OK this is an absolute OUTRAGE. Trashed registrations by RNC funded co.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

Oct. 12) -- Employees of a private voter registration company allege that hundreds, perhaps thousands of voters who may think they are registered will be rudely surprised on election day. The company claims hundreds of registration forms were thrown in the trash.

Anyone who has recently registered or re-registered to vote outside a mall or grocery store or even government building may be affected.

The I-Team has obtained information about an alleged widespread pattern of potential registration fraud aimed at democrats. Thee focus of the story is a private registration company called Voters Outreach of America, AKA America Votes.


<snip>
"We caught her taking Democrats out of my pile, handed them to her assistant and he ripped them up right in front of us. I grabbed some of them out of the garbage and she tells her assisatnt to get those from me," said Eric Russell, former Voters Outreach employee.

<snip>
The company has been largely, if not entirely funded, by the Republican National Committee. Similar complaints have been received in Reno where the registrar has asked the FBI to investigate.
http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2421595&nav=168XRvNe

[progressivebydesign]

1. My GOD! The GOP really are the lowest scum on Earth!

I wonder what other States this firm is doing business for RNC.?? Anyone know? This is a felony.. and they should pay!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. It said they had moved on to Oregon in the article

nice...fucking with registrations in battleground states...we need the UN here monitoring OUR elections

[SoCalDemocrat]

29. Can someone in OR track them down? And call the FBI

Track them down and call the FBI. We need to get their origanizers arrested and behind bars, and mount a massive campaign to re-register all the Democrats they defrauded. The RNC also needs to be heavily fined and sanctioned for financing this operation.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

37. The article says the FBI was notified in Nevada

[Kipepeo]

40. Nathan Sproul

of the Republican Party in Arizona, "Sproul & Associates"

http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2004/06/19886.php

http://lasvegas.staughton.indypgh.org/news/2004/09/384.php

http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=American_Libraries&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=76329

[sandnsea]

35. I've been on it

I know a kid here who has been involved in some sort of Republican voter registration and we've been trying to get a hold of him to find out the name of the company. I posted the other day. This kid can't get anybody to register Republican, but when his friends realize they don't have to VOTE Republican and can take money out of the Pub campaign, they go ahead and register. So this company is actually paying to register Kerry voters, although they don't know it. But what we don't know is whether they're mailing in ALL registrations because I know if they aren't, it's illegal. That's what I'm trying to find out from this kid. Now that registration is closed, it'll be easier to get a hold of him and find out. Definitely on it.

[Roland99]

44. Ain't that the truth!!!

[greenbriar]

2. KICK

Keep it up

send it to olberman and Kerry

[Mz Pip]

3. Blatant

disregard of voter rights. Scary thing is, they will probably get away with it.

I would like to hope that there would be some serious prosecutions for this but the Repugs keep pushing the envelope and getting away with it.

Kerry could win in a landslide and the GOP would challenge it and probably win. I wish I weren't so cynical but your screen name says it all.

MzPip
:dem:

[glitch]

4. This is a felony offense - I hope the police have been called. nt

[RobertSeattle]

6. Voting infringement should have the same penalty as treason

Since it has the same effect, subverting our democracy.

[BMJ]

7. There are times I'm glad I live in a strong blue state...

...so that I don't often have to experience this level of divided hatred. (Although my neighbor is a freep, he's also a skinhead, so we all laugh at him)

[Rose Siding]

8. This article says they may still be operating in Oregon

Is anyone in touch with the DNC or the law there? They have to be stopped if they are still working this scam.

[gardenista]

9. Why is anyone surprised by this? They've been doing this shite

since time imemmorial.

This is a win-win for them, especially when we publicize it. They demoralize marginal dems, who are dumb enough to register with them rather than a dem organization.

So now lots of people will think, "Well, they prolly threw away my registration anyhow, so why bother to vote?"

Arrrrgh!

[KittyWampus]

12. Not If Democratic Party Loudly Demand Provisional Ballots

for ANYONE who is a legal voter who says they registered but are not on the roles.

Very simple remedy here.

