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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOusted Florida Republicans, including ex-Gov. Crist, say voter suppression was state GOP's goal
MON NOV 26, 2012 AT 09:38 AM PST
Ousted Florida Republicans, including ex-Gov. Crist, say voter suppression was state GOP's goal
by Meteor Blades
The former chairman of the Florida Republican Party and former Gov. Charlie Crist, along with two of the party's consultants, say the Grand Old Party curtailed early voting in the state for the express purpose of reducing turnout by Democrats. Although citizen advocates have been saying for more than a year that such efforts in Florida and elsewhere were intended to hurt Democrats at the polls, these insider comments are the strongest evidence yet of the GOP's unAmerican shenanigans directed at curtailing the vote. Not just of Democrats, but of African American voters.
Dara Kam and John Lantigua at the Palm Beach Post quoted Jim Greer, the former state Republican chairman:
The sad thing about that is yes, there is prejudice and racism in the party but the real prevailing thought is that they dont think minorities will ever vote Republican, he said. Its not really a broad-based racist issue. Its simply that the Republican Party gave up a long time ago ever believing that anything they did would get minorities to vote for them.
...............
The problem with the current chairman's line of defense is that Crist backs up what Greer says. And so do two current GOP consultants, one of whom didn't want his name used:
In the races I was involved in in 2008, when we started seeing the increase of turnout and the turnout operations that the Democrats were doing in early voting, it certainly sent a chill down our spines. And in 2008, it didnt have the impact that we were afraid of. It got close, but it wasnt the impact that they had this election cycle, Bertsch said, referring to the fact that Democrats picked up seven legislative seats in Florida in 2012 despite the early voting limitations.
MORE:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/26/1164739/-Ousted-Florida-Republicans-including-ex-Gov-Crist-say-voter-suppression-was-state-GOP-s-goal
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/early-voting-curbs-called-power-play/nTFDy/
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)They should be prosecuted on felony charges.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)The RNC told us so!
Wisconsin, 2004: 3,000,000 votes cast; 7 cases of "voter fraud."
Michigan Alum
(335 posts)The Repubs having been pulling this crap for a long time here.