The Column

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Wis. candidate can't use controversial description on ballot


... and you thought South Carolina had strange politics:

Wis. candidate can't use controversial description
(AP)
:

Ieshuh Griffin, an independent candidate for the Wisconsin state Assembly, holds up her nomination papers Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., after an election oversight board said the Milwaukee woman can not describe herself on the ballot as 'NOT the 'whiteman's b----.''  State law allows independent candidates to have five words describing them placed after their name on the ballot. Griffin argued that the phrase was protected free speech but the state Government Accountability Board said that the statement was pejorative and not allowed. (AP Photo/Todd Richmond) EDS NOTE LANGUAGE WRITTEN ON BALLOT PAPERAP - A legislative candidate from Wisconsin can't use a profane, racially charged phrase to describe herself on the ballot, an election oversight board decided Wednesday.