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Tomorrow, Saturday, March 12, 2016, the NMI Democratic Party will caucus to select delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July, where the party’s nominee for President of the United States will be chosen.

The caucus starts at 6pm at caucus sites on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. On Saipan, the caucus will be at the World Resort Royal Taga Ballroom. On Tinian, it will be at the residence of former Senator David Cing in Marpo Valley next to Carolinas Hill. On Rota, it will be at the residence of Thomas A. Manglona.

I am writing this letter to urge all persons in the CNMI who will be 18 years of age or older by Nov. 8, 2016, not a “card-carrying Republican,” and concerned about the future of our islands, our Commonwealth, our country, and the world to attend and support BERNIE SANDERS for President.

In January, our good Congressman, Gregorio “Kilili” Camacho Sablan, endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. While I have tremendous respect for Congressman “Kilili,” I must in this instance respectfully disagree with him. I believe he made his decision prematurely and that with more time and thoughtful consideration, he will come to recognize that Bernie Sanders is the better choice for the Democratic Party nomination this year.

Hillary Clinton, if nominated and elected, would be the first female U.S. President, an achievement of monumental importance. As Kilili pointed out, it would make it unmistakably clear to his “five daughters—and to daughters and sisters and mothers everywhere in America– that a woman can become President (or anything else she wants to be).”

I would like very much to see the first female President and had hoped the Democratic Party would be able to follow the achievement of Barrack Obama with a woman at the head of the ticket this year. To that end, I and countless others campaigned vigorously to persuade Senator Elizabeth Warren to run. Senator Warren, however, declined to take on that challenge, believing her work in the Senate to be more important at this time.

As Congressman Kilili said in his statement back in January, “gender is not a qualification for president.” As nice (and historically important) as it would be to have our first female President, the symbolism of a woman President must give way to the substance of leadership.

Hillary Clinton is a remarkable woman with remarkable achievements. If she wins the nomination, we all should do everything in our power to help make her the next President. But Hillary Clinton is not the best choice for the country or the Democratic Party in 2016. Bernie Sanders is.

For more than half a century, Bernie Sanders has not only “talked the talk” but “walked the walk.” Since high school he has consistently and steadfastly conducted himself according to a set of core principles. He has never changed his position for the sake of political expediency, and his campaign is financed not by big corporate money but by millions of individuals making mostly small donations. (Bernie’s campaign has received more than five million individual contributions so far.) It is “people power” in American politics, something no one thought possible before.

Bernie understands that climate change is probably the single greatest threat the world faces today and that humanity has less than a decade to address the threat before it becomes irreversible. Bernie understands the true causes of the financial crisis and how to correct it. He knows we must regulate “Wall Street” and do away with “too big to fail.” He knows how corporate welfare and crony capitalism are destroying the American economy and the American middle class. And he intends to do something about it.

Bernie also is a voice of common sense and reason in military policy and national security. He voted against the disastrous Iraq war that cost us a trillion dollars, the lives of thousands of brave young American men and women (and perhaps one million Iraqis), and created ISIS. He is a champion of veterans of our armed forces.

He understands the importance of civil rights and civil liberties. He opposes warrantless electronic surveillance of millions of Americans by the National Security Agency. In college in the 1960s he organized protests against racial discrimination. He marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. and was arrested in civil rights protests.

He has executive experience as mayor of Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, for four terms. With over 25 years experience in Congress, first in the House of Representative and currently the Senate, Bernie knows the Federal government through and through. He has the knowledge, experience, ability, and personal character to perform the function of President and Commander in Chief with honor and distinction from “Day One” in office.

Bernie also has the highest favorability rating of any candidate for President in either political party. In head-to-head polling match-ups with possible Republican candidates, he consistently performs better than Hillary Clinton, beating every possible Republican candidate by wide margins. In short, Bernie Sanders is not only the best candidate on the issues, he is the most electable prospective Democrat nominee.

Bernie Sanders is changing the face of American politics. Bernie Sanders intends to change the way business is done in Washington, D.C. He is committed, so far as possible, to removing the corrupting influence of money from government in America. This election is not about Bernie Sanders; it is about us. Bernie Sanders is about empowering the common people. Be the change you want to see in the world.

We can make our voices heard! We can make a difference! Come caucus with us tomorrow and help make BERNIE SANDERS the 45th President of the United States!

Stephen C. Woodruff

NMI authorized representative

Bernie Sanders for President