The DNC's report on election failures

At the end of last week, the DNC issued a scathing report of voter disenfranchisement in Ohio during Election 2004 -- not surprisingly, in predominantly low-income and minority neighborhoods. As someone who volunteered for Election Protection in Columbus, OH, I have to wonder what took them so long... scads of people have been calling for investigations for months, and seven months later, the general public recognizes and accepts (for the most part) that things went horribly wrong, especially in Ohio. The release of the Dem's report barely registered a radar blip.

I remember the morning after the election quite clearly in Columbus, as my cohorts and I hunkered down to watch what we thought, at worst, would be a replay of Florida 2000. But no... the Dems bowed out almost immediately, choosing instead to "save face" and not question what had happened in that state. When John Kerry conceded the election, he verified what we all had a sneaking suspicion was true: it wasn't really about us, the people, taking our country back -- it was about him and his party, at all costs. When they gave up, they showed their true colors; seven months later, they're crying Jim Crow.

I'm not saying I don't appreciate them finally trying to call out the appalling activities on Election Day -- I'm disappointed that it's taken them this long, waiting till well after the election is a distant dream (read: nightmare) in many folks' memories. Steven Rosenthal and Bob Fitrakis wrote an excellent piece over at Free Press; the bits about the hearings held after the elections are especially enlightening. Start Making Sense readers have called for election reform over and over; I refer you all once again to one of the best resources for your state: Verified Voting.