I hope those of you in South Florida, the Sun Belt and other retiree-heavy areas will consider sending a version of this letter to the editor of your local papers. Tweak the copy or don't but sign your name and send.
Though we may not be able to lay the flu vaccine shortage at Bush's doorstep, the clulessness about the issue he's demonstrated makes this issue ripe fruit. It helps sell the "out of touch" premise.
This is a big story and Bush has allowed us to link it to him. Letter below. I think it's tight and right but notes graciously accepted.
Dear Editor:
Lost in President Bush's many misstatements and obfuscations in the course of his third presidential debate with Senator Kerry was a truly stunning example of just how out of touch Mr. Bush is.
Moderator Bob Schieffer asked how we wound up with a shortage of flu vaccines this season. Mr. Bush claimed that we relied on an English company for this medication and their production was contaminated. In point of fact, an American company, Chiron, was manufacturing the medication in England and it was British authorities who discovered the contamination and halted its distribution.
The President then suggested that Canada would be able to help provide vaccine, conveniently ignoring his unfounded second debate statement that importing drugs from Canada was unsafe; a moot point, as it turns out. The Canadians have few doses to spare.
This is an issue that disproportionately affects our elderly and infants. Seniors are camping out overnight for the chance at a potentially lifesaving innoculation, price gouging is rampant and the President of the United States could not be bothered to learn even the most basic facts about this crisis. Where's the outrage?
[Pyewacket]
West Hollywood
Jodz (my sis), this means YOU! Here are your email addresses. Sun-Sentinel:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-letterseditor,0,4645389.customform
Miami Herald:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/2598828.htm?1c
Other Florida papers:
http://www.refdesk.com/fl.html