Gore partisans are still complaining about what they term the "rule of the mob" or, more punctiliously, the "near riot" by Republican activists that they claim "intimidated" the three-member Miami-Dade Country canvassing board into discontinuing its hand recount the day before Thanksgiving.
The fact that the board doesn't remember being intimidated has not slowed the use of this talking point. Nor has the fact that the board probably deserved some intimidation -- for it was probably about to break the law by meeting privately, as some news reports made clear at the time.
Indeed, unlike the unruliness of GOP demonstrators, media "intimidation" may have actually been a factor in the Miami-Dade board's decision. THE SCRAPBOOK has obtained a copy of the handwritten appeal to the board (addressed to elections supervisor David Leahy) signed by 13 members of the press, who seem to have been almost as agitated at the board's decision to kick observers out of the room where the count was to take place as were the Bush supporters who banged the doors and yelled, "Voter fraud!"
The press didn't bang on doors; it just threatened a lawsuit. Here's the text of the letter:
Dear Mr. Leahy:
In the interests of democracy, which requires fair and open proceedings, we the undersigned believe that media representation in the counting room will be necessary. To observe without hearing is not to be present essentially, so any decision to bar the media would constitute a barring of the public, who we represent. We therefore are prepared to go to court to gain access in the name of freedom of information. As you are aware, Section 102.166 (6) of Florida statutes says "any manual recount shall be open to the public." We hope this can be settled without legal action.
The letter was signed, Declaration of Independence style, Nicholas Kulish, the Wall Street Journal; Rachel A. La Corte, Associated Press; Ellis Berger, (Ft. Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel; Paul Lomartire and Lou Salome, Palm Beach Post, Dana Canedy, New York Times; Daniel McGrory, Times (London); Bill Redeker, ABC News; Don Finefrock, Miami Herald; Sue Anne Pressley, Washington Post; Henry Goldman, Bloomberg News; Dahleen Glanton, Chicago Tribune; Jane Sutton, Reuters.