Ex-cons looking for votes

Boston Herald ^ | 6/26/04 | Boston Herald editorial staff

[kattracks]

Just call this ``Why Americans Hate Politics II.''

Yes, voter registration drives are a noble effort. Many communities - this one included - attempt to make that process as easy as possible. Candidates and organizations with a cause encourage those efforts as best they can.

And then along comes a gang like America Coming Together - ah, such a noble name even. The group is dedicated to ousting George W. Bush from the White House. While legally it cannot be affiliated with the Kerry campaign, ACT does include some past Kerry advisers.

Now nothing wrong with any of this - until, of course, the Associated Press discovered that the organization was using convicted felons as door-to-door canvassers in at least three states that would be key to any Kerry victory - Missouri, Florida and Ohio. The organization operates in at least 17 states, including Maine and New Hampshire.

Among those hired by ACT to ring doorbells and collect such personal data on prospective voters as phone numbers, drivers license numbers and Social Security numbers, are those convicted of such crimes as forgery, burglary, drug dealing and sexual offenses. Some still live in halfway houses and the AP found four had returned to prison.

A spokesman for the group, Mo Elleithee said, ``We believe it's important to give people a second chance.''

Isn't that special!

Thursday ACT announced it will start running background checks and will fire - or at least not hire - anyone convicted of violent or serious offenses. It was not known what this gang of Bush-bashers considers serious.

[goldstategop]

If the liberals think all means are justified in getting rid of someone they hate, they're not going unduly bothered by the presence of a few rapists and drug dealers in their crowd.

[Ichneumon]