Dems Sue GOP For Voter Suppression, Republicans Answer With Claims Of Lies And Fraud

In a conference call Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee's top election lawyer announced a lawsuit filed in federal court in Michigan to enjoin the Republican Party from pursuing plans, first reported by a Michigan blog, to challenge voters whose homes were in the process of foreclosure.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the Republican National Committee hit back, issuing a press release highlighting allegedly fraudulent voter registration cards in a swing state, New Mexico; issuing another press release decrying the Democrats' Michigan lawsuit; and finally holding a press conference call denying the truth of the lawsuit's fundamental allegation -- an admission by Macomb County (Mich.) Republican Party chairman James Carabelli to a reporter for the Michigan Messenger that the party planned to challenge all voters whose homes were in the process of being foreclosed (an event which does not legally disenfranchise the homeowner or necessarily alter his or her voting location).

The Michigan suit is only the beginning of numerous lawsuits, Federal Elections Commission complaints, and other legal maneuvering likely to arise around the country as Election Day nears, and both the public relations spin and legal proceedings themselves in Michigan are likely to become increasingly complex. In the days and weeks to come, I'll be writing much more about this, as part of my expanded "beat" for OffTheBus. The starting point of any solid analysis, however, is always the facts -- so below, without analysis, are the basics of the battle royal that's starting to brew in the Wolverine State:

On September 10, the Michigan Messenger blog's Eartha Jane Melzer reported the Republicans' plans in a story titled "Lose Your House, Lose Your Vote."

On September 11, Melzer reported that the source of the story, James Carabelli, had recanted and now claimed to have "no plans to do anything." However, in the same story, Melzer also cited Michigan Republican Party attorney Eric Doster as saying that the state party did plan to systematically challenge Democratic voters on Election Day using other methods, possibly including vote "caging" (in which the party sends postcards to Democratic voters then uses any cards returned by the post office as evidence that the voter does not exist or does not live at that address).

On September 11 or 12, the Michigan Republican Party issued a press release demanding that the Michigan Messenger retract its stories. In a September 12 post adamantly standing behind his reporter and providing more details on how the original "Lose Your House" story developed, the Messenger's editor refused to do so.

On September 15, Melzer followed up on her earlier stories by reporting on an interview she did with a former Michigan Republican operative, who explained how and why the state party intended to suppress the Democratic vote using foreclosure lists, "caging" and other tactics.

On Tuesday, September 16, Carabelli issued a press release on the Michigan Republican Party website threatening to sue the Michigan Messenger for libel. The same day, the Obama campaign, the Democratic Party, and three Michigan voters filed suit in federal court, seeking an injunction to prevent Republican "caging" and other voter suppression efforts.

Also on Tuesday, the Democratic Party (including its chief election lawyer, Bob Bauer) held a press conference call to discuss the Michigan lawsuit, the Republicans' history of "caging" practices, and the consent decrees entered in other states which Bauer claims both prove that the Republican Party engages in illegal voter suppression efforts and bar the suppression program planned for Michigan. Here's the audio of that call (very beginning cut off due to computer problems):

To round out the day, fourteen Democratic senators -- including Barack Obama and both of Michigan's senators -- signed a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, demanding an investigation into the Michigan Republicans' alleged voter suppression plan.

Yesterday, September 17, the Republican National Committee issued a press release -- subject line, complete with graphic, reading "VOTER FRAUD ALERT" -- with a link to an Albuquerque paper's article (subscription required) on possible fraudulent voter registrations in New Mexico, a swing state this year.

The RNC also issued a "memorandum" on September 17 from its chief counsel, Sean Cairncross, titled "Old Democrat Attacks Have Returned" and stating, "Yesterday's announcement ... should come as no surprise. It is right out of the Democrats' playbook, which calls for a 'pre-emptive strike' and allegations of 'voter suppression' where none exist."

