Michigan GOP Using Foreclosures To Block Black Voters

Michigan Messenger:

The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP's effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.

"We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses," party chairman James Carabelli told Michigan Messenger in a telephone interview earlier this week. He said the local party wanted to make sure that proper electoral procedures were followed.

Read the whole story: Michigan Messenger

Comments

[Bobrobert]

Repuk-licans are pigs in a blanket.

Figure that one out.

:-)

[firewmn]

**
with "lipstick"
**

[marcelisa]

Obama-ites in Michigan: has there been stepped-up voter registration organizing in light of this? Where are people now living and are they being given new voter registration cards so they can updates their addresses?

Michigan is a critical, critical state. We need it to turn Blue as it figures prominently in the different "win" scenarios for BO.

[Rutabaga]

This is absolutely reprehensible.

But of course, the only way Rethugs can win an election is to steal it.

[pitseleh]

Wow, disturbing.

[WorkingClass]

Since '04 I don't associate with Republicans. I avoid them as much as possible. I consider them criminals.

[mistlesuede]

And you would be correct.

[pbfishtaco]

Can't help it. I've got family that are....but I do try to engage them without enraging them. Eventually they might catch on.

But I have watched Cool Hand Luke---"some people you just can't reach."

[kstuff]

My husband and I just foreclosed on our home in Macomb Co.. I'm appaled by the idea that the foreclosed upon are also going to be the turned away at the polls. However, I believe the article misleads the public into thinking that this strategy is aimed at Africian Americans only. In fact, the majority of the population in Macomb Co. is white and middle class, especially those that have experienced foreclosure. Macomb Co. is a "purple county" so it's no surprise that Republicans are pulling out all of those dirty tricks. As goes Macomb Co., so goes the nation...and it's not looking good for the Republicans there. Too many union members laid-off, too many homes lost....even the county's military base can't win it for McCain. Too many lost soliders now.....

[dcarn2]

I'll tell you what, I live in West Michigan which is typically Republican fodder, but I see more and more Obama signs and people are seeing McCain and Palin for what they really are.....John Bush and Sarah "The Dog" Palin (I'm just referring to what she referred herself to) with no experience and would not be for the betterment of our state at all! West Michigan is coming in November and we'll help Obama to the White House!

[mistlesuede]

Can you get a message to the Obama campaign in your area about this story so that they can check it out and make arrangements to fix this? Please.There is time for lawyers to get in there and see what's happening and expose it to the media.

[prdamericanmom]

Obviously they haven't considered the fact that foreclosure is a nonpartisan sort of thing. Oh wait, I guess this is what the following paragraph is for:

"State election rules allow parties to assign “election challengers” to polls to monitor the election. In addition to observing the poll workers, these volunteers can challenge the eligibility of any voter provided they “have a good reason to believe” that the person is not eligible to vote."

It would be very interesting to see how many voters from each group get turned away should these jerks actually go through with this plan. How much ya wanna bet there would be many more Ds than Rs?

[slowhand0728]

I really dont see a problem with this at all, dont Republicans get forclosed on also? Dont they lose jobs, have medical bills have to go into bankruptcy? Nothing ilegal here at all. You vote in the district you LIVE at, if you moved just update your registration. Simple, then vote.

[ttmatthe]

Do you really think the GOP is going to go through the trouble to disenfranchise their own voters? Are you for real?

[WorkingClass]

You pick out the addresses from a black neighborhood.

[mistlesuede]

I am sure they have the black areas targeted perfectly. That is what they did in 2004, by making sure the voting machines were in short supply or didn't work in areas where the black population was large.
I am disgusted already.

[qdog112]

"dont Republicans get forclosed on also"

Every thinking person in America knows that blacks are disproportionately affected by negative financial events.

Oh, what's that - you didn't think?

[mistlesuede]

Not everyone has already moved when their home goes into foreclosure. Also,they may have temporary living arrangements at a relatives or a hotel. Their temporary address would not work for registration. They would probably still use their old voters registration temporarily until they got their lives back together.

[JackND]

Well we now know for certain what we suspected all along. The reason Republicans despised Michelle O'bama's comments about pride in America is because, thanks to said Republicans, she was right.

[mary82]

and that's the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

[jackt51]

If you were looking for a reason to volunteer for the Obama Campaign on Election Day or before, or to work with Move-On, the DNC or other organizations to get out and monitor the vote, this should be a great motivator.

The Repugnants are great at stifling/discouraging the vote of non-Repugnants.

Obama/Biden 08

[redsongia]

That's like only letting property owners vote. With two constitutional law professors on the Obama/Biden ticket, they've got to have a memo ready on this already.

[ttmatthe]

I hope they have something to say about what's going on in Virginia; apparently college students are in danger of losing their student loans/financial aid if they vote (the wrong way).

[mistlesuede]

It was proven that this is illegal and voter suppression. Unfortunately, how many students didn't know it and cancelled their new voter registrations?

[learnsomething]

I knew the GOP were cooking up all the ways they can to steal the election. The DNC had better makes sure all of the voting equipment in Ohio and Florida is is working order in Dem strongholds, and that there are enough ballots. Every election, there are not enough ballots in Dem strongholds, or the voting machines are not working. If this election is stolen, blame the DNC.

[Binkycat]

Dont the rethugs run the Diebold voting machines???

[sharonh]

If this election is stolen then blame the thieves.

[vincefango]

I am amazed that I still find a way to be amazed at these sorts of things. That's a good thing for sure...still being amazed. What's next....arresting people in line to vote for loitering?

[nton]

OK people this is no fantasy - what are we going to do about it? We cant sit around blogging and allow the Repugnacants to steal another election. Democrats can also access those lists of foreclosures and ensure that the affected voters are properly registered etc.etc....

[ttmatthe]

I for one am writing to every news outlet, civil rights group, and non-profit activist group I can get a hold of. So are other people I've talked to, including the original poster of the linked article.

The more of us that write in and repeatedly, the more likely it would be that this gets picked up.