Support florida ballot investigation!

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Alert Date: December 21, 2000 -- Circulate Until: January 20, 2000

Support an Investigation of the Ballots!
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IN THIS ALERT
(1) Jeb Bush Criticizes Media For Investigating Florida Ballots
(2) Support an Investigation of Ballots
(3) Sample Letter to Florida Media Outlets
(4) Sample Letter to Gov. Jeb Bush
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(1) JEB BUSH CRITICIZES MEDIA FOR INVESTIGATING FLORIDA BALLOTS

The Orlando Sentinel reported yesterday that George W. Bush\'s brother, Florida State Governor Jeb Bush, chided the media for examining and counting ballots that the US Supreme Court prevented
from being counted. Other GOP officials have also called the media
investigation irresponsible.

In fact, media investigations of every type of voting irregularity are an important public service. It has been clear since November
7th that an unacceptable number of the citizens who reside in the state where Gov. Jeb Bush governs were disenfranchised on Election
Day. Bush\'s allegiance should be to the people he represents. All Americans deserve the truth.

The Supreme Court spoke and George W. Bush will become President on January 20th. This should not stop us from seeking the truth, if
only to prevent similar injustices from occurring in future elections. Gov. Jeb Bush will likely seek re-election in 2002, so
preventing electoral injustice should naturally be one of his top priorities.
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(2) SUPPORT AN INVESTIGATION OF BALLOTS

Our government was created with a complex system of checks and balances. The Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of the press. We
must call upon the media to ensure that the truth is told.

George W. Bush will become President, but it has not been
determined whether or not the people of Florida truly elected him to the office. As providers of information, the Miami Herald and a
consortium of other newspapers has already accepted the task of
investigating the ballots. Fortunately, Florida has strong open record laws. We urge you to write to Florida\'s news media and express your support for counting the ballots in Florida and reporting on
voter irregularities.
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(3) SAMPLE LETTER TO FLORIDA MEDIA OUTLETS

We should all encourage the media to find out the truth about the Florida election. The media should not be discouraged from
investigating this important story in any way.

Editors at the Herald and other newspapers must be assured that the public wants to know the truth, especially when they are receiving pressure from politicians to stop their investigation. Please write
to the newspaper consortium to express your support for a full investigation of the ballots. We have included a sample letter for you to send. You deserve the truth - it is time to demand it!

Address letters to:

The Ballot Investigation Consortium
c/o Miami Herald
One Herald Plaza
Miami, Florida 33132-1693

Fax: (305) 376-8950

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Dear Editor,

It has come to my attention that your newspaper will participate with other news media outlets to investigate some or all of Florida\'s ballots. I applaud your news organization for seeking the truth on behalf of this nation\'s citizens. I suspect you will get pressure to call off such an investigation, but as a reader, and as an American, I strongly encourage your newspaper to proceed until you have determined the true outcome of Florida\'s election. Thank you for
maintaining the courage to seek the truth.

Sincerely,

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(4) SAMPLE LETTER TO GOV. JEB BUSH

Gov. Bush will likely run for re-election in 2002. It is in his best
interest to investigate all possible violations of the Voting Rights
Act and other voting irregularities. Certainly he would want to
ensure that all future elections fairly and accurately record every
vote. He recently announced that Florida lawmakers intend to
investigate all voting irregularities in Florida. However, when he
makes public statements discouraging the media from seeking the truth
about the voters intent in his own State, it casts serious doubt about
his concern for the people he governs. Please write to Gov. Jeb Bush and ask him to fully support the media\'s investigation of the ballots.

Governor Jeb Bush
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Fax: 850/487-0801
email: fl_governor [at] eog.state.fl.us

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Dear Gov. Bush,

As you are aware, there were numerous voter irregularities in Florida. For example, some citizens were intimidated at the polls, some were disenfranchised by an illegal ballot, and others lost their vote due to old and poorly-functioning ballot machines. As Governor of Florida, it should greatly concern you that the citizens you serve were treated so unfairly. I applaud your decision to investigate the
voter irregularities in Florida, however your public comments criticizing the media\'s efforts to learn the truth are troubling and raise questions about your commitment to that process. I urge you to reconsider your comments, and embrace the media\'s decision to
investigate the ballots. It is important to consider all of the facts surrounding the voting in Florida in order to enfranchise all of Florida\'s voters.

Sincerely,