Republican Dirty Tricks in Florida - Again!

[PSU84]

News4Jax.com July 5, 2004
New Citizens Say GOP Took Away Their Right To Choose

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Dario Cruz has lived in the United States for 16 years, but just became a citizen last week as he and about 200 other immigrants were naturalized. One of the things he had always wanted to was register to vote, but when he was offered the chance to do that right outside the ceremony, he knew something wasn't right - the place on the form where you're asked to choose Democrat, Republican or independent was already filled out. ccording to Cruz and his family, every form was checked off Republican.

It was something his wife, Linda Cross, first noticed. She said she asked what was going on, and was told the woman registering voters said they were with a Republican organization. "I am Republican," she told Channel 4. "I was very angry with that if they want to register whatever party, you shouldn't try to dictate to people what party they are going to register; who they are going to vote for, because then you don't have any freedom." The couple left without registering, but they did tell local Democratic Party officials what happened. "These new citizens that were coming out and maybe did not know much of what was going on were all registering Republican," Cross said. "Not by choice, but by someone else's choice."

Clyde Collins, who runs the local Democratic Party, says this practice is not right, and as informed federal officials about the incident. They told him an investigation is underway. "First of all, it violates your fundamental right," Collins said. "You have right to decide which political party you wish to enroll." Collins says those who were sworn in last week will be contacted and told they have the right to register for the party of their choice.

[mermaid]

1. Why Am I NOT Surprised??

Is there nowhere too low for these GOP scum to sink?

[peacetalksforall]

2. Another example of how they assume we are all stupid and can be

confused easily.

I will never forget right wing operatives all over the country and on every venue degrading, maligning, and laughing at the elderly and the Blacks in Florida for not being able to follow the intent of the ballot for what was recognized as a very poor design and a possible mal-intent.

[Spoon]

3. Partisans stand outside of venues all the time pressuring

folks to register. It's called "get out the vote". If you've been naturalized, obviously you've been here long enough to know what party you're signing up for, and to say "no" if they're not with the one of your choice.

They got it right... Why does his wife think lesser of the rest?

Edit:

Plus, this isn't voting, the main purpose is to spread word of the issues and ecourage people to vote.

[Gin]

4. I'm in Virginia and we don't register for parties...so why does it matter

in Florida that you may be registered for one party but vote for another? I don't like what they are doing but I wonder if it locks in a rethuglican vote.

Do they get a ballot with only the rethuglican names on it?

Color me confused!