McCain Demands S.C. Polling Probe--- Precincts in Black Areas were Closed--

Comment by Rayelan:

In Michigan, a powerful black state legislator is using the Republican primary to send a message to Governor Tommy Thompson--- the man who spearheaded welfare reform. He is organizing the black voters who will come out and vote for John McCain. Thompson is supporting G.W. Bush.

Whether or not it is proved that the Republican supporters of G.W. Bush, purposely closed the princincts in Black areas to keep Blacks from voting for McCain, G.W. Bush has lost in Michigan. Every black person in the state will come out to vote for McCain.

Watch for Jesse Jackson to team up with John McCain and campaign in Michigan, while simutaneously taking swipes at South Carolina. If Jackson gets involved and makes the South Carolina precinct fiasco into a national issue, it will not only be a rout in Michigan on Tuesday, but watch for the repercussions to spread out all over the nation.

The best thing South Carolina can do for its rapidly deteriorating race relations is to call a new election this coming Tuesday.

If South Carolina does not take immediate steps to allow all the voters in the closed precincts to vote, then South Carolina will become a pariah state.

The NAACP has been trying to get people to boycott South Carolina due to the Stars and Bars being flown over the Capitol building. The boycott was not catching on... but with this slap, not only to the black community, but to all McCain supporters, South Carolina will be lucky if they get even one tourist, let alone any new business offers.

If you know anyone if South Carolina, have them call their legislators immedidiately... or go to the Capitol and protest. This type of voter fraud is expected in democratic dictatorships, or in Mayor Daly's Chicago. Is this what we have become?

You would have thought that the Bush people would have learned from their problem in New York.

*********

McCain Demands S.C. Polling Probe

By LEIGH STROPE Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Consolidation of Republican primary polling places across South Carolina caused voter confusion and prompted demands from John McCain for an investigation.

McCain's campaign complained that precincts that were supposed to be open were closed. The Arizona senator demanded ``a full investigation'' after discovering the Pond Branch voting precinct in Greenville was closed.

In Washington, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said representatives of the civil rights group had received complaints Saturday morning that some polling places in heavily black areas were closed. He said he would send a representative to South Carolina after the polls closed to investigate the charges.

``We want to take a look at these complaints to see if any violations occurred,'' Mfume said at the NAACP's annual meeting.

Despite the consolidations, turnout at many polling places was phenomenal.

Cam Underwood, who has helped run the Republican primary for more than 25 years, was working at the William J. Clark Middle School polling station in Orangeburg south of Columbia.

``I've seen people today voting that I haven't seen in a long time,'' she said. In the primary four years ago, 339 people cast ballots at William J. Clark. Underwood said almost 400 had voted by 1 p.m. this year.

``We just had to call for more ballots,'' she said.

By early afternoon, 10 polling places in the Columbia area were running low on ballots because of high turnout, said Shell Suber, GOP county chairman, who was getting more copied at Kinko's.

``We're keeping very strict tabs on how many extra ballots each place gets to verify votes,'' he said.

The state does not control political parties' primaries in South Carolina.

In response to a lawsuit, the state Republican Party promised last week to open all state-designated polling places and, if necessary, pay state election workers to staff them. Two Democrats had sued and complained to the Justice Department that the GOP's practice of not opening all polling places, especially in predominantly black areas, violated federal law.

The consent order was approved Monday by a three-judge federal panel scheduled to hear the case.

``I think it was clear -- the court has already settled this,'' McCain said. ``I don't know what to say. It's very disappointing.''

snip snip--- click link for rest of story

http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpnt0s.htm