how to rig an election

I knew republicans would find a way to capitalize on the economy issue! The sub-prime mortgage crisis, coupled with increased economic hardships for the middle class has resulted in a striking number of home foreclosures in many battleground states, including Michigan. Many of these potential voters display the following characteristics:

• African-American
• Democrat
• Less than thrilled with supply-side economics

How exactly are Republicans going to deal with this disgrunted demographic? By preventing them from voting, of course!

“We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren’t voting from those addresses,” Republican party chairman James Carabelli told Michigan Messenger in a telephone interview earlier this week.

Now, doing this is probably not legal (J. Gerald Hebert, who now runs the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington D.C.-based public-interest law firm: “I don’t think a foreclosure notice is sufficient basis for a challenge, because people often remain in their homes after foreclosure begins and sometimes are able to negotiate and refinance.”), but it certainly is effective, according to Republican activist Allan Raymond:

Raymond said: “It’s a very good tactic. It works. It is actually a very smart thing to do, particularly in this climate with so many foreclosures.”

Raymond explained why it makes sense for Republicans to seek to disqualify people who have lost their homes. “If you look at who is being foreclosed upon, it is going to be sub-prime [borrowers]. Sub-prime [borrowers] are generally going to be low-income people, and low-income people are generally going to be Democratic voters.”

Raymond said that, barring some legislative action, Republicans will be free to challenge people who’ve lost their homes at the polls. “They will get challenged and they will get denied,” he said.

Raymond admitted the practice is not fair to people facing foreclosure. “You can call them a victim or a bad businessperson in terms of their personal finances,” he said. “Whatever you call them, they still should have the right to vote.”

Rights??? Are you kidding me? The GOP proudly mocked support of basic human rights for Guantanomo Bay detainees who hadn't been convicted of anything! Like they're going to give a shit about voter's rights. I mean, you combine voter blocking with McCain's use of push polls of the same ilk that damned him in 2000, and this thing will be locked up in no time.