Streisand Blasts Bush

April 2, 2001 -- Singer Barbra Streisand fired off an angry memo to Democratic leaders in Washington, D.C., last week, asking them to stand up to President Bush, whom she called a "destructive man."

The three-page memo, titled "Nice Guys Finish Last," called for a "strong, strategic, targeted offense against the Republican revolution." The letter was released to media outlets today through her publicist.

"This is not a time to be weak," she wrote. "The public responds to strength. … Unless we win, we'll be consistently on the defensive with our fingers holding the dike against the resurgence of the far right … You don't have to be ruthless like the Republicans, just be strong."

In her note, she blasted Bush's record on environmental issues, workers' rights, reproductive rights, the protection of people with disabilities, and children's rights. She lambasted the record of Bush's father, former President George Bush, on pardons, and urged Democrats and journalists to investigate Republicans vigorously, charging that they are controlled by big business.

Streisand wrote, "We have a president who was selected rather than elected. He stole the presidency through family ties, arrogance, and intimidation, employing Republican operatives to exercise the tactics of voter fraud by disenfranchising thousands of blacks, elderly Jews, and other minorities."

Streisand's publicist, Dick Guttman, said today that she has no aspirations to become a politician and her motivation in sending the memo was concern about the issues and the American people.

"She said people confuse political passion with political ambition," Guttman said, adding that since releasing the memo to Democrats last week, Streisand has been flooded with offers to speak publicly.

"She sent it to top Democrats who responded very favorably to it, calling it a very important wake-up call," Guttman said.

Reuters contributed to this report.