Jackson Free Press

Members of the state's Democratic Party claim they were sideswiped Aug. 16 when Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann issued a press release that the party had failed to file election results from the Aug. 2 primary, which were due Aug. 12.

The secretary of state's office must receive the Democratic and Republican Party's election results by Aug. 12 to provide ballots to county circuit clerks for the state's runoff elections Aug. 23. The Democrats filed their results on Aug. 16 at 5 p.m.—an hour after Hosemann sent the press release, titled "State Democratic Party Fails to Certify Elections." The Republicans, however, were also late, having filed their results just one day earlier.

Jamie Franks, chairman of the Democratic Party and candidate for House representative in District 19, said his party had been in constant contact with the secretary of state's office over the elections results, which were late because a few counties were having technical glitches.

"It seems like the secretary of state is more interested in playing political games so that he can blame it on the Democratic Party, rather than his own self," Franks said. "I don't understand why someone who was in constant contact with the Democratic Party would send a press release when everything was certified by 5 p.m. that day."

Each county's Democratic or Republican Party submits results to the state party, which then compiles a complete report for the secretary of state's office. Franks said party members met Friday, Aug. 12, to certify the results, despite reports that the party could not meet because they didn't
have a quorum.

Franks believes that Hosemann is unfairly targeting Democrats because it's an election year.

"Any problems we may have had weren't just exclusive to the Democratic Party. The Republicans had the same problem as well, but yet he wants to jump on the party that he is a not a member of," Franks said.

Pamela Weaver, director of communications for the secretary of state's office, disagreed with Franks' assessment and said that Hosemann was doing his job.

"The Democratic Party is responsible for conducting their own primary election. Both parties certified their results late. How is that political?" Weaver asked, despite the release not mentioning the Republican Party in its release headline.

The Secretary of State's website also refers to the Democratic Party as the "Democrat Party." The term is a political epithet used primarily by conservatives to cast the party in a negative light and dispel the notion that Democratic Party members are inheritors of democracy.

Weaver could not confirm if any Republican or Democratic candidates have been left off the absentee ballots due to the late certification.

Opponents often portray the Mississippi Democratic Party as disorganized and underfunded. Democrats are in the minority in the candidate pool this election season—with no Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, secretary of state or state auditor.

Former Republican Party Chairman Brad White, who stepped down in February but is still a member of the party, said the state party's certification relies on the county parties.

"The state party is always—in order to get everything done—dependent on the county parties getting their elections certified and getting them to us. If you have some counties that are late in getting their certifications to us, it slows the
whole process down."

White added, however, that it's ultimately the state party's responsibility to manage county elections. "If you have a lack of organization and lack of cohesiveness between county party's in the state, it can really affect the process," he said.

Previous Comments

ID

164720

Comment

Why can't republicans be good people like Democrats. For example, once Rick Skerry, Governor of Texas, got in the race for POTUS the first thing he did is start spewing hatred and lies. I'm reminded of the famous words of Bishop Don Juan, pimp par excellence, before he founded his Church of the Foolish and started preaching. He said you can't turn a ho into a housewife. No matter how you dress up a republican it will resort to it baseness, harming those unlike them.

Author

Walt

Date

2011-08-24T17:57:08-06:00

ID

164723

Comment

Donna, are you going to let Walt get away with blatant stereotyping and gross extreme generalizations (falsely, I might add) and obvious disregard for the User Agreement?

Author

independent

Date

2011-08-25T13:28:16-06:00

ID

164725

Comment

Walt, behave. Indy... what's your take on the Hosemann thing? Seems odd that he would only call out the Dems for something both parties were having trouble with, no?

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2011-08-25T13:53:40-06:00

ID

164726

Comment

Sorry, been off-site, independent. Walt: glaring. As for Hosemann, I don't want anyone of any party using their office and taxpayer resources for partisan purposes. And there is no way that headline wasn't partisan.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-08-25T13:56:14-06:00

ID

164727

Comment

Odd is an understatement. Clearly political posturing. Have I mentioned how much I despise the two party system? And I agree Donna. The headline is also clearly partisan. Still no excuse to allow Walt's racist and bigoted comment and his attack of Rick Perry, who has absolutely nothing to do with the above article.

Author

independent

Date

2011-08-25T14:03:09-06:00

ID

164734

Comment

Independent, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH as evident from your screen name and the positions you take. Again,YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!! That's the facts, Jack. Otherwise, how you be? What going on? Run it down. How about answering the question Todd posed? What is your truth concerning that?

