ooops!

Italian leftist enjoys irony of Republican merit award

Sergio Finardi proudly describes himself as a "leftist."

...Recently, his work has focused on tracking global arms trafficking and the shipment of weapons of war through international ports.

But he still considers himself politically to the left - so far left, in fact, that he's not embarrassed to admit that back in the 1970s, he once was denied a visa to visit the U.S. because of his membership in a leftist political party in Italy....

So imagine his surprise last month when he received a formal document on official-looking letterhead containing the names of Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert and U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds honoring him with membership in the "Congressional Order of Merit."

...The letter, signed by Reynolds (or a machine cleverly designed to impersonate him), speaks glowingly of Finardi's devotion to the Republican Party.

"On behalf of the Executive Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee, I'm honored to inform you that your unfailing support of President Bush, the men and women who serve him, our nation and our Republican cause so impressed the council, they've nominated you for the NRCC's highest honor."

Finardi laughed out loud.

"They believe I'm on their side," he said.

The letter continued: "When your name was brought to our attention, I reviewed your long-standing record of support of President Bush and the Republican Party. As far as I'm concerned, we wouldn't be where we are today without you. That's why I championed your nomination. ... Your record is too impressive to ignore."

Believe me, his record is impressive. But they obviously ignored it completely.

... Finardi's political leanings are no secret either. "I'm a professional journalist," he explained. "I'm a contributor on foreign policy and military affairs for a left-wing international newspaper."

It's called Il Manifesto, and it's popular among leftists and members of Italy's Communist Party.

... "Soon you'll receive a beautiful certificate symbolizing the honor bestowed on you," the letter said. "One copy will be delivered to President George W. Bush. A second copy will be on exhibit at our Republican Party Headquarters."

If only he'd said yes.

Alas, he didn't. And while he also didn't send the requested "special gift" of "$25, $50, $100 or $250" mentioned three times in the letter, Finardi nevertheless took the time to respond thoughtfully to the congressman.

..."What is worrying me is that in a time in which accuracy in tracking foreigners living in the U.S. is heralded precisely by the Bush administration as a result of the Patriot Act, you were not even able to know that I am not a citizen, and you could not and you must not expect, according to the law, any support to the electoral campaign by me. As far as the inclusion in the Congressional Order of Merit is concerned, I do not know the rules regulating it, but I doubt they have something to do with my activity informing the European public about the U.S. foreign and military policies."

... So I asked him, what might have led them to believe he's meritorious Republican material? "I think it's because I subscribe to all these unbelievably bad magazines, like Soldier of Fortune and every kind of publication dealing with arms trafficking, drug dealers, massacres," Finardi said.

He uses them in his research.

Finardi speculated that the fundraisers at the RNCC bought the mailing lists, figuring subscribers to these special-interest publications are their kind of folks.

I'm ROFL

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.