[bassetman]

Big G.O.P. Bid to Challenge Voters at Polls in Key State
By Michael Moss
The New York Times

Saturday 23 October 2004



Republican Party officials in Ohio took formal steps yesterday to place thousands of recruits inside polling places on Election Day to challenge the qualifications of voters they suspect are not eligible to cast ballots.

Party officials say their effort is necessary to guard against fraud arising from aggressive moves by the Democrats to register tens of thousands of new voters in Ohio, seen as one of the most pivotal battlegrounds in the Nov. 2 elections.

Election officials in other swing states, from Arizona to Wisconsin and Florida, say they are bracing for similar efforts by Republicans to challenge new voters at polling places, reflecting months of disputes over voting procedures and the anticipation of an election as close as the one in 2000.

Ohio election officials said they had never seen so large a drive to prepare for Election Day challenges. They said they were scrambling yesterday to be ready for disruptions in the voting process as well as alarm and complaints among voters. Some officials said they worried that the challenges could discourage or even frighten others waiting to vote.

Ohio Democrats were struggling to match the Republicans' move, which had been rumored for weeks. Both parties had until 4 p.m. to register people they had recruited to monitor the election. Republicans said they had enlisted 3,600 by the deadline, many in heavily Democratic urban neighborhoods of Cleveland, Dayton and other cities. Each recruit was to be paid $100.

The Democrats, who tend to benefit more than Republicans from large turnouts, said they had registered more than 2,000 recruits to try to protect legitimate voters rather than weed out ineligible ones.

Republican officials said they had no intention of disrupting voting but were concerned about the possibility of fraud involving thousands of newly registered Democrats.

"The organized left's efforts to, quote unquote, register voters - I call them ringers - have created these problems," said James P. Trakas, a Republican co-chairman in Cuyahoga County.

Fortunately the court blocked their plans

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/102404Z.shtml

[Knotbored]

Next thing they will be demanding a person must be alive to vote-huh-its getting harder and harder to buy an election nowadays.

[bassetman]

You think someone like me should be able to stop whoever I want and challenge their vote?

[angelize56]

Hope you don't mind my posting this here Bakalva!

Seems suspect that the letter is supposedly from the NAACP...yet the Vice President of the NAACP received one....you'd think the purveyors of such a hoax would know not to send it to anyone connected with the NAACP! Sounds fishy!

Voter Scam Tries To Scare People Out Of Going To Polls

POSTED: 9:03 am EST November 1, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A phony letter circulating in South Carolina is being denounced as an attempt to intimidate minority voters.

The letter supposedly comes from the NAACP. It says voters who have outstanding parking tickets or have failed to pay child support will be arrested.

The Rev. Joe Darby, vice president of the real South Carolina NAACP, called it "old South Carolina politics" and said he doesn't think people will fall for it. But he does want an investigation.

Darby said he received the letter at his home in Charleston. It had Columbia postmark with no return address.

He said the letter was an attempt to scare minorities from voting Tuesday because the author of the message assumes black people are in trouble with the law.

The letter also said voters must have a credit check, provide two forms of photo ID, a Social Security card, a voter registration card and a handwriting sample.

Registrars said that's untrue. What's needed is a voter regisration card or a state driver's license or a state-issued ID card.

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by Knotbored

Next thing they will be demanding a person must be alive to vote-huh-its getting harder and harder to buy an election nowadays.

..... or a US citizen.

[bassetman]

Days of Shame
By BOB HERBERT

Published: November 1, 2004


Columnist Page: Bob Herbert

Overseas, our troops are being mauled in the long dark night of Iraq - a war
with no end in sight that has already claimed the lives of more than 1,100
American troops and thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of innocent Iraqis.

At home, the party of the sitting president is systematically stomping on
the right of black Americans to vote, a vile and racist practice that makes
a mockery of the president's claim to favor real democracy anywhere.

This will never be seen as a shining moment in U.S. history.

There is a hallucinatory quality to the news as Americans prepare to vote
tomorrow in what is probably the most critical election the country has
faced since 1932. Osama bin Laden made his bizarre cameo appearance on
Friday, taunting the president who once promised to get him dead or alive.
Commentators have been compulsively reading the tea leaves ever since,
trying to determine who was helped by the video, George W. Bush or John Kerry.

On Saturday, as if to take our minds off the sideshow, nine more American
marines were killed in the Iraq slaughterhouse. It was the deadliest day for
U.S. forces in six months. The death toll for Iraqis, which the U.S.
government has tried mightily to keep from the American people, is flat out
horrifying. Unofficial estimates of the number of Iraqis killed in the war
have ranged from 10,000 to 30,000. But a survey conducted by scientists from
Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University and Al Mustansiriya University
in Baghdad compared the death rates of Iraqis before and after the American
invasion. They estimated that 100,000 more Iraqis have died in the 18 months
since the invasion than would have been expected based on Iraqi death rates
before the war.

The scientists acknowledged that the survey was difficult to compile and
that their findings represent a rough estimate. But even if they were off by
as many as 20,000 or 40,000 deaths, their findings would still be chilling.

