Gerrymandering Made Clear

I love this quotation.

It's in response to Rep. Christopher Shays's (R-Conn) statement(s) about how he'd like to see the resignation of crooked House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Satan).

Christopher Shays said, "Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority, and it is hurting any Republican who is up for reelection," he said.

Ready for the amazing part?

Check out this response, as quoted in the L.A. Times, by a "House Republican leadership aide, speaking on condition of anonymity."

The anonymous aide says, "Chris Shays is watching his backside in a very tough district — he's the first person anyone would suspect who would distance himself from Tom DeLay, and the only one who has spoken on the record."

Shazam! The anonymous aide is essentially saying, "Chris Shays is in one of those districts that neither we nor the Democrats have had a chance to gerrymander yet. Therefore, Rep. Shays actually has to try to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters in his district, not just the extremists in his own party."

A Congressman trying to appeal to a large cross-section of voters in his district? What's next, a President who can speak English?

In a single, run-on sentence, Mr. Anonymous has clearly summed up why voter districting reform (a.k.a un-gerrymandering) is so important.