<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PersonName"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:ArialMS;}
@font-face
{font-family:OpenSymbol;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Garamond;
panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@OpenSymbol";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext;}
h1
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:normal;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:bold;}
h2
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:normal;
font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:15.0pt;
font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;
color:black;}
p.style3, li.style3, div.style3
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:Garamond;
color:red;
font-weight:bold;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;}
span.style21
{color:white;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle24
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle25
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle26
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle27
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle28
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle29
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle30
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle31
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle32
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle33
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.heading1char
{font-weight:bold;}
span.heading2char
{font-weight:bold;}
span.EmailStyle36
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle39
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:.8in .8in .7in .8in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1;
mso-list-template-ids:1;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:Symbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\25E6;
mso-level-tab-stop:.75in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\25AA;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:1.0in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.25in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:1.25in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:Symbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\25E6;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:1.5in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\25AA;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.75in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:1.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:2.0in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:Symbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\25E6;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.25in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:2.25in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\25AA;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:2.5in;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ascii-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-hansi-font-family:OpenSymbol;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:50350875;
mso-list-template-ids:818562566;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l2
{mso-list-id:1165321208;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1903182632 -1831417762 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l2:level1
{mso-level-start-at:21;
mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:-;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:ArialMS;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level2
{mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level3
{mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level5
{mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level6
{mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level8
{mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2:level9
{mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%"
bgcolor=white style='width:100.0%;background:white'>
<tr>
<td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><em><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>go to our webpage </span></font></i></em><em><i><font
size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'><a href="http://www.cispes.org/"><span style='font-style:normal'>www.cispes.org</span></a>
</span></font></i></em><em><i><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>if you're having trouble reading this email</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<div align=center>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=683
bgcolor=white style='width:511.9pt;background:white'>
<tr>
<td width=683 colspan=3 style='width:511.9pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><a href="http://www.cispes.org"><font
size=2><span lang=ES-SV style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.cispes.org</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font><font size=2><span
lang=ES-SV style='font-size:10.0pt'>| 202 521-2510| </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="http://lists.people-link.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/cispes-ern"><span
lang=ES-SV>subscribe</span></a></span></font><font size=2><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:10.0pt'>| suscribir </span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="https://lists.mayfirst.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/cispes-hechos"><span
lang=ES-SV>en español</span></a></span></font><span lang=ES-SV><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width=683 colspan=3 bgcolor="#FFCC00" style='width:511.9pt;background:
#FFCC00;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p><b><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=684 height=105 id="_x0000_i1123"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01C995C1.3A586C70"><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<!-- /// gutter \\\ -->
<td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><img border=0 width=15 height=5 id="_x0000_i1124"
src="cid:image002.gif@01C995C1.3A586C70"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<!-- \\\ gutter /// --><!-- /// content cell \\\ -->
<td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a
name="OLE_LINK2"></a><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>February 23, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:red;
font-weight:bold'>Call on Congress to reject manipulation of <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> foreign policy and defend free and fair
elections in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>U.S. Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter
to encourage other Representatives to sign on to a letter to President
Barack Obama calling for the U.S. government to remain neutral in El
Salvador's March 15 presidential race, respect the election results, and
work toward a positive relationship with whichever party is elected. With
less than a month remaining before election day, <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>this urgent letter is now open for all Members of Congress to sign<font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.</span></font></span></b><i><span
style='font-style:italic'> (The deadline for signers is March 3; see below
for the text of the letter to Obama and the “Dear Colleague”.)<font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></i></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.7in;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.7in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.7in;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.7in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Call
your U.S. Representative TODAY to insist that s/he add his or her name to
statement in defense of democracy in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> by Rep. Grijalva
and Rep Kaptur! </span></font></b><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>Call the Congressional switchboard to be connected
to your Representative's office: (202) 244-3121. *<i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Call script at the end of this alert.</span></i><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'> BACKGROUND<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Public statements made by high level <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> officials in the weeks leading up to <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s
last presidential election, in 2004, threatened Salvadoran voters into
re-electing the right wing ARENA party. Undersecretary of State Roger
Noriega traveled to <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>
a month before the election to publicly endorse ARENA candidate Antonio
Saca and warn that relations with the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> would deteriorate if the
opposition FMLN party were elected. The week before the election,
Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) threatened that the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> would stop the flow of remittances sent
home by Salvadorans living in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> in the case of an FMLN
victory. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The threats made in 2004 were widely reported by
the Salvadoran media as accurate statements of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> policy, and contributed to
Saca's victory at the polls. In recent months, right-wing campaign
advertisements have sought to resurrect these threats, claiming that the
2.5 million Salvadorans living in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and the billions of
dollars they send home every year, will be placed in danger if the FMLN's
candidate, Mauricio Funes, is elected in March.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>With a new administration in the White House,
Salvadoran voters are awaiting assurance that the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> will respect their right
to elect their own president, free from outside manipulation. <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Call on your Congressperson to assert that the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
must respect the democratic will of the Salvadoran people.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red;font-weight:bold'>TAKE ACTION NOW!<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>1) Call the Congressional switchboard to be
transferred to your Representative's office: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>(<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>202) 244-3121<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>2) Ask to speak to the staff person in charge of
foreign policy. If that person is not available, leave a voicemail.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:
none'><b><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></font></i></b><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:
none'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:
none'><b><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'>Call Script for support to
Grijalva’s Dear Colleague letter on El Salvador elections <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>You
can use the following script to talk with the congressional aid of your
representative. If at any point you get cut off, be sure to make the final
statement – “I encourage Representative _____ to sign on to
this important letter in support of free and fair elections in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>!
