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October 15, 2004

Jeremy Reynalds
P O Box 27693
Alb., NM 87125-7693
Tel: (505) 400-7145
www.joyjunction.org

My Fellow Non-Americans: British Newspaper Targets US Voters

    In an article titled "My fellow non-Americans," Britain's left-wing Guardian newspaper explains to its readers that while they are unable to vote in the upcoming presidential election, they can have a voice nonetheless.

    A recent article in the Guardian commented, "The result of the US election will affect the lives of millions around the world but those of us outside the 50 states have had no say in it - until now. In a unique experiment (the Guardian) has assembled a democratic toolkit to enable people from Basildon to Botswana to campaign in the presidential race. And with a little help from the folks in Clark County, Ohio, you might help decide who takes up residence in the White House next month."

    To help ensure its readers made a difference, the Guardian commented,"we've zeroed in on one of the places where this year's election truly will be decided: Clark County, Ohio, which is balanced on a razor's edge between Republicans and Democrats."

    Calling the scheme "an opportunity for public service," Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman, who is in the newspaper's New York City bureau, said the newspaper has "assembled a handy set of tools that non-Americans can use to have a real chance of influencing the outcome of the vote."

    Those tools include, he wrote, "ways to give money to help your preferred candidate, even though direct campaign contributions from foreigners aren't allowed. There are ideas for making your voice heard in the influential local media outlets where it could really count."

    The idea hinges on matching Guardian readers with undecided registered independents voters in Clark County Ohio. The newspaper wants its readers to "write a personal letter, citizen to citizen, explaining why this election matters to you, and which issues you think ought to matter to the US electorate. It may even be a chance to persuade somebody to use their vote at all."

    As an incentive, the Guardian writes, "We are offering the four people who write the most persuasive letters to Clark County voters the chance to travel there and watch the campaign in person. At the end of October, the winners will accompany a group of Guardian journalists to Ohio to meet voters and observe the closing days of the race."

    The Guardian is not shy about its intentions. "While there's no point being coy about Britain's preferences in this election (never mind those of Guardian readers) - a poll last month put backing for Kerry at 47 percent, against 16 percent for Bush - we have included information for supporters of both main candidates."

    The Guardian realizes the idea could backfire. "Anybody might be justifiably angered by the idea of a foreigner trying to interfere in their democratic process."

    "People don't necessarily want to hear what people from other countries have to say," Rachelle Valladares, the London-based chair of Democrats Abroad, told the Guardian.

     However, the Guardian comments, "Being from Britain ought to give you a certain leverage: in stump speeches and debates, Bush has repeatedly praised Tony Blair's cooperation over Iraq, making America's long-treasured alliance with the UK key to the president's defense of his foreign policy."

     Guardian readers signing up for the scheme will receive by e-mail the name and snail mail address of a Clark County voter.

    "We have included only those voters who chose to list themselves as unaffiliated, instead of as Republican or Democrat," the Guardian writes. "That is no guarantee that they are persuadable, of course, but it does increase the chances."

     Readers are advised, "In formulating your letter, you will need to introduce yourself: no individual Clark County voter will have any reason to be expecting your communication. And in choosing your arguments, keep in mind the real risk of alienating your reader by coming across as interfering or offensive. You might want to handwrite your letter, for additional impact, and we strongly recommend including your own name and address - it lends far more credibility to your views, and you might get a reply."

    Readers are also carefully advised how to give money, with the Guardian cheerily writing "American law forbids foreigners from giving money to affect the outcome of a federal election - except that, on closer inspection, it doesn't. You're banned from donating to the campaigns themselves, or to many of the independent campaigning groups that fight explicitly on behalf of one candidate. So you need to identify officially non-partisan groups (such as the NAACP or Christian Coalition) whose activities, none the less, have the practical effect of helping one candidate over the other."

    Readers wanting to do even more are advised to "focus on the media outlets swing-state residents are reading and hearing. Take care: deluging the same organization with numerous near-identical messages rarely impresses (we speak from experience)."

     Those people feeling brave, the Guardian says, "might want to explore the highly influential talk-radio airwaves. On the right, the overarchingly dominant figure is Rush Limbaugh, heard on hundreds of stations nationwide, including 19 in Ohio, some of which can be heard in Clark County. This is a strictly at-your-own-risk proposition ... "

     Contact information is also provided for "Air America, the upstart liberal radio counterweight, (which) is still in its infancy, but it can be picked up in parts of Ohio and other battleground states. Listen to the flagship show presented by the left wing humourist Al Franken ... Franken's focus yesterday was the ‘absolutely shameless' behavior of the conservative media in America."

     Linda Rosicka, director of the Clark County Board of Elections, told the Associated Press (AP) that the Guardian paid $25 for a list of all registered voters. Anyone can buy the list, and purchasers can use whichever portion they wish.

    "Our government has interfered enough in other elections, other political situations around the world ... why can't people from other countries try to influence us with their opinions?" Springfield independent voter Artimus Keiffer, 52, told the AP.

    Other residents of Clark County appeared to be amused than inclined to change their vote.

    "That's kind of a joke," Springfield voter Norman James, formerly undecided but now leaning toward Bush, told the Newhouse News Service when he learned about the plan. "I don't think they really have a clue about American politics over there."

    However, not everyone thinks the Guardian's scheme is funny. According go the Cybercast News Service (CNS), some conservative online "bloggers" are urging their readers to subvert the campaign by requesting a name and address -- with no intention of writing to the Ohio voter -- until the Guardian runs out of names to hand out.

         A popular blogger in Australia, Tim Blair, is promoting a retaliatory campaign, CNS reported, asking readers to deluge Guardian journalists with emails (he provides addresses).

       "You may not have heard of it, but it's one of the most marginal newspapers in one of the most marginal media cultures on earth," Blair told CNS. "It's a place where a change of mind among just a few journalists could make a real difference. Pick one, two, three, or all the names and send your message."