Dear Carl,
Thanks for your speedy response. It would be helpful if you would answer all of my questions. I, and many other concerned activists, have not been following the conversations on this site about these issues. That is why I decided that listing the questions and requesting simple, direct answers would be the best way to clarify the situation. My questions are valid, important, and shared by many in the community.
Please be respectful of your fellow activists and clearly answer these questions.

1) What is your endorsement process?
“I took Code Pink's endorsement from their administrator's vote on our event from the ILCPJ website, and from others in our meetings indentifying as Code Pink.
If that was misinformation, or I interpreted in incorrectly, let us know and we'll remove you immediately with our apologies. I've either had an email, a letter, a check, or a phone confirmation of every endorsement.”
ILCPJ website: Co-Sponsors can be listed on promotional materials as an endorser.
“Participants” and “Supporters” do not fall into this category.
Chicago Area CodePINK is listed as a “Participant”. Military Families Speak Out is a “Participant”. Vietnam Vets Against the War and Voices for Creative Non-violence are listed as “Support”. These groups are listed on YOUR website and on flyers as endorsers.
Check it out yourself – go to ILCPJ website, go to actions, go to pg. 4, Oct. 27 for complete list of co-sponsors (endorsers.) There are 16 co-sponsors.

2) Why are you inviting Mayor Daley, Senator Durbin and Senator Obama to speak?
Is this your answer to my question?
“I've made our case over and over on this site. We're building a left-center coalition against the war, and challenging the center in the process, not simply a left opposition. Read any number of the times I've explained it, or, if you 're an endorser or want to endorse, come and talk to me, or our planning committee in person.
And none of the pols you're worried about have even confirmed, or are even likely to do so. Sometimes you put invitations forward for your allies who are working with you, if it's a real left-center coalition, even if you don't expect a result.”

3) Who selects the speakers? Were “endorsers” involved in the selection process? (We were not contacted)
”Our program committee is making these decisions and reporting them to the general planning committee, and every endorser is welcome to attend and vote.”
How were endorsers informed of this process?

4) Who else has been invited to speak?

5) Are all Senators and Representatives within the Midwest invited? The stated rationale for inviting Senator Obama to speak is that he is our Senator. We’re mobilizing the Midwest, right? I see that Senator Feingold of Wisconsin is on the list of potential speakers. Is Ohio in the Midwest? Representative Kucinich is not listed as a potential speaker.

5) Are you inviting all Presidential candidates? And how can the rally be “non-partisan” but give a platform to one Presidential candidate? It is irresponsible and unacceptable not to address the implication of inviting just one Presidential candidate to speak under the cover of “he’s our Senator.” I believe that the general public will assume that the invitation is our endorsement of Obama as the “anti-war candidate”. Have all Presidential candidates – of all parties – been invited?

Thank-you.
Rachel Herbener