by Glynn Wilson

July 30 - Secretary of State Nancy L. Worley sometimes gets frustrated as a lone Democrat with an office in the old historic Alabama Capitol. She is surrounded by Republicans who have no shame when it comes to partisan politics.

Photo by Glynn Wilson

Secretary of State Nancy Worley at work…

So when she made the news again this week, smeared by the corporate press and media in a misleading story about what is going on with Alabama’s election system, she did what any honest professional would do. She continued working doing the job she was elected to do.

In case you missed it, Worley was threatened last week by Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King and accused of not fully implementing the Help America Vote Act. The Alabama Democratic Party called the move an unconstitutional Republican power grab.

The state’s newspapers and TV stations ran with the story and ignored the press release issued by the very Secretary of State who was under attack. And they call themselves “fair and balanced?”

“This has been a two-year battle and the real politics and greed are beginning to surface,” Ms. Worley said when asked about the situation.

For the record, here are the facts:

U.S. District Judge W. Keith Watkins ruled on July 21 that Alabama achieved a “reasonable level” of compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and ordered Secretary Worley to continue with her plan to make the state’s current voter registration system as reliant and efficient as possible for the November 2006 election.

The decision ended the U.S. Department of Justice’s case against the state of Alabama and Secretary of State Nancy L. Worley in her official capacity for not fully complying with one aspect of HAVA: the requirement that the state implement a centralized, statewide voter registration database.

Judge Watkins also ruled that the court would adopt Secretary Worley’s proposed plan to implement a statewide voter registration database before the 2008 primary election, and would only modify the plan’s timeline and “non-substantive provisions.” The court will appoint a so-called “special master” to ensure that all relevant parties, including Alabama’s local election officials, work with Secretary Worley’s office to accomplish the goals set forth in the plan.

“Furthermore, because of the Secretary of State’s understandable reluctance to commit to the achievement of HAVA compliance within the court’s specified time frame, particularly where compliance is contingent on others not within the control of the Secretary of State, the Court hereby gives notice of the appointment of a “special master,” Judge Watkins wrote in his decision.

Secretary Worley said this weekend that she looks forward to the appointment of a special master by the court.

“The implementation of a statewide voter registration database that helps eliminate voter fraud is one of my top priorities as Alabama Secretary of State,” she said. “My staff and I will do everything in our power to see that Alabama implements such a system, and we look forward to receiving support from the special master in order to guarantee our success.”

Now, that should put the story to rest.

We urge Ms. Worley and everyone else involved in Alabama’s elections to ensure a transparent process. We also urge the use of a system that provides a clear paper trail. The last thing Alabama needs is a computerized voting fraud controversy or a hanging chad debacle like Florida had in November 2000.

We don’t usually publish pass around e-mails, but this one makes some sense - with some of our own edits and modifications.

* Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

* Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

* The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

* A woman can’t be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

* The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans’ benefits and combat pay.

* If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won’t have sex.

* A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

* Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

* HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart, as do oil companies.

* Global warming is junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

* A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

* Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

* The public has a right to know about Hillary’s cattle trades, but George Bush’s military records, druge use and driving record is none of our business.

* Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you’re a conservative radio host. Then it’s an illness and you need our prayers for recovery.

* What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the 1970s and ’80s is irrelevant.

Feel free to pass this on. If you don’t send it to at least 10 other people, we’re likely to be stuck with more Republicans in ‘06 and ‘08. Friends no longer let friends vote Republican.