GOP voter challenges got our attention
By Independent Record - An IR view - 10/09/2008
Within days of the Montana Republican Party’s announcement that it was challenging the legitimacy of some 6,000 registered voters, we received upwards of a dozen angry letters to the editor. Thank goodness they now are moot and we don’t need to run them.
Jacob Eaton, state GOP executive director, called off the challenges on Tuesday, putting a really bad idea out of its misery.
The Republican challenges were based on voters who had notified the Post Office they moved after they had last registered to vote. As was quickly pointed out, people who move within the county they live in don’t need to re-register. Nor do students who go off to college but still are qualified to vote. Nor do soldiers who have their mail forwarded to a different address because they’ve gone off to war in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Eaton appeared to respond to that last example, saying that “as a disabled combat veteran who had fought al-Qaida to defend this country and who has voted absentee en route to a war zone,” he regrets that challenges have been construed by some as an attempt to suppress voter turnout.
He insisted that the party’s actions were made in good faith, an assertion that would have carried more weight if the challenges had not all been aimed at Democratic-leaning counties, including Lewis and Clark.
Democrats filed a federal lawsuit against the challenges Monday, contending they violate election laws and were transparent attempts to lower voter turnout where Democrats were strongest. Predictably, Democrats called the GOP challenges an act of desperation We don’t know about desperate. But harebrained? You bet.
Jacob Eaton, state GOP executive director, called off the challenges on Tuesday, putting a really bad idea out of its misery.
The Republican challenges were based on voters who had notified the Post Office they moved after they had last registered to vote. As was quickly pointed out, people who move within the county they live in don’t need to re-register. Nor do students who go off to college but still are qualified to vote. Nor do soldiers who have their mail forwarded to a different address because they’ve gone off to war in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Eaton appeared to respond to that last example, saying that “as a disabled combat veteran who had fought al-Qaida to defend this country and who has voted absentee en route to a war zone,” he regrets that challenges have been construed by some as an attempt to suppress voter turnout.
He insisted that the party’s actions were made in good faith, an assertion that would have carried more weight if the challenges had not all been aimed at Democratic-leaning counties, including Lewis and Clark.
Democrats filed a federal lawsuit against the challenges Monday, contending they violate election laws and were transparent attempts to lower voter turnout where Democrats were strongest. Predictably, Democrats called the GOP challenges an act of desperation We don’t know about desperate. But harebrained? You bet.
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Reader Comments:
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 19, 2008 10:07 AM:
" Keep repeating it, purple, maybe it'll become true.
I see you still haven't acknowledged the military absentee ballots Bush challenged in Democratic districts of Florida.
Also, you've failed to explain how Mickey Mouse is going to vote.
It's looking more and more like Rove & Co. are behind the manufactured outrage over ACORN. There's ZERO evidence that any false votes have resulted or will result from bogus registrations.
Why don't you tell us why ACORN would themselves flag the applications that they thought were bogus? Doesn't that sound like an exceedingly poor way to throw an election? "
I see you still haven't acknowledged the military absentee ballots Bush challenged in Democratic districts of Florida.
Also, you've failed to explain how Mickey Mouse is going to vote.
It's looking more and more like Rove & Co. are behind the manufactured outrage over ACORN. There's ZERO evidence that any false votes have resulted or will result from bogus registrations.
Why don't you tell us why ACORN would themselves flag the applications that they thought were bogus? Doesn't that sound like an exceedingly poor way to throw an election? "
purple wrote on Oct 19, 2008 6:15 AM:
" Here is another reason democrats need to be watched like hawks when they are involved in getting folks to vote;
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=9177991
I'm sure the "usual suspects" will just claim there is nothing to it and that the democrats don't need to steal people's votes.
Despite claims by democrats here [and elsewhere] about ACORN, ACORN is still out there pushing hard on voter registration even allowing fraudulent voter registration. Granted fraudulent voter registration DOES MEAN a vote will be case under that fraudulent name, HOWEVER, democrats cannot give a 100 percent guarantee that it won't happen or hasn't already happened.
It all boils down to their oft used montra - THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS -- in other words, the democrats don't care if they commit voter fraud if it allows them to win.
Democrats squawk about voters being disenfranchised by republicans all the while forgetting the thousands of military personnel, during both the 2000 and 2004 elections, whom were disenfranchised by the democrat candidate filing a legal challenge to those military absentee ballots being counted. I guess it's okay for democrats to disenfranchise voters, but not for republicans. "
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=9177991
I'm sure the "usual suspects" will just claim there is nothing to it and that the democrats don't need to steal people's votes.