Most of the widespread violent deaths, the scientists reported, were
attributed to coalition forces. "Most individuals reportedly killed by
coalition forces," the report said, "were women and children."

That people are dying by the tens of thousands in a war that did not have to
be fought - a war that was launched by the United States - is mind-boggling.

Also mind-boggling is the attempt by Republican Party elements to return the
U.S. to the wretched days of the mid-20th century when many black Americans
faced harassment, intimidation and worse for daring to exercise their
fundamental right to vote. A flier circulating extensively in black
neighborhoods in Wisconsin carries the heading "Milwaukee Black Voters
League." It asserts that people are not eligible to vote if they have voted
in any previous election this year; if they have ever been found guilty of
anything, even a traffic violation; or if anyone in their family has ever
been found guilty of anything.

"If you violate any of these laws," the flier says, "you can get ten years
in prison and your children will get taken away from you."

In Philadelphia, where a large black vote is essential to a Kerry victory in
the crucial state of Pennsylvania, the Republican speaker of the
Pennsylvania House, John Perzel, is hard at work challenging Democratic
voters. He makes no bones about his intent, telling U.S. News & World Report:

"The Kerry campaign needs to come out with humongous numbers here in
Philadelphia. It's important for me to keep that number down."

That's called voter suppression, folks, and the G.O.P. concentrates its
voter-suppression efforts in the precincts where there are large numbers of
African-Americans. And that's called racism.

These are days of shame for the United States. No one writing a civics text
for American high school students would recommend this kind of behavior for
a great and mighty nation. We have to figure out a way to extricate
ourselves from Iraq and rebuild a truly representative democracy here at
home. Right now we have a mess on both fronts.

It was Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, who said that "America's leadership
and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches
and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world
peace and human betterment."

That's as good a thought as any to carry with you into the voting booth
tomorrow.

E-mail: bobherb@nytimes.com


Note: Here is the flyer they are distributing in Milwaukee:

http://www.thepoorman.net/images/milwaukee_poster.gif

Here is the link to this article:

http://nytimes.com/2004/11/01/opinion/01herbert.html

milwaukee_poster.gif

It is a federal offense to interfer with an election!

[Tuco]

Anybody can see that the Milwaukee black voters league flyer is patently absurd. You would have to be mentally retarded to believe it. In fact, I wouldn't put it past the Democrats that they made the flyer themselves to create a case for disenfranchisement that has become their mantra.

[bassetman]

Journalist Photographing Voters Arrested

By Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A freelance journalist who was taking pictures of voters waiting outside the Palm Beach County elections headquarters was arrested after ignoring a deputy's orders to stop, sheriff's officials said.

James S. Henry, of Sag Harbor, N.Y., was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence.

Rules enacted Friday by elections chief Theresa LePore prohibit reporters from talking to or photographing voters outside polling stations, prosecutor Leon St. John said. The restrictions were prompted by "numerous complaints by voters," St. John said.

Sheriff's Deputy Al Cinque tried to stop Henry as he shot pictures of about 600 people standing in line to vote Sunday afternoon. Henry began running away, but Cinque tackled him, the Palm Beach Post reported.

The deputy pinned Henry, 54, to the ground, yelling for him to stop moving, then punched him in the back. Cinque handcuffed Henry's left arm, pulled him to his feet and punched him again as Henry tried to hand him identification cards, according to the paper.

Other reporters who witnessed the arrest said they had not been aware of the new restrictions.

Sheriff's office spokesman Paul Miller said Monday that Henry "tripped over his own feet" as he ran away. He was heading toward the building's front door, and the deputy "has to use whatever reasonable force is necessary under the circumstances," Miller said.

Miller said the deputy had asked Henry to move to another area to snap pictures.

"His actions were compromising the elections process and intimidating people that were attempting to wait to vote," Miller said. "He was in their faces."

According to his Web site, Henry is an attorney and managing director of a business consulting firm as well as a journalist, and is working on a book about electoral democracy.

He was being held on $500 bond.

Early voting was introduced in Florida after the 2000 election, in which this crucial state decided the result by only 537 votes. More than 1.8 million Floridians have cast their ballots through early or absentee voting.

* __

On the Net:

Henry site:

http://bloodbankers.typepad.com/about.html

[bassetman]

CWA Police Division Decries Voter Intimidation by 'Bogus Cops,' Calls on Law Enforcement to Protect Citizens' Voting Rights

