Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Excuses Preisse’s Don’t “Accommodate Urban – Read African American – Voter Turnout Machine” Remark
COLUMBUS, OHIO- As fallout continues around Franklin County Republican Party Chairman and Governor Kasich top adviser Doug Preisse’s remarks that “I guess I really actually feel we shouldn’t contort the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter turnout machine,” Ohio Republican Party officials have come to the rescue.
In an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Matt Borges, Executive Director of the Ohio Republican Party, stated:
“I’ve known Doug for 22 years now and he does not have a racist bone in his body,” Borges said. “I know he feels bad about the way the comment was misconstrued. I very much believe he was having what he thought may have been a conversation on background with a reporter talking about some of the political ramifications.”
Incredibly, Borges remarks suggest Doug Preisse’s gaffe about suppressing African-American voters would somehow be more appropriate in a conversation not for attribution. Borges’ excuse also conveniently ignores Preisse’s demand, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch, to “Quote me!” and his subsequent affirmation of his statement to BuzzFeed.
“As Secretary Husted continues to eliminate non-work and weekend voting hours, which nearly half of the 535,000 Ohioans voting early utilized in 2008, Republicans are scrambling to roll-back top Kasich adviser Doug Preisse’s gaffe that shines light on what this debate is all about,” said Jerid Kurtz, a spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party. “Ohio Republican Party leadership and Kasich’s adviser need to wake up and remember we’re in the 21st century and that there’s never an appropriate time to talk about suppressing African-American voters. It’s way past time that Governor Kasich called on Secretary Husted and others in his party to end these voter suppression tactics.”
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