Despite claims by democrats here [and elsewhere] about ACORN, ACORN is still out there pushing hard on voter registration even allowing fraudulent voter registration. Granted fraudulent voter registration DOES MEAN a vote will be case under that fraudulent name, HOWEVER, democrats cannot give a 100 percent guarantee that it won't happen or hasn't already happened.
It all boils down to their oft used montra - THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS -- in other words, the democrats don't care if they commit voter fraud if it allows them to win.
Democrats squawk about voters being disenfranchised by republicans all the while forgetting the thousands of military personnel, during both the 2000 and 2004 elections, whom were disenfranchised by the democrat candidate filing a legal challenge to those military absentee ballots being counted. I guess it's okay for democrats to disenfranchise voters, but not for republicans. "
Ethereal wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:41 AM:
" Best part about this whole thing is that it's the same type of arguments every four years. It's so cyclical and annoying that people feel the need to be shocked at and argue about problems with elections. Lets face it, there is never going to be a completely honest 100% democracy election. People are not all honest.
Why are you still surprised, every four years?
In my personal opinion, Democracy died with the two party system...something the Founding Fathers never wanted to happen. It expresses extremism on both sides and basically forces people to choose one or the other. The electoral college did not help.
You want a democracy? A whole lot of reform has to go through before you can call the United (except every 4 years) States of America.
Agree to disagree, vote for who you want...but take the time to educate yourself. There is no perfect political party, and we all want to vote for the best man, but the problem is...he's not running. "
Why are you still surprised, every four years?
In my personal opinion, Democracy died with the two party system...something the Founding Fathers never wanted to happen. It expresses extremism on both sides and basically forces people to choose one or the other. The electoral college did not help.
You want a democracy? A whole lot of reform has to go through before you can call the United (except every 4 years) States of America.
Agree to disagree, vote for who you want...but take the time to educate yourself. There is no perfect political party, and we all want to vote for the best man, but the problem is...he's not running. "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:40 AM:
" Shorty--
In 11 of the states where bogus registrations were submitted, ACORN was required by law to hand in all applications, even if they knew they were bogus. That's to keep third-party registrars from throwing away valid applications, which is a worse offense against democracy.
There's no evidence that ACORN was deliberately trying to fool anyone. They had $8/hour employees with a 20-application-a-day quota. Some of them faked applications to meet their quota. So, some of them lied in order to make their quota.
Yes, that's wrong, but no harm was done aside from wasting people's time and working easily frightened Republicans into a frenzy.
Meanwhile, we have Republicans actively stealing the right to vote from thousands and thousands of Americans.
So forgive me if I'm not equally outraged. I see a difference, you don't. I don't think you're ignorant (apart from not knowing what "infer" means), just overly-excited. "
In 11 of the states where bogus registrations were submitted, ACORN was required by law to hand in all applications, even if they knew they were bogus. That's to keep third-party registrars from throwing away valid applications, which is a worse offense against democracy.
There's no evidence that ACORN was deliberately trying to fool anyone. They had $8/hour employees with a 20-application-a-day quota. Some of them faked applications to meet their quota. So, some of them lied in order to make their quota.
Yes, that's wrong, but no harm was done aside from wasting people's time and working easily frightened Republicans into a frenzy.
Meanwhile, we have Republicans actively stealing the right to vote from thousands and thousands of Americans.
So forgive me if I'm not equally outraged. I see a difference, you don't. I don't think you're ignorant (apart from not knowing what "infer" means), just overly-excited. "
shorty wrote on Oct 15, 2008 4:02 PM:
" Adam, my point was that I am an American before I am a Democrat. BOTH voting registration fraud and purging of files without review are WRONG. I see America setting an example for Democracy. If we have Mickey Mouse and dead people being registered to vote, in my "ignorant" opinion (as you inferred) that makes the democratic system look like a joke. I feel funding ACORN with federal funding is wrong and I would feel the same if was a right wing organization doing questionable activities with federal funding. Let them use private funds and not our tax dollars. We have more important needs from our federal government. "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:43 PM:
" I'm still waiting for someone to explain how Mickey Mouse is going to vote 77 times in the same district, or how the Dallas Cowboys will be able to vote in Arizona, or how someone in prison will be able to sneak out to vote, or how a dead person will be able to vote at all.
Registration is not voting. There's a huge difference. Shorty for some reason dismisses out of hand the very common-sense observation that "it's not as if they voted."
This whole fake "scandal" is just a smoke screen by the Republicans to cover up their purging of Democrats from the voting rolls, as they did in 2000 and 2004.
