Offer of free flu shots halted at polling places (after GOP complains)

[rainbow4321]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/4304540.html

Mayor Bill White ordered a halt Wednesday to the city health department's privately funded drive to offer flu vaccinations at early voting sites in predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhoods, amid conservative criticism that the effort would boost Democratic turnout.

About 1,300 flu shots were given to people age 50 or older in the past three days under the program, which didn't require the recipients to vote. Health officials said they were only trying to reach people in medically underserved communities.

<SNIP>

White's decision followed two days of criticism from some conservative bloggers and talk radio shows hosts after officials announced the program Monday. At least 20 other municipalities have launched the same initiative in several states, city officials said.

Local Republicans, who had scheduled an afternoon news conference on the vaccination issue before the mayor's announcement, accused White of deliberately selecting early voting sites in Democratic strongholds in an attempt to gin up votes favorable to city propositions on Tuesday's ballot.

[CrispyQ]

1. Well that's the problem.

"Health officials said they were only trying to reach people in medically underserved communities."

Thats because republicans read it as "...they were only trying to reach people in medically undeserved communities."

[wholetruth00]

31. Will increase turnout. Increased turnout hurts Republicans.

[endarkenment]

2. Oh my god, people might show up and vote!

This must be stopped immediately!

[Robbien]

3. It is a great idea

No wonder GOPers complained.

[sugapablo]

37. Anyone else thing it's messed up...

...that American's need "extra incentive" to come out and vote? :(

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Unfortunately, I can see the point of the complaint

I will admit that it is pretty sad, though, that a flu vaccine has replaced the booze and tobacco that was used less than a hundred years ago. What will be the next incentive? A bag of groceries?

[nodehopper]

6. you don't have to vote to get the vaccine...what is the problem?

[Habibi]

8. Exactly.

It's just there for the people who do show up to vote.

Welp, can't have that!

[TechBear_Seattle]

20. I misread the article and sit corrected.

:hi:

[endarkenment]

19. No Quid Pro Quo.

You don't have to vote to get a flu shot. This is not vote buying. Stop trying to see their side, they don't have an honest side to see. All they do is lie and cheat and distract.

[angstlessk]

5. You are HELPING people AND encourging voting...UN AMERICAN

the gop is GOING TO REGRET THIS...HOPE SOME RICH PEOPLE GET THE FLU FROM THEIR HOUSEKEEPERS!

[Habibi]

24. Heh.

I never thought of that--it's a good point!

[Rose Siding]

7. Leaves no doubt which party favors promoting the public welfare.

[AnneD]

9. Thank you...

I tried to get this posted earlier. This needs to be K&R. I sent it to KO for worst person in the world. This is so damning. These folks need a good old fashion shaming. Early polling places are at a grocery store. Are they going to close the store just because, while going in for a loaf of bread I decide to vote. Or will they close the poll. What about the polling places in churches. Will I not be able to go in and pray for fear it might affect my voting?:nuke:


Please keep this kicked?

http://www.harriscountygop.com/site/PageServer

email
[email protected]





The Houston Mayor...he's a good guy.

http://www.houstontx.gov/

email
[email protected]


Please give this a big widespread shout out. This is reprehensible

[JudyM]

10. Encouraging voter turnout is bad. Suppressing it is not. KO would rant. nt

[warrens]

11. To be fair

The Repukes gave up on their "rape a naked teenager" promotion at early voting booths. They were expecting record turnout.

[Mr_Spock]

17. lol

Your cynicism is appropriate :D

[lumpy]

22. Kick

nt

[progressivebydesign]

12. Such compassionate conservatism. So GOP concedes that repbs are white?

I mean.. I thought GOP was all about inclusion and claiming that they've really turned the corner on wooing people of color to their party? Why are they so worried?

And by all means, it's much more important to make sure Dems don't vote than to ensure they don't die from the flu.

I can't fucking believe somone ACTUALLY buy the absolutely FLIMSY argument that free flu shots was unfair... sheesh. It boggles the mind how stupid these people are.

[robinlynne]

13. kicking. This says it all. simple and to the point.

[elehhhhna]

14. Been reading TX election code and fair is fair.

If the reeps offered an SUV-detail carwash at their local strongholds, we'd raise holy hell. For good reason.

And don't start 'splaining to me that a car wash ain't no flu-shot. They're probablt equally valuable to the their respective groups.

[NorthernSpy]

25. there was no quid-pro-quo, and a legitimate public purpose was served...

No one had to get a shot to vote.

Actually, it wouldn't bother me at all if vaccinations were made available at polling stations in Republican districts. I think that would be a good idea. Vaccines save lives, and I am as interested in saving Republican lives as I am in saving Democratic lives and Green Party lives, etc. A vaccine drive serves a legitimate public purpose. So would a blood-collection drive -- just to give another example.