[gardenista]

20. That is my hope. Believe me, we're in for a fight if we ever want those

provisional ballots counted.

I agree with another poster that there should be strict criminal penalties for disenfranchising voters.

[Kipepeo]

10. Name Confusion

Now people aren't going to trust this America Votes: http://www.americavotes.org/index.cfm

[gardenista]

11. They are such scum, this is just disgusting. nt

[eddiebrowns]

15. Sent the article from the website

to Olbermann and Dobbs-we'll see if either mentions it.

[bloom]

13. It becomes more and more clear that Republicans do not want a democracy

here or probably anywhere.

Whatever you call a one-party government seems to be what they want.

[Tace]

14. Livid Outrage... And Yet I'm So Sorry This Is Happening... I've Awakened

into a terrible Orwellian nightmare. THIS WILL NOT STAND!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. The good news: We will have won the election if we can prove this.

The silver lining here is that IF we can prove this and get it made into a big story it will help swing a lot of voters over to our side. This is the kind of sleazy shit that they live and beathe by and if we have them dead to rights then we will milk it for everything it's worth.

Besdies, unless we can prove it happened they will have gotten away with it. Registrations are now closed everywhere. I see no legal recourse for any of these people if there is no proof it happened.

[Kipepeo]

17. "Voters Outreach of America" was in AZ too

getting signatures for Nader. Read this:

http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2004/06/19886.php

...Nor has Nader denounced the covert assistance his Arizona ballot-qualification effort received from Sproul, who is currently running the No Taxpayer Money For Politicians" initiative, a right-wing effort to ban candidates from receiving public financing. According to several sources, two of the contractors Sproul hired to oversee petition gathering for No Taxpayer Money For Politicians -- Aaron "A.J." James, who directs Voters' Outreach of America, and Diane Burns -- were also paid by Sproul to get as many signatures as possible for Nader. "Aaron (James) told me he was out there getting signatures for Nader. So I can only assume that Diane was too," said Derek Lee, who, as owner of Lee Petitions, was part of the traveling petition carnival that descended on Arizona this spring. "The only thing I can tell you for sure is that Aaron was working with Nathan (Sproul) on this Nader thing. I've heard that from a number of people but they put the hush-hush on it real quick." Reached by phone, Burns and James were clearly nonplussed; when asked if they were hired by Sproul to get signatures for Nader, both immediately hung up...

[Kipepeo]

30. They were also in Missouri

So in addition to tearing up Deamocratic registrations in Nevada and getting petition signatures for Nader in Arizona, they were in Missouri. Check out this job posting: http://nonprofit.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?Job_DID=JQ5WL605V900TFY6WG

Hmmm...but I don't see anything under "requirements" about being good at shredding (D) registrations...

[Kipepeo]

32. Eeek and read this..from UNLV

http://lasvegas.staughton.indypgh.org/news/2004/09/384.php

America Votes(.org) Legitimacy in Question
by Joe Sacco Thursday September 23, 2004 at 10:11 PM


On Thursday, September 23, 2004, at least one group of individuals is making voter registration difficult for some, depending on party affiliation.

America Votes claims to be a non-partisan political organization working to register voters. According to their official website, they are part of a coalition with AFL-CIO, America Coming Together (ACT), and other political organizations.

Surprisingly, a number of AMERICA VOTES field representatives were at UNLV's campus today asking "If the election were held today, would you vote Republican or Democrat?" An answer of "Democrat" assured a response of non-compliance. They actually refused to register people whom responded "Democrat". On the contrary, if a person were to say they would support the Republican party/candidate, the representatives would then kindly register the person.

On-foot voter-registration workers are questioning political party affiliation, ultimately discriminating against Democrats and 3RD PARTY supporters. These people are clearly inhibiting democracy while enabling more partisan-based corruption within the US voting process.