Glad to see they haven't over-estimated their constituents' intelligence. "
Registration is not voting. There's a huge difference. Shorty for some reason dismisses out of hand the very common-sense observation that "it's not as if they voted."
This whole fake "scandal" is just a smoke screen by the Republicans to cover up their purging of Democrats from the voting rolls, as they did in 2000 and 2004.
Glad to see they haven't over-estimated their constituents' intelligence. "
shorty wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:00 PM:
" Two wrongs do not make a right. As an American, I am disgusted with both the purging of files without review and registering people who are dead, in prison or don't exist. BOTH are wrong. As an American, I want a clean democratic process for our republic. As a Democrat it sickens me to hear people justify those registrations by saying "it's not as if they voted". ACORN is not clean in this and to believe that, people are being too simplistic. It is happening too frequently and in too many places ... the pattern is there and needs to be addressed. AND the 40 percent Federal funding ACORN gets in its various forms needs to be stopped, now. This left wing group needs to find its own funding souces for 100 percent of their funding. "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:46 AM:
" purple--
How is one person going to vote 72 times? They'd need 72 different names and 72 different Social Security numbers or other forms of ID. They check those things, you know.
ACORN themselves caught the fraudulent registrations, because they check, too. And they publicly announced it--not something they'd do if they were really trying to steal the election.
Where's your outrage about the many, many recent attempts to steal people's right to vote? Bush tried to reject the absentee ballots of soldiers in Democratic districts in Florida. Kathleen Harris broke federal law by removing tens of thousands of names from the rosters, and then refusing to have the roster certified. Diebold and other Republican-owned corporations made machines that changed votes from Democrat to Republican. Alberto Gonzales and his cronies tried to fire attorneys who refused to play along in their disenfranchisement game.
It's far easier to show Republicans have stolen elections than to show that ACORN has had any effect at all on the process.
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and say "I am full of hot gas."? "
How is one person going to vote 72 times? They'd need 72 different names and 72 different Social Security numbers or other forms of ID. They check those things, you know.
ACORN themselves caught the fraudulent registrations, because they check, too. And they publicly announced it--not something they'd do if they were really trying to steal the election.
Where's your outrage about the many, many recent attempts to steal people's right to vote? Bush tried to reject the absentee ballots of soldiers in Democratic districts in Florida. Kathleen Harris broke federal law by removing tens of thousands of names from the rosters, and then refusing to have the roster certified. Diebold and other Republican-owned corporations made machines that changed votes from Democrat to Republican. Alberto Gonzales and his cronies tried to fire attorneys who refused to play along in their disenfranchisement game.
It's far easier to show Republicans have stolen elections than to show that ACORN has had any effect at all on the process.
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and say "I am full of hot gas."? "
purple wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:49 AM:
" "adam"
Nothing more than symantics on your part about the $ 800,000
It reminds me about when clinton changed the definition of the word "is" and the word "alone" when trying to explain away his involvement with monica.
The fact is, the $ 800,000 changed hands and ACORN wound up with the money in the end.
If ACORN came clean, then why are they still conducting business as usual when it comes to voter registration fraud?
Because of ACORN, the waters are thoroughly muddied for the coming election.
If one person contacted by ACORN can register with 72 different identities, imagine what 1,000 -- 5,000 -- 10,000 -- 100,000 ACORN types fraudulent register to vote -- imagine the damage 100,000 PLUS fraudulent votes will do to the confidence HONEST Americans have in the voting system in this country.
Is that what democrats are really about, destroying democracy from WITHIN?
Because that is exactly what will happen when "joe six pack American" comes to realize that democrats will do "LITTERALLY ANYTHING" to win an election.
Do the elections in Iraq [under Saddam Hussein] ring a bell where regardless of whom you vote for, the outcome will always be the same - the dictator remains in power, or how about the elections in north Korea, Iran, Cuba -- all are one man one rule. "
Nothing more than symantics on your part about the $ 800,000
It reminds me about when clinton changed the definition of the word "is" and the word "alone" when trying to explain away his involvement with monica.
The fact is, the $ 800,000 changed hands and ACORN wound up with the money in the end.
If ACORN came clean, then why are they still conducting business as usual when it comes to voter registration fraud?
Because of ACORN, the waters are thoroughly muddied for the coming election.
If one person contacted by ACORN can register with 72 different identities, imagine what 1,000 -- 5,000 -- 10,000 -- 100,000 ACORN types fraudulent register to vote -- imagine the damage 100,000 PLUS fraudulent votes will do to the confidence HONEST Americans have in the voting system in this country.
