In Southern Stop, Clark Promises to Enforce Voting Rights

[robbedvoter]

In Southern Stop, Clark Promises to Enforce Voting Rights
By EDWARD WYATT

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/30/politics/campaigns/30CLAR.html
IRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 29 — Forty years after four black girls were killed in a church bombing here, Gen. Wesley K. Clark visited the same church on Monday and said African-Americans were still in danger of having their votes go uncounted and their voices unheard.

Speaking at the 16th Street Baptist Church on a two-day campaign visit to the South, General Clark said voting rights were a "very personal issue for me," as someone who had grown up in the South and who had supported affirmative action in the armed forces.

He said that if he became the Democratic presidential nominee he would appoint a legal team to monitor the 2004 elections to ensure that problems reported in the contested 2000 election in Florida would not be repeated.

"If anyone is intimidated or turned away from the polls illegally, we will push to prosecute the perpetrators to the full extent of the law," he said.
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[metisnation]

1. This is a big time southern issue

The black vote is the swing vote that we are looking for. In perspective African American voter rights are a relatively current theme in American Politics. The GOP mentality concerning the Black vote is the same as how Rush Limbaugh views Donovan McNabb. It shames me to think that people would think that way, but it true ans Wes is making a good point about protecting the voting rights of these people.

[Lefty48197]

2. Good for you Wesley!

We know they're going to try and cheat, so let's get ready to kick their butts.

[Myra]

3. Good god this is fabulous!

As far as I know, Clark is the only one to campaign on
this issue. He spoke of it in NH as well.

And trashing the black vote *is* how Pugs traditionally
steal elections. E-voting is just their latest method of fraud.

GOP campaign strategist Ed Rollins flat out bragged about
giving "walking-around money" to black ministers to help
suppress the black vote in NJ "Gov" Whitman's narrow "victory."
http://search.csmonitor.com/durable/1997/10/23/us/us.7.html

http://static.elibrary.com/u/usnewsampworldreport/november221993/newjerseyanelectioncontroversy/

"We went into black churches," he said, "and we basically said to ministers who had endorsed Florio ... 'Don't get up on the Sunday pulpit ... and say, "It's your moral obligation that you go on Tuesday to vote for Jim Florio." ... How much have they paid you ... ? Well, we'll match it; go home, sit and watch television,' and I think to a certain extent we suppressed their vote."
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/080796.html

We all saw what happened in Florida, and Greg Palast has documented
it well.

It's how pugs steal elections. It's how they stole the 2000
presidential election.

I'm just thrilled we finally have a candidate willing to
mention the elephant in the corner.

[w4rma]

9. Howard Dean takes on Diebold

Melbourne, Australia: Governor Dean,

I am an American living in Australia and am a supporter of your candidacy. I have been very disturbed to read the various stories about the security concerns surrounding the makers of electronic voting machines being used increasingly in our elections. Most alarming have been the allegations surrounding Diebold Election Systems and their attacks on those who have questioned their products and their behavior. Could you please discuss your feelings on this matter, the implications you think it has on our democracy, and what you would propose be done to address it?

Thank you and good luck.

Howard Dean: The chairman of Diebold has sent a letter saying that he will do everything he can to get Bush reelected. This does not engender confidence in the American electoral system. If I become the Democratic nominee we will have teams, particularly in jurisdictions like Florida, who will be conducting poll watching activities to prevent the kind of Republican abuses that took place in the last election. We will do more work on the voting machine issue as the campaign moves along.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58372-2003Nov3.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=83608

[ozymandius]

4. With one voice, a movement.

Every Democratic candidate needs to ensure this just as the DNC needs to implement just such a plan of action. Bullying tactics worked once. We have every reason to believe they will attempt it again.

[leesa]

5. Excellent! Good to hear the 'voting irregularities" out there.

[cally]

6. From Clark's "WesPoints" email

Hot Topics

During stops on his "True Grits" tour, Wes Clark called on Congress to fully fund election reform legislation and demanded that states fully implement it. He also called on states to impose stiff penalties on election officials who turn away registered voters or purge them from the rolls. Too many Americans, particularly African-Americans and other minorities, have been denied the right to vote because of these practices.

I'm so impressed that he is highlighting voting rights. What happened to African American voters in Florida is horrific. No Dem stood up for these voters at the time. We can't let this happen again.

Clark will take three steps to ensure that every vote counts in the 2004 general election next November:


Identify and bring attention to "hot spots" where there are recurrent voting problems, especially places where African-Americans and other minorities were illegally turned away from the polls on Election Day 2000.

Train campaign volunteers across the nation who will ensure that voters are registered, can get to the polls, and are allowed to cast their votes.

Appoint a legal team to monitor the 2004 election, and if anyone is intimidated, or turned away from the polls illegally, push to prosecute the perpetrators to the full extent of the law.

[TacticalPeek]

7. Law and order for vote tamperers.

Two-legged or electronic.

[Myra]

8. "No Dem stood up for these voters at the time."

Exactly.
Twas a damn shame.

Let's not let it happen again.