4 - Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
4e lWichinan l wily
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
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Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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The government cannot just leave people
on their own to be buffeted about:'
- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, explaining the necessity for a
bailout plan in Britain, as reported yesterday by the Associated Press.
ANDREW GROSSMAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
GARY GRACA
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
GABE NELSON
MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles
and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
Voting pains
Purging the rolls drains voter morale in swing states
A re you on the list? Come Nov. 4, voter rolls in several key
states may rival the exclusivity of a Hollywood party. Some
states have taken the initiative to remove supposedly inel-
igible voters from their electronic registration databases and, as
a federal judge in Detroit ruled yesterday, have even used illegal
means to do so. These sweeping purges of registration records so
close to the election will only serve to distress an already frus-
trated constituency.
HARUN BUINA
E-MAIL HARUN AT BULJINAH@UMICH.EDU
\/
/
\
Noticd byNo.
In accordance with the Help America
Vote Act of 2002, states must create elec-
tronic voter registration lists to consolidate
data on eligible voters. This system also
purges data of voters rendered ineligible by
address changes or death. However, a dam-
aging consequence of HAVA has been states'
mishandling of these files, resulting in the
disenfranchisement of legal voters. Further,
the vastmajority of these wrongfully purged
voters has been removed from the rolls with-
out voters' knowledge, leaving them to find
out on Election Day, when it's too late.
According to The New York Times, vast
discrepancies exist between the number of
voters purged and the estimated number of
voters who should have been purged in six
swingstates-includingMichigan.InAugust
alone, Michigan removed nearly 33,000 vot-
ers from its list, a figure that doesn't match
the 4,400 voters who moved out of the state
and 7,100 who died. Considering that federal
law prohibits purging voter rolls within 90
days of the election except in cases of voter
relocation or death, that leaves an alarming
difference of about 21,500 ineligible voters
without a legal explanation. Secretary of
State Terri Lynn Land countered by saying
that the Times got its numbers wrong.
But what is even more disconcerting to
Michigan voters is that even local parties are
getting into the disenfranchisement game.
The Republican Party of Macomb County,
for example, allegedly obtained a list of fore-
closure victims with the intention of chal-
lenging them atthe polls on the grounds that
foreclosed homeowners do not have a legal
address from which to register. As a foreclo-
sure notice does not constitute a change of
address, this argument is not legally sound.
But for the Macomb County GOP, this plan
would serve its purpose anyway: The ballots
offered to voters whose eligibility has been
challenged often go uncounted.
Yesterday, a U.S. District Court judge in
Detroit landed a blow against such practic-
es, deciding that Michigan may not remove
voters from the rolls if their voter identifica-
tion cards are returned as undeliverable. In
addition, the judge decided that the practice
of removing voters who apply for driver's
licenses in other states is also illegal, but he
also identified another issue of widespread
disenfranchisement: the fact that re-check-
ing the eligibility and potentially restor-
ing some 200,000 purged voters is just too
daunting a task to tackle.
It is disconcerting that the parties and
state officials can bypass the law when
cleaning out the voter rolls, and apparently,
get away with it so close to Election Day. If
the rolls need to be scoured, the time to do so
is months before the election, when voters
have the opportunity to regain eligibility.
HAVA should be amended to reflect that.
In the meantime, voters should fight the
urge to resort to cynicism and protect their
rights.Voters should bring two forms of iden-
tification to the polls instead of the required
one to protect against challenges. Also, those
who have been registered to vote for more
than 30 days can ensure that they haven't,
been disenfranchised by checking their vot-
ing status at www.michigan.gov/sos.
*I
Yet again, Michiganders are get-
ting screwed over by the politi-
cians - a few weeks ago, John
McCain's camp
turned its back on
the state of Michi-
gan. You could
argue it's a tactical
decision, you could
say it's for the best,
but, ultimately, w
there's no denying -U-
that it leaves a badB
taste in the mouth. BRANDON
With hardly any CONRADIS
reservations, McCa-
in and his cronies
have shut away the significant portion
of Michiganders who support him and
moved on to what they deem to be more
essential states.
What a surprise. In January, the
Democrats did their part in minimiz-
ing the importance of this state with
the debacle that was the Michigan
Democratic primary, and now, nine
months later, the Republicans are doing
the same by literally retreating. Things
have come full circle for Michigan, but
not in the way we would like.
Through all of this, however, there
has been one significant voice of rea-
son sounding from the trenches of the
right. In an interview with Fox News,'
vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin
said this of the McCain camp's deci-
sion to pull out of Michigan: "I read
that this morning, and I fired off a
quick e-mail and said, 'Oh come on,
you know, do we have to? Do we have
to call it there?"'
