Interviewer: Ania Navas
Eng. Jerzy Bogdziewicz, Polish community activist, member of the Advisory Committee "American Polonia for Donald Trump".
I live and work in Florida. I participated in the successful election campaign of the incumbent US President, Donald J. Trump in 2016 as a member of the organization "Polish Americans for Trump". I was also part of the Polish delegation invited to board the Trump plane, then still a presidential candidate, where I had the opportunity to talk to him personally and express our organization's support for his candidacy.
Donald J. Trump thanked the Polish American community many times for their support.
This year's 2020 presidential campaign will be extremely important. Our task as an organization is to support the current President Trump in his re-election for the next four years.
Florida is referred to in this year's elections as the state of the so-called "On the edge" ("swing state"), i.e. the fight for votes, will be extremely fierce here, because the chances of both candidates are even and it is difficult to predict the final result of the vote. It was similar in 2016. Florida is a very important state as it has 29 electoral votes. It is the votes of the Electoral College that determine the final result of the presidential election in the United States.
About 850,000 members of the American Polish community live in Florida. That is why it is so important to mobilize this group and activate it politically. This is a huge potential and electoral power, still underestimated by the Polish diaspora itself.
Florida is a state with a relatively large territorial area, even for American conditions (170,304 km2). The Latin Americans make up a very dynamic electoral group in Florida. Traditionally, this group has voted for Democratic Party candidates in the past, but it is not so obvious now. There has been a shift in opinion and a shift in favor of the Republicans. American voters of Latin origin (admittedly) are not only more numerous, but also better organized and able to speak up for their rights.
Nevertheless, this should not discourage the Polish community in America from acting intensively and demonstrating their electoral power. Polish clubs have now suspended their activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Social media, the press, television and internet portals remain.
I would like to add that President Trump is well aware of the importance of winning election votes in Florida and will probably leave the election meeting for the final, decisive part of the campaign, which is October.
If the date of such a meeting is already given, our organization will certainly make sure that the Polish American group is present there and very visible.
Ania Navas: Why did the American Polonia overwhelmingly decide to support Donald J. Trump in his re-election?
The answer is obvious. President Trump has proved by his actions that he is a friend of Poland and the Polish diaspora over the last four years. He has lived up to his election promises to American citizens of Polish descent who support him. An excellent example of this can be, for example, the lifting of entry visas to the USA for Poles, supporting Poland's energy independence and strengthening its position in NATO structures.
The attitude of the present president of the United States towards Poland is unprecedented. Such appreciation of the value of Poland as a strategic partner in Europe has not yet been recorded.
I think our meeting aboard the private plane of Donald J. Trump, then presidential candidate, was also important. In over half an hour of personal conversation, we tried to explain, as a delegation of four, what a great friend of the United States historically is Poland and what great hopes the American Polonia has in its presidency. Donald J. Trump then said the memorable words, "You will not be disappointed," and it did.
President Trump, after winning the elections, did not forget about this expression of sympathy and support from the Polish community. He expressed this during his memorable visit to Warsaw in 2017, when he spoke with great respect for Polish heroes at the monument to the Warsaw Uprising on Krasiński Square.
Ania Navas: I think that the abolition of entry visas for Polish citizens to the United States was a very symbolic proof of keeping the election promises towards the Polish diaspora in America. It is a milestone in our mutual relations. Many of his predecessors made such promises, but only President Trump kept his word.
Of course. This is an example of the attitude that words are turned into action by President Trump's actions. This applies not only to actions in relation to Poland. The president also lived up to his list of promises about the United States. This has a specific business and economic dimension.
Ania Navas: What do you think will happen if the main opponent of the current president wins this election, Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden?
We already had a taste of this situation after Barack Hussein Obama's victory. For example, he canceled the arrangements for the anti-missile defense shield intended to protect the territory of Poland and, in addition, announced this decision on September 17. This is a symbolic date commemorating another anniversary of the Russian attack on Poland. At that time, Joe Biden was the vice-president of the United States. I think that speaks for itself.
Returning to everyday life in the USA, it is worth emphasizing President Trump's exceptional achievements in the business and economic field. We are seeing how unemployment in the United States has decreased. Naturally, the global pandemic situation destabilized the situation around the world, but I think that the outstanding achievements of President Trump's administration before the pandemic should not be underestimated.
Ania Navas: It's hard to ignore the recent riots in the United States caused by the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement. What does this mean for the current presidential election?
This is an attempt to hit America's economy. These actions are deliberate and triggered to weaken Donald Trump's position as re-election candidate. If the situation was stabilized, without the threat of the global Covid-19 pandemic and social events, then the opponents of the current president would have no chance. By taking advantage of the crisis situation (which prevails all over the world), BLM activists are trying to destabilize the USA.
The welfare of America, its citizens and countries cooperating with the United States is of paramount importance to President Trump. It is significant that the most violent demonstrations and violent riots caused by the BLM movement take place in cities run by representatives of the Democratic Party. This is a kind of paradox, because the opponents of the current president blame him for the lack of control over the situation, which is taking place right where the democrats manage. Nay. The president has offered to help in the form of sending National Guard troops, but this aid cannot be applied without the consent of the governors of the Democratic Party who manage these states.
The opponents of the current president are ready to use any means to show him in a bad light. However, I believe that voters have their own mind and a sober assessment of the situation, and will not allow the accomplishments of the Donald J. Trump administration to be erased.
The victory of Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden will, in my opinion, wipe out all of Donald J. Trump's business and economic achievements.
Ania Navas: How can the Polish diaspora in America mobilize to take part in this presidential election?
First of all, registration. This is an urgent matter. It can be made by the end of September 2020 or until October 3 (depending on individual states). I encourage all people who live here and have the right to vote to spread this information to their family and friends. Registration can be made via the Internet.
There you can check whether we are already registered for the elections or not yet. If we are not registered, we cannot participate in elections, and thus we cannot influence further politics in the country where we live. The president encourages people to vote in person at polling stations if possible, which is to prevent possible irregularities and the loss of envelopes with voters.
I hope that the American Polonia will not disappoint and will take part in this significant presidential election en masse. Our future depends on it.
Translation from Polish: Andrzej (Andrew) Woźniewicz
