Well, I really hate to see this. We have so few nonpartisan elections, so few respites from the partisan nastiness, that I really hate to see it when the parties butt into them.
I was concerned that Tony Mizzell was seeking the endorsement of the Richland County GOP (even though that does, technically, mean reaching across party lines, since Tony was a Democrat on county council). Now, local Democratic Party boss Boyd Summers has put this out:
Richland County Democrats!
Don’t forget to vote in the important upcoming mayoral run-off on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. In this non-partisan election, former Richland County Democratic Party Chair Steve Benjamin is running against an ultra conservative Republican opponent. If you care about a diverse, environmentally conscientious community with safe streets and a government that is accountable to all of its citizens, it is imperative that you get out and vote on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.
You don’t have to wait until Tuesday, April 20, 2010 to vote in the run-off. Absantee voting is open from 8:30am- 5pm at the Richland County Board of Elections, 2020 Hampton Street. Also, you don’t have to have voted on April 6th to vote on April 20th.
Thanks,
Boyd
I know Boyd means well. But we could do without this.
I guess there are plenty of people out there who didn’t know that Benjamin is a Democrat and Finlay basically a Tea Party Republican.[head shake, shrug] I have come around to your way of looking at “getting out the vote,” Brad. If people are that unaware, do we want them voting?
Voting is a right AND a responsibility. You are responsible to be informed about whom you are voting for. Just showing up and touching the screen is not sufficient exercise of that right/responsibility. If you are not willing to educate yourself, please stay home.
Boyd’s endorsement is Dog-bites-man. It would be news if he did not back Benjamin.
DeMint’s endorsement is more troubling, as you point out, inasmuch as he is more than the general Republican Party’s seal of approval–he represents a narrow slice of Republicans, unlike Boyd, who is a big-tent Democrat.