While it's telling that the McCain
camp didn't even bother to share its
plans with Palin, andI hardly think she
would make much of a difference with-
out McCain by her side, I still want her
here. In fact, I would love to just hear
her oft-imitated voice addressing the
students somewhere on campus.
But more than that, I want the prob-
lems in this state to be treated with the
urgency and attentiveness with which
they should be. It's a travesty McCain
has conceded this state. Under the
auspices of a Democratic governor,
Michigan's economy has sagged to an
incredible low, with manufacturing
employment dropping considerably
over the course of the decade and the
number of foreclosures increasing
across the state.
McCain's decision to pull out was
influenced by the significant lead
Obama has taken, especially since
the Wall Street crisis. No doubt many
Republicans in Michigan are defending
his decision. But this notion that for-
getting Michigan and turning to other
states McCain's campaign will benefit
in the long run is just astounding. This
is the attitude a presidential candidate
should take toward one of the most
troubled states in the country? And
Republican Michiganders would rath-
er see him turn his energyto Ohio than
to their own state? I don't get it.
Meanwhile, you can say what you
want about Palin. For the past month or
so I've remained largely indifferent to
her, though I have been both repulsed
and amused (in equal measures) by
how much this governor from Alaska
has been degraded and demonized
in the media. One particularly vivid
example springs to mind: In an article
in Rolling Stone, contributor Matt Tai-
bbi called her "a symbol of everything
that is wrong with the modern United
States," likening her to the dream girl
of a "fat fucking pig who pins 'Country
First' buttons on his man titties and
chants 'U-S-A! U-S-A!' at the top of his
lungs." Wow.
Taibbi's venomous rant aside, the
most obvious point of concern with
Palin is her lack of experience. She's
often seen merely as the embodiment
of the cynical, manipulative and pan-
dering tactics of the McCain camp.
But at least the woman sees Michigan
as more than a bunch of percentage
points.
This may sound banal, or naive. But
this isn't so much about partisan poli-
tics as it is about Michigan itself, and
the people from this state who have
undergone incredible hardships over
the past few years. The politicians -
Democrats, Republicans, whoever -
have the responsibility to come here
and talk to them. So why not invite
Palin to speak on campus if she wants
to come? Her presence wouldn't make
Why Michigan
voters should
appreciate Palm.
much of an impact in the long run
(though it would cause a ruckus here,
which I would enjoy), and the Demo-
crats probably have Michigan in the
bag. But, nonetheless, she, like her
running mate, should be expected to
address the issues that matter to the
people in this state. Because ultimate-
ly, they're the issues that matter to all
Americans rightnow.
Like her or not, Sarah Palin has at
least recognized this. She has extended
her hand to Michiganders and said,
"Your state matters." Political views
aside, we - students, professors, Ann
Arborites, whoever - should acknowl-
edge her and say, "Yeah, you're right."
Brandon Conradis can be reached
at brconrad@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Elise Baun, Harun Buljina, Ben Caleca, Satyajeet Deshmukh,
Brian Flaherty, Matthew Green, Emmarie Huetteman, Emma Jeszke, Shannon Kellman,
Edward McPhee, Emily Michels, Kate Peabody, Matthew Shutler, Robert Soave, Eileen Stahl,
Jennifer Sussex, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Margaret Young
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
Accusations of extremism
should bounce off Obama
ence between us. John McCain has gained the
good graces of the radical Right by promising
it Supreme Court appointments. Two mem-
bers of the court's liberal minority are likely to
retire soon. If McCain replaces them with two
TO THE DAILY: justices who will s
Here is what I would like Barack Obama to court will have a
say in the final debate tomorrow when John majority for a gent
McCain brings up William Ayers and Rev. Jer-
emiah Wright: "My agenda was never remotely David Hochman
similar to the William Ayers of 35 to 40 years Ann Arbor, Mich.
ago, nor the harsh rhetoric of Rev. Wright.
"When I ran for U.S. Congress against Bobby r
Rush, I was considered 'not black enough.' Hipster l
When I was at the Harvard Law Review, one of
my colleagues was Brad Berenson, who would holistic un
go on to become assistant attorney general
under President George W. Bush and currently TO THE DAILY:
supports McCain. He has pointed out that I Eileen Stahl's vi
was moderately liberal and often at odds with , day (Hipster label
those who were more liberal. sounded like just t
"The ticket of extremism this year is the Sorry, just kidd
Republican one. John McCain actually knows hipsters. I break
what the Bush Doctrine is and supports this way I, and many p
disastrous and discredited policy of pre- should relax the la
emptive war. Earlier this year, he sought and or fashion complel
received the endorsement of Pastor John vegan, liking meta
Hagee, who has called the Catholic Church 'the nity is but one cot
great whore.' McCain embraced Pastor Rod Being a hipster, it
Parsley, who wants to exterminate the entire shared aesthetic o:
Muslim population on Earth. McCain has also Ironically, one
associated with other extremists, including but tends to dislike is t
not limited to Charles Keating, Gordon Libby, the pigeon-holing.