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Coalition of Public
Safety Officers (NCPSO), the police and public safety division of the
Communications Workers of America (CWA), called on its 19,000 members and
other law enforcement officials around the country to take a stand against
voter intimidation by police-look-alikes in the upcoming national elections.
NCPSO, along with several other national groups, have voiced concern about
increasing irregularities at polling places, directed primarily at minorities
and the elderly, involving people illegally purporting to be law enforcement
officers.
"The NCPSO believes it is important to let the American public know that
public safety officers support our citizens' right to freely cast an official
ballot for the candidate of their choice without pressure or intimidation,"
said the organization's president, Chris McGill, who is a police officer in El
Paso, Texas. "Citizens who lawfully exercise their legal right to vote should
be afforded every protection from state, local and federal law enforcement
officials," McGill stated.
To underscore its position, the NCPSO has joined in the efforts of
national civil rights advocacy groups including the NAACP and the AFL-CIO
Civil Rights Department in encouraging voters not to be intimidated by bogus
look-alike "cops." "In certain circumstances, impersonating a police officer
is a federal offense, and we truly believe that those apprehended while
engaging in such actions should be prosecuted under federal law, including
specifically national civil rights laws," said McGill.
McGill noted that in recent elections, there have been many reports around
the country of organized voter intimidation involving people dressed as armed
guards or wearing official looking insignia, and driving cars with decals
mimicking law enforcement agencies. Tactics such as photographing prospective
voters and asking for their identification are often targeted toward minority
precincts, McGill said, citing a study by the NAACP and People for the
American Way.
"The 2004 Presidential Election is the most important campaign of this
decade," said President Morton Bahr of the parent CWA. "Every citizen,
particularly those in minority communities, should have free and open access
to the polls. The National Coalition of Public Safety Officers and CWA are
calling on law enforcement officers to protect the rights of all citizens to
vote by keeping the path to polling locations free from obstructions thus
ensuring a smooth election process on November 2, 2004."
NCPSO President McGill invited people with questions about this issue to
contact Alfonso Pollard at 202-434-1315.

CWA represents 700,000 employees in telecommunications, IT, journalism and
publishing, broadcast and cable TV, manufacturing, airlines and the public
sector.


SOURCE Communications Workers of America
Web Site: http://www.cwa-union.org
http://<br /> http://www.prnewswire...2311258&EDATE=

Bolding by me.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by bassetman

Big G.O.P. Bid to Challenge Voters at Polls in Key State
By Michael Moss
The New York Times

Saturday 23 October 2004

Republican Party officials in Ohio took formal steps yesterday to place thousands of recruits inside polling places on Election Day to challenge the qualifications of voters they suspect are not eligible to cast ballots.

Excuse me, but where's the problem with this? I already posted an article that showed Democrats were trading crack cocaine for voter registrations. Convicted felons and others that aren't qualified to vote are almost always voting for Democrats, so I think to sanctify the process, Republicans damn well should challenge people suspected of not being registered. I would say anyone who walks in with a needle sticking out of their arm should be challenged!

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Tuco

Anybody can see that the Milwaukee black voters league flyer is patently absurd. You would have to be mentally retarded to believe it.

That's the backbone of the Democratic vote!

[Ciberblade]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Excuse me, but where's the problem with this? I already posted an article that showed Democrats were trading crack cocaine for voter registrations. Convicted felons and others that aren't qualified to vote are almost always voting for Democrats, so I think to sanctify the process, Republicans damn well should challenge people suspected of not being registered. I would say anyone who walks in with a needle sticking out of their arm should be challenged!

I don't know...sounds like this could open the door of profiling. The screening and all should have already been done. When you show up to vote, show your ID, sign on the line. If you are not on the list...then you are not registered in that precinct...simple as that. You don't get to vote if your name is not on the list.

[bassetman]

Twelve Ways Bush is Now Stealing the Ohio Vote

by Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman


The Republican "November Surprise" to steal the 2004 election is in full force here in Ohio. With polls showing a dead heat, the GOP is staging an all-out attack on a fair vote count in the Buckeye State.

Here are a dozen ways they're doing it:

Under an archaic Ohio law, both the Republican and Democratic Parties, or any slate of five candidates, may embed official election challengers inside polling places. The New York Times reported on Oct. 23 that the Republican Party intends to place thousands of lawyers and other GOP faithfuls inside the polls to challenge voters. Republican insiders confide here that the key goal is to jam lines and frustrate new voters. The GOP apparently figures many voters in key Democratic precincts won't wait in line more than 15 minutes to vote. This is certain to be a major tactic in Cleveland's Cayahoga County and other Democratic strongholds. The GOP is not planning to challenge voters in Republican districts.
Republican party has sent letters challenging thousands of Franklin County students who are registered to vote absentee. Franklin County is home to Columbus, the state's largest city and its capitol. Though it is also home to Ohio State University, thousands of local students go to schools outside the county or state. The GOP apparently does not want their votes counted. This unprecedented mass challenge has prompted the Franklin County Board of Elections, whose director is a conservative Republican, to reserve the large Veterans Memorial Auditorium downtown to process the challenges this Thursday, as John Kerry comes to town with Bruce Springsteen. The County has told thousands of students that if they don't appear in Columbus to answer the GOP challenges, they may lose their right to vote.
...

http://www.opednews.com/fitrakis_102904_12_ways.htm

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Excuse me, but where's the problem with this? I already posted an article that showed Democrats were trading crack cocaine for voter registrations. Convicted felons and others that aren't qualified to vote are almost always voting for Democrats, so I think to sanctify the process, Republicans damn well should challenge people suspected of not being registered. I would say anyone who walks in with a needle sticking out of their arm should be challenged!

The court apparently decided only poll workers had that authority!

[bassetman]

One friend of mine got a call asking them if the caller could "contirm that [you] are voting for President Bush".

They were offended that someone with their phone # wanted to know who they were voting for!