Mike Mirliss
In his January 13, 2005 article, “Sobbing liberals cling to the agony of defeat,” Mr. Scott Withycombe espouses a view commonly held by both Republicans and Democrats, that the unity of the American empire is more important than discerning truth. He urges congress to “put aside partisan politics,” while calling liberal dissenters a “loon” and a “crazy.” To translate, anyone who stands in the way of the right-wing agenda this administration plans to enact on the American people and the world is advised to shut up. Is this Bill O’Reilly’s illegitimate son?
Here, Withycombe is concerned with a couple liberal members of congress who voiced objections to the 2004 Presidential election due to voting irregularities in Ohio. Rather than be concerned about such a grave threat to the democracy that patriotic Americans hold so dear, he dismisses the claims on the grounds that states John Kerry won had a slimmer margin.
My answer, then, is whatever the issues of voter fraud were raised in those states should be investigated. The point of the matter is not which candidate won or lost, but the fact that a large proportion of American voters have been disenfranchised and deserve to know why.
Why, for example, in Ohio’s Franklin County, were 4,258 extra votes added to the George W. Bush column when only 638 people voted? Why in the Columbus area did 5,000 to 10,000 voters leave polling places after waiting in line for hours without having voted? Why did these discrepancies occur in predominately African-American communities? Withycombe may deny these inaccuracies occurring due to a Republican conspiracy, but his denial that they even exist is appalling.
As was convenient for the right over the past several months, demonizing Michael Moore is Withycombe’s method of avoiding the issues he raises (i.e. threat to our democracy do not exist because Michael Moore uses editing tricks and is the devil). Gore should not have won the election in 2000 because Michael Moore said so. Gore was the winner because numerous independent investigations proved this.
While the current administration seeks to forcibly export democracy to the world, Americans should not tolerate critical flaws in our own system. By claiming that criticism of the U.S.’ electoral process are a “threat to our democracy,” Whithycombe advocates a blind trust in government that allows injustices to occur. It does not matter how lengthy the process of correcting these flaws in or how adversely it affects “bipartisan cooperation.” At a time in which Republicans control both houses and the presidency, fixing the system, not bipartisan cooperation, is of paramount concern.
1-27-2005