Pace, Florida. This afternoon:
Doughy middle-aged white guy. Clipboard. Stack of forms. Pen. The standard issue ballot initiative petition guy.
1/
Doughy middle-aged white guy. Clipboard. Stack of forms. Pen. The standard issue ballot initiative petition guy.
1/
Instead of the usual ambush position outside the door of the store, he's out in the parking lot. Stalking people as they get out of, or into, their cars.
I thought this a little odd at first, but the reasons became obvious in short order.
2/
I thought this a little odd at first, but the reasons became obvious in short order.
2/
Wife and I are weaving through parked cars, headed for the truck.
Now, in a bit of foreshadowing, we're white, I have the standard issue military high-and-tight haircut, I'm wearing a sweatshirt with a military logo on it, and my truck has Florida state military plates.
3/
Now, in a bit of foreshadowing, we're white, I have the standard issue military high-and-tight haircut, I'm wearing a sweatshirt with a military logo on it, and my truck has Florida state military plates.
3/
Him: Hey!
Me: Yes?
Him: Are you guys registered Florida voters?
Me: Yes. What's this about?
Him: We're trying to get an initiative on the next ballot to ensure only US citizens and registered Florida voters are allowed to vote in the state of Florida...
4/
Me: Yes?
Him: Are you guys registered Florida voters?
Me: Yes. What's this about?
Him: We're trying to get an initiative on the next ballot to ensure only US citizens and registered Florida voters are allowed to vote in the state of Florida...
4/
Yeah, guess what he assumed about my politics from my appearance? Go on, guess.
5/
5/
Me: Oh, for fuck's sake.
Him: No. See it's...
Me: Shut up. You can ONLY vote in the state of Florida if you're an American citizen and registered to vote in the state or Florida.
Him: Oh, if only that was true...
6/
Him: No. See it's...
Me: Shut up. You can ONLY vote in the state of Florida if you're an American citizen and registered to vote in the state or Florida.
Him: Oh, if only that was true...
6/
Me: It *IS* true. You goddamned conservatives with this bullshit.
Him: <shouting> IT'S A NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE!
Me: Fuck. Off.
Him: It's a state iss...
Me: <snarling> Shut. Up.
He got the message at that point. He shut up.
7/
Him: <shouting> IT'S A NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE!
Me: Fuck. Off.
Him: It's a state iss...
Me: <snarling> Shut. Up.
He got the message at that point. He shut up.
7/
He's in the parking lot, looking for white people. And not just any white people, but white people who look like me, driving the kind of vehicle I drive. And he's doing it because he assumes I am a conservative.
He sure as hell wasn't approaching anybody of color.
8/
He sure as hell wasn't approaching anybody of color.
8/
One side spends its time registering voters and offering to drive them to the polls. The other side spends every waking moment scheming to deprive others of their right to vote.
Not a partisan issue my ass.
9/
Not a partisan issue my ass.
9/
I've said it before, I'll keep saying it: CONSERVATIVES NO LONGER BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY. REPUBLICANS DO NOT BELIEVE IN AMERICA.
If they tell you they do, they're lying, to you and to themselves.
And it's really just that simple.
10/10
If they tell you they do, they're lying, to you and to themselves.
And it's really just that simple.
10/10
Addendum:
Case in point.
11/
Case in point.
11/
