In the 85th District south of Columbus, three-term incumbent Republican John Schlichter of Washington Court House is in a tough battle against Democrat Ray Pryor.Yawn. Since Ohio already has a marriage amendment, I'm not sure what this messaging does. Eric Resnick's article mentions that there is one piece of legislation they can cling to. The same sort of gay baiting is being employed by the Ohio GOP in the 22nd district....Schlichter's re-election chances have been hampered by Democrats bringing up his more than $434,000 in debt, including $280,000 unpaid taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. The debts result from the failure of Schlichter's farm.
As an apparent diversion, Schlichter is accusing Pryor of "re-defining the American family" and "opening the doors to special rights for special interests"--meaning that Pryor supports LGBT equality and adoption rights.
"Liberal Ray Pryor supports gay adoption," a mailer says in large print. Schlichter's radio ad says Pryor supports a "homosexual agenda."
"As our state representative, John Schlichter will continue to defend traditional marriage--preserving it as the sacred union between one man and one woman," the mailers say.
Republican Mike Keenan, an insurance salesman and Dublin city councilor, is touting his "faith in God" and belief in "strong values" as the reason why he should defeat Democrat John Carney, an attorney.And the kicker? Protect your keyboards......"Our families are the bedrock of society," says Keenan's campaign literature. "Michael Keenan will strengthen families by keeping marriage between a man and a woman."
Keenan also claims that he will "make sure our government maintains respect for our Creator." He did not respond to requests for comment.
In January, [Ohio Republican Party spokesperson Scott] McClelland told the Gay People's Chronicle the GOP was planning to "do a better job reaching out to the LGBT community. We're not attempting to drive wedges between communities."
She is an Obama Volunteer going door-to-door.
She was assualted. Her attacker has confessed.
Goetsch grabbed her by the hair and beat her on her head.
This REALLY happened.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-campaignattack,0,815315.story
If she had been a white girl, you might have heard about it.
NOTE FROM PAM: This happened in Caledonia, Wisconsin.
"The next thing I know he's telling us we're not his people, we're probably with ACORN, and he started screaming and raving. He grabbed me by the back of the neck. I thought he was going to rip my hair out of my head. He was pounding on my head and screaming. The man terrified me," Takehara said.Goetsch confessed and gave this reason for assaulting her:
Obama called her to make sure that she was OK, Takehara said.
"This negative stuff has to stop. (We’re) not about attacking each other," Takehara said.
"I thought he was going to rip my hair out of my head. He was pounding on my head and screaming. The man terrified me."
Ronald Goetsch says he had a heated verbal exchange with Takehara over allegations of voter improprieties in other states and the role of voter registration groups and asked her numerous times to leave his property.The video of an interview with the 58-year-old Takehara is here.
I saw this headline and hoped I wasn't seeing it correctly:
Black man dragged to death 200 miles from site of Byrd murder 10 years ago.
Details:
Brandon McClelland, 24, was dragged to death beneath a truck driven by two white men in Paris, Texas last month. McClelland was black. The site of his death is about 200 miles from the location where James Byrd was murdered in a similar manner ten years ago.McClelland's murder took place on September 16, 2008. Parts of his mangled body were found strewn along the highway at great distance.
Now, I first saw mention of this in an e-mail forwarding of the blog entry - so, following the Susan Smith-esque, McCain campaign wet-dream desperation 'B-girl' hoax, I was leery.
A set-up to generate yet another false equivalency for the McLame Palindrones to sneer about?
However, here is an item on the murder from the Paris (Texas) News from a month ago:
Two men have been arrested and charged in the death of 24-year-old Brandon D. McClelland, whose body was found on a Lamar County road nine days ago.
Charles Ryan Crostley, 27, was arrested in Paris shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday and remains in Lamar County Jail on charges of murder and of tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair the investigation of murder, preliminary charges that could change pending review of the case by the Lamar County and Distrit Attorney.
U.S. Marshals, Texas Rangers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers are handling the investigation, and have determined McClelland’s death may have been intentional....
First responders believed McClelland was the victim of a hit-run accident, but after interviews with people who saw McClelland earlier, it was determined he was in the company of Crostley and Finley.
Claims McClelland’s death was a race crime surfaced last week on the Internet, by e-mail and from friends and relatives of McClelland.
