My father taught me many things about appreciating a new book. He told me that each book was like an adventurous journey and opened an opportunity for your mind to expand. He taught me how to play games with a book: to read the first sentence in it and the last sentence and see if there was something really profound that the writer was trying to communicate to the outside world.
So in Barack Obama’s book titled: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, the first sentence is: “On most days, I enter the Capitol through the basement” and the last sentence is: “My heart is filled with love for this country.” So that I think of a half Black man entering our nation’s Legislative headquarters as a very humble and honorable thing. Quiet contrary to the criticism of this man as a latte-drinking arugula-eating elitist. A man who uses fancy words and is eloquent and intelligent and somehow threatens the average Joe—the Joe sixpack and Joe the Plumber.
Then that last sentence in his book goes to the heart of the criticism of this man as an: unpatriotic, Muslim and someone who “pals” around with terrorists. Discussions by Palin talk about the Real America and how Obama is someone not like us, a guy who would threaten our way of life. Be it gun-toting, Bible-thumping, abortion clinic-bombing culture warriors.
These are the despicable Lee Atwater-Karl Rove tactics to attack the very strengths of a candidate and then lie about them to achieve just some doubt in the minds of the voters. Then spring on them the “October Surprise.” It is a sad type of politics but it worked for George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Senator McCain is surrounded by former Bush handlers, Karl Rove disciplines and then last month even Karl Rove himself.
“Spreading the wealth around” in their minds is ‘socialism and worse yet ‘communism.’ Senator Mel Martinez compares Obama to Castro in another desperate Florida fight for the minds and even souls of Hispanics. Yet, this year they are not buying it. We are not buying it. We are snakebit from the last few times anyone went with a Republican. Yes, even going back to Ronald W. Reagan and our foundations for this economic turndown and recession.
Dear Reader:
The attached Press Release is for a statewide effort by the NAACP and Voter Services Coalition in conjunction with Jeremy Friedman (jfriedman@lawyerscommittee.org) of the "Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights Under Law" (http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/2005website/home/home.html) to encourage people to vote early and check the status of their voter registration so no one is 'left out in the cold' on Election Day. Recently MSNBC starting running public service announcements on this topic, because they felt it was timely and needed.
Thanks.
William
PRESS RELEASE - Count My Vote FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Each reader of this Press Release must realize that voting is not done in a vacuum, it is not a one step action and then it is over; you need to be a part of the greater civic community and be proactive and engaged to make sure your vote is counted.
Check with the County Clerk and make sure you are on the Voter Registration rolls today, don’t wait. Vote early and as soon as possible so that if there is a problem with your registration it can be straighten out by the County Clerk. If you are so inclined, work at a polling site. Assuming that you can come out once every four years and vote for President is frankly irresponsible. You have a responsibility to know the issues and participate in all elections.
Your right to vote is given to you by your birthright, but it must be safeguarded by your own proactive action. True, your American Citizenship guarantees your right to vote, but whether that vote is counted is dependent on working with your local election officials to make sure they are ready to have your vote recorded once it is cast.
New Mexico is listed as a battleground state in this Presidential Election and will have the highest number of registered voters ever coming out to the polls. The February 2008 Democratic Party Caucus was our first trial run with these increased numbers and at the Caucus 17,000 or 12% of the vote was done on provisional ballots because of the inadequacy of the voter registration lists certified by the Secretary of State. Provisional ballots were not counted in the 2004 Caucus, and are always subject to challenges by the candidates for the slightest of errors. By Early Voting in person at the County Clerk’s Office you can often avoid voting on a provisional ballot on Election Day.
Unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud are a nationwide problem designed to undermine the average citizen’s confidence in our election system. The goal is often to discourage people from voting ---lower voter turnouts favor candidates who are not populists. The mantra: “the sky is falling” goes far and wide and the Henny-Penny’s of the world feed into the myth of rampant voter fraud. We need to be vigilant but also must not trample on a voter’s right to vote. Election Protection Coalition is a nationwide effort to count every vote. It is being coordinated through the Lawyer’s Committee on Civil Rights Under Law and includes groups like the: National Bar Association, ACLU Voter Rights Project, NAACP National Voter Fund, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), Asian American LDEF, and over 100 other Partners.
If you experience any voting irregularities or voting mis-information, call the number below:
1-866-0UR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) Election Protection Hotline.
For more information or an interview, please contact: Bob Moses, NAACP Political Action Director at (505) 471-6633 or William H. Mee, N.M. Voters Services Coalition at (505) 473-3160.
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