OH Editorial: "Our Voice: Recount fight a valid issue"

[kuozzman]

This must be the only OH editorial that supports our cause, because the Republicans keep saying they all say we should get over it.

http://www.columbuspost.com/news/newhtml/editorial05.html

As the nation prepares for President Bush’s inauguration, social and community activists are pushing forward in their fight for a voter recount in Ohio and the postponement of the election’s certification. Led by Jesse Jackson, the activists are trying to call attention to what they believe was the disenfranchisement of thousands of Ohio voters. Supporters argue that a full recount would reveal statistically more votes by the thousands for Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry.
Increasingly, newspaper editorials, Republicans, Bush supporters and even other Democrats are suggesting that Jackson, Michigan Congressman John Conyers and Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones are sore losers who need to give it up. Jackson and Tubb-Jones, their critics say, should focus on more important things such as poverty, education and other social ills affecting the poor.
Apparently, these skeptics need to be reminded that the office of President sets the course and determines how much money is spent on issues such as poverty and education. Despite the publicity for Bush’s education program, Leave No Child Behind, educators and others have expressed concern over whether the administration is putting its money where its mouth is.
Conyers, Jackson and Tubbs-Jones are all students of history and no doubt motivated by the 2000 election fiasco in Florida when Vice President Al Gore and the Democrats apparently threw in the towel sooner than they should have. They know only too well (and perhaps their detractors need to be reminded) that it wasn’t so long ago in U.S. history that blacks attempting to register to vote in the South were frequently threatened or intimidated. Weeks after the 2004 election, there were still reports of ballots of black Ohio residents being discarded or thrown out. There were also reports of unused voting machines locked away in offices while people waited for hours to vote in precincts that didn’t have enough equipment.
Although it is probably a lost cause, activists should continue to pursue a recount to let legislators know that even the poor and disenfranchised have a voice and want to be heard.
To that end, the Democrats and progressives probably need to learn how to be proactive instead of playing catch up to the Republicans, which they increasingly seem to do with each election. Party leaders, community activists and citizens with an interest in their elected representatives should start pursuing political goals now instead of waiting until the next “big” election in 2008. Both major parties should encourage civil and thoughtful discourse. The 2004 presidential election illustrated an increasing ugliness in the process that failed to address the real issues.
Citizens should also hold their leaders – black, white, Democrat or Republican – accountable. In this past election, both local and national politicians seeking office made many promises. It’s up to the constituents to see that they follow through once elected.

[proud patriot]

1. repukes are lying through their teeth or

trusting their speeches to the credibilty of
free republics either way the republicans
look like racsist fools for not joining in
this non partisan debate .

They are defensive and agitated ..hee hee
did this really catch them off guard ?