[Kipepeo]

34. Here's another story from Oregon

same group...also paid for by the Republican "Sproul & Associates" group (run by Nathan Sproul) in the Arizona Story above and claiming to be with Americavotes.org when they weren't:

http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=American_Libraries&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=76329

Oregon Librarian Thwarts Voter-Registration Fraud

A librarian in Medford, Oregon, uncovered in September the real identity of a group claiming to be part of a nonpartisan, nationwide voter-registration organization called America Votes. The group had called and sent letters to several libraries in Oregon, including Multnomah County, West Slope, and Corvallis-Benton County.
Meghan O’Flaherty, library manager of the Jackson County Headquarters Library, checked into a letter from a group called Sproul & Associates asking to set up a voter-registration booth in the library. The letter began: “Our firm has been contracted to help coordinate a national non-partisan voter registration drive, America Votes! in several states across the nation.” Checking the Internet, O’Flaherty found that Sproul & Associates is a political consulting firm headed by former Arizona State Republican Party Executive Director Nathan Sproul.

An employee at Sproul & Associates said the group’s drive is called Project America Votes and admitted to knowing about the similar names. Claiming an innocent mistake, Sproul said in the September 21 Medford Mail Tribune, “We were not trying to copy their name. All we were trying to do was register people to vote. You telling me that they even exist was really the first time I’d heard it.”

O’Flaherty contacted Kevin Looper, the state organizing director for America Votes, who told her that Sproul & Associates had absolutely nothing to do with his organization. “You’ll have to forgive me for not finding it credible that they would not have heard of a group that is one of the largest in the country.” He also said that America Votes is “in the process of pursuing all of our legal options to pursue cease and desist.”

Looper credits O’Flaherty’s and other Oregon librarians’ quick thinking in the matter: “If it wasn’t for their initiative on it, I would not have known about it.”

Posted September 24, 2004.

Another article about the Libraian thwarting Sproul's "Project America Votes" in OR: http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0921/local/stories/02local.htm

[progressivebydesign]

18. DNC needs to address this publicly...

Not that we NEED to spend any more money.. but it HAS to be done. Here's what they need to do.. They need to put banner ads out, or radio ads, in the States where those idiots were working.. and TELL those that registered Democratic during particular dates in those areas, to CALL their election office IMMEDIATELY!! To be SURE that they are indeed, registered. The deadline in my state is October 18th.. so there may still be time to fix this. If the election offices in those states are inundated with calls.. then that's ALL the more reason to kick that company AND the RNC's ASS!!!

I tell you what. HERE is why this happened.. I guarantee it. The RNC probably told them they'd only PAY for the Republican registrations... and that is illegal for one group to only accept registrations from one party.. So they destroyed them, and hell.. perhaps that was ALSO a directive from the RNC.

THIS IS MAJOR.

[xxqqqzme]

27. what u describe is what the CA

rethugs did during the run up to the recall vote. We were registering voters 'n a woman approached us saying she had all these dem registrations that the rethugs refused to take after paying her 4 the rethug ones. We told her she had 2 turn them N2 the registrar or she would B violating CA law. Course the rethugs would skate cuz the woman did the registration. Rat bastards (

she was paid up 2 $7.50 depending on the zip code.

[Johnny 99]

19. Contracting out voter registration?

Uh....uh....words fail me here.

[gardenista]

23. Dems do it too. Pugs do it more, and pay more.

My dear dad has so far registered over 500 Dems in his very conservative/fundie county in California. Every weekend, he sets up his table next to a college kid the pugs are paying for every new registration he gets. The kid doesn't even intend to vote for Bush. My dad's been working on him. He's in it for the money.

[NAO]

21. Criminal Prosecution Should be Aggressively Pursued

The first priority is obviously getting the damage corrected, if that is even possible.

The next step is to go after the perpetrators. The people who are responsible for this ought to be aggressively prosecuted. There should be HUGE fines...orginization dissolving AND individual personal asset liquidating scale fines AND mandatory prison time.

Everyone of any rank in this company (i.e., everyone other than the $8/hr employees) should be slapped with massive fines levied against them personally - they should not be allowed to hid behind companies or organizations.

As far as I'm concerned, reducing the responsible people to utter financial destitution is far better punishment than mere prison time, although that is also called for.

This is treason - an attack on our democracy.

[HuskerDem]

22. I hope that bitch does REAL TIME - How low can rethuglipigs get?

There seems to be no end. I hope this issue is kept at the forefront.

