YES!!! - Obama Team Files Suit Over Alleged (Caging) Voter Suppression Plan!!!

[kpete]

On afternoon conference call, Obama and Michigan Democratic officials say they are seeking an injunction to block alleged “caging” by the state GOP– using home foreclosure lists to seek to block residents from voting.

Obama counsel Bob Bauer: “It is an absolute attack on their right to vote” and a “completely false and completely illegal basis” to challenge votes.

“This is a standard operating procedure within the Republican party that’s been under legal challenge.”

http://thepage.time.com/2008/09/16/obama-team-blasts-alleged-gop-disenfranchisement-plan/

LISTEN:
http://i.timeinc.net/time/2008/Sept16Call.mp3



UDATE

HERE IS THE COMPLAINT:
http://obama.3cdn.net/bfd196d021540c0a60_i2m6bnkiz.pdf

The campaign explained the goals of their suit this way:

The complaint filed today seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to challenge the “lose your home, lose your vote” vote-suppression program adopted by the Macomb County Republican Party, in concert with the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, as well as unnamed Defendants who will implement the scheme at polling places in Macomb County and throughout the State. This “lose your home, lose your vote” program is part of a broader scheme – misnamed an “election integrity” program – to harass voters and suppress the vote throughout the State of Michigan in the upcoming election on November 4.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/09/16/michigan-dems-and-the-obama-campaign-sue-for-foreclosure-related-vote-caging/#more-2715

[monmouth]

1. A normal group would be embarassed being caught at such action..ugh..n/t

[tblue37]

30. But they got caught because they openly *bragged* about their plans nt

[pauldg0]

71. Republicans...............

....the dumb party.

[trueblue2007]

72. Republicans......the MORON party

[DeeDeeNY]

84. They spell it "morans"!

[dhpgetsit]

106. Priceless! Had to save that one. n/t

[Emit]

55. You are spot on, monmouth n/t

[Cha]

2. Rec'd! >>>>>>VIRAL!

VIRAL!

[New Earth]

3. thank god

it looks like they aren't going to take this shit.

[virgdem]

4. It's about time..

They need to nip this garbage in the bud quickly before they start caging other states. Good move!!

[bedazzled]

57. they're doing it in west palm, too -- sent to the apartment complexes

with an absentee ballot from mccain and some
propaganda (including a compliment from joe
lie-berman!)

hoping it'll be returned undeliverable

what a bunch of bottom-feeders

[madwivoter]

5. Excellent news!

Rec'd

[d_b]

6. Rec!

Don't take any shit from those swine!

[Jennicut]

7. I guess Obama is not just going to sit back and let the Repubs try to steal this

Not that I thought he would but there were lots of handwringers and people who accused him of giving the election away on the board a week ago. Obama is tougher then many give him credit for.

[tblue]

8. This is how we will WIN! If Kerry had done that, he'd be prez right now.

[K8-EEE]

9. OK NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' BOUT!

GREAT!!! ALSO GETS THE WORD OUT THERE TO THE POTENTIAL VICTIMS.

[annabanana]

10. This is an EXCELLENT development!

It is an absolute fact that we have to be proactive whenever these reports come up... Nothing can be done afterwards. (as we have seen to our chagrin over the course of the past 8 years)

[vanderBeth]

11. Yes! Let's do this!

:woohoo:

[Raffi Ella]

12. The Obama Campaign/ The Democratic Party

needs to put out a PSA detailing election fraud in all its many forms so the public is aware and empowered not to fall victim to it.

[Birthday]

21. Excellent Point

I hope that someone in the Obama campaign will pick up on your idea. Very, very important. Thank you.

[Raffi Ella]

25. Thanks yeah, It seems like it should be a first line of defense,

taken up long ago...

[Essene]

23. I fully support this idea. In fact... there oughta be a website devoted to the issue...

Registration and voter fraud awareness info oughta be consolidated.

[Raffi Ella]

27. Now THAT is a great idea -

If we could get a Democratic Leader to take it on and actually follow through with it so it would get national exposure.

