As the 2016 campaign heats up, an episode from his tenure as Florida governor reveals why Bush's image as a “uniter, not a divider,” as his older brother used to put it, may not stand up. The state's deeply flawed purge of felons from its voting rolls in advance of the 2000 presidential election remains a scar that still has not healed for many in the state.
“I’ll never the forget people that came up to me and said, ‘You let them steal our votes,’” Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), who became state's first African-American elected to Congress since Reconstruction when she won her seat in 1992, told The Huffington Post. “So many people were just wiped off the rolls -- people who’d been voting for years and years. You had the obligation to prove that you weren’t a felon.”
The felon purge wrongfully denied thousands of legitimate voters the ability to participate in a presidential election pitting Republican George W. Bush against Democrat Al Gore. Ultimately, a few hundred Florida ballots would determine the presidency, and with it, the nation’s path for the next eight years and, really, well beyond.
Though it received little notice outside of Florida in the election’s immediate aftermath, as hanging chads and butterfly ballots took center stage during the recount, the purge remains for many the most egregious example of voter disenfranchisement that took place during the 2000 presidential election, which was ultimately decided by a Supreme Court ruling.
“The purge was right out of one of these playbooks in how you diminish minority turnout -- there was absolutely no justification for it,” said Dan Gelber, a former Democratic state legislator and a longtime Bush nemesis.
Just a reminder that Jeb Bush can speak Spanish until his lips fall off, but that deep down we all know that he will gladly stomp on the rights of minorities in exchange for political expediency.
Oh, and this story also reminds us just how responsible Jebbie is for this brother's presidency.
That all by itself should be the ultimate dis-qualifier.
Hey Gryph, don't know if you're a redditor, but Bristol is now a meme on one of the most popular reddit subs, AdviceAnimals. Comments are rough, but that's what happens when you end up reddit famous
ReplyDeletehttp://www.reddit.com/r/AdviceAnimals/comments/3b6u6v/you_cant_spell_bastard_without_the_tard/
You can't spell bastard with the tard.
ReplyDeletePerfect.
That said, Jeb Bush is entirely responsible for the Iraq war and for the global financial crash. Without him the court would never have handed the election to his brother. And the entire world would still be a better place.
That is all true. However, if George W. Bush was never selected President, we would never have President Obama. And President Obama is the best President of my lifetime. So there's that.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily.
DeleteWonderful observation, Carroll. As a Texan, I can't stomach any of the Bushes, but I think you've made an excellent point. Our nation is very fortunate to have had President Obama for two terms. I only wish he could run for a third!
ReplyDeleteHow short are people's memory? The election was given to GWB because of this bullshit. Were it not for our current President, we'd be up the creek without a paddle. The events of the past few months have shown the content of this man's character, and his bold vision for not only America, but the World. We;re respected not because of our "guns" and military might, we're respected for choosing one of the best Presidents of my lifetime.
ReplyDeletePlease GOTV to keep the momentum going. Any Democratic candidate so far would excell over any/all the GOP'S.