[LoZoccolo]

24. NOOSES FOR ALL!

People should get the DEATH PENALTY for fucking with voter registration. It's TREASON!

[against all enemies]

25. Hey John Ashcroft, they were swearing too. Now are you interested?

[Zuni]

26. This has got me hot

Prepare for another Florida. Document this. Send to the DNC/Kerry Campaign

[rumguy]

28. shameful - and highly illegal

Prosecutions should be coming...

[ParanoidPat]

31. They've been at this for a while.....

.....:(
http://webhost.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/libs-or/2004-September/002475.html

(LIBS-OR) SCAM ALERT: Voter Registration

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0921/local/stories/02local.htm

Librarian bares possible voter registration dodge
Company claiming affiliation with the non-partisan ‘America Votes’ group appears to represent the GOP

By MEG LANDERS
Mail Tribune

A local librarian checking on a company’s request to set up a voter registration booth in the library discovered the company was not affiliated with a non-partisan national group as it claimed.

Sproul & Associates, Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz., phoned and mailed the library in September, saying it had been hired by America Votes.

That came as news to America Votes.

"This organization (Sproul) absolutely has nothing to do with America Votes," said Kevin Looper, the state organizing director for America Votes.

America Votes is a non-partisan political organization formed in July 2003 to increase voter registration, education and participation in electoral politics.

[Kipepeo]

39. This guy Nathan Sproul

used to be the director of the Rep. party in Arizona. The more I am reading about him right now the uglier...do a quick google search for him or "Sproul & Associates"

He was also getting groups to collect Nader signatures in AZ (read up-thread a little).

[MockSwede]

33. DEMAND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS

'nuf said.

[zulchzulu]

36. We are investigating that kind of problem in Wisconsin

Apparently people who registered to vote were shown different forms than the official ones used in Wisconsin at various sporting events.

Hopefully we will expose the bastards before Nov. 2. One good thing about Wisconsin is that you can register to vote and vote ON Election day with a proper ID and a bil with your name that matches your address in the ID.

[Bleacher Creature]

38. Your screen name says it all

[dragonlady]

41. Somebody should go to the nearest court of equity

in the states involved and ask for an immediate order holding voter registration open beyond the mandated cutoff date so these poor voters can register officially. This sounds like a perfect time for a court to use its equitable powers to right this outrageous wrong.

[Rosco T.]

42. Mike Malloy just picked this up... stand by for an explosion. n/m

[Borgnine]

43. LET'S EAT THEM, SHRINK THEIR HEADS, AND WEAR IT ON A BELT!

Hahaha, I love Malloy.

[Kipepeo]

45. kick

[incapsulated]

46. Keep this story kicked!

[Roland99]

47. Kick it....kick it good!

[Duncan Grant]

48. Kick

:kick:

[jackstraw45]

49. The RNC is literally RIPPING away the rights of Americans to vote

The RNC is literally RIPPING AWAY the rights of Americans to vote.

Is there ANYTHING more unAmerican than that?

[gatorboy]

50. Hold on! They aren't http://www.americavotes.org/ are they?

Is this the same group? They certainly look more left then right. Is it a cover?

[gatorboy]

51. Scratch that. From the looks of this article:

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=news&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=76329

It looks like they are trying to trick individuals into thinking they are part of americavotes.org

[WillyT]

52. Kick !!!

:mad::kick::mad:

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. Damn, damn, damn!

How THE FUCK can we fight this SHIT???!!! If this is going on in one place we KNOW it's happening all over the country. Think of all the offices who don't have a Democrat sitting there to see this shit happening. This is sick. We have lost control of our country. We have lost control of our election system. They are being BLATANT with their thievery and don't care that they are breaking the law because NO ONE will make them pay. If Kerry wins, it will be nothing but a miracle.

[Hubert Flottz]

54. Kick

And contact Jimmy Carter!

[cthrumatrix]

55. heard it on the radio as well....they trashed the dem registrations...wtf?

this is what power and desperation is all about... and we are bombing a country for democracy..?

[Kipepeo]

56. Kick for the morning people

:kick: