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Dianne Wilkerson campaign rally disguised as voter-registration drive
By adamg on Wed, 10/15/2008 - 11:00am
Chris Faraone reports on the "Hip-Hop Voter Registration Rally" at the Reggie Lewis Center yesterday:
... There were two women on stage at the Reggie Lewis Center who were heavy-handedly boosting the senator. One even taught the teens where to write "Wilkerson" on the ballot in case they are not given stickers. ...
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Voter registration drive also pushed by BPS
Odd thing about that "Hip-Hop Voter Registration Rally": the Boston Public Schools blog mentioned the event, which, at the time, made me think that it was an officially-sanctioned event by either the city or BPS. In retrospect, my instincts were probably wrong, but I also wonder if city agencies/employees would still publicize the event if they knew in advance what might happen at it.
I don't know what was going
I don't know what was going on at this particular event.
The worst kind of registration drive I've heard of is when it's run by a partisan organization that quietly discards the registrations that would likely favor the opposition.
So what?
This is called "politics" and "free speech," nothing illegal going on. Many campaigns have voter registration drives attached to them.
Did you read the post?
It wasn't advertised as the Let's All Vote For Dianne Rally, it was advertised as a generic register-to-vote drive that got the endorsement of the Boston Public Schools and was held at a publicly funded facility.
Sorry, as a Boston taxpayer, I don't want my tax dollars helping some candidate for office.
Smells bad to me
What you describe sounds a lot like a FEC violation?
Wouldn't be surprising
Wilkerson seems to think rules don't apply to her.
Stop the nonsense
It was a voter registration event and it sounds like people are trying to make a connection simply because it was hip hop and the Senator is African American. All it takes at this point is a mention of the Senator's name anywhere and some people get angry. If people were that concerned about the event, why didnt they volunteer to help out? There appears to be more to this situation than simply uneasiness. If people know how to use a sticker, does that mean some harm has been done? Is that subversive in some way? Professionally, not in one article have I read she has done something wrong in the Senate. Your argument regarding her "discretions" is tired and old. It will not sway her supporters.
Sorry Onyx
I don't think anyone is making the racist connection you claim. They're talking about non-partisan GOTV event using public facilities versus a candidate campaigning event.
And it's a distinction you should accept to be reasonably scrutinized.
I'm certainly not "angry" whenever DW is mentioned. But I take issue with seemingly unethical behavior. And that has nothing to do with skin color.
I'm not sure where you are quoting "discretions" from but it's not in the OP or any comments.
Cheers