What makes America great

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tim Bishop <geodog () cyberdude com>
Date: November 1, 2004 1:40:52 AM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: What makes America great

Dave,
For IP, if you want.

From Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo: 
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_10_31.php#003880 He 
writes:

Received yesterday from a reader down in the trenches ...

Still in Florida.

This was one of the most moving, meaningful days of my life.

My job is to get people to the polls and, more importantly, to keep 
them there. Because they’re crazily jammed. Crazily. No one expected 
this turnout. For me, it’s been a deeply humbling, deeply gratifying 
experience. At today’s early vote in the College Hill district of East 
Tampa -- a heavily democratic, 90% African American community ­ we had 
879 voters wait an average of five hours to cast their vote. People 
were there until four hours after they closed (as long as they’re in 
line by 5, they can vote).

Here’s what was so moving:

We hardly lost anyone. People stood outside for an hour, in the blazing 
sun, then inside for another four hours as the line snaked around the 
library, slowly inching forward. It made Disneyland look like 
speed-walking. Some waited 6 hours. To cast one vote. And EVERYBODY 
felt that it was crucial, that their vote was important, and that they 
were important.

And there were tons of first time voters. Tons.

Aside from some hassles from the Republican election commissioner ( … 
[ed.note: Here the letter writer describes various shenanigans intended 
to exacerbate the difficulties of waiting hours in line to vote. I’ve 
censored this detail to preserve the anonymity of the writer.], I 
actually had an amazing experience. No, actually, in a way because of 
that I had an amazing experience. Because these people know that the 
system that’s in place doesn’t want them voting. And yet they are 
determined to vote.

The best of all was an 80 year old African American man who said to me: 
“When I first started I wasn’t even allowed to vote. Then, when I did, 
they was trying to intimidate me. But now I see all these folks here to 
make sure that my vote counts. This is the first time in my life that I 
feel like when I cast my vote it’s actually gonna be heard.”

To see people coming out ­ elderly, disabled, blind, poor; people who 
have to hitch rides, take buses, etc ­ and then staying in line for 
hours and hours and hours... Well, it’s humbling. And it’s awesome. And 
it’s kind of beautiful.

Sometimes you forget what America is.

I think there’s hope.

ES

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Tim Bishop                Phone & Fax: 510-528-0784
Project Manager       Mailto://tim () civicactions com
CivicActions             Yahoo IM: Civicactions_Tim
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*             November 2, We Decide               *
* *             Get Out The Vote!               * *
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