Is that what democrats are really about, destroying democracy from WITHIN?
Because that is exactly what will happen when "joe six pack American" comes to realize that democrats will do "LITTERALLY ANYTHING" to win an election.
Do the elections in Iraq [under Saddam Hussein] ring a bell where regardless of whom you vote for, the outcome will always be the same - the dictator remains in power, or how about the elections in north Korea, Iran, Cuba -- all are one man one rule. "
shorty wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:35 PM:
" We as Americans should DEMAND Congress eliminate ACORN from all Federal legislation. Whether it is registration fraud or voter fraud, it is FRAUD. This election year is not the first and most certainly won't be the last. As a Democrat, I have been guilty of glossing over these crimes in the past, but now with the increased occurrences in many states it is a real issue and the Federal government should not be enabling this far left wing organization and their tactics. "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 13, 2008 3:08 PM:
" purple--
I seldom believe or reject anything just because of the source. Even the National Enquirer gets something right now and then. The New York Times was such a shameless cheerleader for Bush in the runup to the Iraq war that they hired a public editor/ombudsman to help restore their credibility. And the LA Times was recently purchased by an admitted conservative partisan. One of his first acts was to fire Robert Scheer because of political differences.
Some sources, however, are so regularly biased that it's never a good idea to just blindly accept what they report. World Net Daily and NewsMax, for instance, are little more than conspiracy mills for the far-right, with a very poor track record of honesty.
Have you ever visited Media Matters for America? Regardless of what Bill O'Really says, they are a credible media watchdog, and regularly take to task the very "alphabet" networks and news outlets you rail against. Not for the same reason, though: Media Matters documents--note that word, "documents"--media bias against Democrats. Yes, they have an agenda, but they also have integrity, something no one who's paying attention could ever say of Fox News.
That said: Recently Fox News had an uncharacteristically fair and balanced discussion about ACORN. Even they admitted that no actual fraudulent votes would have come of ACORN's shenanigans. The false names were the work of employees whose pay was based on the number of registrations they collected. ACORN itself discovered the fraud, reported it publicly, and fired those responsible.
If you do a little research, you'll learn that the Obama campaign did not pay $800,000 to ACORN. They paid $832,598 to Citizens Services Inc., a consulting firm affiliated with Acorn.
Check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/us/politics/11acorn.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
You'll see a report of the ACORN story that's far more in-depth and even-handed than you'll ever see in the right-wing Washington Times.
I'll say it again: Conservatives would be a lot less angry if they'd quit believing the lies they gobble up from the right-wing media. "
I seldom believe or reject anything just because of the source. Even the National Enquirer gets something right now and then. The New York Times was such a shameless cheerleader for Bush in the runup to the Iraq war that they hired a public editor/ombudsman to help restore their credibility. And the LA Times was recently purchased by an admitted conservative partisan. One of his first acts was to fire Robert Scheer because of political differences.
Some sources, however, are so regularly biased that it's never a good idea to just blindly accept what they report. World Net Daily and NewsMax, for instance, are little more than conspiracy mills for the far-right, with a very poor track record of honesty.
Have you ever visited Media Matters for America? Regardless of what Bill O'Really says, they are a credible media watchdog, and regularly take to task the very "alphabet" networks and news outlets you rail against. Not for the same reason, though: Media Matters documents--note that word, "documents"--media bias against Democrats. Yes, they have an agenda, but they also have integrity, something no one who's paying attention could ever say of Fox News.
That said: Recently Fox News had an uncharacteristically fair and balanced discussion about ACORN. Even they admitted that no actual fraudulent votes would have come of ACORN's shenanigans. The false names were the work of employees whose pay was based on the number of registrations they collected. ACORN itself discovered the fraud, reported it publicly, and fired those responsible.
If you do a little research, you'll learn that the Obama campaign did not pay $800,000 to ACORN. They paid $832,598 to Citizens Services Inc., a consulting firm affiliated with Acorn.
Check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/us/politics/11acorn.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
You'll see a report of the ACORN story that's far more in-depth and even-handed than you'll ever see in the right-wing Washington Times.
I'll say it again: Conservatives would be a lot less angry if they'd quit believing the lies they gobble up from the right-wing media. "
purple wrote on Oct 13, 2008 2:43 AM:
" "adam"
Any news source other than the following would be wasted on you anyway
The aphabet networks [abc, cbs, nbc, cnn, etc]
Demcocrat Underground
Media Matters
Moveon.org
The Huffington Post
New York Times
LA Times
Democrat Talking Points
etc., etc., etc.
