Media Page (4)

November 2, 2001

Dear Friends and Supporters of Dorothy Granada,

The Nicaraguan daily La Prensa on Monday, October 29th carried a full-page paid ad for Liberal Constitutionalist Party presidential candidate Enrique Bolaņos signed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of U.S. President George W. Bush.

DOROTHY GRANADA HAS WRITTEN A RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR BUSH that will appear in the newspaper El Nuevo Diario on Saturday, November 3. La Prensa refused to print her letter unless references to U.S. intervention were removed, which she refused to do. Dorothy's letter was also distributed to 3 television stations and 4 radio stations.

BELOW YOU WILL FIRST FIND GOVERNOR BUSH'S LETTER AND THEN DOROTHY'S RESPONSE. Please feel free to write to Gov. Bush to denounce his blatant intervention in the Nicaraguan electoral process and to ask his senator, Bill Nelson, to reprimand him. Their contact information is at the bottom of this message.

For fair elections for all,

Jill Winegardner and Dorothy Granada

The ad from Gov. Bush is laid out thus:

In small letters above the headline:
The Brother of the President of the United States (in blue)
Massive Headline: GEORGE W. BUSH
SUPPORTS ENRIQUE BOLANOS (blaring red)

This is all on white background, and the whole page is bordered in red, white and blue. The effect is of course that, at first - and even second -glance it looks as though the ad was inserted by the U.S. President himself. The main text is in black type, but with emphatic paragraphs in blue;

Translating the critical parts:

"This November, Nicaragua will choose a new president. This decision rests where it should, in the hands of the Nicaraguan voting public. At the same time, we in Florida want the people of Nicaragua to know that they are not alone in making this decision.

"The elements which have made of Florida and the United States a place where exiles from diverse countries have found success - democracy, respect for law, transparency and confidence in public institutions - are being developed in many Latin American countries. Florida benefits when its neighbors adopt the successful formulas - free elections, open markets, the integrity of the public sector - which have produced such good results in our country.

"However, this formula for success is not automatic. Not everyone has the same commitment to these successful free institutions .... As I look at Latin America today, I'm reminded of the motto which is written above the entrance to the US National Archives: "The Past Is Prologue." The past is without doubt the key indicator of the future. In a world which has been transformed during the last decade through political and economic openings, it is inconceivable that a people would choose to return to a totalitarian past.

"The past and present of Daniel Ortega clearly indicate that he neither understands nor accepts the basic principles of freedom, democracy and the free market. Some say he has changed, that the years out of power have convinced him of the necessity for genuine democracy, for open markets, and for the maintaining of good relations with his neighbors and with the United States. This is what Ortega would want us to believe.

"Daniel Ortega is an enemy of everything the United States represents. Further, he is a friend of our enemies. Ortega has a relationship of more than 30 years with states and individuals who shelter and condone international terrorism.

"By contrast Enrique Bolanos is a man whose past promises a future of freedom. I knew him for the first time fifteen years ago, before the end of the Cold War, when freedom was not yet secured in many parts of the world. He spoke with clarity of purpose and with precision about the importance of democracy, of the free market, and of the absolute necessity to have a public sector with integrity. He not only spoke about these ideas but also defended them valiantly in the hostile and repressive climate created by the Sandinistas. Thanks to this experience, I can say that Enrique Bolanos will be an excellent leader for Nicaragua.

"To construct democracy is not easy. It puts a leader's commitment to the test as well as his will to hold to the true path. This is why Latin America needs people whose valorous past points to a promising future. Latin America needs leaders like Enrique Bolanos, people whose history shows a commitment to the construction of prosperous economies and solid democracies which are the necessary base for reinforcing bonds of brotherhood with Florida, just as with the whole United States of America.

Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida."


HERE IS DOROTHY'S LETTER:

November 1,2001

Dear Governor Jeb Bush:

I am shocked and saddened by the letter you recently sent to the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa. Your comments and those of Mr. Lino Gutierrez and Ambassador Oliver Garza are blatant intervention in Nicaraguan politics. It is ironic that last year, the Nicaraguan government accused me of meddling in Nicaraguan politics and attempted to illegally deport me and closed our health clinic. That accusation and many others were disproved and I was vindicated in the Nicaraguan courts.

I am a US citizen and a nurse from Santa Cruz, California. For the last 11 years I have lived and worked in Mulukuku, a poor community in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region of Nicaragua, providing health services to poor peasants. The people in the region of Mulukuku, like all poor communities in the country, have been virtually abandoned by the Nicaraguan government in the area of health care. The few government health services that do exist are pitifully inadequate to meet the need. Neoliberal economic policies totally exclude the poor from health, education, and other social services.

Poverty, lack of land, and a 70% unemployment rate have led to hunger, violence, and despair.. Since 1990, I have witnessed increasing malnutrition in the people, especially children. Malnutrition has progressed to starvation and death. My arms have held many of these children as they died. Your letter supports the same policies that have led to the complete abandonment of the poor in Nicaragua and manifests the most cynical and hateful attitude toward them.

Millions of United States citizens, many of whom live in Florida, respect and love the Nicaraguan people, uphold their right to sovereignty, and with me, denounce your arrogant intervention.

Many of us realize that the United States government is taking advantage of the tragic events of September 11 to strike out at people whom the US government perceives as enemies. Your intervention in Nicaraguan politics is an example.

It is clear that your letter reflects the position of the United States government. You have abused your position of power and privilege in this attempt to influence the Nicaraguan election, just as U.S. policies have contributed so directly to the misery in Nicaragua. I pray that the people of Nicaragua will reject this letter and the policies it represents and choose for themselves.

Position and privilege have made the United States a bully in the eyes of many of the world's poor. I invite you to step away from your privilege, if you can, for just a moment to see the world through the eyes of the poorest Nicaraguan.

Dorothy Granada

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Governor Jeb Bush
E-mail: fl_governor@myflorida.com
Fax: 850-487-0801
Tel: 850-488-4441

Senator Bill Nelson
Fax: 850-942-8450
Tel: 850-942-8415

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