Racial slurs won't deter voters

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A racist message has an Oklahoma man fearing for his safety as he heads to the polls next week.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, received a threatening voicemail saying "Don't you n***** go to the polls. Don't let me catch you around them polls. You ain't voting for no n***** you hear. Don't you n****** go to the polls."

"I was quite shocked," he said. "I've never received a message like this in the 49 years I've been alive."

The message is one of several racially-charged comments that are spreading across Oklahoma as election day nears.

An Enid woman received a text message on her cell phone early this month that read: "Attention! All hunters with dogs and guns reporter to Washington D.C. immediately. There's a coon trying to get in the White House."

State legislators were shocked this week after a racist e-mail was sent around the capitol showing Obama saying "Eye's yo new prezident."

Tamya Coz with the American Civil Liberties Union said the organization is not surprised by the racial tone of the messages.

"The ACLU of Oklahoma and the ACLU nationally believe race is probably not the predominant factor in the election but does play a role," she said.

Cox said she would be surprised if the messages deterred voters.

The man who received the racist voicemail message said it won't keep him from the polls. He hasn't had any luck tracing the phone call, but has already sought police help.

"I am going to vote; that's my right as a citizen," he said.