BBC says Republicans planning to intimidate black voters - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

10-27-2004, 07:41 AM

This is all based on a SECRET DOCUMENT that they found on a website with mistakenly sent Republican emails. It details a list of 1000 some odd voters in Democratic/black areas, but does not detail if the people on the list are democrats themselves. This is so heavily laden with spin I'm shocked that blogosphere people are agreeing with it, so close to the election.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ht/3956129.stm

Quote:

A secret document obtained from inside Bush campaign headquarters in Florida suggests a plan - possibly in violation of US law - to disrupt voting in the state's African-American voting districts, a BBC Newsnight investigation reveals.

Two e-mails, prepared for the executive director of the Bush campaign in Florida and the campaign's national research director in Washington DC, contain a 15-page so-called "caging list".

It lists 1,886 names and addresses of voters in predominantly black and traditionally Democrat areas of Jacksonville, Florida.

An elections supervisor in Tallahassee, when shown the list, told Newsnight: "The only possible reason why they would keep such a thing is to challenge voters on election day."

Ion Sancho, a Democrat, noted that Florida law allows political party operatives inside polling stations to stop voters from obtaining a ballot.

Mass Challenges

They may then only vote "provisionally" after signing an affidavit attesting to their legal voting status.

Mass challenges have never occurred in Florida. Indeed, says Mr Sancho, not one challenge has been made to a voter "in the 16 years I've been supervisor of elections."

"Quite frankly, this process can be used to slow down the voting process and cause chaos on election day; and discourage voters from voting."

Sancho calls it "intimidation." And it may be illegal.

In Washington, well-known civil rights attorney, Ralph Neas, noted that US federal law prohibits targeting challenges to voters, even if there is a basis for the challenge, if race is a factor in targeting the voters.

The list of Jacksonville voters covers an area with a majority of black residents.

When asked by Newsnight for an explanation of the list, Republican spokespersons claim the list merely records returned mail from either fundraising solicitations or returned letters sent to newly registered voters to verify their addresses for purposes of mailing campaign literature.

Republican state campaign spokeswoman Mindy Tucker Fletcher stated the list was not put together "in order to create" a challenge list, but refused to say it would not be used in that manner.

Rather, she did acknowledge that the party's poll workers will be instructed to challenge voters, "Where it's stated in the law."

There was no explanation as to why such clerical matters would be sent to top officials of the Bush campaign in Florida and Washington.

Private detective

<b>In Jacksonville, to determine if Republicans were using the lists or other means of intimidating voters, we filmed a private detective filming every "early voter" - the majority of whom are black - from behind a vehicle with blacked-out windows.

The private detective claimed not to know who was paying for his all-day services.</b>

On the scene, Democratic Congresswoman Corinne Brown said the surveillance operation was part of a campaign of intimidation tactics used by the Republican Party to intimate and scare off African American voters, almost all of whom are registered Democrats.

That private detective sure was intimidating people - from out of sight. And to what end? That footage would be used to show what? Intimidating them in the NEXT election?

Also, note the number of Democrats whose baseless opinions are given credence, yet the Republican denial is hardly detailed and doubt given to it.

I expected this from the BBC, but I seriously didn't expect it to bandwagon. And not so close to election time, when everyone is supposed to be cynical.

Good job, America.

cthulu23 · 10-27-2004, 08:05 AM

The private detective bit is the least important part of the story.

There is something a little suspicious about high level Republicans sending around the names of Florida residents from primarily African American areas. As was alleged in the story, this might be a "caging" list, used to help Republicans challenge voters at the poll (Republicans are openly planning to position challengers at the polls).

Of course, "suspicious" does not equal "provable," which is why I didn't post this story myself.

Mojo_PeiPei · 10-27-2004, 08:10 AM

As much fan as we have had leading up to this election, is everyone geared up and ready for the months of fun to follow when there is no winner due to all the court challenges?

10-27-2004, 09:36 AM

That's a scary thought, Mojo..

Just to lighten the tension, though.. Everyone else has had more sex than me.

Scipio · 10-27-2004, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_PeiPei

As much fan as we have had leading up to this election, is everyone geared up and ready for the months of fun to follow when there is no winner due to all the court challenges?

That's only if Kerry doesn't win in a landslide:

(warning: PDF ahead...)

http://www.fabmac.com/FMA-2004-10-27...und-Ballot.pdf

Internal Nader polling shows Bush and Kerry in a tie, however, when those results are weighted to the 2000 census or 2000 exit polls, and reflect increased minority turnout, Bush loses by a massive 5 points.

