Leftist to Seek Recount in Mexican Election

[Judi Lynn]

Leftist to Seek Recount in Mexican Election
Lopez Obrador's aides also allege interference by Fox. That could lead to a demand for a revote.
By Héctor Tobar and Richard Boudreaux, Times Staff Writers
July 8, 2006


MEXICO CITY — Top aides to leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called Friday for a recount of nearly half the votes cast in Sunday's presidential election and edged close to demanding that the entire vote be nullified.

The statements by the Lopez Obrador camp revealed a two-part strategy to deny a victory to conservative Felipe Calderon, who on Thursday was proclaimed the winner by a margin of little more than half a percentage point.

By insisting on a recount of about 18 million of the 41 million votes cast, aides said, Lopez Obrador hopes to overcome Calderon's official 244,000-vote margin. The leftist has been insisting since Monday that there were widespread irregularities in the tally.

Simultaneously, Lopez Obrador's aides allege that President Vicente Fox improperly influenced the vote — an accusation that could provide grounds for asking Mexico's electoral tribunal to nullify the election and order a new one.
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexelect8jul08,0,3265742.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[stepnw1f]

1. GOOD! (nt)

[quiet.american]

2. Have to admit the whole "leftist" propaganda really bothers me.

If the "conservative" candidate were pursuing a recount, would the headline be, "Right-winger to Seek Recount"? I think not.

[arcos]

11. If he doesn't mind being called a leftist...

Why are you bothered? Leftist is not an insult, he is proud to be one.

[quiet.american]

12. Fine and dandy, but it is propaganda still.

I've never once seen the other guy referred to as a "right-winger." It's FAUX NEWS-style propaganda, pure and simple.

[unkachuck]

13. you are so correct....

....why is one candidate described as 'leftist' while the other is not described at all?....the un-described candidate is given to be, 'one of us', generating the appropriate sympathy, while the described 'leftist' must be one of them, generating the appropriate scorn....

....this is propaganda and has nothing to do with news....and all the media does it....

[Judi Lynn]

14. You're right, unkachuck. It's "perception molding."

It attempts to substitute the right-wing view of the world for one's own natural position. They are saying we aren't really supposed to have views which don't coincide with the right-wing's accepted program, and are viewed as the "enemy."

It's been that way for a very long time, unfortunately. It's about time these people grow up, and stop trying to control others.

[nashville_brook]

3. so tired of the "leftist" bullshit -- he has a NAME!

[Vidar]

4. I'm just glad that he's fighting.

[savemefromdumbya]

5. Did they have Diebold machines?

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. nd he is not even a lefty

that is what is so funny of the propaganda, now lets go read mexican press, lets see how bad the demos are getting

[marjorieann]

7. Marcos calls Obrador

"the left hand of the far right." There is hostility between the two, due to Obrador's ties with the PRI and Carlos Slim. However, Marcos already initiated a demonstration two days after the election in Mexico City because of the vote fraud. It will be interesting to see if the bridges are truly burned between Obrador & Marcos, and if they form some sort of an alliance.



http://www.marjorieanndrake.blogspot.com/

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yep it will be

I suspect the PRI will ally itself as a way back to power.

The old enemy of my enemy... and the irony does not escape me either

[marjorieann]

9. You mean

ally itself to PAN? If a small miracle occurs (doubtful) and another election is called, anyone who voted PRI would vote PAN. If we didn't count the three million missing votes, an alliance between PAN & PRI would put roughly 60% in that camp - now unfortunately, that's the majority of Mexicans who don't give a rats ass about their fellow countrymen. Pretty bleak.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi marjorieann!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[marjorieann]

15. Hola amigo !

and thanks to Judi Lynn for the Mexican updates & coverage. Last I read, the Department of Public Safety of Mexico city estimated the turnout of demonstrators to be 290,000 - 300,000 people, a figure that is much more than what we are hearing through CNN.

Goodnight everyone, and take care.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Would it KILL these guys to tell the truth?They just don't have it in them

Welcome to D.U., marjorieann!

[Laotra]

16. No bridges burnt

Zapatistas and the Other Campaign are not for AMLO or anybody else of the political class "from above", but they are strongly against fraud and dishonesty, as they were allready when the "desafuero" plot was attempted to keep AMLO from running. There is no "allience" and will not be (political class from above are excluded from the Other Campaign) but there is solidarity and call for justice from the Other Campaign in the fight that has started and will last weeks and months, of which the Other Campaign in the form of Narconews is allready a major player, challenging the simulated story by Mexican Governement and CCM by authentic journalism over the Internet, and as you say, the adherents to Other Campaign are allready taking the streets and will march in solidarity with wronged party.

If, however, the governement succeeds in blocking the electorial and judicial route, those that put their hope in elections and AMLO will be swarming to the ranks of Other Campaign and it will be 1910 again, most likely, and it may very well spread accros the north border - from below and to the left.