David Van Os says thanks to supporters

David Van Os (photo)

Dear Friends and Supporters:

Language is not sufficient to fully express my deep gratitude for all that you have done in building and sustaining our campaign to put a people's lawyer in the Texas Attorney General's office.

You have been there with me over and over for the past year and a half; spreading the campaign's message through email, word of mouth, and literature; contributing hard-earned dollars to meet financial needs; coordinating and attending whistlestops in your counties; organizing support groups in your communities; furnishing your input about tactics and strategies; and providing the gracious words of encouragement that keep a candidate going.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Though the vote count went against us, a campaign based on heart, principle, conviction, and fighting spirit is never a failure. In every county in Texas, someone new heard and agreed with the message that we the people do have the right and the power to fight back for democratic control of our governments and our lives. In every county in Texas, someone new heard the message and voted for it who would not have otherwise done so.

Make no mistake about this. The power elites heard the message loud and clear and responded to the threat you and I represented. Their response was to sink unprecedented amounts of money into a campaign for Texas Attorney General in order to defend an incumbent who is operating the office of, by, and for their money and their power.

I am very proud of the thousands of individual grassroots contributions that came from you and others like you. You kept an administrative office open, you kept us supplied with the basic necessities of printed literature; you furnished stationary, postage, and office supplies; you kept the whistlestop tour going; you supplied travel expenses for a full year and a half of campaigning; and you purchased radio and newspaper advertising in the last week of the campaign. And even more so, you supplied the ongoing moral support that sustained my conviction that it was a fight worth fighting.

At the same time, I must candidly inform you that the level of Texas Democratic Party support for my statewide ticket-mates and myself left much to be desired. In a November 8 article in the Dallas Morning News a spokesman for the state party even publicly acknowledged that the party did not assist its statewide candidates. This matter must be addressed and I believe that it will be.

Shifting focus to a wider view, I am personally ecstatic over the Democratic Party's recapture of majorities in the U.S. House and Senate after 12 long years of arrogant one-party bullying. The American people finally awoke, just in the nick of time to restore checks and balances and stop the Bushites' headlong rush toward executive dictatorship in our country. This is a historic milestone of the highest importance.

Here in Texas the cause of people's government did make gains in some parts of the state, for which I am thankful. Nevertheless the executive branch of our state government remains in the greedy hands of corporate and political power elites that use Texas government in the cause of self-interest instead of public interest.

So yes, though the deep freeze is thawing outside of our great state, Texas citizens will continue frozen out of their own government at the highest levels. All of us together have only one option. Fight ‘em on the ice!

My warmest appreciation and regards,
David Van Os