didn't endorse anyone in the 13th District who backed Newsom over Gonzalez." As a consequence, the Guardian is urging the defeat of former supervisor Sue Bierman – who was fighting for progressive causes before some members of the Guardian's editorial board were even born! Smooth move, Guardian!

Arlo Hale Smith
San Francisco

Vote Ro

I am supporting Ro Khanna for Congress in the March 2 Democratic primary. I've heard him in our neighborhood, and I think that he demonstrates a more balanced view than the 24-year incumbent Tom Lantos.

Ro speaks eloquently about a more cooperative, inclusive American foreign policy as well as his priorities of quality education, affordable housing, job creation, and health care. His character, thoughtfulness, commitment, and leadership make him a shining star for our district.

The incumbent Lantos staunchly supported Bush in his preemptive war in Iraq, not representing the views of his 12th District constituents. Now Lantos is trying to distance himself from responsibility by calling for an investigation into the pre-war intelligence failures. Isn't it the task of Congress to check and balance the administration, especially intelligence that determines such serious policies?

I met Ro, visited www.votero.com, and decided that Ro will provide the best representation and service for all the people of our district. Please join me March 2 and vote Ro!

N. Nicole Moayeri
Hillsborough

The Kucinich platform

Thank you for your endorsement of the best presidential candidate running, Dennis Kucinich, even if it was half-hearted. When Dennis wins it will go down as a "protest" vote, and the Democratic Party will ignore the voice of the people and turn once again to the sound of big money. And of course the Republican media of America will pretend it did not happen, just like Dennis's third-place finishes, so few others in America will hear about these votes for peace and for putting respectability back in the White House.

You started the Kucinich "endorsement" by saying all that is wrong with Kerry, so it sickens me that you still think he is the electable one.

Right now is primary/caucus time. Time for building a platform, a platform that will support the largest number of people. For the Democratic Party to champion a war supporter as the leader before the people have even got a chance to vote is wrong and alienating, not platform-building.

This is the logic the American media is selling to American voters. And they are drinking it up like cheap beer and bottled water. A vote for Kucinich on the other hand is a vote for drinking cheap, clean tap water.

Thomas Mark Higgins
Anchorage, Alaska

For the record