Robinson is so strongly opposed to the administration’s policies that he founded a protest group, “Expats Against Bush” (expatsagainstbush.org) to express his disapproval of the Bush state visit. In less than a month, he says, “response has shot through the roof” and press attention has been so intense it crossed from being “flattering” to “a chore.” He spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Emily Flynn on the eve of the mass march about why he thinks Bush is unfit to be president–and what message his organization wants to send back to America. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: What are you hoping to accomplish at Thursday’s march?
Luke Robinson: I want to show Americans back home that it’s not just the usual anti-American European left marching against them. There are regular Americans out here that really hate what’s happening back home and want to do something to change it.
Why did the Stop the War Coalition ask you to lead the march?
I think they also recognize the value in having Americans at the front of the march. For publicity purposes it legitimises their protest a bit more in the eyes of Americans living at home… Otherwise [Americans] would be able to say, ‘It’s just the nutty Germans, or French or English–they’re always protesting something’. With us at the front, it’ll be more powerful.
Why are you opposed to Bush?
For any number of reasons. I think he’s totally unfit to hold the office. I think he’s doing us far more harm than good in terms of national security. He’s waged this pre-emptive war in the name of national security, but the way he’s gone about it has actually ensured that our national security will be in a much worse state 10 or 20 years from now because of the way he’s inflamed tension in the Muslim world. I think he’s done more to generate more terrorists than to eradicate them.
You’re marching alongside the Stop the War Coalition, in a protest organized by them. Is your organization specifically opposed to the war that was waged in Iraq?
No, it’s not. We have many different opinions throughout our membership on whether the war was good or bad. I’m personally of the opinion that it was a bad idea to wage that war the way they did. But I’m not saying that applies to everyone in the group. We’re really marching against Bush specifically on a wide number of platforms from the environment to the war to civil liberties back home.
Are you opposed to all Republicans?
No, not at all. I’ve had a number of Republicans [us] approach with the idea of joining in.
“Expats Against Bush” is a pretty aggressive name. Would you say the group is extremist?
Not at all. I’d say we’re very moderate. For instance, tomorrow I would really like it if we were all quite serious and respectable. I don’t think extremism or radicalism is the way to connect with everyday folks back home. The main banner we’ll be carrying will read: “Proud Of My Country, Shamed By My President”. [And] we’ll have a number of other banners, which are issue specific, relating to [the problems with] withdrawing from the International Criminal Court and [creating] the Patriot Act–that sort of thing.
What inspired you to found the organization?
It was directly related to this visit by George Bush. I was enraged that the first state visit by a U.S. president should be accorded to him of all people. I think he is the least deserving candidate for that in decades. I very much think that this is a calculated political move. The received wisdom here in Britain is that it was the Bush people who pushed for this visit to be offered. It’s a tremendous opportunity for a photo op–for a public relations coup. We all know the monarchy and Tony Blair are very popular back in America. Any opportunity [for Bush] to get his photo taken next to them is a legitimizing influence on Bush’s image.
Have you had a good response? How many members do you currently have?
About a week ago, we were getting 100 hits [on our web site] a day. Now we’re getting 3,000 hits a day. Response has shot through the roof. The more people who find out about it, the more incredibly enthusiastic emails I get from people all over the world. Even people back home in America [are] saying, ‘I wish I could be there, but I’m with you in spirit’. Surprisingly, I’ve only gotten three hate mails this whole time… one from a British citizen. [At the same time] it’s surprised me how many people have said to me, ‘I hope you’re looking over your shoulder’. I think it’s quite disappointing that that attitude is so pervasive. People are cowed into thinking that as soon as they speak out, they’re going to get punished for it. I think that’s stepping onto a very slippery slope. I’m sure I’m on an FBI list or two by now, but at the end of the day, all I’m doing is expressing a desire for my country to return to a sane state. And I want to do it peacefully and democratically. My goal is to do what I can to make sure that Americans abroad and at home come out when the time comes and vote Bush out.
There are between 6 and 7 million Americans living abroad. Do you think you could mobilize them into a force to be reckoned with?
It’s [often said] that the number of expats abroad equals the state of Massachusetts in population terms. But we all know that doesn’t exactly translate into throwing one state’s electoral votes one way or the other. What I’m looking for influence. If we can swing the tide by 1 percent, I’ll be happy.
Do you have any sister organisations in other countries?
I’m starting them now actually. We have people interested in starting branches in France, Japan, Belgium and the Netherlands so far. That’s the next stage–after the protest. I would like to have chapters in every country where there are expats.
Do you think most American expatriates are opposed to Bush’s policies?
Certainly the ones replying to me are. I think that living abroad you are more easily able to see the effect that Bush’s policies and his attitude have on the rest of the world. You can see it first hand and you’re also exposed to a different set of press. The press here is more liberal. The press in America seems to have been dragged to the right–one obvious culprit being Fox.
Does Tony Blair’s alignment with Bush change your opinion of him?
I think Tony Blair was caught between a rock and a hard place. The traditional post World War II relationship between America and Britain has been so strong that I don’t think he could have stood out against the Iraq war–especially after George Bush’s famous post 9/11 quote: ‘You’re either with us or against us.’ I feel sorry for [Blair] more than anything.
There is clearly a good deal of anti-Bush, anti-war sentiment in Britain. Have you found that these feelings extend to a general anti-Americanism?
Very much the contrary. I think most people, when they find out I’m American, would like to hear my perspective on it. I could count on one hand the number of times people have lumped me in with my country’s actions. Generally, most people over here love America. Sixty percent of Britons [in a weekend poll in The Guardian newspaper] think America is a force for good in the world.
What does your group’s future look like? If you succeed and Bush loses the 2004 election, will you rename the organization to uphold some of its principles?
My dream position would be a year from now Bush is out of office; I shut down the site, and go back to anonymity.