[Essene]

41. hillary, biden... or some junior congressman trying to make a splash

it doesnt really matter as long as Obama and major organizing groups all pushed it.

[blondeatlast]

89. It can't be a partisan issue. I admire the idealism, but partisanship dooms any chance

of fixiong it.

[Raffi Ella]

93. ah well,

I suppose being PC is the right way to go since it works so well for Us.

not.

I see what you're saying and it's a good point but Democratic Leaders should be the ones to push it...

how effective it would be if a high profile Democrat made a public appeal right now to republicans to take this issue on as We(Obama Camp) sue them for 'caging'.

[blondeatlast]

98. PC is a right wing phrase. Progressives shouldn't use it. nt

[tbyg52]

34. Here are some things

Websites for daily news:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=508270&mesg_id=508270

Election Justice newsletter from good 'ol Solar Bus:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=508284&mesg_id=508284

Oh wow - had a link to this list in my Monday news for over a year and just now looked at it....!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=407240&mesg_id=407240

[Essene]

43. The Q is whether it oughta be more about registering voters or about fighting fraud

honestly, id argue it oughta be focused on a democratic push to register voters just so that it doesnt have to pretend to steer away from demographic debates.

[tbyg52]

45. For right now, I agree with you.

We're not gonna make enough progress on this fraud thing (although this lawsuit is a good start!) before November. Get 'em registered in such massive numbers that even if they do try to steal it again the numbers will put the lie to them. (Sigh - *if* it gets reported and *if* the people will rise up.)

[RoccoR5955]

52. Why not both? We're fired up, and ready to go!

We have to address this on both fronts. We have to make this a blowout, so that there is no way that Bushco, Inc. can steal it!

[caseycoon]

79. YES! Definitely!

I am so sick of this crap! We hear about it over & over again, but nothing gets done & we lose the votes, & we lose elections.
:grr:

[Raffi Ella]

94. right.

I will never get over the fact the this issue wasn't made a HUGE deal about November 5th 2004. I mean C'mon! Our President was basically appointed for us in 2000, it's not like the people that could DO something about it don't KNOW it's happening!

and from what I've come to understand about the average citizen? They are CLUELESS about the process. Democrats needed to get out in front of this long ago. It's a joke to even be discussing this at this late a date.

[blondeatlast]

88. Bad idea; we don't want to make election fraud a partisan issue. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

108. If only one side is engaging in it, isn't it a partisan issue? nt

[progressoid]

13. To the top of the Greatest Page with thee.

[flamingdem]

14. Fabulous news. They are protecting our votes.

Gobama!

[Essene]

15. Sending a strong message EARLY is vital...

Let them fear historic parades of lawyers and media attention.

Seriously.

It's worth any media backlash to go full-steam on this early on.

[NBachers]

54. My Ideal Scenario

A crowd of people in an urban neighborhood stretches around the block, waiting to vote. They've been there a long time, they've got jobs to do and families to tend to. Things are going too slow.

Inside, rethuglican operatives are challenging voters, denying people the right to vote, forcing them to fill out provisional ballots, and generally subverting Democracy.

A group inside the hall and near the door decides they've had enough. They grab the rethugs, sweep them away, and open the voting to everyone who wants to vote.

Suddenly, the poll is filled with friendly, co-operative staff who facilitate voting for their neighbors. The tension ebbs; people are enjoying their neighborhood experience; and there are no more problems.

By the time the rethugs are discovered, bound, gagged, and bruised in some back room, it's too late. The people have won, and democracy has triumphed.

And They Lived Happily Ever After



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n03a7cLf0M

[ClayZ]

16. Yeah! K and R

[KathieG]

17. Good!

:kick:

[tbyg52]

18. Woooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo! They get it, they really get it!

Filing suit *before* the election! What a concept! My day is made! :woohoo:

[kpete]

31. I salute you

tbyg52

fellow warrior

and everyone here at DU should be doing a "happy dance"

and then, of course,

back to work,

peace, kpete

[Fire1]

47. I agree! Very smart move!!!!

Yes, I think they 'finally' get it! The repukes now know they will be held accountable, should they attempt to follow through with 'stealing the election.' And a 'recount' won't sound like sour grapes. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hisownpetard]

19. K&R. Sue the pants off those thieves!

God, how I hate them all - using a misfortune that was caused by his party's putrid economic policies to take away
these citizens' most basic right.


:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[bunnies]

20. Obama = Best. Nominee. Ever.

This is one of the many reasons he's the perfect man for the job!

GoBama! :bounce:

[beac]

22. K&R! n/t

[intheflow]

24. K&R - GObama!! n/t

[Yes We Did]

26. K&R!!!!!

[SeattleGirl]

28. Yes!!!!

Gobama!

[Jax]

29. Thank you Barack and Michigan Dems!!!!

:yourock:

recommended big time!!!!

Alyce

[Skidmore]

32. He told us in Iowa last year that he would not let the election be stolen.

We believed him. Obama delivers on his word.

[OneGrassRoot]

33. A heartfelt K&R!!!

[Zuiderelle]

35. Yes! This is GREAT news! Fight it at the source and immediately.

They probably thought they could get away with this quietly.

[mopinko]

36. expect more of this

i have been saying for a while that they know all about this shit, and will be on top of it. they have already quietly sued or threatened suit a few times. this is one of the areas of specialty of miner, barnhill and galland, obama's former firm.

[julialnyc]

37. K&R

[Reader Rabbit]

38. Are they seeking damages?

Can they seek damages? Maybe if we hit these bastards hard in the pocketbook, they'll be less likely to try this shit in the future.

[DCKit]

83. The loss of their own $$$ seems to be the only thing they understand.

These suits should target individuals whenever appropriate.

[D23MIURG23]

39. I'm feeling better and better about this race all the time.

These guys know how to fight.

[blogslut]

40. K&R

Back to the top.

[WinkyDink]

42. THIS is whati'mtalkinbout!! GET THOSE EFFERS NOW!!

[nam78_two]

44. Yes!

Gobama!

[Catshrink]

46. Talk about kicking someone when they're down!

Lose your home AND your right to vote? :wtf:

[pleah]

48. I like to see them fight like they want to win!

Bravo! Hold those thugs up to the light of day, maybe they'll burst into flames.

[dakdirty]

49. Crooks, plain and simple.

It's funny to think that, even with the thought of the fact that it is widely regarded that the GOP tries to rig elections, they still pursue an agenda using voter suppression and outright disenfranchisement, they still flagrantly use these tactics. They think so little of us, and our ability to fight back that a scheme like this one is exactly "standard operating procedure". Although I am never typically an advocate of violence, things of this nature make me want to chin-check every person to ever sign off on something like this. Our electoral process has degraded into a win at all cost battle for the GOP. They are so crooked, anyone with a real serious jones, and some serious (Oval office) clout, could make all systems fucked for them, and they can't afford for any of the money to get fucked up. Not when you have all those houses to maintain.

[TooRaLoo]

50. THIS is what a President looks like. K & R

GOBAMA!!!!

[RoccoR5955]

51. K & R... A strike at the heart of McBushco, Inc.!

[Beregond2]

53. This is a HUGE RELIEF.

Finally, we have a candidate who isn't going to roll-over when the Repigs pull this crap.

[Imagevision]

56. McCain pulling out the stops, election fraud, here we go again!

[LooseWilly]

58. Kick and Recommend

Can they get financial compensation for attempts to steal their votes?...

[dana_b]

59. good! keep it up! n/t

[Dinger]

60. Self-Delete (Dupe)

[Dinger]

61. Self-Delete (Double Dupe, Sorry)

[Dinger]

62. repuke AG In Wisconsin Is Trying

I e-mailed buzzflash about it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=186x26575

[ShadowLiberal]

63. If the media weren't so biased against Obama they would actually be talking about this

Seriously, ask any legal immigrant what the most important right in America is and they'll say the right to vote. We air stuff on TV about civil rights violation when torture is involved, but never a word about dirty tricksters attempting to rob you of the right to vote and what you can do to protect yourself from it.

