Ohio hearings show massive GOP vote manipulation, but where the hell are the Democrats & John Kerry?

November 17, 2004

Columbus, Ohio---Hour after hour the testimonies are the same: angry Ohioans telling of vicious Republican manipulation and de facto intimidation that disenfranchised tens of thousands and probably cost the Democrats the election.

At an African-American church on Saturday and then at the Franklin County Courthouse Monday night, more than 700 people came to testify and witness to tales of the atrocity that was the November 2 election.

Organized by local ad hoc groups, the hearings had a court reporter and a team of lawyers along with other appointed witnesses. At freepress.org we will be making the testimonies available as they're transcribed and organized, and we will present a fuller accounting of the hearings, along with a book that includes the transcripts.

But one thing was instantly and abundantly clear: the Republican Party turned Ohio 2004 into an updated version of the Jim Crow South.

Indeed, just where are John Kerry and the Democratic party on this issue? Why haven't they made their voices heard? John Kerry and John Edwards did, after all, prominse not to give up until every vote was counted. Yet, after some people stood in line for up to 11 hours on that rainy election day, Kerry conceded the election not even 24 hours after the last vote was cast in Ohio.

Thanks for nothing Senator Kerry.