Houston Stops Flu Shots for Votes Scheme

[rushmc 23]

Found on NewsMax


...but an AP reprint (for kallend)

Dam R's are up to no good stopping this !!


Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006 3:43 p.m. EST



Houston has stopped offering free flu shots at early voting sites after Republicans alleged it was a ploy by the mayor to lure more Democrats to the polls.


The vaccinations, for people 50 and over, had been offered at early voting sites in predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods. Health officials said they were targeting medically underserved areas, not Democratic neighborhoods.



"There was no political motive whatsoever to do it," said Mayor Bill White, the former head of the Texas Democratic Party. He said he ended the program Wednesday, after it provided 1,300 flu shots over three days, because he didn't want "to spend more money in defending a baseless lawsuit than we're giving away in vaccine or allow anybody to question the integrity of the political process."


But some Republicans accused White of using the program to boost Democrats' election prospects. Harris County Republican Chairman Jared Woodfill said the offer violated a state law that bars people from accepting anything in exchange for a vote.


"I think the program was completely motivated by a plan to turn out Democratic voters," Woodfill said.



Story Continues Below



A $320,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded "Vote and Vax" flu-shot drives in Houston and 24 other U.S. cities, according to the health advocacy organization. The 10-year-old program targets communities where relatively few people get flu shots.

Foundation officials say the program is a convenient way for older people, who are especially vulnerable to the disease, to get vaccinated from a disease that kills 32,000 people over 65 every year.


Dr. Douglas Shenson, the director of the flu-shot program for the foundation, said he does not know of problems with the program in any other city.


"It's an entirely nonpartisan and nonpolitical activity," Shenson said. "It's not a get-out-the-vote campaign. It's a get-out-the-vaccine campaign."


Polls are an ideal place to access large numbers of people who need the vaccine. "I'm disappointed this has happened," he said.


Stephen Williams, Houston's health director, said residents did not have to vote to get the shots, and that he consulted with the county clerk to ensure the program was legal.


Harold Dickey, 81, arrived at one of the four polling sites where flu shots had been offered right after the mayor ended the program.


"That's a hell of a thing to do," Dickey, who had voted days earlier, told the Houston Chronicle. "The shot wasn't tied to my vote in any way."



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Williams said he hoped to get permission to offer the remaining 1,600 flu shots in less controversial locations.


Early voting runs through Friday. Election Day is Tuesday.




© 2006 Associated Press.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[juanesky 0]

Sad when politics have to come to this, both sides. Sucks

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Sad when politics have to come to this, both sides. Sucks

Agreed but this one seemed more funny that serious. It does show deperation but, before anybody flames me, I am confident schemes for theh other side are out there too!

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,150]

The GOP prevents poor old folks from getting flu shots.!

SHAME ON THE GOP.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[wmw999 2,589]

Bill White is one of the least partisan folks in the known universe. He's pretty generally highly thought of around here (well, excepting folks like John Culberson, who enjoys playing the rock game with rail transit).

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[JohnRich 4]

The only actitivity that should go on in voting locations is voting. We should not be in the business of providing incentives to people to come vote, because no matter what incentive is offered, it's going to have some partisan bias to it. And people should be motivated to vote simply because it's the right thing to do as a responsible citizen, and not because of some free offer that is provided with it. Do we want our elected officials to be chosen by people that are showing up just to get a gift certificate? I think not. The free flu shots can be provided in some other location to those in need - they should not be connected with voting, nor should anything else.

[juanesky 0]

White could have capitalized on it, by giving them before the election, not on the day of election.

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[wmw999 2,589]

If you read the article, it seemed that particular grant was tied to the shots being provided where people vote, because that's where they're congregating. There are 23 more cities -- quick, better protest there, too. See if you can get it stopped. Because it's more than likely that underserved populations are more likely to be Democrats there, too. Of course, if those cities have republican mayors, does that mean it's OK?

It doesn't appear to be a partisan thing. It's only partisan because the mayor of Houston is a democrat.

Here is a link to the program.

Whether you agree about what else should be done at a polling place, it really doesn't look too partisan.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

The only actitivity that should go on in voting locations is voting. .... etc.....

Yeah, I have to agree with that.

Suppose intead of flu shots they were giving away free tuneups for BMW owners? I think the D's would probably howl.

[juanesky 0]

I am not entertaining the idea of stoping this, I think is good idea this kind of services is provided. What is wrong with doing such service in lets say hospitals-clinics, places where healthcare practices are held? I think it would be a more appropiate setting for this.