[George II]

64. Obama and his campaign are the best things to happen FOR America since FDR!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

65. If we could only convince republicans that THIS is what matters...

their VOTE...making every vote count. I honestly believe that if it was the Michigan Dem party trying to block republican votes this way, Obama would put a stop to it. He's the real deal.

[whistle]

66. Finally Obama forcing democrats to show some balls

[FirstLight]

67. Hmmmmm...I sent the link and this story to the Obama camp...

When this story was on the front page of DU, I went to the link, and copied the link to an email to the Obama camp. I told them I was shocked that this could happen - and asked that they GET ON THIS ASAP...and begged them to double check if they could call them out on it. I wasn't even thiking about legal ramifications. I just pointed out that they rigged the economy to force these folks out of their houses and then take away their right to vote for someone who could help them, wasn't that fascism? or totalitatianism...? (i get them confused, bu they are both bad juju)

I wonder if the Obama folks are *actually* reading their emails!?

cool! :woohoo:

[lonestarnot]

69. Hell yeah they read their emails!

:woohoo:

[lonestarnot]

68. Right on! Way to "watch 'em!"

:grr: GOBAMA!

[farmboxer]

70. Republicans will be stunned that a Democrat has the guts

to challenge their voter fraud after two fixed elections! Will the MSM report this?

[Golden Raisin]

77. I doubt the MSM will report it.

Hope I'm wrong but I also doubt the courts at any level (local, state, federal) will do anything except support the Repubs. Let's not forget it was the "Supreme" Court of the Land that installed Bush for his first term. Repubs have the media and the courts in their back pocket.

[vanboggie]

73. I'm hopeful for the first time this season

Michigan Rethuglicans are some of the worst, and I'm pleasantly surprised to know we're FINALLY fighting back.
I might just go pick up an Obama/Biden sign now.

[eshfemme]

74. Can you believe the Republican's attack on this protective move by the Democrats?

They claim that the Democrats doing this is extraneous and is only wrongly giving the impression that the Republicans regularly suppress votes and that the Republicans are being framed by the Democrats.

Excuse me.

:rofl:

I can't believe that people would actually believe that the Republicans are innocent here. They are the ones who gave us Florida in 2000, Diebold and various other BS. For them to protest a measure that even if the voter caging were not true, would serve to protect voters, suggests the same sort of political cynicism that motivated McCain to select a wholly unprepared and intellectually complacent VP in Palin.

[Kablooie]

75. FINALLY SOMEONE WITH POWER IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!! WHOO!

[McCamy Taylor]

76. If Dems were doing this, all the networks would be howling about it.

[caseycoon]

78. YES YES YES!

DAMN it's about time this kind of crap was stopped! Needs to be done nationwide. We need to attack the bastards on every single one of their slimy tricks! It's been heartbreaking watching them steal election after election. At last the creeps are being called on it. I hope there are more lawsuits, and I hope they will be stopped this time! GO OBAMA!

[marions ghost]

80. Reminds me

I need to send another donation to the Obama campaign. Will thank them for this.

[OakCliffDem]

81. K & R

[Life Long Dem]

82. Word's don't describe how low this is.

A law suit, or, if not, it wouldn't surprise me if someone took a two-by four their head's.

[meowomon]

85. Fight for us Barack!

[shaniqua6392]

86. There is an article in my local Detroit newspaper today on this issue.

There was also a write up on it last Friday on the front page of the Detroit News just below the fold. Here is a link to todays article.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809170349

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

87. The Republicans have been caught vote caging before and I thought they

were actually under a court order to not do it again. Someone might know more about this quicker than I can research it, but I will look anyway.

I trust Obama to have our backs and fight just as long and as hard and as fiercely as he needs to to not let his historic election be robbed from us.

I hope he has an army of lawyers that he will unleash at the first sign of election fraud to dispute the results and open up the smarmy underbelly of the rigged machines. Someone has to do it - it might as well be him.

