This is an
interesting story and a pathetic way to get votes if true.
Mayor Bill White ordered a halt Wednesday to the city health department's privately funded drive to offer flu vaccinations at early voting sites in predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhoods, amid conservative criticism that the effort would boost Democratic turnout.
About 1,300 flu shots were given to people age 50 or older in the past three days under the program, which didn't require the recipients to vote. Health officials said they were only trying to reach people in medically underserved communities. 
White defended the program Wednesday but said he decided to abandon it to avoid the perception that it was an attempt to draw certain voters to the polls. White is a former chairman of the state Democratic Party and served in the administration of former President Clinton.
"There was no political motive whatsoever to do it," he told reporters after the City Council meeting. "I don't want to have 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."
Why wait for election day and then target only the highly populated Democratic areas? People in other areas don't deserve free shots? So, this year people deserve FREE vaccines, but the last three non-election years they didn't? So, if you don't vote you don't deserve a free shot?
This is a terrible way to get votes and use our elders.
11-03-2006, 03:18 PM
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