Suppress the Vote? (Jeb's Police intimidating elderly black voters)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/opinion/16herbert.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

The big story out of Florida over the weekend was the tragic devastation caused by Hurricane Charley. But there's another story from Florida that deserves our attention.

State police officers have gone into the homes of elderly black voters in Orlando and interrogated them as part of an odd "investigation" that has frightened many voters, intimidated elderly volunteers and thrown a chill over efforts to get out the black vote in November.

The officers, from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which reports to Gov. Jeb Bush, say they are investigating allegations of voter fraud that came up during the Orlando mayoral election in March.

Officials refused to discuss details of the investigation, other than to say that absentee ballots are involved. They said they had no idea when the investigation might end, and acknowledged that it may continue right through the presidential election.

[bluestateguy]

1. "Votin's for the white folks"

Otherwise, only the "good blacks" can vote.

[blue neen]

2. This deserves a lot of attention.

My parents live in Orlando and told me about this about 2 weeks ago. The Repugs are accusing the Dem mayor of paying off the black voters.

[cynatnite]

6. I'm emailing this story out

This needs some serious play in the media.

Cyn:)

[faithnotgreed]

8. thank you. it needs every one of us.

[yardwork]

3. Jeb ought to be sharing a jail cell with his brother, imo

This is outrageous behavior. How long will people continue to support these fascist activities? Have the supporters of these criminals no shame?

[DrMath]

4. Not again!

I can't believe they're trying to do this stuff once again. Aren't they supposed to have a network of lawyers down there to protect from this kind of thing? Actually, I guess that is just what's going on -- I didn't hear about this stuff until after the election last time.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. If they want to investigate absentee ballot fraud,

then they should investigate the guy who "corrected" thousands of Republican applications in Florida in 2000 while completely ignoring the Democratic applications, and all the "irregularities" that allowed numerous military personnel to cast two, counted, ballots for the Crawford Catastrophe.

But I wouldn't hold my breath

[blondeatlast]

43. There's no time now for the past. We cannot allow FL. to get away

with disenfranchisement this time.

Besides, I would LOVE to see the media make Jebbie-Bob SQUIRM.

[faithnotgreed]

7. im truly in awe that this was printed in the nyt. heres my email of thanks

i could cry reading your op-ed article regarding the (repeated) suppression of african american votes in florida

i literally cannot believe this is happening. oh, i sadly believe that florida, and our government, is involved in many things with the "vile stench" of which you speak;
what i cannot believe is that i am actually reading about it in the mainstream press. i am not being dramatic when i say that this does not seem real, after all that has happened that goes unreported. every single day.

i truly wish i had words to thank you for writing this. and for the new york times for printing this.

we must break the chains that are being woven around our constitutional necks. and we must all stand together as americans to do our moral and national duty on november 2nd.

maya angelou told us, "let your light shine america. let it shine".

for all who have been and all who will be, we do this for you.

God bless you sir.

[faithnotgreed]

9. kick for truth and justice

[Hekate]

10. Oh for the love of God -- the BFEE is just relentless...

Thanks for posting this. Here's a big kick in the pants (of every Bush) for "truth, justice, and the American way."

Hekate
:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[faithnotgreed]

11. this is too important to let drop

[blue neen]

12. Definitely agree with you.

I'm going to call my mom to see if their has been any more news about this (although I'm sure everyone is obsessed with Chimpy going down there to frown pititfully at the Hurricane damage.)

I think the local paper is called the Orlando Sentinel.

[faithnotgreed]

13. i am still a bit stunned that this made it into print. op ed or not...

[RebelYell]

18. I couldn't believe my eyes either

It needs to see the light of day, I'm sending it on

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Let's agree with Jeb about one thing

Election fraud in Florida should be investigated.

I'm for anything that will land that crook in the slammer.

[Cha]

24. How dare he insinutate anyone else has anything over him

as far as "election fraud in Florida" is concerned!

[AspenRose]

15. Kick

I'm really fed up with this crap

:kick:

YAY Randi is talking about this on the show today.

[flaminbats]

16. Why are police being involved in secret elections?

Having the Secretary of State's of Office or a State Election Board would be more reasonable. But someone couldn't shoot me to cast a secret ballot with a police officer looking over my shoulder!

[Jack Rabbit]

17. This one needs more exposure

:bounce:

[faithnotgreed]

19. yes. not just a powerful story. its also important to thank the press

when they get something right. which sadly isnt a lot but this time i was amazed this made it in

please email [e-mail] if youre so inclined...

[bringbackfdr]

20. Typical Republican tactics

They accuse a Democratic mayor of wrongdoing to cloud the reality of their own fraud. These people are beyond evil doers.

[Cha]

26. My thought, too. Accuse the Dem mayor so they can

intimidate elderly Black voters...starting early this election! :grr:

[Jack Rabbit]

28. They need to start early in this election

Florida is almost beyond an honest Frat Boy's reach.

