Blogcritics: Comments on Courts: Stay away from voters, GOP

Comment by Mike Kole

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 12:00:40 EST

I've been to five polling places today, and will go to probably about 10 more before the polls close. As County Chair of my party, I have total access to the polling places, and use this to verify that things are on the up-and-up with regards to electioneering, campaign materials, access, etc. So far, everything has looked very good. No nonsense. In Indiana, the county chair can designate anyone to be a poll watcher, and must provide credentials for that person on party letterhead. I have only seen one poll watcher so far- a Democrat. No surprise. The county is very Republican, so I expect Democratic watchers to do what I'm doing, to ensure fairness and compliance with the law. Watchers here do not have the ability to challenge a voter's eligibility in Indiana. Ohio is a different animal, of course.

Comment by bhw

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 11:07:46 EST

MD, I agree with you about the difference in both the use of and effect of challengers at minority precincts. I realize that our country has a history of trying to [and often succeeding] squelch the black vote. The GOP plan to target minority areas screams of racial profiling and intimidation. In my town, where I have lived for 9 years, I not only have never been asked to show ID, but I don't even sign in. The poll worker asks me for my address, then asks if I'm me or my husband, the only two registered voters at that address who are listed in her book. I say I'm me, and then she checks off my name and I go in and vote. That's it. So I'm not too worried about challengers, myself. But the idea that a hand-picked party operative *with an agenda* could just walk up and challenge my vote and potentially prevent me from voting is hugely scary, even though I'm not going to face that scenario. So if it bothers me, someone who's not at risk, then it must be really bothing those who are being targeted.

Comment by Mac Diva

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:57:32 EST

Bhw, though people say 'both parties will have challengers,' in actual practice it is the GOP which brings in people with no role in elections in significant numbers. I agree with you that neither party should be allowed to do this, but let's be clear that it is not done equally. Even if the Democrats urged their followers to descend like a plague of locusts at white, suburban polling places, it wouldn't happen. Democrats are more likely to have qualms about getting in a stranger's face and trying to boss her around, one suspects. And, the power relationships in a society always matter. Older people of color, who spent much of their lives under segregation, rarely 'talk back' to white people at all. If a white man tells them to leave the polling place, they will leave. The GOP's challengers have been known to wear security guard or police uniforms, or to tell the people they are haranguing that they are lawyers. All of that impacts minority voters, who have disproportionately had problems with the criminal justice system. The challenger process in practice is the vigilante activity of Reconstruction without the actual violence. I seldom participate in the threads of the bigotry brigade, Mike. Can usually find something better to read. For example, Art Green recently stated there has been no discrimination against black voters since the 1960s. My corrective will be entries about the Voting Rights Act and voter suppression, some already posted.

Comment by RedTard

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:48:11 EST

Thanks for the response MD. I think you proved my point quite well.

Comment by Mike Kole

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:37:22 EST

Ah, redneck. Thank you for your racism. So, Diva. If others ask you to stay off their threads, will you honor the request?

Comment by bhw

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:35:24 EST

I don't think either party should be stationing "challengers" at the polls. It bothers me to no end that a group of citizens with a partisan intent would be permitted to challenge my vote with no cause at all. I'm a citizen and a registered voter, and I have a right to vote without being questioned by some partisan jerk who wants to interrupt the election process to benefit his/her candidate. Let the poll workers do their jobs, let the poll watchers do their jobs, and leave the thinly veiled intimidation at home.

Comment by Mac Diva

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:31:55 EST

The ignorant redneck American not being a secret protected by the national security apparatus even during John Ashcroft's tenure, I suspect most people are aware of his existence, Mike. But, thanks for 'helping.' Since you are interested in Oregon, you should be reading my 'Me and my ballot" entry anyway. Good food for thought about the voting process. I actually came to this thread to update it. The trial courts have been reversed. So, this issue will go to SCOTUS, probably too late for it to reverse if it is so inclined. Haven't had time to blog this. Read the news story here. If I were an Ohio elections official, I would ignore the appeals courts' rulings. Assuming an unbiased hearing, their position should prevail in the long run. If the intent of the Voting Rights Act is be ignored by having vigilantes descend on polling places, the Act has been eviscerated.

Comment by Mike Kole

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:19:18 EST

Say, Diva. That's a novel approach. If others ask you to stay off of their threads, will you do so? But Red's got a point, Diva. You use stereotyping in a great many of your responses: knuckle dragger, scratching lice bites, etc. Why not name the stereotype you are trying to depict? Or would that be too honest?

Comment by Mac Diva

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 10:02:56 EST

Retard, you are the kind of person who would have criticized the victims of the Ku Klux Klan. 'If them damn darkies don't want to die, why they putting ropes around their necks and jumping from trees?' You are a bigot and you have nothing intelligent to add to any discussion. Therefore, I am going to ask that you not post comments to my threads. Perhaps you and Andy Marsh can get together, knock back some Coors and rail about how these problems didn't arise back in 'the good ole days,' while scratching the lice bites under your wife beater tee-shirts. Whatever. Just don't bring it to my entries.

Comment by RedTard

Tue, 2 Nov 2004 09:50:48 EST

MD, your letting your racism show through again. You assume that blacks are not able to defend their right to vote at the polls. The Democratic party issues the same types of challenges and has lawyers on hand just like the Republicans. You don't hear people complaining that whites are being intimidated. Why? Because people do not have the built in assumption that whites are easily intimidated. There are more than one type of racist in the world and you are the most dangerous type. You claim to be an advocate for the rights of minorities yet you only serve to perpetuate the problems and stereotypes. You treat minorites as if they are completely incapable of functioning in this world without government assistance and special protection. I believe that 120 years after slavery blacks are capable of standing up, stating their name, and showing ID without running away in fear. The problem is you don't.