Republicans Oddly Helpful Towards Black Voters
November 4, 2008 –
According to early-morning reports, local Republicans are being oddly helpful towards the city’s black voters—offering unsolicited transportation to polling places, and explaining the finer points of voter eligibility. “Now, you may ask, ‘Why would a McCain man help a group who’ll be voting overwhelmingly for Obama?’” grinned Marvin Markey, 40, as he sped a van full of elderly African-Americans across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. “Maybe I just feel it’s my duty to help my fellow citizens on this historic day.”
 Many of the area’s black voters reported being assisted by similar GOP supporters. “I’m walking down to vote, and this white guy pulls up in an SUV, asked if I needed a ride,” said DeShawn Lee, 27, of West Philadelphia, sitting dejectedly with six other voters in a King of Prussia parking lot. “Next thing I know, he’s flying down 76—with us, screaming at him, in the back.” 44-year-old Pete Harrison of Mantua said that he had been helped in a slightly different way. “There was a flyer in my mailbox this morning, saying that if I had any unpaid parking tickets, I’d be arrested at the polls,” he said from the safety of his living room. “It’s a good thing someone put that there, or I’d be in jail right now.”
City election-watchers, though, were suspicious of the Republicans’ motives. “I guess it’s nice to see that they’re offering rides and tips to people,” said Zack Stalberg of the Committee of Seventy. “But you can’t help but think they’re up to something. I don’t know—maybe I’m being too cynical.” Markey, meanwhile, insisted that his only motivation was a deep and abiding patriotism. “Voting is a right, and you should be able to do it whether you’re white, black, green, or purple,” he said, ushering off his riders deep in the Pine Barrens. “I’m just doing what I can to help.”
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