From the New York Times Editorial Page Editor’s blog:

To Prevent Another Ferguson, Vote in Georgia

By DAVID FIRESTONE OCTOBER 22, 2014 2:33 PM

A Georgia Democratic Party flyer.

ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans are furious about a flyer just released by the state Democratic Party that invokes the shooting in Ferguson, Mo., as a new incentive for black voters to cast a ballot in the midterm election.

“If you want to prevent another Ferguson in their future — vote,” the flyer says, over a photo of black children holding “don’t shoot” signs. “It’s up to you to make change happen.”

This is described as a “racial grenade” and “scaremongering” by the right-wing blog Hot Air.

“What does Ferguson, Missouri have to do with electing Michele Nunn to the Senate and Jimmy Carter’s grandson to the governorship in Georgia?” the blog post asks, and then supplies its own answer: Georgia Democrats want black voters to think their children might be shot if they don’t vote for Ms. Nunn and Mr. Carter.

The flyer, though, makes a very different point, and a good one that applies in virtually all of the major races this year. The white domination of the mostly black city of Ferguson is the direct result of local residents not participating in the political system. If people don’t like the results they’re getting from their political leaders — whether it’s the makeup of the police department in a suburb or the refusal to raise the minimum wage in Congress — they need to step up and make their voices heard.

As the flyer says: “Ferguson, Missouri’s population is 67% African-American. But the city’s mayor, five of its six City Council members, and 94% of its police force are white. What are we going to do about it? If we want a better, safer future for our children, it’s up to us to vote for change. The choices may not always be perfect, but the cost of inaction is simply too great.” (It goes on to list the times and places for voting early in the election.)

This is hardly a grenade or racial pandering — in fact, it describes the essence of what political action is about. For too long, many of Georgia’s Democratic voters have stayed home during midterm and state legislative elections, and the cost of that inaction has been high.

Maybe that’s why the right wants to see this message suppressed.