Unless something is reported there, in your book, it is not true.
According to a story on Fox News Channel, a former employee of ACORN will be telling all about how ACORN is committing massive voter registration fraud in all 50 states to ensure a democrat win in November. But....... since you will never read or see it on the media outlets you frequent, it is all false.
Soooo,
where is your outrage over the
$ 800,000 obama gave to ACORN? Or is that story false?
where is your outrage over the massive voter registration fraud? Or is that story false?
are you outraged over obama having a financial connection with a professor who has been raising funds for Hamas? Ever wonder if obama was sending money, indirectly, to Hamas through that professor?
are you outraged that obama wants to sit down 'without preconditions' with the president of iran while knowing that iran is actively involved in training muslims in terrorist tactics, arming them, then sending them into Iraq to kill American military personnel? Or how about iran is actively involved in the manufacture of those advanced IEDs which are being used against our troops?
Should obama still meet with the president of iran without preconditions? "
Any news source other than the following would be wasted on you anyway
The aphabet networks [abc, cbs, nbc, cnn, etc]
Demcocrat Underground
Media Matters
Moveon.org
The Huffington Post
New York Times
LA Times
Democrat Talking Points
etc., etc., etc.
Unless something is reported there, in your book, it is not true.
According to a story on Fox News Channel, a former employee of ACORN will be telling all about how ACORN is committing massive voter registration fraud in all 50 states to ensure a democrat win in November. But....... since you will never read or see it on the media outlets you frequent, it is all false.
Soooo,
where is your outrage over the
$ 800,000 obama gave to ACORN? Or is that story false?
where is your outrage over the massive voter registration fraud? Or is that story false?
are you outraged over obama having a financial connection with a professor who has been raising funds for Hamas? Ever wonder if obama was sending money, indirectly, to Hamas through that professor?
are you outraged that obama wants to sit down 'without preconditions' with the president of iran while knowing that iran is actively involved in training muslims in terrorist tactics, arming them, then sending them into Iraq to kill American military personnel? Or how about iran is actively involved in the manufacture of those advanced IEDs which are being used against our troops?
Should obama still meet with the president of iran without preconditions? "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 12, 2008 6:19 PM:
" Correction: The extremely unreliable Washington Times. "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 12, 2008 2:18 AM:
" purple--
First off: You put words into my mouth. Or keyboard. Or whatever. I never said there's no connection. I said (and I repeat this, because you obviously didn't comprehend my original post):
1) Obama was never an ACORN community organizer.
2) Obama was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
3) ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Obama ran in 1992.
Also: Citizens Services Inc. is not ACORN. ACORN itself fired the employees who submitted fraudulent registrations. Do you think that makes the organization more credible, or less credible?
If you have any sources apart from the extremely unreliable Washington Post or other right-wing propaganda mills, I'd like to see them. Don't even waste my time with WorldNetDaily or NewsMax. "
First off: You put words into my mouth. Or keyboard. Or whatever. I never said there's no connection. I said (and I repeat this, because you obviously didn't comprehend my original post):
1) Obama was never an ACORN community organizer.
2) Obama was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
3) ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Obama ran in 1992.
Also: Citizens Services Inc. is not ACORN. ACORN itself fired the employees who submitted fraudulent registrations. Do you think that makes the organization more credible, or less credible?
If you have any sources apart from the extremely unreliable Washington Post or other right-wing propaganda mills, I'd like to see them. Don't even waste my time with WorldNetDaily or NewsMax. "
purple wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:16 AM:
" "adam lackey"
So there is no connection between obama and ACORN, huh?
Check out this story;
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/10/obama-camp-downplays-ACORN-payments/
An $ 800,000.00 payment to ACORN by obama. No small potatoes there!
ACORN is ear deep in voter registration fraud in at least six [if not more] states. Many secretary of states are having to expend valuable time, resources, and state money now to verify the eligibility of voters in those states because of the massive voter registration fraud perpetrated by an organization which leans very heavily DEMOCRAT. "
So there is no connection between obama and ACORN, huh?
Check out this story;
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/10/obama-camp-downplays-ACORN-payments/
An $ 800,000.00 payment to ACORN by obama. No small potatoes there!
ACORN is ear deep in voter registration fraud in at least six [if not more] states. Many secretary of states are having to expend valuable time, resources, and state money now to verify the eligibility of voters in those states because of the massive voter registration fraud perpetrated by an organization which leans very heavily DEMOCRAT. "
Bigsky2006 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:35 PM:
" Hello ACORN & Obama - Montana is open for your "business" "
cawren wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:41 PM:
" People who live in glass houses should not pitch boulders.