<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Here's what to say (the first two
paragraphs are the most important):<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“My name
is [your name] I am calling as a constituent to ask that
[Representative's name] sign on to a Congressional letter to President
Obama that has been initiated by Representative Raúl Grijalva
[Gree-hall-vah]. This letter calls for <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
neutrality with respect to the upcoming presidential election in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
and pledges that Members of Congress will seek a positive relationship
with whichever party is elected.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“To sign
on to this letter, please contact Daniel Brito at Representative
Grijalva's office. His phone number is (202) 225-2435.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“This
statement is urgently important. During <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region>'s 2004 presidential campaign, Bush
Administration officials and some Members of Congress threatened to
punish the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> if they elected the
opposition party's candidate. Campaign ads being aired in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>
right now are resurrecting those threats. President Obama and his
administration need to be made aware of this unfortunate precedent so
they can chart a more responsible, respectful foreign policy.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“Furthermore,
Salvadorans need to hear a clear message from Congress that assures
them they can vote according to their own free will, rather than in
response to threats and manipulation from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> government.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“Thank you
for your time, and I encourage [Representative's name] to sign on to
this important statement in support of free and fair elections in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>For more information on the upcoming elections in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>:<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l2 level1 lfo5'><![if !supportLists]><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>CISPES elections blog:<u> <a
href="http://www.cispes.org/09electionsblog">www.cispes.org/09electionsblog</a><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l2 level1 lfo5'><![if !supportLists]><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>January 2009 elections report:
<u><a
href="Macintosh%20HD:/-%09http/--cispes.org-index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=518&Itemid=29">El
Salvador Election Observation Report, January 18 elections</a><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l2 level1 lfo5'><![if !supportLists]><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>The 2009 Salvadoran elections:
Between Crisis and Change:<u> <a href="http://nacla.org/node/5445">http://nacla.org/node/5445</a><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<div style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-right:4.5pt;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;text-align:center'><b><font size=5 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Foreign Affairs, Immigration:
Dear Colleague: Respect Salvadoran Elections<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto'><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>From: The Honorable Raul M. Grijalva<br>
Sent By: <a
href="mailto:daniel.brito@mail.house.gov?subject=RE:%20Foreign%20Affairs,%20Immigration:%20Dear%20Colleague:%20Respect%20Salvadoran%20Elections"
title="blocked::mailto:daniel.brito@mail.house.gov?subject=RE: Foreign Affairs, Immigration: Dear Colleague: Respect Salvadoran Elections">daniel.brito@mail.house.gov</a><br>
Date: 2/23/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#1f497d" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Respect
Democracy in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Letter
to President Obama Calling for Non-intervention in Presidential
Election<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear Colleague:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please join us in writing to President Obama
to encourage him to fulfill a historic opportunity to build a new
relationship with our neighbors in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region></st1:place> based on mutual
respect.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The upcoming Presidential election in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>, the first in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region> since President Obama was elected,
is a chance for the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region></st1:place> to demonstrate that it will
respect the results of our neighbors’ elections, and will not
intervene in support of one party or candidate over another.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Before <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>’s 2004 presidential
election, US officials attempted to sway the vote by suggesting that<font
color=black><span style='color:black'> in the event of a victory by the
opposition party, the legal status of Salvadoran immigrants living in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> would be jeopardized and remittances
sent to <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region> by
family members in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
could be outlawed.</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Remittances are
believed to comprise roughly 20% of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s GDP, and
consequently these threats were widely covered in the Salvadoran press and
had an enormous impact that lingers to this day<font color=black><span
style='color:black'>. </span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>We believe that the proper position of the U.S.
Congress and government is one of neutrality and respect for <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
independent democratic process, allowing the Salvadoran people to make a
free choice of personal conscience, a choice which can only be done in the
absence of coercion and threats.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please join us in calling on President Obama to
affirm this position, prevent a recurrence of the events of 2004, and bring
real change to our relationship with <st1:place w:st="on">Latin America</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>/s /s <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#1f497d" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Raul M.
