DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, June 9, 2005 7:00 pm
Nebraska Republicans on Thursday condemned an item on the Democratic Party Web site they described as "a racial slur" directed at the Douglas County election commissioner.
The posting referred to Carlos Castillo as "Tio Tomas," or Uncle Tom, for allegedly making it difficult for the largely African-American minority population in north Omaha to cast votes in the 2004 presidential election.
Castillo said he hopes Democratic leaders will condemn the party's state executive director, Barry Rubin, for posting the blog item on Tuesday and ask him to resign.
Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson should denounce his party and Rubin, GOP executive director Jessica Moenning said.
Nelson had no comment, said David DiMartino, his media spokesman.
"I am disappointed Barry would use a racial slur to describe me," said Castillo, who was born in the United States and whose father is Mexican.
Rubin said his reference was "absolutely not a racial slur," but rather a description of the kind of activities that resulted in changed polling locations, long voting lines, an insufficient number of ballots and the challenge of a disproportionately large number of voters in north Omaha.
"Several hundred, if not thousands of, people were denied the right to vote," Rubin said. That's the real slur, he suggested.
In recent days, Republicans have described Nelson, an avid hunter, as "a panda killer" and state Sen. Nancy Thompson, who changed her mind about leaving the Legislature, as "a runaway bride," Rubin said.
"I apologize for stooping to their level," he said.
Nebraska Democrats should be outraged by Rubin's posting, Moenning said, and send a message that "personal attacks, racial slurs and East Coast-style politics are out of touch with Nebraska values."
Castillo, former campaign manager for Republican Rep. Lee Terry, was appointed election commissioner by former GOP Gov. Mike Johanns two years ago. His plans to resign, effective June 23, prompted Rubin's posting on the Democratic blog.
"I don't know Barry," Castillo said, "and he's never met me. No wonder people don't want to get involved in the political process when people talk about other people's race."
Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel characterized the Web site entry as "truly one of the more irresponsible pieces of political garbage I've seen in Nebraska politics."
Hagel said he hopes every Democrat, beginning with Nelson, would disavow those remarks and call upon Rubin to apologize.
"I'd even go so far as to remove every party official with responsibility for that," he said.
Democratic State Chairman Steve Achelpohl said the reference was "unfortunate," but he agrees with the substance of Rubin's criticism about what had the appearance of "voter suppression activities" last November.
That was the message of the posting, Achelpohl said, and it came in the form of a blog entry, not a press release or public statement.
"Republicans like to create distractions," he said.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.