This is relevant to the discussion at hand, as it explains why the GOP is paying thugs $100 cash to harass (minority) voters on election day.

Mojo_PeiPei · 10-27-2004, 10:24 AM

Or you can argue about massive voter fraud in favor of Kerry.

It's widely known that college kids tend to be more "liberal". A trend that seems to be emerging in this election is many college students will end up casting two votes 1) voting through absentee ballots at their legal address and 2) registering and voting at the local area where they attend school.

Scipio · 10-27-2004, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_PeiPei

Or you can argue about massive voter fraud in favor of Kerry.

It's widely known that college kids tend to be more "liberal". A trend that seems to be emerging in this election is many college students will end up casting two votes 1) voting through absentee ballots at their legal address and 2) registering and voting at the local area where they attend school.

Massive voter fraud? I'm a (moderate) Democratic college student, and I know of no one who's doing this. Quite frankly, it's a dirty assertion to make with no evidence, particularly in a thread about evidence of Republican plans to intimidate legal minority voters in contested states.

stevo · 10-27-2004, 10:58 AM

Yeah. Us republicans hate minorities and children. So on election day I'm going to intimidate all the minorities I can find and if I see any children eating food I'm going to take it right out of their mouths. Evil republicans.

Come on people.

To some, lying is OK because the ends justify the means. Most of those people are democrats. I'm not trying to insult anyone here, but this is the same crap you hear every election. "The republicans are disenfranchising and intimidating minorities." How come I don't ever see the individual that was disenfranchied complaining and its always a democratic spokesperson?

guy44 · 10-27-2004, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Yeah. Us republicans hate minorities and children. So on election day I'm going to intimidate all the minorities I can find and if I see any children eating food I'm going to take it right out of their mouths. Evil republicans.

Because the disenfranchised are often those without a voice.

For a state-by-state breakdown of Republican (I'm not talking individual citizens, and certainly not insinuating all or even 99% of Republicans support this, but instead party operatives) voter suppression efforts, I direct you here:

From dKospedia.

Highlights include entirely RNC funded voter "outreach" outfits that tear up Democratic registrations and the well-publicized, open-aired effort in states like Florida and Ohio to have Republican supporters "check voter fraud" in polling places inside high minority areas by greatly slowing down the voting lines.

See for yourself. And I dare you to find a Democratic counterpoint.

Scipio · 10-27-2004, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo22

To some, lying is OK because the ends justify the means. Most of those people are democrats. I'm not trying to insult anyone here...

Actually, I'm quite insulted by that. You might want to think twice before you sling rhetoric like that around.

10-27-2004, 08:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mojo_PeiPei Kiss of Death Location: Perpetual wind and sorrow	As much fan as we have had leading up to this election, is everyone geared up and ready for the months of fun to follow when there is no winner due to all the court challenges? __________________ To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

10-27-2004, 10:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mojo_PeiPei Kiss of Death Location: Perpetual wind and sorrow	Or you can argue about massive voter fraud in favor of Kerry. It's widely known that college kids tend to be more "liberal". A trend that seems to be emerging in this election is many college students will end up casting two votes 1) voting through absentee ballots at their legal address and 2) registering and voting at the local area where they attend school. __________________ To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

10-27-2004, 08:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
cthulu23 Banned	The private detective bit is the least important part of the story. There is something a little suspicious about high level Republicans sending around the names of Florida residents from primarily African American areas. As was alleged in the story, this might be a "caging" list, used to help Republicans challenge voters at the poll (Republicans are openly planning to position challengers at the polls). Of course, "suspicious" does not equal "provable," which is why I didn't post this story myself.

10-27-2004, 09:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
jconnolly Guest	That's a scary thought, Mojo.. Just to lighten the tension, though.. Everyone else has had more sex than me.

10-27-2004, 10:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
stevo Rail Baron Location: Tallyfla	Yeah. Us republicans hate minorities and children. So on election day I'm going to intimidate all the minorities I can find and if I see any children eating food I'm going to take it right out of their mouths. Evil republicans. Come on people. To some, lying is OK because the ends justify the means. Most of those people are democrats. I'm not trying to insult anyone here, but this is the same crap you hear every election. "The republicans are disenfranchising and intimidating minorities." How come I don't ever see the individual that was disenfranchied complaining and its always a democratic spokesperson?