Getting down and dirty in the Bluegrass state

Kentucky's Gubintorial election in November is seen by many as a good bellweather of Bush's re-election chances, not just in this state but in general. And right now, AG Ben Chandler, the Democrat whose party has been tarnished by the current adulterous Governor, is neck and neck with US Rep. Ernie Fletcher, a Bush yes-man.

There have been tons of negative ads in this race, both Democrats and Republicans have comparied the opposition to dogs. But the old "southern strategy" is coming home to roost again in KY.

Jefferson Co. GOPers "intend to place Election Day challengers at 59 voting precincts in predominantly black neighborhoods, a move that NAACP leaders yesterday called blatant intimidation. The GOP election workers, most of whom live outside the targeted precincts in western and central Louisville, Portland and Newburg, will be on hand to challenge voters who they suspect aren't eligible."

Jefferson Co. GOP chair Jack Richardson IV said the "precincts were chosen at random or because" the GOP has had "trouble finding registered voter in those areas to serve as election workers. The challengers, who will receive the same training as precinct workers, could fill in if needed."

Dems called the GOP "challengers an attempt to intimidate black voters in what is expected to be a close race" between Fletcher and Chandler. Jefferson Co. Dem chair Tim Longmeyer: "They have only one purpose: to intimidate and suppress votes in the West End and other minority areas" (Shafer, Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/23).

Somehow I highly doubt that this polling places were chosen "randomly." The GOP has a history of alligning itself to the worst racists and religious zealots in the south, and have been rewarded with a sweep in the 2000 presidental election and an ever-increasing edge in state congressional delagations. Enough is enough. When will the GOP realize that intimidating blacks in the south doesn't get them votes from blacks in the north, or east or west? Why are they supprised that Bush got only 9% of the Black vote in 2000?