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NEW: After nationwide backlash for warning against registering "woke" and "uninformed" college students to vote, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is saying he regrets not wording his remarks better.
But he hasn't walked the sentiment back. 1/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
But he hasn't walked the sentiment back. 1/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
WLOX Anchor Dave Elliot: “It sounds to me like the little red states like Mississippi, if ( #HR1 passes), are going to be powerless."
Secretary of State Michael Watson: “I don’t know that a Republican could ever win another national election." 2/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
Secretary of State Michael Watson: “I don’t know that a Republican could ever win another national election." 2/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
“It does all Mississippians a disservice to discount the intelligence of our young people,” @MSVotes said after Secretary of State Michael Watson warned against too many “woke” and “uninformed” college students registering to vote. 3/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11009/mississippi-elections-chief-warns-biden-may-register-uninformed-woke-college-voters/
On his April 7 show, CNN anchor @DonLemon said Mississippi’s secretary of state was “saying the quiet part out loud.”
“You talk about woke people—woke people have a right to vote. Sadly, even racists in this country have a right to vote." 4/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
“You talk about woke people—woke people have a right to vote. Sadly, even racists in this country have a right to vote." 4/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
“So think about all those woke college and university students now who will automatically be registered to vote whether they wanted to or not. … You’ve got an uninformed citizen who may not be prepared and ready to vote," Secretary Watson said March 26. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
The @WashingtonPost Editorial Board today, citing Watson's words:
“It takes no great power of analysis to understand the anti-democratic motives behind Republicans’ late fervor to restrict voting. One need only listen to what Republicans themselves say." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
“It takes no great power of analysis to understand the anti-democratic motives behind Republicans’ late fervor to restrict voting. One need only listen to what Republicans themselves say." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
After quoting Watson, the Washington Post Editorial Board wrote: “A party confident in its policies would attempt to win new voters to its side. Republicans in many states, including Georgia, have adopted a different strategy: Make it harder to vote.” 7/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
“Our top election official should be a trusted source for voters, not one who spreads misinformation and pushes partisan charged talking points on TV. … We encourage him to visit ... to see the quality of students our state has to offer." 8/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
“People say (voter fraud) is not widespread. Well, I don’t care if it’s widespread or not. If it affects one election, that’s one too many," Secretary Michael Watson said. 9/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/11168/mississippi-elections-chief-says-he-regrets-word-choice-about-woke-young-voters/
Watson's comments flew-under-the-radar until we reported them earlier this week at @MSFreePress (after@jallen1985 flagged them). Since, major publications and networks have highlighted them.
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