As exit polls and demographic studies are being released in these last few weeks since the election, a disturbing trend is being recognized throughout the country. It seems apparent that the majority of voters who went to the polls to vote in this historic election had little to no idea what exactly it was that they were voting for. Some may have voted for a particular candidate simply because they were told to do so. Some may have voted for a particular candidate due to the obvious media bias which was prevalent on the side of one candidate. It is truly shocking that a voter would not choose a candidate which is best for them and rely on others to direct them, yet it seems apparent that this is exactly what happened in many cases throughout the country. Can America really be that ignorant?
On the flip side of the issue, Only 13.7% failed to identify Sarah Palin as the person on which their party spent $150,000 in clothes. Only 6.2% failed to identify Palin as the one with a pregnant teenage daughter. 86.9 % thought that Palin said that she could see Russia from her "house," even though that was Tina Fey who said that! Only 2.4% got at least 11 correct. Only .5% got all of them correct.2 It is absolutely stunning that our media focused more on the negativity or demonization of the GOP ticket, than even attempt to report the various gaffes of Obama and Biden on the Democratic ticket. Another video, having more than 1,000,000 hits on Youtube.com, features exit interviews of 12 Obama voters with overwhelmingly similar results.
Perhaps even more disturbing is the significant reelection of Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania. A few weeks before election day, Murtha said concerning his constituency, "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area." After little or no coverage of this in the mainstream media(MM), Murtha decided to come out and thoroughly explain what he meant saying, "What I said, that indicted everybody, that's not what I meant at all. What I mean is there's still folks that have a problem voting for someone because they are black. This whole area, years ago, was really redneck. Particularly older people. They want change but they don't want to see things go too far.”3 After insulting his constituency even more with such scathing prejudice, Murtha went on to win reelection with a shocking 58.1% majority win. What is wrong with these people?
Finally, in Louisiana, we have the elusive Rep. Bill Jefferson. In June of 2007, Jefferson was indicted on 16 counts of using his congressional office to influence the acceptance of bribes for support of telecommunications projects in Nigeria. He is most known for the discovery of $90,000 in marked bills in his freezer, which were given to him as a bribe from a government informant. As a result of these discoveries, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stripped him of all of his committee assignments. Although the case against Jefferson is very strong, and his leverage in the House is now fairly insignificant, he went on to win the Democratic primary with 56.8% of the vote. A final election against his Republican opponent is scheduled for December, and there is not much hope he will win, for the seat has been controlled by Democrats since reconstruction. Also equally disturbing, Jefferson never showed up for one debate, nor did he campaign physically. By some estimates, he only gave 20% effort locally for this campaign. The irony of the situation: December 7 may be the final phase of the election of this congressional seat, but it only happens to be a week or two from then when his first hearing on these indictment starts. In other words, New Orleans voters just reelected an indicted criminal, with absolutely no influence in the House, and is destined to resign in disgrace and go to prison. Congratulations.
America, who are you electing to represent us? This truly is a disgusting situation.
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