DEMCORATS - ARE THEY JUST SORE LOSERS ?

As we find ourselves at the end of this election week, there are just a few final election observations that stand out which pose the question, "are Demcorats sore losers ?" I realize that this question seems odd considering that Tuesday was a day of victory for the Dems but since 1994 with the exception of the two Clinton wins for the Presidency, Democrats have been in the loss column. In each loss and especially since the 2000 election after the results were in and it was a certain GOP victory charges and accusations of stolen elections, voter fraud, voter intimidation, disinfranchisment, endless law suits and demand after demand for recounts ruled the day after a Demcorat loss. Has the voting process so improved that this year everything was perfect or are the Demcorats really just sore losers ? Personally I believe it is the latter. During election day when the outcome was still unsure there were plenty of reports of possible voter problems and the gathering of lawyers to handle law suits and recounts but as the day progressed and the outcome was obviously giving the Democrats a win these stories disappeared and the only discussion of a recount came in Virginia which by law allows for a recount when the result is a difference of less than 1%. Additionally when one precinct in Virginia was reviewed, again according to law, to determine if the information was given to the Secretary of States office correctly which is a process that is done after any election and for all precincts, it was discovered that numbers had been reversed and Allen gained more than 1000 votes in this one precinct alone. So he was justifed in waiting to conceed yet though the law allowed him to ask for a recount he did not inspite of how close the election was. The same held true for Montana which was and even closer race. So it would seem that since the Democrats have won and there are no pending law suits or running stories about voter fraud or stolen elections or consistant demands for recounts that Democrats are just sore losers and only accept election results and the voice of the people when it is in their favor. As a matter of fact the only complaint that I have heard about this election is a charge of racism by supporters of Harold Ford Jr. the Democrat candidate who lost to Republican Bob Corker. Claims that Ford lost because he was black and the voters of Tennessee turned him away because of racist views. Yet Republicans lost elections in the Maryland Senate race with Steele, the Pennsylvania Governors race with Swann and the Ohio Governors race with Blackman all blacks but not one accusation of racism by anyone just the acceptance of the loss due to voters choice. Another aspect missing from this election is the absense of groups like PEST, (Post Election Stress Trauma), that were wide spread after the 04 election for Democrats who were suffering mental anguish because of the loss. I also have not heard of Hollywood stars like Republicans Bo Derek, Mel Gibson or Tom Selleck threatening to move to Canada or elsewhere like Alec Baldwin, Robert Redford or Barbara Streisand did after the 04 election.

Democrats have won there is no doubt but there is also no doubt that Republicans are more willing to accept the voice of the people when it comes to elections than Democrats because they are not protesting the results with never ending accusations and law suits as has been the case after a Demcorat loss. When the Democrats lose again we shall see if they are as gracious in defeat as they seem to portray in victory. Judging from past evidence I think not!

Ken Taylor