Open Letter to Al Gore: Let Elian go Home!

My wife and I have always been strong supporters of your quest for the White House and the leadership of our nation because we saw in you the character and commitment to the American "ideals" and "principles" so lacking in the other candidates. We applauded when you championed campaign finance reform, (albeit after a run in with Buddhist monks which we forgave you for), which we believe is ruining our systems of governance.

Your stance on family values and the need to protect children but at the same time strengthen the role of fathers in their children's lives has been laudable, although I personally do not agree with your entire stance on child support. Your example of a strong family life, epitomized by your faithfulness to your wife, and your continued friendly relationship with the President, despite his short comings, speak volumes about the man you are...but.

Your recently announced stance vis-à-vis the Elian Gonzalez case shocked and disappointed both me and my wife greatly! And I think disappointed is too mild an emotion. We are frankly dismayed! So much so that we are seriously reconsidering our support for you and your campaign.

Why should this little boy matter more than the countless number of Hispanic and Black refugees who have been waiting to enter this country legally? Why should Elian deserve any more consideration than those hapless souls who have been turned back on the high seas, or have been held in detention camps-in some cases fro years-awaiting a decision by the INS? Don't these people from nations all across the Caribbean basin; countries like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rico, Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, etc., deserve the same treatment as Elian?

The answers to the foregoing questions are quite clear and it quite frankly saddens and angers me and my wife to the point of oft times numb silence. You betrayed our trust in you with this stunt to gain the Cuban American vote-a vote clearly in the hip pocket of George W. Bush-at the expense of those minorities and independents who support and voted for you!

How dare you sir discount us and marginalize us and our immigration concerns for the sake of those without enough pride and loyalty to their own cause to return to their country and fight to free it from the grip of a man clearly on the wane from within. A fight for freedom was never won from without! Instead they would sit here in this country and thumb their nose at our laws, and undermine our system of governance for what?

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