“This has been examined from day one last week as a vitally important case, and it has been given full attention by the right law enforcement officers,” Young said earlier this week. “There is no indication at this time that this is a racially motivated crime, but rest assured, it will be dealt with accordingly if that becomes an issue.”
Any bets as to which Repug will play the 'all crime is hate crime' card? More after the flip
The Paris News ran an op-ed on Sept. 28:
Sympathies extended, let’s now be clear in regard to the horrible and questionable death of Brandon McClelland.
As the editor of this newspaper and a resident of this community, I call on the Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Marshals involved in this case and our Lamar County District Attorney’s office to be thorough in this investigation and to leave no stone unturned as to what happened prior to the discovery of this young man’s body in the early morning hours of Sept. 16.
Surely there is DNA evidence that will tell much about this crime. And, a full disclosure of autopsy reports should indicate how this young man died and the condition of his body when it was found. Because I realize this information may not be readily available to the public until time of trial, I call on the public to be vigilant but patient as law enforcement officials complete their investigation and those involved are brought to trial. Rumors run rampant on the Internet. I call on everyone to let this investigation run its course before we rush to judgment. And even if our worst fears prove to be true, let us realize that the actions of single individuals should in no way bring condemnation to an entire community.
But also let us not be naive enough to believe that there is no possibility that such actions are actually indicative of the atitude of the community - or of certain elements within the nation.
The hits just keep on coming for the McCain/Palin campaign. Today the largest paper in Alaska, The Anchorage Daily News endorsed Barack Obama.
The Daily News, which in the past has been generally supportive of the Governor seemed to agree with many in the lower 48. It said: --after the break--
(F)ew who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.
The paper saved it's harshest words, though, for Senator McCain:
Sadly, maverick John McCain didn't show up for the campaign. Instead we have candidate McCain, who embraces the extreme Republican orthodoxy he once resisted and cynically asks Americans to buy for another four years.
When it comes to who is most qualified to lead our country through the difficult days ahead, the Daily News seems quite smitten with That One.
Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain...On the most important issue of the day, Sen. Obama is a clear choice...The unqualified endorsement of Sen. Obama by a seasoned, respected soldier and diplomat like Gen. Colin Powell, a Republican icon, should reassure all Americans that the Democratic candidate will pass muster as commander in chief.
Ouch!
Just 28% of voters believe that John McCain's campaign has been helped by talking about the relationship between Barack Obama and William Ayers. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 50% believe talk of that issue has hurt McCain's effort while 15% say it has had no impact.All the Ayers talk has done for your campaign is stir up the mob of ignorant, violent fools who show up to your rallies screaming and cursing, slash tires of Obama supporters and kill bear cubs and staple an Obama sticker to its head.
After several political signs were stolen or vandalized from his front yard, a Missouri man installed video cameras in an attempt to catch the vandals in the act.Also in Missouri, three students have been suspend for their role in what was called "hit a Jew" day.And that's exactly what he did.
A video below shows a woman stepping out of a truck and kicking Mike Brown's Obama/Biden political signs before running away.
"I'm just a guy who has a sign in his yard, and this is the first election that I have ever felt was important enough for me to voice my opinion in the form of a yard sign," said Brown.
"It happened Monday at Parkway West Middle School. Some kids called it 'Hit a Jew' Day. At least three children were hit during the incident, all of whom were Jewish. Two were tapped on the shoulder or arm, but one child was slapped in the face."Related:"School principal Linda Lelonek said it started last week. The sixth graders decided to have a 'Hug a Friend' day. Then it was 'High-Five Day,' but teachers did not know what was going on until several kids were hit."
"Educators said they do not believe the incident was done with hatred or prejudice."
* The Blend McCain mob files
* McCain campaign worker confesses: made up claim that she was mutilated by black man
* McCain team begins the blame game, and the alien bursts from the GOP's chest
Musgrove's opponent ran a gay-baiting ad against Musgrove. Musgrove's response: he howled that indeed he was an anti-gay extremist.