[dixiegrrrrl]

90. What about all the hurricane victims

who are not being allowed to return to their communites????
How the heck canyou vote if your community is now a muc flat?
The numbers add up.

[unapatriciated]

91. I have been saying this to hubby all week....

If they delay clean-up and keep them out, they will effectively keep them from voting. The repugs are great at taking advantage of disasters like this.
There are are hundreds of thousands displaced by Hurricane Ike. Many are in shelters, Fema's help for food and lodging is set to run out October 14th.
That is very close to the deadline to register to vote. The hurricane victims are more concerned with survival, no homes or jobs their lives put on hold.
Voting will not be a priority for them and the rpugs are counting on this.
Once again the repugs take advantage of the poor, and middle class.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/091708dnmetikehotels.26ca100.html

[yellowdogintexas]

92. I have been wondering about this myself, living in Texas and all.

and the Houston area is at least light blue.
Not to mention that enough of these people have been on the short end of the stick when it comes to government....and need us to get our down ticket elected at a minimum.

Our U S Senate nominee, Rick Noriega, reported to his guard unit for active duty over the weekend, and is suspending campaign activity while on duty.

I just fired off an email to the most liberal member of the Texas House and my own representative (also a DEM) posing the question.

Seems kind of crass on the one hand to think about this and it could be construed as opportunistic but jeez that is a lot of displaced voters

Seems like shelters could be armed with absentee ballots or something.

[AllyCat]

95. Violet spots! Say you are good! Do more, do more we wish you would!

Yes....this is the kind of thing that needs to happen. Plaster these morons with their own filth. This deserves a donation.

[Blue State Bandit]

96. For some more details...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/10/133747/482/241/593681">Read this.

And here's more.

The Macomb GOP’s plans are another indication of how John McCain’s campaign stands to benefit from the burgeoning number of foreclosures in the state. McCain’s regional headquarters are housed in the office building of foreclosure specialists Trott & Trott). The firm’s founder, David A. Trott, has given at least $23,000 to McCain’s campaign and raised between $100,000 and $250,000 for the Republican nominee.

The Macomb County party’s plans to challenge voters who have defaulted on their house payments is likely to disproportionately affect African Americans who are overwhelmingly Democratic voters. More than 60 percent of all sub-prime loans — the most likely kind of loan to go into default — were made to African Americans in Michigan, according to a report issued last year by the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

http://www.michiganmessenger.com/4076/lose-your-house-lose-your-vote">Michigan Messenger Sept. 10th

[aquamarina]

97. It would be nice if someone in the MSM would pick this up as well

Paging Keith and Rachel...

[nxylas]

99. Kick ass!

Looks like Barack has learned a thing or two from his years with ACORN, helping African-Americans exercise their constitutional rights ("voter fraud", as it's known in Republican circles).

[WillyT]

100. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[dhpgetsit]

101. to protect and defend the Constitution...

Who better to defend our Constitution than Obama, a student and professor in Constitutional law!
We should really expect nothing less from him.

[Hutzpa]

102. Rec'd >>>>> Viral

:kick:

[catbyte]

104. Another special thing...

The McCain campaign headquarters is housed in the building owned by the law firm of Trotter & Trotter. This firm is the largest law firm in the state that sues and evicts foreclosed homeowners. I guess someone has to do it, but McCain doesn't have to have his freaking headquarters there. What a shithead.

Diane

[ann_american2004]

103. WHY DOESNT THE MSM COVER THIS ISSUE?

In another thread it was mentioned that Dean should have a press conference on this and I think it is a necessary move to get this out to the people. Disenfranchising hard working Americans who have hit hard times is just SO FUCKING WRONG it makes me ill. Shine a LIGHT on it! NOW!

[The Stranger]

105. Fight on, my brothers and sisters, fight on!

[mcollier]

107. This Video Is

About getting people to understand the power each of us posseses by our VOTE.... We Must Push Each Other To Vote;

Please take a look and listen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUSDjd3BGng

Best wishes.

MC