Monthly Archives: May 2012

New Black Panther Leader Predicts More Racial Violence

 Comforting. 

“Malik Zulu Shabazz, the national chairman of the New Black Panther Party, predicted there would be an increase in racial violence following the re-election of Barack Obama in November.


In audio dated Tuesday, May 8, Shabazz said the group would play an active role in the 2012 election.


‘Y’all move out fast and get ready quick, fast, in a hurry,’ he said.”

Prisoner Makes WV Primary Contested Against Obama

 Daily Mail: “Just how unpopular is President Obama in some parts of the country? Enough that a man in prison in Texas is getting four out of 10 votes in West Virginia’s Democratic presidential primary.


The inmate, Keith Judd, is serving time at the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution in Texas for making threats at the University of New Mexico in 1999.


With 93 per cent of precincts reporting, Obama was receiving just under 60 per cent of the vote to Judd’s 40 per cent.”

The Prisoner Judd actually beat Obama in at least one West Virginia county.  This story adds a new twist to felon voting issues.  As in California, perhaps we need a new category of felon candidacy.

Video of Delbert Hosemann News Conference

The amazing thing about the video below is that the DOJ has apparently defended the comments by saying they were more justified because they were made in the context of an ugly event at Southern Miss.  If they were private comments, they were private comments.  If they were acceptable to DOJ because of the context, then this issue has just kicked up to another level.  Frankly, I thought the matter would be a one-day story. But if Justice wants to defend the comments in context, then this is a whole new ball game.  For starters, if one rightfully criticizes the events at Southern Miss, then one should criticize the events at Southern Miss, not an entire state.  Here is the TV report:

Full Text of Mississippi Secretary of State Press Release



For Immediate Release:  Tuesday, May 8, 2012


Contact:  Pamela Weaver, Director of Communications


                



Secretary of State addresses Derogatory Comments allegedly made by Department of Justice Employee


Remarks are Irresponsible


Jackson, MS—Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann addressed the comments allegedly made by a Department of Justice (DoJ) employee, calling her remarks irresponsible.


Allegedly, United States Justice Department employee Stephanie Gyamfi posted the following statements on the social networking site, Facebook: 


“They never do…disgusting and shameful.  Hey, that should replace the state motto!  “Mississippi: Disgusting and Shameful.”…forget the magnolia state motto.”


“I find these comments unprofessional, unwarranted, irresponsible, and misguided, particularly with Mississippi’s pending voter identification submission before the Department of Justice,” says Secretary Hosemann.  “I respectfully request the Department of Justice take appropriate disciplinary action against Ms. Gyamfi and to publicly clarify its own position that such a statement does not reflect the opinions of its department.”


“I do not believe,” adds Hosemann, “an employee who makes such statements should review any voter identification application by the State of Mississippi, or, for that matter, any state subject to Section 5.”


Federal law requires any voting change in Mississippi to receive preclearance from the United States Department of Justice.  Gyamfi’s job description for the Department of Justice includes reviewing whether these voting changes meet the requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. 


In a conversation with Secretary Hosemann, Gyamfi said the statement was taken, “out of context.”


“A Justice Department employee stating our state is ‘disgusting and shameful’ is another indication Mississippi’s voter ID submission will not receive fair consideration,” says Secretary Hosemann.  “The real problem is not the current culture of Mississippi, but the current culture of the Justice Department.”


“Our Agency has taken great strides to educate voters on the implementation of voter ID.  During the initiative process, we held nine public hearings on the issue in geographically dispersed areas of the State, when State law required we only hold five,” adds Hosemann.  “Those hearings were transcribed and are currently on our website, along with written comments submitted by the public.  Overwhelmingly, voters expressed concern over the integrity of the election process, voter impersonation, and inaccurate and inflated voter rolls.”


Voter roll maintenance is conducted at the county level.