Musgrove Is A Conservative
Abortion
Musgrove Supported Additional Restrictions On Abortion: In 1990, Musgrove voted to require the licensing of abortion clinics by the State Board of Health. Also, Musgrove voted to require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could obtain an abortion. In 1991, Musgrove again voted for a bill requiring the waiting period. (Clarion Ledger, 4/1/90; 4/7/91)
Musgrove Banned Public Funding Of Abortion: In April 2002, Musgrove also signed a bill that would ban spending public funds on abortions with a few exceptions (including when the mother's life is in danger, when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or when a fetal malformation is incompatible with the baby being born alive). (Clarion Ledger, 4/18/02 HB 1480, Summary of Legislation 2002)
Musgrove Voted To Require Doctors To Register As Abortion Providers: In 1995, Musgrove voted to require physicians performing more than five abortions per month to have their offices licensed as abortion clinics. (Clarion Ledger, 3/9/95)
Gay Rights
Musgrove Supported Ban On Gay Adoptions: In March 2000, Musgrove supported a ban on adoption by homosexuals or same-sex couples. The ban not only pertained to adoptions in Mississippi, but also ensured that Mississippi would not recognize adoptions by gay individuals or couples from other states if the parents moved to Mississippi. (Clarion Ledger, 3/23/00)
Musgrove Opposes Gay Marriage: Musgrove opposes gay marriage and believes that marriage is between one man and one woman. (Clarion Ledger, 10/3/08; Sun Herald, 10/22/03)
Being opposed to gays adopting children isn't conservative, the position comes from hostility to gay people. The "progressive" Daily Kos is pushing the Anti-gay Musgrove.
A recent harvest of the mailbag generated these two winners. First up is a missive from a man with a chip on his shoulder about Obama and womb control. I guess this weirdo read the recent diatribe from Randall Terry to the Catholic bishops (urging good Catholics must not vote for Obama) and got a woody.
Subject: God help this nationThe next letter writer appears to be a little behind on the times, since I just received it today but it refers to the bonehead maneuver back in July of Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, and the controversy about the "South Carolina is so gay" ad. Sanford personally intervened to have it pulled from a London Gay Pride ad campaign, releasing the nonsensical statement that "the state will not promote itself as a tourist destination through campaigns "aimed at a specific group of people."
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:03:32 -0700
From: PeterR
To: pamyou are so lost and so hateful, God have MERCY on your soul, dont you fear God and what you will have to answer to some day? Obama thinks helpless babies that survive abortions should just go in the garbage can?? WHAT kind of Christian Man is HE?? He ignores the Bible telling him homosexuality is an ABOMINATION, murder is wrong, GOD knows you BEFORE you were in your mothers womb...Obama hangs with terrorist, are these his likely Supreme Court appointees??? God help this country if he keep mesmerizing people like Hitler did!!!!!!!!!!
Subject: Gov. SanfordSanford is a public figure (and was a VP shortlister for McCain), hasn't commented here on the Blend, where the Terms of Use applies (between commenters), so I don't know what this whackjob is talking about. But of course that's not the point; Sanford's actions and excuses are classic pro-wingnuttery.
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:26:20 -0400
From: E Butler
To: pamDear Pam:
Governor Sanford personally squelched the SC is so gay ad because he had thousands of emails from SC citizens asking him to do so. SC is Bible Belt. We believe in Christian values. What you do is between you and God. What our Governor does is really none of your business, Pam.
However, since you have stuck your nose in SC business, you really need to know we don't care what you and the SC Pride Movement think. I am praying for you because God will forgive only the truly repentant. I hope you can truly repent all of your sins, including the display of vicious comments about our governor.
Governor Sanford did nothing wrong. It is mean, rude, unconscionable and sinful to treat him this way. I notice the Terms of Use Agreement on your website says no mean posts are allowed. You show yourself to be a hypocrite.
E. Butler
UPDATE: I added two more mailbag fruit loops below the fold.
And this one is just plain weird.
Subject: Regarding Pro Gay Marriage MormonsWhoa, and this whack-a-doodle didn't like these (I have them on my car; I blogged about it here) -- from Evolve Fish:
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:48:44 -0400
From: khankrumthbulgar
To: pamDear Ms. Spaulding,
I am LMAO at your links to Pro Gay Marriage Mormon groups. That is akin to Pro Pork Eating Fundamentalist Muslim groups. It is contrary completely to their Dogma and doctrines. It is in fact an exercise in Intellectual Dishonesty. As a former Church member, married in the Mesa Arizona Temple, Endowments in the Oakland California Temple. And a former Missionary in the Swiss Zurich Mission from 1976-1978 under mission Presidents Gary O'Brien, Joseph Wirthlin (Council of The Twelve Apostles), and Dean T. Worlton.