Google: "Steve Stoll" and Palin.
Extreme? You must judge for yourself.
DO WE REALLY KNOW SARAH?
PLEASE do you own research
Do your homework. "
Google: "Steve Stoll" and Palin.
Extreme? You must judge for yourself.
DO WE REALLY KNOW SARAH?
PLEASE do you own research
Do your homework. "
skosena wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:30 PM:
" wonkerbean...same goes for you as purple...proof please...
rinnie...purple using factcheck.org...oh that is a good one...almost spit milk out laughing so hard.... "
rinnie...purple using factcheck.org...oh that is a good one...almost spit milk out laughing so hard.... "
wonkerbean wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:13 PM:
" In the area around Tampa Fla, where there are many military personell who call that home but are stationed overseas. In 2000 many of them couldn't find the gumption to vote for a deserter and a draft dodger, so they left the top of the ticket blank. Unbeknownst to them, Republican operatives infiltrated the County election offices and volunteered to count the votes. When they opened a ballt that was blank they voted for that person and checked off Bush. If the person voted for Gore then they said the envelope was improper and they threw the ballot away. "
skosena wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:44 PM:
" saber and purple...slow done fellas...this editorial was about our own GOP not ACORN...I am conservative though not a registered as a republican(see above editorial for one of the many reasons why)...I think what ACORN is doing is deplorable and am thrilled to know that they are being INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI(bold is to highlight the fact that something is being done about it..just like this crazy thing the repubs did here in MT was also challenged)
Hey purple....the right to vote is sacred..not sure how that statement got you all riled up at me....but I was just as concerned with the issues you also mentioned...again I was commenting on the subject of this specific editorial...I don't have all day to name every example since the Boston Tea Party so harass someone else.... "
Hey purple....the right to vote is sacred..not sure how that statement got you all riled up at me....but I was just as concerned with the issues you also mentioned...again I was commenting on the subject of this specific editorial...I don't have all day to name every example since the Boston Tea Party so harass someone else.... "
Adam Laceky wrote on Oct 9, 2008 4:38 PM:
" Predictably, purple selects the "facts" that suit him.
...Republicans mounted a legal and public relations campaign to persuade canvassing boards in Bush strongholds to waive the state's election laws when counting overseas absentee ballots.
Their goal was simple: to count the maximum number of overseas ballots in counties won by Mr. Bush, particularly those with a high concentration of military voters, while seeking to disqualify overseas ballots in counties won by Vice President Al Gore.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507e0d8133bf936a25754c0a9679c8b63
...Theresa M. Petrone, a Democratic member of Chicago's Board of Elections, predicted that thousands of military absentee ballots would once again go uncounted. Petrone asked that the federal government force states to count absentee ballots until 14 days after the election, provided that the ballot was signed by Election Day.
http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/military_absentee_ballots.htm
Fact: Barack was never an ACORN community organizer.
Fact: Barack was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
Fact: ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Barack ran in 1992.
In his capacity as an attorney, Barack represented ACORN in a successful lawsuit alongside the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of Illinois to force state compliance with a federal voting access law. For his work helping enforce the law, called "Motor Voter," Barack received the IVI-IPO Legal Eagle Award in 1995.
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/20/acornrumor?source=sem-pm-fts-ac-search-us&gclid=CJCY8dSam5YCFQQCagodgyel6A
But, hey, don't let facts get in the way of your delusions. "
...Republicans mounted a legal and public relations campaign to persuade canvassing boards in Bush strongholds to waive the state's election laws when counting overseas absentee ballots.
Their goal was simple: to count the maximum number of overseas ballots in counties won by Mr. Bush, particularly those with a high concentration of military voters, while seeking to disqualify overseas ballots in counties won by Vice President Al Gore.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507e0d8133bf936a25754c0a9679c8b63
...Theresa M. Petrone, a Democratic member of Chicago's Board of Elections, predicted that thousands of military absentee ballots would once again go uncounted. Petrone asked that the federal government force states to count absentee ballots until 14 days after the election, provided that the ballot was signed by Election Day.
http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/military_absentee_ballots.htm
Fact: Barack was never an ACORN community organizer.
Fact: Barack was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
Fact: ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Barack ran in 1992.
In his capacity as an attorney, Barack represented ACORN in a successful lawsuit alongside the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of Illinois to force state compliance with a federal voting access law. For his work helping enforce the law, called "Motor Voter," Barack received the IVI-IPO Legal Eagle Award in 1995.
