WTF! Ohio GOP Election Board Member: Our Voting Process Shouldn’t Accommodate Black Voters

[SunsetDreams]

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s recent decision to prohibit early voting on nights and weekends in all districts has many concerned about the effect on voter turnout in the state, particularly among low-income and minority communities. But one Republican Party chairman is content to suppress votes among this vulnerable demographic. Doug Preisse, chairman of the Republican Party in Franklin County, which contains the city of Columbus, admitted in an email to the Columbus Dispatch that black voters would now have a more difficult time voting:

I guess I really actually feel we shouldn’t contort the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter-turnout machine. Let’s be fair and reasonable.

Preisse was one of the board of elections members who blocked Democratic efforts in Franklin County to expand voting hours to evenings and weekends. According to the Dispatch, he called claims of unfairness “bullshit. Quote me!”

Preisse also served on Newt Gingrich’s leadership team in Ohio during the primary and is a top political consultant to Ohio governor John Kasich (R).

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/19/711551/gop-election-board-member-admits-he-canceled-weekend-voting-in-ohio-to-suppress-the-black-vote/

OMG I am so sick of these people who will not respect the Constitutional right to vote in this country, and are openly making it harder for minorities to vote.

[JRLeft]

1. Is there any doubt republicons are evil.

[SmittynMo]

24. There's never been a doubt about it.

Don't forget liars, cheats, racists,,,,,, should I go on?

[southernyankeebelle]

2. And there you have it. The man said it in a clean way but he said it none the less. Blacks

tough crapola.

[WillyT]

3. K & R !!!

[justabob]

4. damn

I guess the good news about this is that it is being reported. It is out there for all to see. Not that we didn't know this already, but now there is proof, in writing. "let's be fair and reasonable" uh huh

[nenagh]

26. "Proof and in writing"...

The Smoking Gun... and in 2012, hard to believe...

[ProSense]

5. This is the stuff

the press should be demanding Mitt address. I mean, they try to get the Obama administration to apologize for Hilary Rosen.

Yet across the country, Republicans in positions of power are trampling on the Voting Rights Act and Mitt gets a pass. Of course, he's in on it too.

Romney gets caught lying about Obama, military voters
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021081484

Romney campaign crying "voter fraud"?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021019912

[SunsetDreams]

9. I am so

pissed right now. Every single one of our elected officials should be speaking out about this regardless of party. If you fucking respect the Constitution of the United States and respect our Democracy, then open your damn mouth! We the people, put you there and we can damn well send you back home! NO PARTY should ever be doing this! This is a Democracy not a Dictatorship! We all have the right to vote, stop trampling on that right because you are afraid of the outcome. Bunch of Cowards!

[Frustratedlady]

6. How in-your-face can you get?

By the time the election is over, my head will be on the floor from shaking it in disbelief so much. Sometimes, I think I'm having a nightmare and all of this blatant crap isn't truly happening.

They don't even try to hide it anymore.

Isn't this the state that changed the rules by county? Allowed more voting hours for heavily Repug counties, but cut hours for Democratic/Black counties? There are so many versions, I'm losing track.

[ladym55]

41. Yep.

Actually, when Husted got caught out on THAT one, he did the "right thing," but restricting voting for EVERYBODY.

After the debacle in Ohio in 2004, the state decided to make voting more accessible to all ... early voting, absentee voting, etc. THAT did not always turn out the way the Rethugs wanted ... so when they took power in 2010 ... all this absolute bullsh*t started happening. The sad thing is that some of their WORST crap has failed. This voter suppression could actually be WORSE than it is currently.

[The Wielding Truth]

7. If voting is a right, it should accommodate everyone as well as it can. Rights are guaranteed.

[demwing]

36. Unfortunately, there ISN'T any constitutional right to vote...

there are amendments prohibiting the discrimination against various protected groups, but there is no basic, affirmitive right to cast a vote in our Constitution.

[avebury]

8. GOP Senate Candidate Suggests The Voting Rights Act Of 1965 Should Be Overturned

Rep. Todd Akin, the GOP’s candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, suggested in an interview that it was time to “look at or overturn” the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Asked directly if seminal federal civil rights legislation that prohibits discriminatory voting proceedures needed to be modified or scrapped, Akin said that states — not the federal government — should set voting rules. According to Akin, elections “have historically always been a state thing” and that’s a “good principle.”



http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/17/710101/gop-senate-candidate-suggests-the-voting-rights-act-of-1965-should-be-overturned/

[reformist2]

11. The GOP is committing suicide. No amount of rich people's $$$ can save them now.

[Live and Learn]

10. They don't want the Voter Turnout Machine.

They much prefer the Vote Turning Machines.