Your link only serves to provide disinformation. From a tiny fringe group of self professed Mormon Intelligentsia who lack popular Church Support. And will be disfellowshipped or Excommunicated. I am amused at Feminists linking to Groups who lack any real power in their Denomination to support their dogma.
Personally I could care less if Gays or Lesbians want to Marry. Since Government intrusion in Marriage has wrecked it for Straight people. I thought Gays and Lesbians knew what real love was, and would not cave into cheap symbolism. I guess Gays and Lesbians crave societal acceptance as much as anybody else does. And should be exploited like anybody else.
Regards,
RShake
Dallas, TXPS. I am currently a practicing Nichiren Buddhist
and this:
Subject: YOUR FISH PRODUCTS...
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:47:06 EDT
From: SEANEIL... are hateful and sacreligious. You'll believe in hell when you get there - but you still have time to accept Jesus and repent. You will be forgiven if only you humble yourself and accept Him.
We will pray for your conversion.
Mike & Mary Connelly
Failing to ban gay marriage in the state constitution could result in the indoctrination of schoolchildren into a gay lifestyle. Florida schools might have to teach that gay weddings are the same as traditional unions if the proposal fails at the polls.
Huh? Maybe Stemberger doesn't realize that there are four laws on the books in Florida that outlaw same-sex marriage. Passing Amendment 2 won't change anything- unless you count stripping away domestic partnerships and benefits, which the vague langue threatens to do.
Or maybe he's just fear mongering and pulling an Anita Bryant "Save the Children" trump card since support for Amendment 2 is waning and he has been accused of breaking campaign finance laws to pass Amendment 2. Let's go down the rabbit hole further with Stemberger and his clan...
Stemberger had his own "Anita" on hand, as well. Anita Staver, a co-author of the constitutional amendment and an attorney who heads the Liberty Counsel in Lynchburg, Va, said this of Amendment 2:
The ultimate goal of those opposing Amendment 2 is to silence all opposition to same-sex behavior and the homosexual lifestyle. The battle over marriage is actually a battle over freedom of speech.
I'm sure the co-author of the Amendment- who wrote the vague, domestic partnership-stripping language "substantial equivalent thereof" into it, who heads up one the most right wing groups in the country, and doesn't even live in Florida- is a great source of unbiased information...
And I'm confused- is this about marriage equality, education, or freedom of speech? Are they just throwing out catch phrases to see what sticks? A "kitchen sink" attack?
Standing in front of oversized copies of the covers of two children's books titled "Heather Has Two Mommies" and "King and King," Stemberger continued the wild allegations, saying:
The issue is not just about two people living together. A constitutional amendment is needed because public education and religious liberties would change if an activist judge strikes down existing laws against gay marriage. This is an affront to parents' rights.
An affront to parent's rights? Do you mean it won't harm kids and take away parent's right's by stripping away a couple's right to make decisions for each other in the hospital, have benefits, or care for one another using a domestic partnership? That seems like the real affront.
The crazy parade continued when a James Pope, a social studies teacher from Hillsborough County, got up and let loose this screed:
I am saddened and appalled that I may be the person responsible for teaching students about same-sex marriage and not their parents. If Florida courts ever invalidate laws against same-sex marriage, teachers might have to put it on a par with heterosexual unions in their curriculum. My job is to teach, not indoctrinate.
It looks like you are doing some pretty heavy indoctrination right there, Mr. Pope.
This campaign is going even more off the deep-end. They are desperately trying to distract from what their amendment really does- take away domestic partnership rights and benefits from unmarried couples, gay and straight, in Florida. And perhaps distract from the illegal activities of their campaign that the state is now investigating- money funneling, skirting finance laws, false reporting, and many other serious infractions.
This is just more lies from more liars.
Help Florida defeat these folks! Make a contribution to www.SayNo2.com today!
If I did miss it, my bad. But if noone else has seen or heard anything, it just goes to show what kind of people McCain/Palin are.
Some of the stories below are shocking and even hard to believe, but they weren't published on crazy, fringe websites. They appeared on some of the most distinguished and well-respected sites on the Internet. The bloggers and online journalists who published them have staked their reputations and their sacred honor on the veracity of these reports. To doubt the truth of their findings, you would have to believe that an entire segment of the blogosphere has suddenly been gripped by hysteria and gone collectively insane, which is a pretty unlikely scenario.Among the "facts" and "scandals" covered by Jon Swift that were actually blogged by the right that were discredited:
* During Obama's dark, mysterious years at Columbia, he was involved in domestic terrorist bombings
* Obama didn't actually write Dreams of My Father. In fact, it was ghost-written by none other than Bill Ayers!