Of course, who said anything about the Frat Boy being honest?

[blue neen]

21. Searched high and low on Orlando Sentinel website

for more info on this. I didn't get very far. Maybe someone who is more computer savvy can try. My father said there was a big article in the Sunday edition about Aug. 1 or July 25 or so. He also said they were reporting it on the local news. People are really upset about it there.

By the way, he's a veteran for Kerry.

[faithnotgreed]

36. good for you neen. and please thank your father from us here at du

and a warm welcome to you too of course!

[blondeatlast]

44. I'm looking too. Good for your dad--my WWII vet father,

a lifelong Democrat, died last year but left an entire legacy of faithful Dems.

[blondeatlast]

22. Good God, will they stop at nothing?

:wow:

[iwantmycountryback]

25. I HATE Bush's "patriotism"

That whole family is one of the worst things to happen to America. It would be nice if this story actually made it on to national news stations like CNN, MSNBC, ABC, etc. I'm not concerned about trying to get it onto FNC however. I post at a different board which is actually a football board but has a political room, and I often here about the "liberal media." I always just chuckle at that.

[Cha]

23. Estatic this made the news..

Kerry's "lawyers in Florida" need to look into this and Michael Moore (bless his heart) needs to have his cameras focused on this, too!

[blondeatlast]

27. Why are we so afraid of using the "R" word (racist)?

I live in Arizona, where Proposition 200 has just been approved for the ballot. Prop 200 would require people in public service jobs and at the polls to request PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP before offering service. It also makes it a CRIME to NOT report someone who cannot offer said proof.

I GUARANTEE that they won't ask my lily white self for proof, but they would ask my friend Dolores (born and raised here).

It's RACISM, and so is this. Racism is dirty politics, and the only way to fight it is to call it what it is.

Let's sic Howard Dean on them, for one thing...

[blondeatlast]

29. KEEP THIS KICKED TO THE VERY TOP, PLEASE.

:kick:

[blue neen]

30. I'm going to keep looking for more info,

if it takes me a week. If this is important enough to be in the Florida news, it's important enough for EVERYONE to see.

How DARE they play this racism card?

[blondeatlast]

31. If no other story is FORCED into the mainstream media,

we have to force this one.

[cynatnite]

32. Has this gone to the Kerry Campaign? n/t

[blue neen]

33. This is a newbie question, but

how can we make sure that it gets to the Kerry Campaign?

[cynatnite]

34. I emailed it

about half an hour ago just in case. LOL

Cyn:)

[iwantmycountryback]

35. Mass e-mail

All of us should get this message out to the Kerry camp. This would be a great thing to bring up, and may convince those undecideds who are not big on racism.

[faithnotgreed]

37. welcome to du! and thank you for caring about this issue

i saw this posted late last night and made sure to email thanks to bob herbert at the nyt

[faithnotgreed]

38. [e-mail]

is one place to start (note of thanks) but clearly, as others have said here, we need to get this story out

[iwantmycountryback]

39. I agree

I just sent an e-mail to the Kerry-Edwards campaign.

This is regarding an issue of black voters being intimidated by Jeb Bush's henchman in Florida.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/opinion/16herbert.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fBob%20Herbert

Then I pasted the article

I think that the campaign should bring this up as a question of voter's rights. Doing what I can to help


Not overly articulate but just trying to get the point across.

[Hekate]

40. KICK IT & RIDE THAT DONKEY HARD

Damn the BFEE to hell and back again.

Hekate
:kick:

[blondeatlast]

41. Keep this

:kick: ed!

[Cheswick2.0]

42. sent an e-mail to herbert asking him to question Kerry about this

hoping to get a public response from Kerry.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

45. Fellow patriot and colleague Paul Krugman picks up the ball today

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/17/opinion/17krugman.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[mzmolly]

49. Right ON PAUL!

I love that guy!

[blue neen]

46. Found some more info on this! YeaH!

http://www.local6.com/news/3536618/detail.html

from a local Orlando TV station!

[faithnotgreed]

47. great! thanks for sharing that

[mzmolly]

48. So Bush is using MY tax dollars to intimidate Democratic voters?!

:grr:

Let's see, they are using our tax $ to infiltrate Bush/peace protesters and harrass them, CNN security agents are contacting disgruntled viewers, and NOW the Bushies are harrassing elderly voters in Florida?!

We need to get this info out to major media quick.

[blue neen]

50. Central Floridians can't get on this now--Many still without electricity.

So we have to do it for them!

[mzmolly]

51. I can only hope that the hurricane leads to less touchscreen voting?!

I will post a media contact list later.

[blondeatlast]

52. Late afternoon in Arizona; storm brewing outside; it's a great time for a

:kick: