The Dem Party's failure to make sure "every vote would be counted" as promised, will result in serious consequences. I have been saying this since the '04 election. I've written numerous letters to Dean, the Ohio Dem Party, Kerry, Edwards etc., of course all unanswered. I have stressed the need for Dems to go into the neighborhoods which were adversely effected by long lines, caging challenging and other rovian tactics, and talk to the communities. I have sent articles on the effects of purges in the '04 election and the need to make sure voters are indeed registered. What has been done? nothing.
Today I came across this summary of a meeting:
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
From Ohio2006elections: “Last night I attended a meeting of the 11th Distict Caucus, the political organization of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, at The Civic in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. I had a number of reasons for going, but a major one was to assess what a politically-connected friend had told me. He said that the simmering feud between certain statewide party leaders (ODP Chairman Chris Redfern and front-running gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ted Strickland in particular) and certain African-American political leaders (especially Tubbs Jones) is getting worse instead of better, and that at this point Tubbs Jones is inclined to “sit this one out,” i.e., to withhold her support from Strickland’s campaign. So, is it that bad?”
“Yes, maybe worse. There is a grievous wound in the Ohio Democratic party, it has been allowed to fester far too long, and some very strong medicine must be applied immediately or the outcome may be a catastrophe in November. Indeed, it may already be too late to heal the wound, but the attempt must be made this instant.” And
“As the meeting started, those on stage included not only Cleveland leaders (Tubbs Jones, Jackson, Senate candidate Rep. Lance T. Mason, and political strategist Arnold Pinckney) but also Mayor of Columbus Mike Coleman and Mayor of Dayton Rhine McLin. (The other two African-American mayors of major Ohio cities, Jay Williams of Youngstown and Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights, sent regrets.) There were many rousing and inspiring moments in the generally brief speeches. However, one after another, the speakers included in their remarks the consistent message that the support of African-American voters is not to be taken for granted. Tubbs Jones said, “People want us to vote,
we have to get something for our votes.” (Huge applause.) Coleman said, “Democrats can’t take Democrats for granted - we’re going to support those who support us.” (Ditto.) McLin said, “We cannot be turned around or taken for granted in 2006.” (More cheering.) The new executive director of the caucus, whose first name is Greg but whose last name escaped me (it sounded like Grows or Grolls), expressed the message through a metaphor. When a person of great physical beauty walks into the room, the others present ask themselves “yes, but are there brains to go with that body?” He compared the 11th District Caucus to that person with striking physical gifts, citing as the organization’s “DNA” the past and present leadership of Carl and Louis Stokes, Pinckney, and Tubbs Jones. “We can’t let it be asked whether we can take care of our business,” he continued, “We have to project the vision that will keep us energized and focused. That vision is the image of a giant. We are a giant. A giant is in the land, and the giant is coming to take care of business.” And
And for Governor? Tubbs Jones announced that there will be no endorsement in the gubernatorial race.”
<snip>
http://www.ohiohonestelections.org/
A couple of Sunday's ago I watched a local political talk show in Columbus, OH. There was a African American activist on who said that Blackwell will probaly get between 25-30% of the African American vote in Ohio. At first I was appalled that they would consider voting for a man who worked so hard to suppress their vote, but then thought-what have the Democrats done for them? The GOP have given faith based initiative $ to African American Churches but the Dems have stood by and helped deliver faith based voting by not demanding verifiability in elections. They stood in those long lines on the cold rainy November Day to GOTV for the Dems. Did they fight for their votes to be counted?-NO they packed up and went home to wait for the GOP to implode.
THIS SHOULD BE A SERIOUS WAKE-UP CALL TO THE DEMS. GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE! CHECK REGISTRATIONS AND MAKE SURE THE VOTERS HAVEN'T BEEN PURGED. SHOW THEM YOU DON'T TAKE THEIR VOTE FOR GRANTED!
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