* Michelle Obama attacks "American white racists" in an interview with obscure online news site
* Obama had a girlfriend that his wife found out about and forced her to move to the Caribbean.
* There is a tape of Michelle Obama with Louis Farrakhan talking about "whitey"
* Obama was not born in the United States and his birth certificate has been forged.
* Barack Obama had an underage, gay "affair" with a pedophile.
* Obama had cocaine-fueled gay sex in the back of a limousine with a not-very-attractive disabled man with a criminal background
* Obama was getting answers in the first debate through a clear plastic hearing aid in his ear.
You have to surf over and read the rest. Below the fold, another incident is caught on tape, this time at a Yes on 8 rally in Bakersfield.Something to keep in mind: when I hit the record button, I hadn't said a single word to anyone, or interfered with the rally any way. I stood a fair distance away from the sign-wavers (remaining at least four feet away from all of them...until they approached me). But as soon as they noticed me filming them, I was greeted with curses and threats of violence. "Get that shit out of here. I'll knock it out of your hand." None of these folks knew me, yet they instantly knew they hated me.
Eventually, as you can see, some of the protesters surrounded me and began poking at me with their signs. Others, some of the most visibly angry and hysterical among them (apparently minors), hid their faces behind their banners while continuing to scream at passing traffic.
I asked the most aggressive woman (who was not underage) "are you afraid to be online?" She answered, "oh, no, they already videotaped me, but these kids don't want to be online, cause they're [unintelligible] loaded on a sexual perv profile and [unclear] look at my little cousins." Fair enough. I'm all for protecting the innocent. (Not that there's anything particularly innocent about screaming hate speech in public.)
"Go away, Nasty Nasty. Nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty."
The woman continued to poke at my face with her sign and call me "nasty." Genuinely disturbed by the complete lack of rational behavior I'd seen up to this point, wanting to look into her face and possibly connect on some level with her as a fellow human being, I pulled a corner of the sign down away from my eyes and asked "why are you calling me nasty?"
That's when she attacked, clawing, grabbing and then shoving. I didn't fight back; she was much bigger than me. After calling me a "nasty fucker" and threatening to kick my ass, she pried my phone out of my hand and tried to break it in half while her friends egged her on.
Please note that I never touched or threatened her in any way (unless you want to consider my pulling the edge of her sign out of eye-poking territory a threatening gesture).
Violence erupts, and the assailant is Ken Mettler, a Kern High School District trustee and Kern's "Yes on Proposition 8" campaign leader. He kicked and punched a protestor yesterday (Friday). From the Bakersfield Californian:
And in a pitiful development, pro-Prop 8 forces have released an ad that misspells Palin's name (Pallin). See Jeremy's post.Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler, in red, is shown kicking at an opponent of Proposition 8. Mettler is head of the local Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. The video was taken by an opponent of Proposition 8.
The altercation was captured on video at a rally in southwest Bakersfield where two groups for and against Proposition 8 had congregated at opposite sides of the intersection of California Avenue and Stockdale Highway, according to police. Mettler, 55, said Friday night that he went to the corner where the Prop. 8 protesters were gathered to retrieve signs he thought his side had left behind. In the video, which was recorded by a Proposition 8 protester, people are shown trying to confront Mettler who is holding a defaced "Yes on 8" sign.
"I was physically accosted and defended myself," Mettler said. "I was not trying to set up a confrontation."
But Rob Badewitz, 20, says he was trying to grab a stack of signs Mettler had gathered when Mettler kicked him and punched him in the jaw. Mettler then walked across the street and said he was attacked first, according to the person who shot the video and provided a copy to The Californian.
***
10/25 - Day 6, 10:45 AM ET: 221 donors - $11,475.
8 Days - 8 Bloggers Against Proposition 8 (October 20-27, 2008)
Eight lesbian bloggers work together to help defeat Proposition 8. To donate, click here.
We've had a lot of debate on this blog about the possible impact of the racism that John McCain and Sarah Palin has allowed to be introduced into their campaign. We've chronicled countless racist comments and images. We've viewed videos of racists making themselves seen and heard at McCain/Palin rallies.
