This week in the War on Voters: Florida Republican says party targeted blacks for voter suppression

Jim Greer Minorities and young people are far more likely to vote for liberals and other Democrats. Voter advocates have long claimed that Republicans work diligently to suppress the clout of these demographic voting blocs by suppressing their presence at the polls. Republicans, naturally, object vociferously to these accusations. But Jim Greer, the former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, has confirmed that, at least in his state, it's true. He has a reason to go after the party since he is on trial for corruption, specifically, diverting party funds to personal uses. Indeed, it is in his 630-page deposition in that trial where he "unloaded a litany of charges against the 'whack-a-do, right-wing crazies' in his party, including the effort to suppress the black vote," writes Alex Seitz-Wald. But even if he is guilty of corruption, that doesn't make his accusations against the party false.

In the deposition, released to the press [Thursday], Greer mentioned a December 2009 meeting with party officials. 'I was upset because the political consultants and staff were talking about voter suppression and keeping blacks from voting,' he said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

He also said party officials "talked about not letting blacks vote ' minority outreach programs were not fit for the Republican Party," according to the AP.

The U.S. Department of Justice has been inquiring into the practices of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, another Republican, in purging the state's voter rolls. Critics say minorities and Democrats are bearing the brunt of this disfranchisement.

(For more of this week's news, continue reading below the fold).