Detroiters feel shortchanged by candidates.

[ScreamingMeemie]

This is what concerns me most. I live in an angry state, which could very well turn it's back on voting come November. As a party we can't let this kind of thing happen.

http://www.detnews.com/2004/politics/0402/09/a01-58978.htm

<snip

Snub may haunt Dems in Detroit

Missteps in caucus may cost candidate the state in November
snip>

<snip

Michigan’s Democratic Caucus left many Detroiters angry and frustrated, opening wounds that the party must heal if its presidential candidate — potentially Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry — expects to carry the state in November.

>snip

<snip

* On Sunday, a coalition of African-American organizations called for the resignation of state Democratic Party Co-Chairman Mark Brewer because several caucus sites in Detroit, Dearborn, Flint and Ypsilanti were listed incorrectly or switched at the last minute.

>snip



snip>


The Detroit News used to be considered a conservative paper, while the Detroit Free Press was our supposed liberal paper. Now it's anyone's guess.

I really feel this needs to be addressed. A few candidates had campaigned in Roseville and Warren which are predominantly blue collar white suburbs of Detroit, while Detroit itself really only saw candidates at the debate last October. This is awful if we want to win this state. All that work at getting out the vote doesn't mean much if there's no payback. :(

[Lexingtonian]

1. oh, come on!

The Michigan Democratic Party decided to get in early in the primary campaign and put theirs right smack in a bad spot- in the middle of a highly compressed schedule. Then the state party and local party bungle some logistical stuff.

The logical result: blame the candidates.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. It was known a month ago that these caucus sites were wrong.

There is a major problem. If you visit Detroit, you see it is a ghost town and these people need help. :shrug:

[BruinAlum]

5. It's what the voters perceive that matters

If they feel like they were ignored then it damn well is important if the Dems want to win the state in November.

If the nominee is smart he will make up for this by making some trips there before November. In fact, MI is a swing state, isn't it? Campaigning there is probably already in the plans.

[Monte Carlo]

2. If Kerry's smart he'll make some trips to MI before November...

... should he win the nomination. He knows that MI is a swing state, and that he needs it if he plans to win.

[lcordero]

3. DC isn't too happy either

[AirConditionedGypsie]

6. Coalition calls for investigation, resignation of Michigan Dems executive

chair.

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw92702_20040208.htm

DETROIT (AP) -- A coalition of black leaders called for an investigation and the resignation of the executive chairman of the state's Democratic party on Sunday, saying the movement or closure of some of the city's caucus sites marginalized black voters...

Sheffield said the problems with the Detroit sites "exhibits prejudicial preference" by the state Democratic Party. He was joined Sunday by leaders of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus and the Michigan NAACP as well as Detroit City Councilwoman Kay Everett...

[LizW]

7. I can't feel too sympathetic

being a Democratic in an overwhelmingly Bush-loving southern state with the next-to-last primary in the nation.

One Democratic candidate has made one stop in my state.

The ONLY evidence I've seen in my state that a presidential election is even happening was a phone call from the DNC asking for money.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. I put a lot of work into getting the vote out LizW.

We should all work together on this. :hi: You can change that! :)

[Tinoire]

9. Here are 2 more articles. Black Leaders may demand new elections

Detroit caucus sites stay open extra two hours; black leaders call for new election

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
2/7/04 6:11 PM


LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The leaders of four black statewide groups may challenge the results of Saturday's Democratic caucuses because some caucus sites weren't open or had been moved, Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus Chairman Derek Albert said.

"We feel very strongly that African-Americans were disenfranchised today. ... You had people running from site to site looking for where they could vote. ... We're calling for a new election," he told the Associated Press.

<details snipped>

"This is worse than in the '60s," said Albert, who also is chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. "This is horrible. This election needs to be stopped. Because this is not right."

<snip>

Dean state director Daren Berringer had said changing polling places at the last minute hurt voters, especially in low-income areas such as Detroit where people might not have arranged transportation to get to a caucus site outside their neighborhood.

"They're walking to their polling place, and they're finding their caucus site has been changed," Berringer said. "The sites in Detroit and Southfield are in minority areas. This is direct voter disenfranchisement."

<snip>

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1076181242303271.xml

====

Black leaders angered by changed caucus sites

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
2/7/2004, 11:09 p.m. ET


<snip>

"We just went through this in Florida in 2000. Michigan should be above this. The Democratic Party should be above this. We're not going to tolerate this."


<snip>

Democratic caucus sites in the city of Detroit were to stay open an extra two hours Saturday, until 6 p.m. EST, to make up for the inconvenience of sites being changed. During the extended hours Saturday, residents could vote at any caucus site in Detroit rather than just the one they previously had been assigned.

But a check of several Detroit sites found them closed after 4 p.m.

<snip>

Howard Dean state director Daren Berringer had said changing polling places at the last minute hurt voters, especially in low-income areas such as Detroit where people might not have arranged transportation to get to a caucus site outside their neighborhood.

<snip>

Lorenzo Morgan said that he and his wife called the Democratic party's toll-free number and were told to vote at one caucus site, only to find it closed. The couple had to drive around to try to find their right caucus site.

"They're afraid even to tell us where to vote," said Morgan, 66, as he came into a caucus site at Bethany Baptist Church in Detroit to vote for candidate Al Sharpton.

<snip>


http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1076202545100572.xml

[lcordero]

10. This is priceless

The choice for them is either to hold new elections and take their lumps today or take the lumps on election day and risk the state going to the Repukes.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I fear the outcome of all of this.

Some would like to brush it off, but lots are angry. I think they are taking too big of a risk by not dealing with this head on. :hi:

[lcordero]

12. They better deal with this head on because if I were in their

shoes, I would be taking out 140 year worth of anger on them.:hi: