Lopez Obrador's Election Fraud

The American Spectator ^ | 11/28/06 | Jorge Amador

[Valin]

Suppose that Al Gore had rejected the Supreme Court's ruling, called on Democrats to occupy the Washington Mall for six weeks, and had himself sworn in on January 1, 2001, pledging to run an alternative government and "at all costs" to stop George W. Bush from taking office on the appointed day, January 20.

The fact that none of this came to pass attests to the strength of American institutions and to the integrity of our political leadership. Change the names, dates, and places, however, and we have what's now happening in Mexico. Presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lost an extremely close race in July, blamed the outcome on electoral chicanery, and staged massive, protracted sit-ins in the center of Mexico City to press for a full ballot recount. His claims refuted and his demands rejected, Lopez Obrador (also known by his very pronounceable initials, AMLO) refused to accept the electoral court's final ruling and, on November 20 -- eleven days before his opponent's official inauguration -- swore himself in as Mexico's "legitimate president."

For five months AMLO has nurtured a sense of grievance among his loyalists in the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), alleging irregularities in the voting process and in other election procedures that he says enabled his opponent, Felipe Calderon of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), to edge him out in the tightest presidential race in the country's history. He calls Mexico a "sham republic" and Calderon a "spurious" president, "imposed" on the Mexican people by corrupt officials.

[Valin]

Ping

[Bob Buchholz]

Suppose that Al Gore had rejected the Supreme Court's ruling, called on Democrats to occupy the Washington Mall for six weeks, and had himself sworn in on January 1, 2001, pledging to run an alternative government and "at all costs" to stop George W. Bush from taking office on the appointed day, January 20.

The only reason it didn't happen is because Al didn't think of it.

[RebelBanker]

I have been reading that Obrador's antics are descending into the realm of street theater and that his support has all but evaporated. I suppose that this silliness shows that Mexico is half way there - he and his supporters would have been lined up and shot or just massacred in place in a true dictatorship, but he would not have had any support at all in a true democracy where the people have confidence in the machinery of government. I wonder which direction we are moving...

[mak5]

On the other hand, John Kerry is going around acting as if he were the President.

[Valin]

In some ways they are ahead of us. I was reading that in Mexico you don't get to vote unless you have proof positive that you are who you say you are, and having a utility bill (like here in Mn.) just won't cut it. Also you don't want to get caught as an illegal alien in Mexico..it will not go well with you.

[sgtbono2002]

I am sure Al thought of it, and I am sure he would have done it , had he thought he could get away with it.

[StJacques]

Valin, thank you for the ping and for the excellent article contained in your post.

A Mexican Left Watch ping here.

To everyone on the list; I recommend the introductory article to this thread very highly. It gives an overview summarizing much of what AMLO's protest has been about, but more importantly, it tells you what's wrong with Lopez Obrador's logic. Many of you will see a number of observations made by the author which surfaced in our own threads this past summer. This is a very good article, worth directing others to who may need to get background on the current situation in Mexico.

[okie01]

The American Left would be happy to welcome Sr. Lopez Obrador into their leadership councils. The gentleman is more persistent than Algore, more absurd than John Kerry even.

[Alia]

Thank you. I read it when it appeared at AmSpec. And now, I've just read, Chavez is doing something about "election fraud" clearing up? Like Nancy Pelosi's "ethical Washington". Bah. Unholy alliance, there.

[CedarDave]

BUMP!

[SAJ]

Saint -- I've vast respect for you, but you simply cannot make the error of asserting any sort of 'logic' on the part of the Left, and go unscathed.

Talk about an oxymoron, mate, sheesh! The Left are about seizing power, period, full stop. This hasn't changed at all, not one whit, since the 'October days' of Ulyanov and Bernstein.

[rovenstinez]

THIS is a good statement. In Mexico you need about 5 proofs, a light bill, a delegate of your colonia, photo I.D, and they scrutinize everything. IT IS very difficult to get fake Electoral Cards. On the other hand, TODAY a U.S. born citizen who completed 20 years of paper work to become INMIGRADO, my Voters I.D was taken away from me by Mexican officials. They made me sign/swear that I wouldn't apply for another one. IN MEXICO, ONLY MEXICANS born in Mexico VOTE!!. Uhmnnnnnnnn

[Valin]

IN MEXICO, ONLY MEXICANS born in Mexico VOTE!!.

Radical Concept Alert.