Grijalva
Marcy Kaptur</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Member of
Congress Member
of Congress<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear President Obama:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>As Members of Congress who have been disappointed
by many of our nation's foreign policy decisions over the past eight years,
we write to extend our support for your vision of a more respectful, less confrontational
relationship with our neighbors in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region></st1:place>. We also believe that
the March 2009 presidential election in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region> – the first such contest in the <st1:place
w:st="on">Western Hemisphere</st1:place> since your election in November,
will provide a critical opportunity to realize this vision.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>We wish to express our support for free and fair
elections in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
To that end, we request your assurance that your administration will join
us in honoring and respecting the will of the Salvadoran people when they
go to the polls on March 15. Furthermore, we call upon all <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
government officials and Members of Congress to refrain from any attempt,
at any point during the campaign, to influence the decision of Salvadoran
voters.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Intervention in the
El Salvador's 2004 election took the form of public statements, made in the
days and weeks leading up to the election, suggesting that U.S.-Salvadoran
relations would be severely <font color=black><span style='color:black'>damaged
in the event of a victory by the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
(FMLN), the opposition party whose candidate is now leading in the polls
for 2009. Specific threats made by <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
officials in 2004 alleged that the legal status of Salvadoran immigrants
living in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> would
be jeopardized and remittances sent to <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region> by family members in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> could be outlawed if
ARENA's candidate were not elected.</span></font> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Documentation attached as an addendum to this
letter highlights many of statements made by <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
officials during <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s 2004 campaign, and the
coverage they received in the Salvadoran press.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:country-region w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>El Salvador</span></font></st1:country-region>
uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency, and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> is by far the country's
most important trade partner. Nearly 25% of <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region>’s population lives in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>, and the remittances that
these immigrants send home comprise roughly 20% of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s GDP.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>In light of these facts and circumstances, threats
made by US officials are widely covered in the Salvadoran press and can
have an impact that is hard to overstate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:country-region w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>El Salvador</span></font></st1:country-region>
uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency, and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> is by far the country's
most important trade partner. Nearly 25% of <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region>’s population lives in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>, and the remittances that
these immigrants send home comprise roughly 20% of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s GDP.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The interventionist statements and actions of 2004
had a serious, coercive effect on the choices made by the Salvadoran
electorate and, even today linger in the minds of Salvadoran voters, as US
Embassy staff in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:City></st1:place>
admitted to a visiting delegation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>The governing party has encouraged the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
government to repeat its intervention in the 2009 campaign. I</span></font>
a September 2008 speech in Washington, <font color=black><span
style='color:black'>Salvadoran </span></font>Foreign Minister Marisol
Argueta, called for the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
government to again tip the scales toward ARENA.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Pro-ARENA television advertisements recapitulating
the claim that an opposition victory at the polls will cause the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
government to outlaw remittances from Salvadoran immigrants are nearly
ubiquitous. Similar advertisements and television reports have made use of
statements by an adviser to the Obama campaign, Dan Restrepo, identifying
him as an actual official in the Obama Administration, to suggest that your
administration is averse to an election result favoring the FMLN.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>These claims and distortions will continue to
resonate until they are refuted by words and actions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>As Members of Congress, we reject the threats of
2004 and any effort to instigate another <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> intervention in Salvadoran
politics. We feel that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
immigration policy should not be made into a political instrument used to
influence foreign elections. Similarly, we reject the suggestion that the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> government would seek to financially
punish Salvadorans, in this country or in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, for exercising
their right to elect a government of their choosing. As members of
Congress, we will not support any such measure.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>We believe that the proper position of the U.S.
Congress and government is one of neutrality and respect for <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
independent democratic process, thus allowing the Salvadoran people to make
a free choice of personal conscience, a choice which can only be done in
the absence of coercion and threats.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>We believe it is essential that the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> seize this quickly approaching
opportunity to demonstrate that we will not seek to undermine democracy in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on">Latin
America</st1:place>. This is an invaluable, historic opportunity to make a
clean break with the past and move with our neighbors into a relationship
based on mutual respect.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>No matter the results of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s 2009 elections,
we look forward to working with the Salvadoran people and their elected
representatives to seek a future that holds peace and shared prosperity for
both of our countries. We trust that your administration will join us in
these efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sincerely,<font color=navy><span style='color:
navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
</div>
</td>
<td width=14 valign=top style='width:10.15pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width=683 colspan=3 bgcolor="#780000" style='width:511.9pt;border:none;
border-top:solid #333333 1.0pt;background:#780000;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=toptextstyle1><font
size=2 color="#ffff66" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#FFFF66'>If you no longer wish to receive our emails, you may</span></font></span><span
class=style21><font size=2 color=white><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <a
href="http://lists.people-link.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/cispes-ern">unsubscibe
here</a></span></font></span><font size=1 color=white><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;color:white'><br>
<br>
</span></font><span class=style21><font size=2 color=white><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>© 2008 CISPES - The Committee in Solidarity with
the People of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></font></span><font
size=2 color=white><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:white'><br>
<span class=style21><font color=white>CISPES National Office | ph.
202-521-2510 | <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">1525</st1:City>
Newton St. NW, <st1:State w:st="on">Wash.</st1:State></st1:place> DC
20010| <st1:PersonName w:st="on">cispes@cispes.org</st1:PersonName></font></span></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<!-- \\\ footer area with contact info and opt-out link /// --><!-- /// Sometimes, BODY tags get stripped. This table is for background color when that happens. \\\ -->
</table>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>