[democrat_patriot]

12. So where are the eds? Is this not voter suppression?

Can they get an injunction and open it back up?

[LoisB]

13. Landed gentry only

Anyone who thinks they are going to stop at Black people is delusional. They are looking for a way back to the time when only White, land-owning, "gentlemen" were allowed to vote.

[SheilaT]

14. Apparently he never noticed this:

It's the 14th amendment to our Constitution.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

I find it amazing that those most likely to scream that something or another is unconstitutional never has bothered to read that document.

[vaberella]

15. A perfect example of why Black people do not vote BEFORE election day.

Shit like this. Our votes are always abused or disregarded. People don't understand Black mistrust of State officials. This man embodies it.

[Shankapotomus]

16. Really?

They want to block legally registered voters from voting...in America??? Yea, let's see how that works out for ya when you have a bunch of disenfranchised voters on your hands!

[kestrel91316]

17. RWers will try to tell you that we don't HAVE a constitutional

right to vote, and that we live in a republic, not a democracy.

[JHB]

18. "Contorting the voting process"?

Using the same rules that have been approved for Republican-leaning counties is "contorting"?

[SunSeeker]

19. "Fair and reasonable" is allowing voting on Sundays, douchebag.

This whole idea of only allowing voting on a Tuesday during business hours is "contorting" the process to accommodate Republican voter suppression. Working people with kids have a very tough time getting to the voting booth between 8 am and 8 pm, if they hold down a job (or two) and have kids they need to pick up, feed and put to bed.

I have never understood why we vote on Tuesdays (other than it suppresses Dem votes). Much of the rest of the world votes on Saturdays and/or Sundays.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. In Oregon we vote by mail, and we get our ballots about two weeks ahead of 'election day'

which is for us just the deadline day, no polling places, no hours, vote when you like and send it off or deliver it yourself to the elections office (as I do, because I think that's fun) anytime prior to the deadline. Two weeks of voting at one's own convenience.

[Arugula Latte]

27. Yep. It is such a better system.

Washington state has it now, too.

[SunSeeker]

35. How utterly civilized. But not an option for folks who move a lot.

And with the foreclusure crisis, that's a lot of folks.

[Quantess]

47. It was worked out well.

Does anyone in Oregon not like it?

[Beartracks]

44. Check out the "Why Tuesday" Web site.

http://www.whytuesday.org/answer/

Why Tuesday? is a non-partisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2005 to find solutions to increase voter turnout and participation in elections.

They ask: "If we can move Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Holiday for the convenience of shoppers, why not make Election Day more convenient for the sake of voters? First and foremost, it is time to end the deafening silence of good people on this vitally important issue."

=================

[SunSeeker]

53. Thanks for the link. We can't accomodate black voters, but we can accomodate 1800's farmers.

[Beartracks]

54. Too bad blacks couldn't own land back then.

Otherwise, they'd be "in"!

==================

[Plucketeer]

20. The one good thing about this election cycle

is that the Rethugs - emboldened by the immense amounts of cash cascading their way - (R) feeling courageous enough to say - OUTRIGHT - what their TRUE intents and endeavors (R).

[SmittynMo]

21. This is so wacko

The GOP is at it again. Crazy wacko's. Early voting has always been allowed in this country. The old rules were fine and there has never been an issue before. This should never be changed and allow voter suppression to exist. As for election day, and the long lines, I do believe that the constitution indicates 1 day to vote. I say we start at midnight, and end at midnight, on the same day. Problem solved with long lines at the polling places. Hire people to cover 3 hour shifts. Another problem solved!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

25. No the Constitution does nt idicate one day to vote, it indicates a day deemed 'election day'

on which the various elections in the various States must conclude and count the votes. That is why we can to 'absentee' voting, why Americans abroad can vote, and why entire States like Oregon and Washington vote by mail. We have our ballots for a couple of weeks, they can be filled out and returned at anytime before the deadline. At the deadline on election day, the State is required to cease collecting and commence tabulations. That's what 'election day' is. Not the day votes must be cast, the day casting of votes must end.

