America 1982-Chapter 555 - 114: Heavy Bomb_2
The room fell into silence, even the host was stunned for a couple of seconds before coming back to his senses.
Compared to Eliana’s light and breezy demeanor, Jeff Raven could hardly be called a gentleman; he launched a direct attack in his opening statement, claiming that his opponent didn’t truly love America and went so far as to entirely exclude Cuban-Americans from the American identity. He questioned why, if they disliked America’s various shortcomings, they didn’t return to build up their own homeland instead of coming here to face discrimination.
But it had to be said, his words were incredibly damaging. At that moment, many ordinary voters watching the debate on TV, especially those with lower educational levels, were immediately brainwashed by the question: those Cubans who had come to America, didn’t even have the courage to effect change in their own country, so did they have the courage and ability to change America?
"Ms. Letty, would you like to respond to Mr. Jeff Raven’s remarks?" the host asked, looking at Eliana Leti.
Eliana Leti’s expression did not change due to the provocative words from Jeff Raven; instead, she maintained an elegant smile. Hearing the host’s inquiry, she leaned into the microphone and said, "I thank Mr. Jeff Raven for telling me a joke, that those who fear war, bloodshed, and slaughter — cowards, weaklings, and women — should not exist in America. Even if they abide by the law and pay taxes in America, when they face discrimination, they can only suffer in silence and not resist, simply because we are foreigners. So, only soldiers, warriors, and the strong are allowed to live on this land? America is a great nation, one that has always advocated for equality, but now, Mr. Jeff Raven is telling us there is no equality, that people of color and immigrants should endure discrimination."
"I think, after hearing his words, the voters should have their answer in their hearts: whether they should choose me, a woman of color who is willing to promote equality and keep America great, or choose a man who is arrogant and pompous and wants to turn America into another white-man-ruled Cuba like Castro."
The host turned to Jeff Raven, "For the second question, Mr. Jeff Raven, your campaign slogan, ’Say No to Cubans’, and your supporters’ rallies in this district have been very unsettling for Cuban-American voters here. You haven’t even been elected yet but have already caused division among voters. If elected, residents are worried the situation will only worsen. What do you have to say to the voters of this district?"
"There will be no division, no deterioration, because after I am elected, Cuban illegal immigrants will either completely forget their homeland and obediently follow the law in the refugee camps of the Eighteenth District, or I’ll send them back to their own country. This is the Eighteenth District of Miami in America, not a Cuban district. I know that after saying this, there will be politicians criticizing me tomorrow or the day after, but it doesn’t matter. Let them do it, because I know how to fight back. Do you know how? I’m going to work with the Miami police department and a large number of volunteer vigilantes to apprehend all illegal immigrants in the Eighteenth District and send them to the districts of those who criticize me, to give them the chance to show their sympathy. I am eager for this to happen, and so are the volunteer vigilantes," Jeff Raven said, unapologetically acknowledging the discomfort he’d caused Cuban-American voters in the district with his campaign slogans, even boldly admitting it and staring into the camera, threatening those potential Republican politicians who might be preparing to seize on his inflammatory remarks to boost their visibility.
Challenge me, and my veteran volunteers will start rounding up Cuban illegal immigrants tomorrow and send them to your district. Whether or not I win the election is uncertain, but your opponent, seeing your district troubled by so many destabilizing factors that can be used against you, will surely be delighted beyond words.
In short, it was mutual harm.
Perhaps Jeff Raven did not have the ability to be elected, but he certainly had the ability to bring you down from your position.
In the second-floor television station director’s office, Martin, wearing a headset and looking at the script provided to Jeff, then turned to Tommy at the window, "Boss, don’t you think these answers you’ve prepared are a bit over the top? The language is so intense it’s just shy of declaring all Cuban illegal immigrants to be terrorists. Although I haven’t been doing this job for long, my experience with other campaigns tells me that non-Cuban voters won’t support Jeff because of his deliberate division from Cubans. Instead, they may refrain from supporting him because they fear he is too extreme, and choose to support the Cuban woman. We should have a sensational auxiliary campaign action outside the scene to go along with it if we want people to accept what Jeff is saying."
Tommy turned his head, looked at Martin, and smiled, "The experience you’ve drawn upon is not wrong; indeed, we need off-site activities. Martin, it’s just that we are not responsible for it. In exchange, David Kennedy will provide the off-site support during the campaign period."
"What kind of off-site support? Police uncovering a major vicious crime involving Cuban illegal immigrants?" Martin thought for a few seconds and then asked.
In the case files of other campaign activities involving racial issues, off-site support almost always followed this narrative: for instance, in a race between a black and a white candidate, if a black candidate manages to garner sympathy from white voters, whites would orchestrate a serious black criminal incident to douse the sympathy the white voters had, as if throwing a bucket of ice water over their heads, causing them to retract their sympathies for the black people and, along with it, the votes that might have gone to the black candidate.
"I don’t know what kind of support it will be; he didn’t tell me. Like you, I have no idea and am full of anticipation," Tommy said, lighting a cigarette and speaking earnestly to Martin. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
Martin listened to the questions from the live debate site in his ear, "Eliana has started attacking Jeff’s brutishness, saying he doesn’t understand what equality means for America."
Tommy said, "The answer is on the second page, starting from the seventh line, let Jeff ask her if she really understands equality, if she is truly benevolent: why does her private school only accept the children of the wealthy? Why doesn’t it equitably admit Cuban children? Hold off on mentioning the name in line eleven, save it for the last free debate phase to drop like a bombshell; it’s what I’ve prepared to blow up the TV in front of non-Cuban voters."