Author

Walt

Date

2011-08-25T16:43:07-06:00

ID

164737

Comment

For the record, I'm putting Walt back on moderation, not for his original comment (it's actually OK to criticize public officials on this site, and I'm having trouble seeing where that comment is "racist") but because this most recent comment does violate the User Agreement (going after someone personally) and he'd already been warned. Carry on!

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2011-08-25T18:01:06-06:00

ID

164738

Comment

I answered Todd's question. Feel free to read it again. And Todd I took his reply as racist since it was clear given the content of the article and context of his reply he clearly was referring to white males.

Author

independent

Date

2011-08-25T19:26:00-06:00

ID

164743

Comment

independent, I don't see the "racism," either. You can just co-opt that word and use it for anything you want: it renders it meaningless if so. And "racist" is not the same thing as "bigoted": had Walt made a statement about white people (which I don't see), it would have been "bigoted." "Racism" means something more specific, and in today's America, it's still hard for black people to be "racist" against white people (the majority culture that still overwhemingly controls the wealth and power). That may change at some point, but it hasn't yet. If you're talking about someone making a personal statement against a particular group, regardless of their power over them, that's "bigotry." It still sucks, but that doesn't make it "racism." Words matter, as do meanings.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-08-26T09:47:48-06:00

ID

164751

Comment

I know the difference Donna. And not shocked at all that you defend your regular posters side who happens to probably share very similar political views as you. I also know that God forbid anyone say anything deemed anti-Democrat or conservative on here and they get their heads bitten off as racists or bigots or "the Rich" (one of my personal favorites) or whatever word you want to co-opt in. I'm sorry but there seems to be a clear double standard there.

Author

independent

Date

2011-08-26T11:33:14-06:00

ID

164754

Comment

I know the difference Donna. Then why don't your posts indicate that? You are going off on me and everyone else here now instead of explaining why Walt's post was supposedly "racist." We've said he was out of line, and Todd put him into moderation mode (alongside you and others who are quick with the personal insult). And, no, we don't call people who are being obnoxious and violating the User Agreement a "bigot" or "racist" unless they are actually being one. And even then, we don't usually say it loud because it's so damn obvious to everyone but the violator. Speaking of violations, you do know that hijacking threads by whining about the site moderation is also a violation of the User Agreement as well, right? I warned you about that on another thread. Please get back on topic; other whiny posts by you (or Walt or anyone else) will not be opened. Stop wasting my time, independent. Act like a big boy. You, too, Walt.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-08-26T11:40:41-06:00

ID

164761

Comment

I meant exactly what I said, nothing more and nothing less. It's preposterous to assume I said what Independent wishes me to say. I'm neither racist nor bigoted when it comes to race, sex, and many other things. I do have taste though when it comes to politic, sports and so many other things, and I'm not kind or loving to the parties or teams I don't like, and I don't have a problem with other people or my enemies treating my teams, party or other picks or choices likewise. Trying to make me respect anything I deem unworthy of my respect will present a great challenge that I likely won't give in to. Todd and Donna are wonderful people in my view. I accept my moderation honorably. I felt the same about my suspensions. Like Nelson Mandela, the great Freedom Fighter, I will do my time with my head hung high. Hopefully, it won't be 28 years. I shall return better, stronger and more determined to fight the good fight of the poor, down-trotten, left out, ignored, voiceless, powerless and weak. To all friends, supporters, fans and fellow Democrats, stay up until I'm returned to my full glory and majesty. My wings are clipped right now so I won't be able to fly like I used to. Y'all have to admit, I was funny in my original comments. I got skills as a comedian too.

Author

Walt

Date

2011-08-27T09:54:48-06:00

ID

164762

Comment

So instead of working together Walt your choice is to deride? Why not try to be part of a non-partisan solution instead of adding to the divide? And I've met Nelson Mandela. You are no Nelson Mandela.

Author

independent

Date

2011-08-27T15:15:32-06:00

ID

164763

Comment

Folks, there are people dying on the East Coast (up to seven now) while a hurricane creeps up, and the two of you are deriding each other? Really? Why not figure out what you have in common? And, no, Walt is not Nelson Mandela. But he does some pretty incredible work in this state, and he's a loving, smart man I know personally, indendent. Maybe that's why we give him leeway with his little spats of satire. You, on the other hand, have pretty much tried to pick a fight since you got here with little substance behind it. Please act like adults, all. Life is too short for all this nastiness. Seriously.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-08-27T16:42:00-06:00

ID

164768

Comment

Personally, I can't believe that Walt got away with the Ho's to housewives comment. I thought that would get him in dutch for sure. I may not have known Nelson Mandela but I have known a few ho's and they turned out to be housewives. lol

Author

WMartin

Date

2011-08-28T09:51:57-06:00