NBC News First Read acknowledges protest for election reform

[Democrat 4 Ever]

I imagine many of you are signed up to get the First Read emails from NBC, hopefully this isn't a dupe. This report gives a wonderful synopsis of the event and gives an indication that we aren't just whistling in the wind. This issue isn't going to go away.

First Read: The day in politics by NBC News for NBC News
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"Are you watching this scene?" we asked a cross-section of colleagues and sources yesterday, and the answer invariably was, "Which one?" As in, the Senate Judiciary grilling of Gonzales or the House debate on the Ohio results. We meant the House.

After the Florida debacle in 2000, the sentiment around the country in favor of election reform was broad and deep enough that a bipartisan effort by couple of former presidents, Congress, and George W. Bush worked to enact the Help America Vote Act.

The 2004 election produced a clear winner of both the popular and electoral vote, and did not produce the feared massive voting problems around the country, which together probably had the psychological effect of convincing many Americans that the system is functioning OK.

Yesterday, when one liberal Senator from California and a group of mainly African-American House members formally objected to the Ohio results, all were careful to note that they did not believe the election outcome would be any different had Ohio's voting issues not happened. Other Democratic lawmakers, including an absent Kerry, echoed the need for electoral reform but did not join in the objection. Outside the Capitol, activists rallied against the Ohio results and for further reforms to the voting process. But as with 2000, it's the images that might stand out -- not so much the words. (I added emphasis)

For More: Today's edition of First Read is available now at http://www.FirstRead.MSNBC.com !

I don't know who writes the First Reads for NBC but their wit and their take on any given report is certainly different from what you actually hear on the Nightly News. Sarcasm and funny comments are often part of the posting.

[nodictators]

1. Good find! Here's an example of the difference from Nightly News (sic)

Republicans, for the most part, flatly denounced the Democrats' claims despite there being evidence of real voting problems in Ohio.

Yesterday, on Nightly Propaganda they gave short shrift to the challenge of Bush's "win" and concluded the brief segment with a video clip of a Repub falsely claiming that there were NO voting problems in OH. Fair and balanced, eh?