“Alas, I’m British. What Can I Do To Defeat George W Bush?”
It is neither lawful nor productive for non-American citizens to attempt to exercise a direct influence on the outcome of an American Presidential election. Under Federal law, Britons cannot contribute money to any American political party or pressure group, nor publish any statement in American media which is calculated to sway American voters. However, that does not mean that Britons need be completely passive in the effort to defeat George W Bush. In particular, they have the right and the power to stop the Bush campaign from exploiting the Anglo-American alliance, and Tony Blair in particular, as an election asset.
This aarticle is intended to be a clearing house for suggestions. Here are ten starters. Let me know what you think, and please feed us suggestions of your own.
1) The previous entry to this site has the text of a letter which has already been sent to every Labour MP and peer. It asks them personally to break with the Bush administration and to put five proposals for the government and Tony Blair to do the same. If you agree, write to your Labour MP or prospective candidate and invite him or her to support the letter.
2) If you live in Hartlepool, invite Labour’s candidate in the forthcoming by-election, Councillor Iain Wright, to support the letter.
3) You will also see the text of an open letter from “friends of America”. If you like this, sign it yourself.
4) If you are able to monitor the American election or media in any way, watch out for any attempts by the Bush campaign to invoke the support of Britain, or Tony Blair. Bring them to the attention of your MP (and ume, please!) and ask the government to protest.
5) Conversely, watch out in the American media for any story which carries the general message: Blair Breaks With Bush. Bring them to the attention of your MP (and me, please!) and congratulate the government.
6) If you have any personal contacts with Americans, express your views to them – politely – about George W Bush. Do not put this in the form of a direct invitation to vote against him. Simply explain your personal reasons for hoping that he will be defeated. It would be particularly helpful to target two key Bush constituencies so consider
7) If you know any members of the American armed forces explain, politely, why you have no confidence in George W as a commander-in-chief. Suggest that British forces will never again act under his direct orders, nor follow him into any other war like Iraq, and
8) If you are a Christian and in contact with American Christians, point out politely the un-Christian conduct of George W. You may like to draw attention to a few of the Commandments he has regularly broken (eg thou shalt not kill/bear false witness/take the name of the Lord in vain), and to Matthew chapter 6 verse 5 (do not pray as the hypocrites do).
9) Support the suggestion that either Governor Howard Dean or Michael Moore address this year’s Labour party conference as international speaker.
10) If you are going to Conference yourself, or know anyone who is going, wear a John Kerry badge or clothing or anything with an anti-Bush slogan and invite him or her to do the same. It is particularly useful to do this in front of the media, especially if they are following the Party Leader. [Soon you should be able to order T-shirts and badges f with the slogan BUST BUSH or (more naughty) BUCK FUSH].