Republicans show their true colors

Republicans show their true colors

Jan. 7, 2005

By Richard Kuper

The Op Ed Page

http://theopedpage.blogspot.com

Yesterday was actually election day for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States. That's right, the votes of the electoral college were certified by a joint session of Congress. The last time the vote was challenged was in 1877. The goal this time was not to actually discard or overturn the Ohio electoral votes (or those of other states with many election irregularities). The challenge this time was only a half-hearted one. The democrats took this move to raise the issue that concerns at least half this country -- the serious problems with allowing every voter to vote, and for every vote to be cast as intended and to be counted properly.

There was great hoopla after the 2000 election and it was supposed to result in major reforms to ensure these rights. That sadly did not happen. So the democrats used the opportunity to raise the issue in a public forum.

This was an opportunity for the republicans to take the high ground and to agree that from the reports that have come out, it is clear that the system still needs fixing, and they will make it a priority this year. But of course they did not. They showed their true, repugnant colors. They called the democrats all kinds of names, and many went out of their way to bad mouth Michael Moore as well. He must really scare them.