Press Releases

May 29, 2008
A new grassroots PAC, Count the Votes Cast, produces 30 second TV ad airing May 29th/ 30th in DC area

Two weeks ago a small, informal group of Democrats met to share their concern that the Democratic Party nominee for President would not represent the will of all voters.

In the course of a few days the group, who did not know one another prior to this, united to form a PAC, Count the Votes Cast (CTVC) and a website : www.countthevotescast.org.

Count the Votes Cast was formed because:

  • FL and MI are being punished for "breaking the rules", yet it is voters, not those who violated the rules, who are being punished. It is unacceptable that 2.3 million voters may be disenfranchised by their own Party.
  • Some have called the race over when this is clearly not the case. The ultimate outcome of the nomination process rests on the decision made by a relatively small group: The DNC chairman, the elected delegates and the super delegates. This race is so close that it is imperative that all delegates allocated to Florida and Michigan are seated and heard at the Convention.
  • The caucuses are not a true reflection of the will of the people. A million people in caucus states elect the same number of delegates as 6 million people voting in primary states do. Yet in this extremely close race it is the delegate count, rather than the popular vote that is getting the most attention.

With no prior fundraising, PR or media experience, CTVC rapidly raised several thousand dollars in small donations and posted an open letter to Howard Dean and the DNC which attracted hundreds of signatories from across the country.

CTVC believe their outrage is shared by millions of voters and so they have created a 30 second TV ad , reflecting this collective feeling. The ad will be aired Friday 30th during the ABC-WJLA Channel 7 News 6.00am 7.00am, Good Morning America and on CNN during the evening. Their ad can be seen in its You Tube version on their website www.countthevotescast.org.

This entire endeavor is truly grassroots. No professionals were used in the making of the TV ad. All those in front of and behind the cameras are Democratic voters voicing the clear message that counting all the votes and seating all the delegates is the only way to avoid disaster in November.

As one group member stated:

"Our goal is to convey the message that ordinary grassroots Democrats are deeply concerned that the legitimacy of the nominating process will be greatly compromised if all votes cast in Florida and Michigan are not included. Faith in the entire primary process is likely to be so diminished that it will handicap the Democrats' chances in November."

Count the Votes Cast PAC supporters will join WomenCount PAC who have attracted support from across the nation with their full page ads in the NYT and Washington Post, as well as hundreds of Democrats who have been inspired to march. They will rally in front of the Marriot Wardman Hotel in Washington DC on May 31st where the DNC Rules Committee meeting will be held.

Contacts

Jenny Doggett
617 429 5455 (M)
jenny@countthevotescast.org

Tessa Gordon
617 308 5697 (M)
tessa@countthevotescast.org

Kathy Hughes
617 233 9718 (M)
kathy@countthevotescast.org