However, until yesterday it hadn't yet touched me personally. That changed when my boyfriend admitted that he was injured breaking up a fight that took place in his home a few days ago.
He's been having a lot of work done on his house and he hired several gay contractors to do the work. He thought that it would be a good idea to keep the money he's putting out in the LGBT community. So, he hired a gay plumber, a gay electrician, and a gay stone mason to do several large projects. They've all been at the house for weeks.
One of the things that I really didn't approve of was that my boyfriend began to socialize with these men and their workers. He's been buying them beer and unwinding with them after coming home from work. On several occassions, I've gone over to his house to find the guys still there at 7:00 PM or later, drinking and shooting the breeze.
Apparently on Wednesday, the conversation turned to politics. I had been over to the house earlier to walk the dog and I was wearing my new Obama t-shirt. Mike the electrician is African-American. Tony the plumber is white. According to my boyfriend, Mike mentioned that I had been over earlier and he liked the shirt I was wearing. Then Tony began repeating some of the racist propaganda we've all been fuming over for the past few months.
(Fritz continues after the jump.)When Mike objected to what Tony was saying, things got heated and then turned physical. The two men began fighting right on the terrace! Mike hit Tony in the mouth and the men began pounding each other.
My boyfriend tried to intervene and that's when he was knocked down and kicked in the leg. He has a cut on his hand and a huge bruise on his upper thigh.
These guys are 20 years younger than my boyfriend and in pretty good shape. I can't even begin to describe how upset I was to find out that they had injured him.
What is even worse is that my boyfriend allowed them to return to work! I would have fired them both and called the police.
My boyfriend is a clinical psychologist and at times I think he tends to be too intellectual. He thinks that every problem can be solved by his therapeutic methods. This drives me up the wall at times.
He told me that he's now trying to work with these men to resolve their problems. Personally, I want both of them to just go away. Tony is an idiot for having such racist views. But, both men turned to violence and hurt my boyfriend.
I think this sad event raises a broader issue, though. It has been a very long time since I've heard about two grown men fighting over a racial issue. And, no one I know has ever been physically injured like this.
We've all asked ourselves what was going to happen if racial tensions continue to grow. I think what happened to my boyfriend answers that question. When "Joe the Gay Plumber" and "Joe the Gay Electrician" get into a fist fight over something that has been said about Obama, that seems like a pretty strong indication that something is very wrong in America.
Hat tip, my HS classmate CEB, who is big on the nostagia tip. :)
From the Houston Chronk:
For the next four years, Waller County officials must justify all rejected voter registrations to the U.S. Justice Department and report every voter application received during registration drives at Prairie View A&M University, a three-judge panel has ruled.
The order also means that the county must submit twice-yearly reports about its voter registration process.
Waller County has been criticized for thwarting registration efforts by students at PVAMU, a historically black college, and has faced numerous lawsuits over the last 30 years related to student voting rights.
Other than Prairie View A&M, Waller County actually has only two reasons for continuing to exist: speed traps in and around the county seat of Hempstead, and a giant car dealership in Hempstead whose chief spokes-oid is former Houston Oiler (and Texas A&M - not to be confused with PV A&M) football star Greg Childress. (Full disclosure: I went to Texas A&M as an undergrad - before the US 290 bypass was built around Hempstead - and I never got victimized by the speed traps there, but I knew many people who did whilst going back-and-forth between College Station and Houston.)
The largely white non-Prairie View populace of Waller County has never been too thrilled with th prospect of the non-whites at the college being able to have a say in things. For a while, if I recall correctly, it was the only one of Texas' 254 counties that would not afford college students the option of voting as residents of the county based on their resident attendance at a college in the county.
True, not all 254 counties have a college - but you get the idea.
The suit against the county and Waller County Registrar Ellen C. Shelburne was settled with a consent decree.
In the court-approved agreement, Waller County officials acknowledged rejecting voter registration applications — mostly from PVAMU students — through new practices instituted in 2007 without permission from federal authorities.
Prairie View is a relatively small school, but in a non-heavily-populated county the difference between having the students vote and not having the students vote is...
well, you get the idea.
Hopefully, those who are enforcing voting rights who appear to have gotten the idea actually intend to make sure that procedures don't revert.
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