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/20/acornrumor?source=sem-pm-fts-ac-search-us&gclid=CJCY8dSam5YCFQQCagodgyel6A
But, hey, don't let facts get in the way of your delusions. "
rinnie wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:30 PM:
" Before purple goes ballistic...I want to clarify that Obama has nothing to do with Acorn. His only ties to them was as an attorney. That goes for you too saber.
Also.....did it occur to you that the name Acorn could easily be used by the ilk of Karl Rove? I have a printer etc. Wouldn't be too hard to print out some forms........
Think.................before you leap to conclusions. Look it up. Try factcheck.org..... "
Also.....did it occur to you that the name Acorn could easily be used by the ilk of Karl Rove? I have a printer etc. Wouldn't be too hard to print out some forms........
Think.................before you leap to conclusions. Look it up. Try factcheck.org..... "
diazo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:17 PM:
" As a general rule, anytime the right wingers here start tossing out accusions against Democrats as some sort of twisted justification for the crimes of Republicans, start Googling. In the case of ACORN, which is suddenly being cited as some kind of vote fraud machine operating at the behest of the Democratic Party, here are the facts according to a Vegas CBS affiliate: (http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=9149212)
"The voter registration group at the center of a law enforcement raid is speaking out. Wednesday, the regional director of ACORN said his organization has nothing to hide and calls the raid a stunt.
"ACORN says they are responsible for registering over 80,000 voters in Clark County. The group is firing back at local officials who it says failed to take action months ago when the group itself brought problems to their attention.
"With Nevada a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election, every vote counts.
"Inside the local office of ACORN, the Association for Community Reform Now, Southwest Regional Director Matthew Henderson says Tuesday's raid was a surprise, "I think this is elected officials trying to make a name for themselves."
"ACORN officials say they earlier brought possible fraudulent registrations by their own employees to the attention of both the Registrar of Voters and the Secretary of State.
"In this case, the same name and address appear in two applications with different signatures.
"The election officials failed to take any actions on these cards and then yesterday they pulled this stunt, acting as though they did not know us, acting as so they had never heard from us, when in fact we had been talking for them for six months, urging them to take action and they had declined to do so," said Henderson.
"Meantime, the head of the Clark County Republican Party says the names of every one of the voters registered by ACORN should made public so they can be validated."
...and every one challenged, no doubt. So this is just like the Ayers business; a manufactured scandal to smear the Democrats and to distract the public from an economy collapsing thanks to GOP mismanagement. Then when the public gets wise, the GOP will manufacture a new scandal.
Purple keeps suggesting the 2004 King County vote count was an example of Democratic vote manipulation. Please Google that as well, and if you read the accounts from legitimate news sources (versus tinfoil-hat conspiracy sites) you will find they did have problems but there isn't evidence of fraud. In fact, the GOP in its lawsuit sometimes argued the case siding with the King County officials where it suited the GOP's interest.
And as I recall, the only challenged military ballots in 2000 were those cast after election day. Sorry, nobody gets to vote after election day. (Except the Supreme Court.) There should be some rules, even for Republicans. "
"The voter registration group at the center of a law enforcement raid is speaking out. Wednesday, the regional director of ACORN said his organization has nothing to hide and calls the raid a stunt.
"ACORN says they are responsible for registering over 80,000 voters in Clark County. The group is firing back at local officials who it says failed to take action months ago when the group itself brought problems to their attention.
"With Nevada a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election, every vote counts.
"Inside the local office of ACORN, the Association for Community Reform Now, Southwest Regional Director Matthew Henderson says Tuesday's raid was a surprise, "I think this is elected officials trying to make a name for themselves."
"ACORN officials say they earlier brought possible fraudulent registrations by their own employees to the attention of both the Registrar of Voters and the Secretary of State.
"In this case, the same name and address appear in two applications with different signatures.
"The election officials failed to take any actions on these cards and then yesterday they pulled this stunt, acting as though they did not know us, acting as so they had never heard from us, when in fact we had been talking for them for six months, urging them to take action and they had declined to do so," said Henderson.
"Meantime, the head of the Clark County Republican Party says the names of every one of the voters registered by ACORN should made public so they can be validated."
...and every one challenged, no doubt. So this is just like the Ayers business; a manufactured scandal to smear the Democrats and to distract the public from an economy collapsing thanks to GOP mismanagement. Then when the public gets wise, the GOP will manufacture a new scandal.