Later in the day, the RNC also held a press conference call during which Cairncross repeated those allegations, accusing the Democratic Party of having an explicit "playbook" that calls for Democratic operatives to make false allegations of election fraud and criticizing the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party for basing a lawsuit on "a blog post." Here's audio of that call in its entirety:

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Comments

[HHarvey]

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote..." ~ Ben Franklin

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

Accusing your accuser almost always indicates guilt on your part. The Democrats are just worried about illegal caging practices. The question is how reliable the source is. I think ultimately, guilty or not, the Republicans will get off. As far as I know they're still going to try to preemptively prevent any caging. The Republicans have claimed it's unnecessary because they were never going to do it. The Democrats just want to be safe. Why complain if you're not going to do it anyway?

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

Exactly right. The Dems will almost certainly lose the lawsuit in Michigan, because the judge probably will conclude that whoever's right, foreclosure-based caging is not likely to actually happen now, and that an injunction therefore isn't necessary. The Rs will trumpet it as proof the Dems were full of s**t, but the Dems will have accomplished the more important mission of foreclosing it from happening if it was going to happen. Lose one small battle, help win the war.

[makatak]

Let me begin with the Constitution ... the 24th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits ALL activity, overt and covert, that imposes "a prerequisite for voting." This specific practice in Michigan and other cities and states amounts to payment of poll taxes. This is illegal!!! In this age of legalized crime, high-powered lawyers, and the redefinition and technical application of the law, we have to apply the penalties necessary to move our country forward. We are a nation of laws!!!
The privilege right to vote is exactly that ... a supreme privilege. The use of the greatest economic catastrophe in more than 50 years is looming large not just in our individual wallets, but in our government as well. American democracy is a government of the people, for the people, by the people. We the people are being asked to bail out a few of the "big dogs" (CEOs, CFOs, EVPs, etc) for spending money that was never theirs in the first place. We are being asked to bail out the financial institutions who have been betting against "U.S." to repay loans which allowed them to play fast and loose with our earnings (tax dollars), our savings, our retirements, OUR FUTURES. Worse yet, we are broker than broke, sicker than sick, "tireder" than tired and have to go to work (one, two, or three jobs) everyday until we can cast our VOTE. After this big bail out, what will we pay the poll tax with on Election Day?

[GregorZap]

Finally, the Dems are responding to these vile practices BEFORE the election. I like what Randi Rhodes says, we need to win big so it cannot be stolen. And get a bumper sticker. Nothing like peer pressure to influence the wishy-washy.

[maxiemom]

When will someone finally stop these disgusting creeps from getting away with what amounts to fascist behavior? When will the law finally stop this despicable practice? Republicans really are un-American in so many ways, it amazes me still.

[northcan]

How disgusting......in America

[saraholeary]

Thanks for the informative albeit depressing account of the depths the GOP is willing to dive. Disgusting.

[prettdee]

I pray that this will be as honest an ekection as possible. We can't afford another stolen election.

[plafayette]

We must be sure to remind the GOP that "true or not WE SEE IT!" And this time we will not sit back expecting the laws to kick in on it's own. We will demand our voting rights in every state and hamlet - we will not be turned away without a fight or challenge for our right to vote. NOT THIS TIME. Enough.

[KarlaElisa]

After watching what happened in Ohio and Florida and seeing the documentary "Uncounted" you're damn straight we KNOW these practices are REAL and are being planned by the GOP EVERYWHERE possible.
Freaking lying, thieves!
If we have another voting debacle in this country that gives McCain the presidency it will NOT be met with silence or a few worthless lawsuits....

[SMP]

Every Vote Counts

PROTECT YOUR VOTE AGAINST VOTER FRAUD


Absentee Ballot Users

Photocopy your ballot and send it receipt requested mail. The P. O. will send you a receipt with date and time of delivery.

Inperson Voting

Before going to the polls, on a piece of paper, write your vote, sign, date, and last 4 digits of your SS#. Take this with you to the polls. After voting, ask one of the men and women at the tables to sign your vote paper. These people are documented poll workers and will verify your vote. Demand this...it is your right.

This year, we MUST protect our vote!!!!


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