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[wmw999 2,589]

Then take that up with the foundation that set up the grant. Cities should not turn down money that can help them unless it's really, really bad money.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rushmc 23]

Quote

The only actitivity that should go on in voting locations is voting. We should not be in the business of providing incentives to people to come vote, because no matter what incentive is offered, it's going to have some partisan bias to it. And people should be motivated to vote simply because it's the right thing to do as a responsible citizen, and not because of some free offer that is provided with it. Do we want our elected officials to be chosen by people that are showing up just to get a gift certificate? I think not. The free flu shots can be provided in some other location to those in need - they should not be connected with voting, nor should anything else.

I agree with you! Did my post come across as otherwise??

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[lawrocket 3]

It's all an effort to get the stage set for allegations of voter fraud.

Via AP
Houston, Texas
Submitted - 8:13 a.m. PST:

Allegations of voter fraud have already taken hold in Houston, Texas a mere 2 hours after the polls opened. Democrats are alleging a Republican Party conspiracy to intimidate local voters from voting, while getting free vaccinations for flu.

Fred Julent, spokesperson for the Houston Democratic Committe, says that the recent Vote and Vax program has caused scores of people, which he allege are all Republicans, to invade the ghetto areas to receive flu vaccinations and then departing.

"We had no idea that people who are obviously Republicans would be showing up here. Don't they have jobs?" Julent said. 'We're running low on vaccines for the local voters. While we fought the case, we are precluded by law from conditioning the vaccination on voting, so we couldn't discriminate." When asked for clarification, he said, "I mean, the city is precluded from declining to vaccinate these people."

Julent explained, "We, I mean the City, thought that putting these places in ghetto neighborhoods would scare Republicans away. Wait. Am I off the record? We're recording? Then I'll elaborate.

"I mean, we thought, the City government thought, that putting these vaccination stations would help bring more voters to the polls in the poor neighborhoods. Some of these guys in business suits must have traveled 15 minutes to get here, whihc shows this is well-planned abuse. The Republicans must have planned this. Several of their cars had NRA bumper stickers."

Julent said that sending suburban white folks into ghetto Houston areas was a right-wing conspiracy, intended to scare away minority voters. "The NRA stickers were designed to tell the minorities that they had guns and were willing to use them. The local citizens are in hiding for fear of being massacred. We have already begun our phone calls telling the locals to stay indoors and out of sight, because there are Republicans who want to shoot them."

Julent added, "People are staying away from the polls. Republicans should not be allowed to get away with using fear and bullying to keep underprivileged voters away. There is a lawsuit. It was filed 20 minutes ago."

Story developing...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[juanesky 0]

We should take it with the administrators of the program, they are the ones divising how and where to use those funds. In the end everyone loses.

The grants are ok but what is not ok it to name a program "Vax and Vote". There are places more appropiate for vaccinations, and at different time. Don't mix both.

That is like going to a concert to hear the artists politic views.

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[rushmc 23]

I think the lawyers will be the winners in this election cycle. What do you think?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

Quote

It's all an effort to get the stage set for allegations of voter fraud.

Via AP
Houston, Texas
Submitted - 8:13 a.m. PST:

Allegations of voter fraud have already taken hold in Houston, Texas a mere 2 hours after the polls opened. Democrats are alleging a Republican Party conspiracy to intimidate local voters from voting, while getting free vaccinations for flu.

Fred Julent, spokesperson for the Houston Democratic Committe, says that the recent Vote and Vax program has caused scores of people, which he allege are all Republicans, to invade the ghetto areas to receive flu vaccinations and then departing.

"We had no idea that people who are obviously Republicans would be showing up here. Don't they have jobs?" Julent said. 'We're running low on vaccines for the local voters. While we fought the case, we are precluded by law from conditioning the vaccination on voting, so we couldn't discriminate." When asked for clarification, he said, "I mean, the city is precluded from declining to vaccinate these people."

Julent explained, "We, I mean the City, thought that putting these places in ghetto neighborhoods would scare Republicans away. Wait. Am I off the record? We're recording? Then I'll elaborate.

"I mean, we thought, the City government thought, that putting these vaccination stations would help bring more voters to the polls in the poor neighborhoods. Some of these guys in business suits must have traveled 15 minutes to get here, whihc shows this is well-planned abuse. The Republicans must have planned this. Several of their cars had NRA bumper stickers."

Julent said that sending suburban white folks into ghetto Houston areas was a right-wing conspiracy, intended to scare away minority voters. "The NRA stickers were designed to tell the minorities that they had guns and were willing to use them. The local citizens are in hiding for fear of being massacred. We have already begun our phone calls telling the locals to stay indoors and out of sight, because there are Republicans who want to shoot them."

Julent added, "People are staying away from the polls. Republicans should not be allowed to get away with using fear and bullying to keep underprivileged voters away. There is a lawsuit. It was filed 20 minutes ago."

Story developing...

Is this from the Onion or is this a serious story?

This is a ligt question after reading the entire post.

Sorry if I have missed something obvious....

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln