: : : : : : : : : :

Deputy Sheriff Doug Cox said in a police report made public this week, that employees discovered the letters at their desks after returning from Labor Day weekend. Apparently, Republican county election clerk distributed copies of a chain letter referring to presidential nominee Obama as a “young, black Adolf Hitler.” She said she meant it as a joke. It seems she was caught on video tape dropping off the letter.

One of the workers complained, and surveillance video showed Johnson County Clerk Jill Jackson placing an item one worker’s desk at 5:27 p.m. on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, Cox said. “She admitted to being responsible for the letter, but only did it as a joke,” Cox said. Jackson told police she had intended to speak with the workers upon returning to work but forgot. Doug Lechner, Republican Party chairman, said the letter was unacceptable and taints Jackson’s ability to appear unbiased in administering this year’s election.

Jackson’s position has her overseeing vote counts and training poll workers, which it why this particular incident is upsetting to everyone considering the racial references in the chain letter were so strong.

It is heavy with racial references, criticizing the candidate’s parentage with such comments as, “He is proud of his ‘African heritage’ (a father who got a white girl pregnant and deserted her)” and asking, “Where is the pride in his ‘White heritage?'”

The county prosecutor said she didn’t violate any laws, however, a worker did complain. As far as any disciplinary action, none has been reported. If I find out that a reprimand has been imposed, I will post an update.