"We were only to register Republicans."

[blue neen]

"Sproul & Associates, a consulting firm based in Chandler, Ariz., hired to conduct the drive by Republican National Committee, employed several hundred canvassers throughout the state (PA) to register new voters. Some workers yesterday said they were told to avoid registering Democrats or anyone who indicated support for Democratic nominee John F. Kerry.

"We were told that if they wanted to register Democrat, there was no way we were to register them to vote," said Michele Tharp, of Meadville, who said she was sent out to canvass door-to-door and outside businesses in Meadville, Crawford County. "We were only to register Republicans."

<snip> http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/04294/398767.stm

"If they were a Kerry voter, we were just supposed to walk away," said Michael Twilla, of Meadville, who said he has been paid for only eight of 72 hours he worked.

Twilla provided the Post-Gazette with a copy of the script he said he had been given."

[cthrumatrix]

1. isn't democracy grand.... and we bombed Iraq so they too can have

elections like this

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. Pathetic

This is why I hate Republicans.

[Worst Username Ever]

3. delete, nevermind

[cheshire]

4. Yes they do the same here. A sign saying so. I just call them on it.......

About how lonely they are and prejudice doesn't seem to be going their way.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. But you can't believe him, he's just a disgruntled employee.

And who isn't?

[blue neen]

9. If you get a chance,

read the whole article. It's amazing the depths to which the repugs are sinking.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Maybe I should have put a sarcasm marker there --

but you know that's how the repugs will defend themselves against these charges; 'Disgruntled employee', 'Axe to grind' etc.

But they can't fool us. We all know it Clinton's fault.

[blue neen]

15. Speaking of Clinton, the Big Dawg is supposed to be in Philly this week!

They're expecting a crowd of 50,000!

[pnorman]

6. I was unable to trace that down with Google.

Can you give the source? Thanks.

pnorman

[blue neen]

7. Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Wednesday, October 20 edition.

www.pittsburghpostgazette.com

It's on the front page.

[pnorman]

12. THANKS!

That was fast! I just reposted it on my Union BBS. (I have no idea why I couldn't find it with Google, but I guess I'll have to practice a little more with it).

pnorman

[beyurslf]

8. I can say when we do voter reg drives here door to door, we register every

person who wants to. However, if they mark Republican or support Bush, I give them the form back and show them on the back where they can mail it back in. I figure my deed is done by giving them the form. They can at least buy the stamp. I bring the Dem forms in of course myself.

[AndyTiedye]

10. Can We Push Thru Same-Day Registration in Those States?

Since the courts won't do anything about the disenfranchisement
of thousands of voters, maybe the state legislatures will if then
get enough phone calls.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. What a fun election system we have. Whee!

:puke:

[ParanoidPat]

14. Sproul & Associates also collected signatures for Ralph Nader's......

.....petitions to be on the ballot in several states. Many of those signatures were found to be forged after legal challenges forced closer inspections of the petitions. Nader was eventually dropped from the ballot in several states due to the lack of enough verifiable support but the delays due to the legal challenges caused many problems for those states to get proper ballots printed and mailed in time. :(

Ain't Democracy grand? :evilfrown:

Did I mention that Sproul & Associates were paid $600,000.00 by the RNC to conduct the Voter Registration drive?

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Okay-- Here's my question:

Sproul & Assosciates has been implicated, now, in at least 3 states with potentially criminal activities pertaining to voter registration.

Can the people who tried to register, thought they were registered, had their reg. forms torn up, etc. etc. file a class-action lawsuit or a group criminal case alleging that their civil rights have been violated? Is anyone on this? We've got voters in Nevada, Oregon, and Pennsylvannia, now, all apparently being deliberately disnfranchised by the same small group. I think regardless of what happens in the next 2 weeks, someone needs to go after Nathan Sproul, HARD.

[blue neen]

17. You're absolutely right.

Should I call the reporter who did this story for the Post Gazette?
What would be the best way to go about this?

[Warren DeMontague]

19. I don't know. Maybe contacting moveon, or someone with links to

big legal guns.

Here's a rundown on relevant links with regards to Sproul & Assosc.

Sproul & Assosc. calling itself "America Votes" in Oregon in possible attempt to confuse people into mistaking it for americavotes.org:

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

More on Oregon:

http://communique.portland.or.us/04/10/the_convoluted_story_on_voter_registration_fraud.html

http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D85MBOI81.html

Nevada: Investigation into trashed voter registrations:

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2421595&nav=168XRvNe

Sproul is getting their money from the GOP:

http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/expenddetail.asp?Cmte=RPC&txtName=Sproul+%26+Associates

Will Pitt on Sproul:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/102004A.shtml

Krugman on Sproul:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5039194.html

[evilqueen]

18. Hangin's too good fer 'em... n/t

[Iris]

20. What? All the unregistered Republicans? If you're unregistered, how can

you be a Republican or a Democrat, for that matter?

[blue neen]

21. Apparently, they weren't allowed to register anyone who was

going to vote for Kerry. If this isn't voter suppression, I don't know what is.