Rep. Janet Adkins of Florida was caught on audio at a private meeting of Florida Republicans stating that the key to defeating Democrat Corrine Brown was increasing the number of black prisoners in her district -- prisoners, of course, not permitted to vote. According to Politico, she stated:
You draw [Brown's seat] in such a fashion so perhaps, a majority, or maybe not a majority, but a number of them will live in the prisons, thereby not being able to vote.
More below the squiggly.
Brown, a twenty-three year incumbent in the Florida House, has long been a opponent of the rightist establishment in Florida.
Adkins added:
Let me give you inside ball game. Are there any reporters in here?” she said. “Any reporters? OK. So, inside ball game.”
Adkins directly addressed Danny Norton, the state GOP committeeman from Baker County, which includes a large prison population.
“You can actually, Danny, you — you can be the person that will help get rid of Corrine Brown,” she said.
First, incarcerate lots of African Americans; then deny felons the right to vote; and finally still count those felons within redistricting plans.
Basically, this is a modern version of the 3/5ths Compromise established in the Constitutions. And it is as racist now as it was then.