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The Left discovers Voter Fraud

Submitted by Jon Henke on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 11:48
in

Media Matters is providing cover for Obama against David Freddoso's new book, The Case Against Barack Obama.   I'll leave it to Freddoso to defend against the charges, but I would like to note what Media Matters said about Barack Obama having all of his opponents removed from the ballot in 1996.

In fact, Obama's opponents in the 1996 Democratic primary for the 13th district Illinois state Senate seat were removed from the ballot for failing to adhere to election laws -- the Obama campaign challenged the signatures his opponents had collected to get their names on the ballot, and the signatures were deemed ineligible for a variety of reasons. On page 2, Freddoso undermines his own claim by quoting a 1996 Chicago Weekend article explaining that some of incumbent Sen. Alice Palmer's signatures were disqualified because the voters who signed lived outside the 13th district -- something more than a mere "technicality":

I, for one, welcome Media Matters' sudden concern about election integrity and voter fraud.  It's a nice change of pace from their usual argument that election fraud isn't such a big deal. 

In case they're as interested in defending ballots as they are in defending Obama, I'm sure our friends at Election Journal would be willing to help them out with a bit of evidence.

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I'd like to know...

Submitted by markg8 on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 12:58.

....how many cases of voter impersonation have been exposed over the last three decades. Anybody know?

 

 

Your Point?

Submitted by carltonyates on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 14:11.

Are you saying that Obama shouldn't have challenged the voters? This tactic is electioneering 101 and most Chicago candidates use the tactic. Your lack of knowledge of Chicago election fundamentals is showing.

Get schooled. Old schooled. Chicago style. The new old politics:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,184309...

No

Submitted by Jon Henke on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 14:58.

Are you saying that Obama shouldn't have challenged the voters?

That is not what I'm saying.  I didn't venture an opinion on what he should have done at all. 

GOP Tactic

Submitted by carltonyates on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 15:22.

Did you not venture an opinion because you are aware that this is a common GOP tactic and to cry foul would be hypocritical. A little transparency would go a long way. Isn't that part of the Web 2.0 ethos? Anyway, congrats on the site, definitely one of the more honest and thoughtful on the right.

I merely pointed out that MM

Submitted by Jon Henke on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 15:34.

I merely pointed out that MM wants it both ways.  I haven't excused ballot fraud.

How about the assault on Democracy here?

Submitted by Ironman on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 19:20.

The Obama camp deprived thousands of Illinois residents of their right to choose their state senator by knocking opponents off the ballot for petitiion deficiencies.

Maybe this is the "Chicago way" but it seems rather far from the entire concept of democracy, and more suited to Cuba than America.

Will we see the Left adopt a wholesale national strategy of disenfranchising the electorate by knocking Republicans and conservatives off the ballot?

The liberal game plan: Demonize, criminalize, and disenfranchise  

C'mon

Submitted by markg8 on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 22:10.

In DuPage County Illinois Repubs are trying to kick a Dem running for state rep off the ballot for voting for a buddy of his in the Republican primary. They already lost on challenging his petition signatures which is done by everybody all the time.

so I suppose his "Operation Chaos" was good?

Submitted by Ironman on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 22:13.

Two wrongs don';t make a right...what is this Capone v. Bugs Moran all over again?

In Illinois you have to get x # of signatures from registered...

Submitted by markg8 on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 08:47.

...voters in your district on your petitions to be placed on the primary ballot. To sign a petition you write your sig and print your name, address and county. Judges rule whether a particular candidate got enough valid signatures from voters.        

A candidate needs volunteers willing to go door to door for hm or her to get those sigs or hire a professional outfit. Challenging the petitions of opposing candidates keeps everyone honest. Once again, it's done all the time in Illinois. 

Obama entered that race for state senate with not just the blessing, but at the urging of the incumbent who planned to run for congress. He told her if he ran he'd run to win not spend a lot of time and money to be a place holder for her. Sure enough her congressional race flamed out and she asked hm to withdraw. In keeping with their agreement he said no. He'd built a volunteer organization, knew the others hadn't and that they had no money to hire people to petition for them. None of the activists in the area saw any of the other candidates even trying to mount a petition drive which usually means one thing. A few people sitting around in a room filling out the forms as the filing deadline approaches.

You may like it when Gary Coleman, a stripper and about 30 others clutter up the governor's race in CA but in Illinois they like a cleaner ballot. 

well, the ultimate clean ballot

Submitted by Ironman on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 18:28.

is only one candidate. Eliminates any possibility the voter will be confused as to who to vote for

By the way "honest" and "Illinois" are sorta mutually exclusive terms