One of the Lancaster, PA newspapers featured a cover story on the semi-covert strategy of the local Republican party to register and Get-Out-The Amish as Election Day looms. This is nothing new. It came to my attention in 2000 but it's taken this long for the press to catch it.

(NOTE: the website for Lancaster Newspapers, Inc., has yet to post the story; I had to find the AP story via CBSNews and other news outlets across the nation...turns out it's not just the Amish in Lancaster that have an objection to the use of technology)

For the most part, I will skip the moral and/or ethical questions that this strategy raises; I mainly skip it because it will be pointless to discuss the ethics of Republicans (who beat their opponents over the head with MORALS, MORALS, MORALS while running the dirtiest political campaigns in history) (see Willie Horton, treatment of REPUBLICAN Sen. John McCain in South Carolina (clear-cut cannibalism, folks), and the ongoing attacks on Sen. John Kerry's military service record).

Instead, I focus on the article's mention of (1) the paradox/hypocrisy of Amish support of Bush and, (2) a wonderful line from Kerry's campaign. As told in the article:

(Point 1) "As pacifists, most Amish avoid political activity that they believe would link them even indirectly with government-sponsored violence. But hot-button social issues, coupled with gentle prompting from people like Beiler, are galvanizing some Amish to register to vote."

So, let me get this straight: the Amish historically have not voted because simply the act of voting would "indirectly" link them with any violence that the the U.S. government may undertake during the ensuing presidency. BUT....... they are planning on supporting THIS THIS THIS and THIS President?

(Point 2) "'If I know Republicans and their grass-roots operations, they'll spend most of their time trying to phone bank the Amish,' said Kerry spokesman Mark Nevins." [emphasis added]

If you don't get this, read up on the Amish. [HINT: most Amish don't have phones.]

- posted by C @ 11:33:00 AM