The Politics of Voting

By: Angela Gillaspie, Copyright © June 2000

"There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." -- Will Rogers

I'm feeling another surge of pride for Alabama politicians. Not.

Around Alabama recently, folks performed their civic duty to nominate the candidate they think will do the best job. Or, that's how the system is supposed to work. Unfortunately in Winston County (a dry county), some of the Election Officials had other ideas.

The Birmingham News reported that Sheriff David Sutherland and Circuit Clerk William Bailey along with a judge's husband, Jimmy Richardson were arrested last week on charges that they plotted to buy votes with money, beer, and liquor. Female FBI agents posing as Winston County bootleggers reported that some voters would receive $15 or whiskey and beer. Other voters that would fill out absentee ballots would receive $2 per vote, and a "Source" would be furnished with five cases of beer, one case of whiskey, and $250 to help entice voters.

According to the Birmingham News, the Birmingham Federal Court papers mention that the contraband was given to support the campaigns of District Judge Ann Richardson, Bailey, a County Commission chairman, and two others who were running for the school board. None of the accused had any comment.

Incidentally, Bailey won the Republican nomination.

I just don't get it. Not only does this look bad for the politicians, but for the voters in Winston County as well.

"Let's get the voters liquored up and they'll forget what asses we are!" must be the prevalent thought.

Growing up, I remember Aunt Margie and Aunt Ruth voting for the political party that drove them to the voting booth. Neither had cars, but they were registered to vote; Daddy knew this, so he made sure that he personally drove his sisters to vote so that they would vote the Republican ticket. Was this voter fraud? Perhaps, but Margie and Ruth didn't have to get tanked to know that their little brother had their best interests (and votes) at heart.

If a crooked politician wanted to buy my vote, he'd need to tease me with a hefty Wal-mart gift card and promises of babysitting. He would also need to pay for someone to come and clean my house each week until his term was up. Now, if this candidate could pull this off, I would definitely think this campaigner had my best interests in mind. Seriously though, I'd be angry that a politician would think I would consider prostituting my vote.

It's a shame that politicians are the ones in charge. I'm sure out of all the officials in the nation, there might be a handful that aren't crooked and don't lie like a dog. After last year's Zipper-gate encounter with our non-virtuous president (sigh), I'm quickly losing respect for politicians.

When I was eight years old, I remember my mom kneeling down in front of me, placing her hand gently on my chin and raising my face up to look at her. She would look me straight in the eye and tell me, "Honey you are so smart! You can do anything you want! You might even could be the president some day!" Wow! I could have the prestigious job of being the commander in chief of this entire nation! Back then, being the president meant something -- it was a respected and moral job.

Now twenty-eight years later, there is no way I'd ever suggest for my own eight-year-old daughter to become president. Why? The office of the president represents dishonesty and immorality, and I don't want my daughter's future cheapened. In addition to this, I don't want her to lower her standards or values.

I do wonder about American voters and their ambitions. Do we need to get a wee bit tipsy to be able to choose which person to vote for? The politicians are courting us as if we were a cheap date. They whisper sweet nothings, present us trinkets, and offer alcohol while we radiate in their attention. The morning after, they abandon us with our empty bottles, empty beds, and empty promises.

It's about time for the politicians and voters alike to start having character, morals, and values again. I'd love to be able to go to the booth this November and vote for someone that I respected and supported wholeheartedly, not someone who can get me a couple of cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Angela Gillaspie Copyright © 2000

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