John Singlaub and Rev. Sun Myung Moon. as a positive, ind
"I don't think John McCain shares the "hipsterism."
extreme views of Hagee and Parsley, just as he
knows I don't share the extreme views of Ayers Adam Ajlouni
and Wright. However, there is a huge differ- LSA senior
atisfy Hagee and Parsley, the
staggering 7-2 conservative
eration. That's extremism."
abel dismisses
derstanding
a
MATTHEW SHUTLER I
Running on gender
0
iewpoint in the Daily yester-
shouldn't stick, 10/13/2008)
he thing a hipster would say.
ing. I know hipsters. I like
bread with them, and the
eople I know, feel is that we
beling. No single group, label
tely defines a person. Being a
l music or being in a frater-
mponent of a larger identity.
nsofar as it implies a vague
r musical taste, is the same.
of the things the "hipster"
he mainstream, the labeling,
But that should be embraced
ependent-minded feature of
Claws bared and lipstick impeccable, Republican vice
presidential nominee Sarah Palin accuses the media of
rampant sexist comments. Sound familiar? Well, it should.
Hillary Clinton, former candidate forthe Democratic nom-
ination, accused the media of this exact crime during her
campaign.
Just five months ago Clinton chastised the media as a
whole for lies and comments completely unrelated to her
campaign against Barack Obama. Callous remarks colored
television and computer screens, drawing attention to Clin-
ton's pantsuits, laugh and gender rather than the issues.
"Examining her personality quirks is more fun than
deconstructing her stance on Iraq," wrote Howard Kurtz
in an article for The Washington Post.
What is most disturbing about this statement is that
many journalists felt this way. Choosing to overlook Clin-
ton's experience and the campaign, they brutally attacked
this candidate simply for being a woman.
"She's never going to get out of our faces ... She's like
some hellish housewife who has seen something that she
really, really wants and won't stop nagging you about it
until finally you say, fine, take it, be the damn president,
just leave me alone," said Leon Wieseltier, the literary edi-
tor of The New Republic, of Hillary Clinton and her run for
the White House.
"...Hellish housewife..." Yes, you read that correctly.
Now that isn't sexist at all.
For months newspapers and radios were permeated by
countless remarks like this. After Clinton debated Obama,
commentator Mike Barnicle compared Clinton to "every-
ones first wife." Others compared her to Glenn Close's
character from "Fatal Attraction."
For those non-movie buffs, that would be the sadistic
woman who boiled the rabbit alive. What a perfect com-
parison, because when I watched Clinton fight for our
country all I was thinking was, "Wow, I can't believe she
hasn't slaughtered any household pets lately."
I'm glad people can really focus on the issues. It gives me
great hope forthe future of political journalism. Who would
ever write about the facts on combating candidates when
Clinton's "shrill cackle" could be talked about to no end.
Not every other candidate was portrayed as a saint at
this time either, but I do not recall hearing Obama, John
McCain or Rudy Giuliani being called "hellish husbands"
or "ball-busters." Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is fair-
ness we can believe in.
Nevertheless, this is the past. Whether the media's
skewed perception of Clinton's fight did or did not have a
part in the fact Obama is the Democratic nominee is beside
the point.
Today the new "Hillary Clinton" is Sarah Palin (and I
use that comparison very lightly). Palin is now facing some
of the troubles Clinton herself fought through just a few
months ago.
The self-proclaimed "pitbull with lipstick" is now being
bombarded with accusations that seem to have no actu-
al footing in a political forum. At the forefront of these
attacks are questions asking if the possiblevice president is
neglecting her family as she fights for her aspirations.
Palin, mother of five - the youngest of which has been
diagnosed with Down's Syndrome - is now under fire from
some quarters. Scolding her, they say that being a parent,
especially to a child withspecialneeds, takes an inordinate
amount of time and she would not be able to put enough of
her focus into both the country and her family.
Are these attacks on Paln simply coded messages for
"stay in the kitchen where you belong"?
Regardless, let me point out that Obama, father of two
girls, has never been attacked in this way, nor were any of
the other candidates. The fact that a candidate, whether
Democratic or Republican, male or female, is a parent
should stay in their home and out of our newspapers.
Sexism is beneath us as a country. If you want to chal-
lenge politicians, look at their platform. Don't attack some-
one based on gender; instead, attack them because they
want to keep polar bears off the endangered species list so
they can drill in their habitat.
In short, candidates should be judged on their platforms
and their plans for the future, not on whether or not they
have two X chromosomes.
Matthew Shutler is an LSA freshman.
ELAINE MORTON |
E-MAIL ELAINE AT EMORT@UMICH.EDU
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