Herbert: A Chill in Florida (More on black voter intimidation)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/23/opinion/23herbert.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

The state police investigation into get-out-the-vote activities by blacks in Orlando, Fla., fits perfectly with the political aims of Gov. Jeb Bush and the Republican Party.

The Republicans were stung in the 2000 presidential election when Al Gore became the first Democrat since 1948 to carry Orange County, of which Orlando is the hub. He could not have carried the county without the strong support of black voters, many of whom cast absentee ballots.

The G.O.P. was stung again in 2003 when Buddy Dyer, a Democrat, was elected mayor of Orlando. He won a special election to succeed Glenda Hood, a three-term Republican who was appointed Florida secretary of state by Governor Bush. Mr. Dyer was re-elected last March. As with Mr. Gore, the black vote was an important factor.

These two election reverses have upset Republicans in Orange County and statewide. Moreover, the anxiety over Democratic gains in Orange County is entwined with the very real fear among party stalwarts that Florida might go for John Kerry in this year's presidential election.

It is in this context that two of the ugliest developments of the current campaign season should be viewed.

[bluestateguy]

1. Orange County, Florida

Actually 1944 was the last time a Democrat won Orange County, FL. Dewey won it in 1948. Otherwise a fine piece.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I Live In Metropolitan Orlando...

I e-mailed Bob Herbert and told him the only way this story will get the attention it deserves is if it's on page one above the fold...

[fearnobush]

2. What Fucking Scumbags. This is war against black people.

We must send thousands of volunteers to Florida to insure these communities that voting is a right not to be jailed for.

"From the G.O.P. perspective, it doesn't really matter whether anyone is arrested in the Orlando investigation, or even if a crime was committed. The idea, in Orange County and elsewhere, is to send a chill through the democratic process, suppressing opposing votes by whatever means are available"

[Doomsayer13]

3. Go Herbert

it's nice to know someone is going after voter disenfranchisement in Florida. It's imperative that we don't let what happened in 2000 happen agian.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. LET'S THANK HERBERT FOR NOT LETTING GO OF THIS -- [e-mail]

[Hekate]

5. DUers: send Herbert's column to many media outlets -- links here

This is far too important for us to be letting Herbert be the only one sounding the alarm. Please keep this kicked -- please take some time to forward his columns using the links put together by calimary. We should be demanding that newspapers and broadcast media provide in-depth reporting.

As far as I'm concerned, the black Americans of Florida are like the canaries carried into the coal mines of old: when the birds keeled over, the miners knew the humans were in mortal danger. Simple decency and love for our democracy should be enough for us all to shout out at this injustice to our fellow Americans in Florida, but even beyond that -- what happened in Florida in 2000 was the harbinger of what we are all about to experience in 2004.

Hekate

DUERS: THE FIVE-STAR ACTIVISTS' RESOURCE THREAD, UPDATED 7/9/04
Topic URL
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x8816

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Great idea, Hekate -- thanks!

[fujiyama]

6. Herbert has done a great job

on this story. I read all three articles on this so far. This is whath journalism is all about.

Unfortunately, your worthless corporate whores at CNN and all the major news stations will never touch story.

What seems to be going on in FL is really a continuation of the same disgusting things that has been happening in the south for decades. These secret police tactics of Jeb show how fascist the family really is and to what ends they will go to to keep one of their own in power.

FL is below a banana republic. Some of them probably run fairer and freer elections than the state. This is trully appauling and makes you wonder how much progress has been made in the last 30-40 years and how free America really is. It's not the country you read about in textbooks.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. If Herbert's Story Was On The Front Page...

CNN couldn't ignore it nor could any of the major news stations.....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. We Need To E-Mail This To The Orlando Sentinel...

I'm sure they are aware but this can't hurt...

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Link to contacts for Orlando Sentinel --

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=org_pages&org_id=315

[cynatnite]

12. kick n/t