Obama prepping thousands of lawyers for election

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MIKE BAKER

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - President Barack Obama's campaign has recruited a legion of lawyers to be on standby for this year's election as legal disputes surrounding the voting process escalate.

Thousands of attorneys and support staffers have agreed to aid in the effort, providing a mass of legal support that appears to be unrivaled by Republicans or precedent. Obama's campaign says it is particularly concerned about the implementation of new voter ID laws across the country, the possibility of anti-fraud activists challenging legitimate voters and the handling of voter registrations in the most competitive states.

Republicans are building their own legal teams for the election. They say they're focused on preventing fraud - making sure people don't vote unless they're eligible - rather than turning away qualified voters.

Since the disputed 2000 presidential election, both parties have increasingly concentrated on building legal teams - including high-priced lawyers who are well-known in political circles - for the Election Day run-up. The Bush-Gore election demonstrated to both sides the importance of every vote and the fact that the rules for voting and counting might actually determine the outcome. The Florida count in 2000 was decided by just 537 votes and ultimately landed in the Supreme Court.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120627/D9VL56IG0.html

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This April 24, 2012 file photo shows a sign at the entrance of a polling station in East Greenwich, R.I., advises voters that identification is required. President Barack Obama's campaign is recruiting legions of lawyers to handle disputes that may arise from now through Election Day. Thousands of attorneys and support staffers have agreed to aid in the effort, providing legal support that appears to be unrivaled by Republicans or precedent. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

[freshwest]

1. Thanks. The answer to questions on what is the DOJ doing to prevent election theft.

[Gothmog]

9. The DOJ has blocked the voter id laws for Texas and South Carolina

The DOJ is taking a very active role in the protection of voting rights. Right now, the Texas voter id law is being blocked and hopefully the DC circuit will back up the DOJ on this issue. That trial is set to start on July 8 or so. As a Texas Democrat, I am very appreciative of the efforts of the DOJ here.

The lawyers being discussed in the OP refers to the Obama voter protection program. I worked on the Kerry Edwards voter protection team in 2004 and the Obama voter protection team in 2008 and 2010. I am hoping that the voter id law is not allowed to go into effect and that all we have to worry about is the King Street Patriots who are based in Harris county.

[freshwest]

10. I am glad to hear that the block is still working... Whatever was done about the voting machines..

That were burned up down there? Wasn't that a GOP tactic?

I have a hard time believing it was an accident. Good luck down there and keep us informed.

[totodeinhere]

2. I don't blame them one bit for being prepared. But I hope to God it doesn't

come to that. President Obama needs to win by a big enough margin so that all of that won't be necessary.

[TBF]

3. Good. And I don't think it is any surprise

that the reich wing is attacking Holder as a result. They want to steal this election like they did in 2000.

[SunSeeker]

4. K&R

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Kerry did this in 2004

Just sayin . .

[Poll_Blind]

6. I think it's good he's doing this, but I do remember that as well. nt

PB

[mopinko]

7. yup.

raised $42M iirc, and kept the money.

[RC]

11. By caving the day after the election?

Yeah, he did his part alright.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. He had the lawyers lined up ahead of time

Supposedly.

Just no reason to be confident.

[Fuddnik]

14. The lawyers on Kerry's team were ready to go, on thousands of disrepacies in Florida alone.

They were told to "stand down". Nothing. Absolutely nothing was investigated.

[sad sally]

8. It's deja vu all over again...all those lawyers yet Senator Kerry quickly conceded victory to Bush.

Elections are still ripe to be stolen, just like in Ohio in 2004.

Monday, October 04, 2004
Parties lining up thousands of lawyers in case election is close

By Lisa Getter
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — Haunted by the specter of the 2000 Florida recount, both presidential campaigns have begun lining up thousands of lawyers across the United States, just in case the 2004 election is too close to call.

Sen. John Kerry's campaign has put together an elaborate nationwide plan to mobilize tens of thousands of lawyers on Election Day, enough to staff every county in every battleground state. In addition, five legal "SWAT teams" are in place to fly anywhere a recount is warranted.

Democratic lawyers already are filing lawsuits across the country — including ones in Ohio, Michigan and Florida last week — over election policies they believe will disenfranchise voters on Nov. 2.

Although Democrats are coordinating their efforts through the Kerry campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Republicans are relying on state political parties to recruit lawyers.

[Gothmog]

13. Voter Protection Efforts

The DNC has maintained an injunction in effect against the RNC since 1982 prohibiting the RNC from engaging in "ballot security" efforts other than normal poll watching activities. In 2008, the voter protection team blocked an attempt to engage in vote caging in Michigan by going after people who homes were being foreclosed on and also got an injunction/settlement in Florida stopping vote caging.

Voter caging is the technique where voters are sent post cards or mail and if such mail is returned, that voter is either removed from the rolls or challenged at the voting place. Voter caging is still being used by groups other than the RNC due to injunction and the Democratic lawyers are challenging such activities.

Chad Dunn, the general counsel for the Texas Democratic Party, is one of the lawyers challenging the Texas voter id law. The NAACP, the ACLU and others are also in that case. Chad Dunn is a good guy and is doing a great job on this case.

[McCamy Taylor]

15. Needs to enlist the DOJ.

I recommend a few stings. Undercover agents pretending to offer vote changing technology. Film it.

[clang1]

16. Obviously he understands....

I see our democracy reduced to being decided by lawyers instead of the vote. What happened in 2000 ?????
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the end, this is not about who is Left or Right....The Elites decide what they are and what we are. Not you or I, unless something is done to stop it all. PERIOD.

Agree with me or not, this has happened time and time again in the world and I stand with history on that and I know where power is. So do you all. That is why all of this is going on. Simple.

[jwirr]

17. This is good but we are going to have to deal with the voter suppression before the vote. I watched

the news tonight and for the first time I am afraid.

[Beartracks]

18. Curious: What are legal froms of ID?

In the states where ID is required, what are legal forms of ID that can be used? Presumably a driver's license. But if you don't have one, what can you use?

====================

[dragonlady]

19. In Wisconsin these are the recognized IDs

(Note that the photo ID law has been enjoined by two different state courts and is in the process of being litigated in federal court, so this list is theoretical at this point and may well not be in effect in November).

WI driver's license or state ID card (same as driver's license but no driving)
US passport
Military ID (uniformed services only, no VA cards)
Certificate of naturalization issued less than 2 years prior to election
Receipt for a WI driver's license or state ID, up to 45 days from issue (used until permanent license comes in the mail)
ID issued by federally recognized Indian Tribe in WI
College student ID that meets certain requirements

[santamargarita]

20. Get thousands more. Republicans lie, cheat, steal, have no moral values, no conscience, no remorse..