On yesterday's Wall Street Journal editorial page, James Taranto wrote of John Kerry's recent comments on voter intimidation in the 2004 Election (emphasis added):
John Kerry, the haughty, French-looking Massachusetts Democrat, who by the way served in Vietnam, showed up yesterday at a Boston event, where he was "using crutches as he recovers from knee surgery," reports the Associated Press. He was also using emotional crutches as he recovers from last year's election:It's a pretty amazing charge to make, so where did Kerry hear of it?
"Last year too many people were denied their right to vote, too many who tried to vote were intimidated," the Massachusetts senator said at an event sponsored by the state League of Women Voters. . . .
Kerry also cited examples Sunday of how people were duped into not voting.
"Leaflets are handed out saying Democrats vote on Wednesday, Republicans vote on Tuesday. People are told in telephone calls that if you've ever had a parking ticket, you're not allowed to vote," he said.
Why, The Onion! Where else? A week before the election, which was held on Tuesday, 2 November 2004, this satirical newspaper ran a story about a GOP "effort" to turn out the minority vote:
With the knowledge that the minority vote will be crucial in the upcoming presidential election, Republican Party officials are urging blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities to make their presence felt at the polls on Wednesday, Nov. 3.As you can see, this wicked plot to disenfranchise the voters was seared ---seared--- into Kerry's memory.
[...]
"Let's be honest," Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie said. "The Bush camp has been criticized for ignoring the minority vote for some time, especially during the last election. This project is our way of correcting that misperception. The Bush camp is extremely concerned about the black vote, especially in places like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This year, on Nov. 3, we'll make a concerted effort to welcome minority voters into our own special camps with open arms."