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John,

As Americans, we sometimes forget just how big America is, how diverse we
are, and how special we are.

It’s not just the land itself that makes us so special … although, if you
take just one look at Appalachia, you’ll be mesmerized by the views. I
called West Virginia home almost my entire life, West Virginia helped
raise my children when I was away at war defending this country, but West
Virginia is just one state out of 50 that make up these beautiful United
States of America.

Anyway, it’s not just the richness and beauty of this country that makes
people want to be part of this country – since the beginning, it’s been
about the IDEA of America, a nation that isn’t made up of people who share
a common ancestry, religion, language or even culture, but a shared
commitment to equal opportunity and freedom.

That’s what makes us special.

I, for one, feel betrayed – how could so many of our fellow citizens
betray America and attack its beating heart, our very own Capitol? How
could so many of them turn against our home?

I struggle with this question as I witness people still supporting Donald
Trump and members of his Treason Caucus.

One of the things that keeps me up at night is the knowledge that these
people aren’t done – they’re prepping right now for their next assault.

How do I know? They’re bragging about in public on social media, that’s
how. Trump went as far as creating a social media platform just for his
deranged cult followers, and this is all they talk about!

One very chilling thing we need to understand is that these people aren’t
just a bunch of aimless shut-ins living in their mom's basements
mainlining Cheetos and Mountain Dew. They walk among us every day; many of
them are successful professionals!

For example, take Dr. Paul “the Nazi” Gosar, one of Trump’s top cultists
in Congress and a key architect of the deadly January 6^th coup attempt –
he’s actually a dentist.

Hell, he was the Arizona Dental Association’s dentist of the year in 2001,
they inducted him into their “Hall of Fame,” and he served as their
president from 2004-2005.

All the while, he was secretly NUTS!!!  (After he ran for Congress and
really started letting his freak flag fly, all six of his siblings
publicly disowned him and made a video endorsing his opponent.)

My point is, we can’t afford to underestimate our adversaries. Read any
book on war, and you will see that once one side dismisses their opponent,
they are all but doomed.

We need to learn from history, we need to respect the fact that our enemy
is well-resourced and hellbent on turning this country into a fascist,
authoritarian, hyper-religious, white ethno-state.

That’s the reality: This all comes down to white supremacy – it is alive
and thriving in America. Maybe you don’t live in a place where you can see
it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

I unfortunately saw it, up close and personal, for many, many years in
West Virginia … to the point where I had no choice, I had to leave, for my
own mental health and for that of my family.

Now, I didn’t turn my back on West Virginia; I will keep fighting until
the day I die for my home state, but I did need a break. (For those of you
wondering, I now call North Carolina home.)

Look, I don't want this letter to be depressing and negative.

There is some good news: We massively outnumber them – even the most
politically disenfranchised folks don’t align with the far right.

But as you saw in the past midterms John, Republicans were able
to eek out majority in the House thanks to their voter suppression laws
and extreme gerrymandering.

That's why we need the year-round resources to make sure we're doing the
long-term work vital to winning elections. Elections are not won or lost a
couple weeks before the vote, but rather by the hard work organizations
like No Dem Left Behind put in day-in and day-out and who else is fighting
to win rural America for Democrats on a scale like No Dem Left Behind is?

That's why I'm more than proud to be No Dem Left Behind's national
spokesperson and that's why I am sincerely asking for your support
today. [ [link removed] ]John, will you chip in now to stand with your fellow
Democrats across rural America and defeat the MAGA movement?

[ [link removed] ]Chip in $20.24 → [ [link removed] ]Chip in $50 →

[ [link removed] ]Chip in $100 → [ [link removed] ]Chip in other amount →

John,

- Major Richard Ojeda USA (Ret.)
[6]picture of Richard Ojeda




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