[KamaAina]

23. Time to bring Ohio (and Pa.) under the Voting Rights Act.

[Third Doctor]

28. There we have it.

They got rid of weekend voting to inconvenience certain voters. If this was the flipped around the repubs would be rioting. Weekend voting is one of the reason's Ohio went to Obama in 2008 and they just can't have that again. In 2004 thousands did not get to vote due to time and facility restraints if it were not for that Kerry could have won the state. They are creating that situation again. I hope the DOJ gets into this because this is right in our faces now.

[RVN VET]

29. Isn't he African American?

Sure looks it. If so, it's odd -- but not unprecedented -- that he'd take such an obviously racist stance.

Regardless of his race, I hope his kharma bites him in the butt, hard, in this life and -- if there be such -- the next, as well.

[SlimJimmy]

31. So tell me, what *exactly* does an African American look like?

Isn't he African American? Sure looks it.

[JackHughes]

34. Ken Blackwell

Blackwell was the black Republican Ohio state secretary of state that stole the Ohio vote -- and the presidency -- for Bush in 2004.

It wouldn't matter if the guy was African-American or not.

[SunsetDreams]

51. Here is another picture of him

Here is his about story at Van Meter, Ashbrook & Associates, Inc. where he is a Principal in the company.

http://www.vanmeter-ashbrook.com/about-us/douglas-preisse

The photo in the OP is a black and white.

[lobodons]

30. Is he just as upset about expanding voting hours in Rural GOP districts?

I must have missed the line where he is just as upset with the GOP districts voting to accommodate rural voters with expanded days and hours.

[JackHughes]

32. Republicans are making America a banana republic

For those who label the "wide-awakes" recognizing that the 2004 Ohio vote was stolen by Republicans (and with it the presidency) as "conspiracy theorists," please take a look at the overt Republican vote suppression efforts in Ohio and reconsider.

Republicans are making America a banana republic.

[Care Acutely]

33. I wish they'd make up their minds. Are all minorities sitting at home on welfare or not?

I mean, they're openly saying they want to limit late voting in order to suppress turnout in low-income areas because "those people" will all be at work.

So how can minorities all be a bunch of lazy bums who sit on the sofa doing drugs all day and having babies? Which is it? I'm so confused.

[ananda]

37. Shouldn't the DOJ be jumping all over this??!!!

nt

[brentspeak]

38. Of course Eric Holder will be on this right away

On the other hand, maybe not.

[Red Mountain]

39. I always want to ask.....

In a representational Republic.......is voting good or bad?

If it is good, why not try and facilitate as much participation as possible?

More voting isn't a better thing?


I know what the answer is. Just good to get it on record.

[Proles]

40. Well, he's a step above most republicans in that he's honest

about his racism.

Not often you see an honest republican...

[King_Klonopin]

46. "The racism is exquisite" -- Dave Chappell

[uponit7771]

49. +1

[Cha]

42. Your damn Voting Process should Accommodate

EVERYBODY, ASSHOLE.

[uponit7771]

50. EVERYBODY = White Conservatives to the GOP

[Beartracks]

43. WTF, how is he NOT saying "Let's be reasonable - blacks shouldn't vote"?

Has he been removed from his posit.... uh, what's that? Oh, that's right. IOKIYAR.

==========================

[salin]

45. Hood... off.

What is so stunning, is that in 2012 that this elected official (who is supposed to represent voters, including African American voters) felt that he had enough cover to actually state his motives, out loud. And acted on those motives by removing election officials who opposed his Jim Crow standards.

He asserts his racism as a state-wide elected official not just verbally, but in actions intended to curb African American voters - and indeed all hourly paid voters whose jobs require reduction in pay in order to take time off to vote.

Clearly we have an election official who does not value voters or voting - unless it is "his people (color and political persuasion) voting."

[jmondine]

48. This needs to go viral

Right alongside Todd Akin.

[WCGreen]

52. Just some information about sitting on the Board of Elections...

Each party in all 88 county's have two democrats and two republicans sitting on the board. They are elected by the party caucus whenever there is a vacancy on the board.

If the elections director is a democrat then the chief of operations is a republican.

The person who votes to break a tie is the SOS no matter what party.

Just some facts about how the boards are organized and operate.