Purple keeps suggesting the 2004 King County vote count was an example of Democratic vote manipulation. Please Google that as well, and if you read the accounts from legitimate news sources (versus tinfoil-hat conspiracy sites) you will find they did have problems but there isn't evidence of fraud. In fact, the GOP in its lawsuit sometimes argued the case siding with the King County officials where it suited the GOP's interest.
And as I recall, the only challenged military ballots in 2000 were those cast after election day. Sorry, nobody gets to vote after election day. (Except the Supreme Court.) There should be some rules, even for Republicans. "
saber69 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:19 PM:
" Purple I absolutely agree with you on this matter. Acorn is a very destructive and dishonest organization which is clearly in bed with the left but no outburst from the democrats about them. In Vegas they found names of the Dallas Cowboys players on thier registration. Where is the outcry on that enu22, skosena, RD19, and last but not least skooter. "
sakbi wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:23 AM:
" enu22, I agree and he needs to take Erik Iverson the Chairman with him. This GOP Nat'l administration has done more to destroy our Constitution than any others before. Vote third party. "Don't blame me, I voted for Ron Paul" "
purple wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:11 AM:
" "skosena"
[quote] the right to vote is sacred[end quote]
Is that so?
Can you explain why gore and kerry filed legal challenges to miltary absentee ballots, if that is the case?
Liberals squawk about the conduct of republicans all the while forgetting about the massive voter fraud democrats committed in washington state where Seattle/King County alone had 5,000 more ballots cast than they had registered voters.
Then there is the matter of ACORN, a pro-democrat organization which is currently being investigated by the FBI for fraudulent voter registrations in multiple states. Votes cast in at least six states could be subject to intense federal election commission oversight.
Are democrats that desperate to win that they have to have cartoon characters voting for them? "
[quote] the right to vote is sacred[end quote]
Is that so?
Can you explain why gore and kerry filed legal challenges to miltary absentee ballots, if that is the case?
Liberals squawk about the conduct of republicans all the while forgetting about the massive voter fraud democrats committed in washington state where Seattle/King County alone had 5,000 more ballots cast than they had registered voters.
Then there is the matter of ACORN, a pro-democrat organization which is currently being investigated by the FBI for fraudulent voter registrations in multiple states. Votes cast in at least six states could be subject to intense federal election commission oversight.
Are democrats that desperate to win that they have to have cartoon characters voting for them? "
RD19 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:51 AM:
" What I think is funny is that since it was the Repulicans who did this it is sleezy and harebrained, but if the Democrats did it, most of these posters would be hailing it as a great and noble act and saving everybody's right to vote!!! "
skooter wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:53 AM:
" Yep - they were a bunch of donkeys on this one. And Purple will throw out some tiny snippet of a rumor he heard somewhere about something Democrats did that somehow that makes this ok. BS. I'll be the first to repeat - anybody messing with our voter rights should be prosecuted. The rub with Purple's examples is that they usually tend to be wrong ad poorly researched - like S. Dakota a few days back in his comments.
Thank to the people - and I think Matt Singer was one of the first - who brought this to everyone's attention and helped make a big stink about this dirty ploy. "
Thank to the people - and I think Matt Singer was one of the first - who brought this to everyone's attention and helped make a big stink about this dirty ploy. "
enu22 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:08 AM:
" Jacob Eaton should be dismissed. I percieve him not to be an asset to the state's GOP. Replace him with someone who has mature, adult leadership and judgement. "
skosena wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:31 AM:
" The "grand old party" has turned into the "greedy obsolete pinheads".....the right to vote is sacred...how dare the republican party try to use "smoke and mirrors" to take away a citizens right to vote just because some may not vote the way they want us too.....idiots... "
wonkerbean wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:12 AM:
" You do need to air them. The Republican Party launched a nation-wide effort to suppress the vote. Typical right wing thuggery that gave us George Bush needs to be stopped. "
diazo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:18 AM:
" Good editorial, but calling the GOP's voter suppression scheme "harebrained" is giving them way too much credit. "Sleazy", "arrogant", and "Un-American" would be more accurate terms. I hope that as Montanans cast their votes, they consider whether people with this sort of mentality ought to be holding public offices. "
Custer wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:09 AM:
" Why is anyone surprised, remember when the Repubicans decided to move their caucus forward, effectively taking away the vote from their own party members and placing the nomination in the hands of a few elite? The Republican party stopped representing us about eight years ago, and are only concerned with their own interests. It's time for a three-party system. It's time to seriously look at the Libertarian Party and other parties that have not lost their way. "
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diazo wrote on Oct 20, 2008 12:36 PM: