RE: [pf] The Decision - the hope that lies ahead

by Fitzsimmons, Diane

14 December 2000 20:09 UTC

The pattycake that I took particular umbrage at was Seminole County, where
the Republican county election board official allowed Republican party
workers to correct hundreds of absentee ballot applications.  I'm sure that
there will be lots more examples come to light.

I, too, have been disappointed that Gore and his people have not screamed
more about the racism.  I will say that some pundits, black and white, have
said that, unfortunately, this kind of protest will not sell well with the
majority of our electorate and would probably have not helped his cause.
According to said pundits, Gore was probably advised to let Jesse Jackson
and the Black Caucus do the dirty work here.  I'm not trying to make
excuses; I'm just offering an alternative viewpoint (not one necessarily
held by me).

I'm choosing to call this injustice a "mistake" or "mix-up" as a way to try
to put the most positive face on it.  Whether it was by accident or by
institutionalized racism or by out-and-out thievery is actually irrelevant
to me.  It was wrong and should be corrected.  And if the punishment -- for
instance, in Seminole County, to throw out the absentee ballots -- is harsh
and possibly over-reactive, then the message would be clear that we will not
stand for a second-rate way of handling elections.

I admit that my faith in the system has been deeply shaken.  I've always
known chicanery was a  reality in politics, but I thought the ballot box had
been honest for the last 30 years.  Now I don't know.

And I feel I have been vindicated in my long-held belief that Supreme Court
choices are important in deciding one's Presidential vote.  Being an
Oklahoman and Anita Hill supporter, it's especially galling that Clarence
Thomas is part of the conservative bloc.  All I can say is that I hope there
are some more Souters out there for the Republicans to put forth and the
Democrats to accept grudgingly.

Diane