An SUV detailing/car wash offer would just take up valuable space with something that is not directly relevant to accomplishing any legitimate public purpose (regardless of whether some individuals might value such a service as much as they value flu shots). I wouldn't allow that, just I wouldn't allow any other frivolous and unnecessary distraction that might be more to the taste of Democrats.

[elehhhhna]

26. I humbly and pragmatically disagree...

I knwo how you feel and it would be wonderful if shots were given frre-of-charge at every polling place. Not realistic, though.

Voting, whether early or on 11/7, is, pardon the expression, cluster-love at its best. Lines, confusion, electioneering, etc. Add every chyld a voter can bring to an already long and sometimes frustrating (by design, thank the reeps) process would make a bigger mess of an already messy process.

[NorthernSpy]

27. me, I've always found the voting process quick, orderly, and efficient...

We vote at the Town Office. It's not at all unusual for various petition drives and public services and whatnot to be held at the same time (not in the room where the voting takes place, though).

Everyone just marks their ballot, drops it in the box, and visits the tables in the other room. Or not, as they choose. There's never been any trouble.

Actually, the story about people objecting to the flu shot program caught me a bit off guard. It still kind of surprises me that anyone would object to something like that. I can't imagine anyone here complaining about flu shots "enticing" people to vote.

Thing is, we actually want people to vote, and we want them to survive the flu.

[elehhhhna]

28. You ain't been to a Texas election, then , have you?

;)

[AnneD]

36. Let me explain about early voting

and the flu shots....

1)Early voting can be done in a number of places. You do not have to go to your district in early voting.

2)The city had medical staff in service centers that are scattered through out the city and they offered free flu shots to anyone over 50 no proof of income needed. The city is not so plush with Public Health staff so the service center in every quadrant of Houston offered shots.


The shots there for were not quid pro quo, but were provided as a service to elderly. Instead of making two trips (costly AND fatiguing)-they could make one. But more importantly, it was to prevent the flu in one of our most vulnerable populations-the elderly. The only thing this has succeeded in doing was piss off some old folks, make it harder to get flu shots to those that need them, and make the GOP look very stupid and petty. They seem hell bent to shot themselves in the foot and that's ok, but I don't want them to take some elderly with them. The headlines yesterday made them look mean spirited and nasty. Lots of folks are pissed.

[Infinite Hope]

15. And we wouldn't want more people voting... n/t

[IA_Seth]

16. WTF?

Well perhaps the Republican party should work harder to represent all of the citizens in their respective districts, and not just those with money.

I don't see how using the elections as a draw to reach more people that need vaccines is a bad thing?

[Pab Sungenis]

18. Newsflash: GOP WANTS POOR AND ELDERLY TO DIE

Pure and simple.

[NorthernSpy]

21. Enemies of democracy, friends of disease...

Yup -- that's today's Republican Party. Ain't they something, folks?



Lord, let there be a reckoning on Election Day!

[hedgehog]

23. Boy - way until they find out about the spaghetti suppers,

turkey dinners and bake sales a lot of groups ofer at polling places!

[Anakin Skywalker]

29. I Thought the GOP is Pro-Life?

This is making them look like they are on the side of disease. Filthy GOP!

[geniph]

30. Well, we wouldn't want to be giving flu shots

to old folks or poor folks, now would we - those are the people we'd like to have die and decrease the surplus population, after all.

:sarcasm:

[ThoughtCriminal]

32. It's not that the GOP is Anti-Voting...

It's that they are PRO-FLU!

[truthisfreedom]

33. putting politics above the health of the community. perfect. exactly the

type of "values" we've become so familiar with from the Group Of Perverts.

[NMMNG]

34. Must use the "H word"

The Republicans have no problem with all of the churches that tell their congregants they should/must vote for Republicans.

But they have a problem with free flu vaccines being given out when they are not being given out by a political party, nor is there any voting requirement/party recommendation.



:grr:

[w4rma]

35. Ought to distribute flu shots at every polling place in the nation. (nt)

[AnneD]

38. Big thanks

for K&R. Thanks for the emails to the GOP too. They are feeling a bit of heat.

[TexasLawyer]

39. Here's the ugly GOP e-mail I got

from the local head of the party, crowing about the GOP victory over the poor and elderly. What pigs:

Citing GOP Pressure, Mayor White
Abandons His Illegal Voting Scheme!

And your HCRP Activity receives National Recognition

The voters in the city of Houston won a huge victory as your Harris County Republican Party exposed an illegal voting scam, in the form of a “vote and vaccinate” program, that was being administered only in heavy Democrat areas.

We quickly recognized this as Mayor White’s way to boost Democrat turnout for liberal democrats and his flawed city propositions. After you were mobilized, Mayor White put a stop to this illegal activity. As stated, it was shameful for Bill White to use something like the health of our citizens to push his liberal agenda.

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