Big media omits context in attacks on Gov. Scott over voter roll checks

Florida Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t backed down on his efforts to make sure Florida’s voter registration lists are accurate. Media are covering the duel between Scott and the feds, but as usual, Big Media leaves a lot of the context out of a few critical claims about Scott.

The US Report decided to provide some of that context:

• Scott says Florida will sue DHS and DHS says it will return the favor. Handling DOJ’s role in the matter will be Thomas E. Perez, former board member of CASA de Maryland, an organization one watchdog group describes as a lobby “on behalf of illegal immigrants in Maryland.” Perez also worked for Att. Gen. Janet Reno under the Clinton administration. If you’re not familiar with Reno, Wikipedia gives a pretty good roundup based on valid citations. Perez handled the voter intimidation case involving the New Black Panther Party in 2008. Perez gave the hate group a slap on the wrist.
• CBS ran a header about Scott’s approval rating, citing a pollster Big Media finally admitted “skews Democratic.” Check out the crosstabs in that poll. The poll covered 642 Florida voters—the polling company didn’t specify whether they were registered voters or likely voters.  Of that 642, 43 percent voted for McCain in 2008 and 47 percent voted for Obama—10 percent couldn’t remember or voted for someone else. Obviously that 10 percent wasn’t exactly activist level. Bottom line: advantage Dems. Approval polls don’t mean much right now—the next midterm for governor won’t be until 2014. It’s doubtful Republicans will hop aboard a Democrat train considering the trend towards socialism current party leaders like Obama and others are pushing.
• Since media have criticized Scott, it’s fair to point out a plus. In May, The Orlando Sentinel ran a very small brief: “Fueled by another round of job gains, Florida's unemployment rate for April dropped to 8.7 percent, the 10th straight month of declining joblessness in the Sunshine State, the state said Friday.” If Scott was a Democrat, you can bet your photo ID that header would’ve run in supersized type above the fold.
• During a TV appearance on Fox News’ Cavuto on Monday, the host suggested Republicans don’t support Scott’s efforts. That’s not true, as evidenced by statements from leading Republicans in Florida. A statement issued by the Republican Party of Florida actually contained a political bombshell overlooked by virtually all Big Media [See link below].
• Media has made much of the fact some elections officials in Florida aren’t cooperating with Scott’s efforts, but that’s a no-brainer. We elect our officials in this state. In Democrat districts, those officials aren’t about to buck their party on anything. Media also use loaded words like “purge” to describe the removal of illegal voters from the rolls. Fact is, media could care less if your vote is cancelled by someone who lacks the legal right to vote. Florida doesn’t get much help from the feds when it comes to illegal aliens—one county courthouse construction project turned up 100 fake documents among workers. That same courthouse has been mired in building issues that have delayed inspectors’ approval, by the way.
• Florida isn’t the only state that wants access to the database DHS uses to approve entitlement money for immigrants.
• The heavily contested election in 2000 was influenced by Florida’s electoral votes. A margin of 537 votes gave the state to the Republican.
• Florida and other states wouldn’t have a problem with illegal votes if the federal government hadn’t refused to enforce immigration law and clear up alleged corruption within the federal bureaucracy. Furthermore, the state doesn't just drop a suspect registration but rather contacts the voter via a careful system of due process for verification.

Those are just a few contextual matters Big Media didn’t see fit to explain. The US Report has covered Scott’s efforts on Florida’s voter roll checks; some of those columns are included in the links below.

Related/Source

Florida governor stands up to DOJ on non-citizen voting; some elections officials cave (The US Report)

Amid furor over voter ID, RPOF statement reveals bombshell about DHS (The US Report)

Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (U.S. Government database DHS refuses to share with the states as one criterion of several in voter crosschecks.)

Florida to sue DHS... (The Hill)

Video from Project Veritas, the only investigative outlet documenting voter fraud vulnerability:

(Analysis by Kay B. Day/June 12, 2012)