The head of the Missouri GOP is furious that residents of Ferguson have decided to fix their city’s 12 percent voter turnout after a police officer shot and killed unarmed Michael Brown.
The Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party has labeled an effort by some Ferguson residents to fix its paltry twelve-percent voter participation rate “disgusting.” And he seems to defensively insinuate that Blacks vote for Democrats and whites vote for Republicans.
“In an interview with Breitbart News, Missouri RNC executive director Matt Wills expressed outrage about the reports” of voter registration booths popping up in Ferguson, Breitbart reports.
“If that’s not fanning the political flames, I don’t know what is,†Wills said, “I think it’s not only disgusting but completely inappropriate.â€
Wills explained that the shooting death of Michael Brown was a tragedy for everyone.
“This is not just a tragedy for the African American community this is a tragedy for the Missouri community as well as the community of what we call America,†he said. “Injecting race into this conversation and into this tragedy, not only is not helpful, but it doesn’t help a continued conversation of justice and peace.â€
Wouldn’t the director of a political party welcome more potential voters? If not, why not?
At Quik Trip in #Ferguson this lady has set up table people to vote. pic.twitter.com/geVZoPZWuX
— Aamer Madhani (@AamerISmad) August 15, 2014
MSNBC’s Steve Benen answers that question.
“It appears that some on the right find this ‘disgusting,’ which is a shame. I’m afraid that says more about those raising the complaints than it does those registering citizens to vote.”
Second group I have seen doing a voter registration drive this week. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/7OsGzhbtSm
— Colin Jeffery (@colinjef) August 16, 2014
in front of the makeshift memorial where Mike Brown was killed, they’ve set up a voter registration table #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Puj339x9o6
— Jessica Lee (@BusquedaJess) August 16, 2014
The far-right wing site Daily Caller chose to inject fear mongering into the voter registration drive.
“Liberal activists — including from the George Soros-funded Center for Constitutional Rights — have promoted voter registration booths at multiple locations in Ferguson, including at the roadside memorial marking the spot where Brown was shot.”
Salon notes that Ferguson “is majority black, but the mayor is white, and five of the six city council members are white. For members of the community who feel their interests aren’t being represented, the first step towards changing that is registering to vote.” Also, reportedly, only three of the 53 Ferguson police officers are Black.
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