What to do Before and (If Necessary) After the Election is Stolen

When I hear the fear of first-time voters like 21-year-old Bertha Barrios, I hear the voice of a generation raised beneath the specter of questions about our last two elections.

"This is my first presidential vote," says Bertha, a Salvadoran American college student who was holding her 2-year-old son, Joshua, while we spoke. "But, sometimes, I don't feel like voting. Last time, a lot of people voted and it was for nothing. Bush wasn't supposed to win [in 2000]. I remember the whole Florida vote scandal ... They stole that election and the news reports make it seem like they want to do it again."

Harkening back to the stories she's heard about elections held under the military dictatorship that ruled El Salvador in the 1980s, she said: "In El Salvador, the right wing somehow would miraculously always win, and that seems like what they want to do here.

"So, what's the point of voting if it really doesn't count at the end?" she asks, her voice taking on the tough tones of her Salvadoran-Watts accent.

I was at once startled and pleased at the healthy and unhealthy dose of cynical wisdom I heard coming from someone I'd known since she was an 11 year-old soccer dynamo. Her pointed question and comparison turned what was supposed to be my reported piece about youth fears of fraud and suppression into an opinion piece about something many of us are feeling increasing urgency about: the serious possibility that the presidential election may be stolen - and what to do before and (if necessary) after the election is stolen.

Recent polls showing a possible Obama landslide give Bertha and other voters some confidence. Me too. According to New York University media studies scholar Mark Crispin Miller - who is teaching a course this semester called "How to Steal an Election" - it's harder to steal elections if there's not a tight race.

But the flurry of reports coming out about numerous irregularities already seen in and around voting booths across the country leave open the possibility that millions of votes may not be counted in this presidential election. And John McCain and the GOP's repeated attacks on voter-registration organization ACORN as a group that is "destroying the fabric of democracy," seem to indicate that the diversionary BIG LIE required to cover-up and legitimate the illegitimate is in place.

A report in the New York Times found that in some states, including battleground states, for every new voter registered two other voters have been removed. Colorado, a state experiencing rapid and huge population increases, has seen more than 100,000 voters erased from its rolls. Reports from other states of suppression and fraud involving computerized voting systems, voter purges, unreasonable demands for voter documentation and other methods mean one thing: all of us must prepare to prevent and fight this.

Failure to fight voter suppression and fraud means more than just another lost election; it means that Bertha's and other future generations may give in to the political resignation that the Salvadorization of our political system portends. And, so, given that the third strike of a questionable election will essentially institutionalize suppression and fraud, given that our inaction will communicate that we as a people are willing to accept whatever powerful interests impose on us, here are some things we must start planning--and doing--immediately:

1. Push for Major Turnout and Deliver a Historic Blowout: Experts say that large turnouts and a wide margin between candidates make fraud and suppression more difficult because of the number of votes that must be manipulated and erased. Large turnout and overwhelming victories also communicate to big political and economic interests our passionate desire to change our political system, including our maligned electoral process.

2. Monitoring on the Day of the Elections: Don't just take your vote to the polls, take your cameras, notepads and cell phones so that you can document and report any irregularities you experience or see. Local and national election monitoring groups like Election Protection (1-866-OUR-VOTE), the country's largest election monitoring operation, have set up systems for anyone to report irregularities.

3. Study Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004: Studying the irregularities of and responses to these two elections provide us with the best case studies of what to look for and, if necessary, how not to respond (i.e., just sit back and watch the election get stolen your TV set).

While we must work unceasingly to make sure that as many people as possible vote and that these votes are counted, we must also prepare for the possibility that irregularities seen in 2000 and 2004 (and already this year) will rear their ugly heads. Failure among all but a few of us to contest and protest the questionable results in 2000 communicated our willingness to accept not just stolen elections, but also anti-democratic behavior in the Executive Branch: the legitimation of torture, corporate and government secrecy coupled with decreased privacy and rights among the citizenry, the militarism in Iraq and, increasingly, within the borders of the country.

Given that we live in an era fraught with threats to democracy, we must, unfortunately, also prepare for the worst by responding with:

1. General Strike: History teaches us that nothing strikes fear into the hearts - and pocketbooks - of the powerful like people stopping business as usual. In the event of a stolen election, local and national work stoppages, school walkouts, protests, and other actions communicate to the government, to corporate interests, to Bertha and to the world that we will fight the decimation of democracy. If they haven't already, labor unions, political organizers, bloggers and individuals should coordinate a global effort so that business stops, not just in the U.S., but also around the world. Even without a strong labor movement, the immigrant rights mobilization of 2006 - the largest simultaneous marches in U.S. history - proved that you can make a powerful statement simply by not showing up to work and marching instead.

2. Study the Florida Experience and Learn: We should study how, with a few notable exceptions, the Democrats allowed themselves - and our political future - to be dragged into the abyss of illegitimacy.

3. Foment Any and All Non-Violent Action: - As our country starts taking on the economic and political characteristics of El Salvador and other "Third World" countries that protested U.S. policy, our colossal crisis means we may have to start emulating their methods of protesting electoral and malfeasance: vigils, protests, hunger strikes, office takeovers (ie; government buildings), boycotts and other non-violent means.

Viewed from the historical perspective running from 2000 to the present - the view of Bertha Barrios' generation - this election may, indeed, actually fit that clichéd slogan about this being the "most important election of our lives" not because we may elect Barack Obama, but because we must restore some semblance of integrity to our political process- and to ourselves.

Comments

[Michale32086]

LollieDotCom

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I disagree. I believe they may start, but Obama will denounce such behavior in the strongest terms and remind us the power of peaceful resistance.
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I doubt Obama will hold much sway over things, once they get started.. Because by that time, all the crazies and loons will have come out of the woodwork.

I agree with the original poster. Considering these "new" Democrats and faux liberals we have today, If Obama doesn't win, it's gonna make the Watts riots look like a family picnic by comparison..

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I trust Obama and his team of lawyers.
{{{

Seriously?? I mean, I can see trusting Obama, because I do as well..

But a team of lawyers??

Seriously??

That's what I mean about these "new" Democrats. Because I never thought I would hear a Democrat say that they trust ANY lawyers, let alone a team of them...

Michale.....

[ohioan73]

I've organized and participated in peaceful demonstrations but they were direct action style "hits"which means we had specific people we were calling out, media presence, and negotiations. This resulted in 100% victories for our issues and not one incidence of violence---ever. We cheered when the police came. They are unlikely to arrest 700 people chanting: "Police need a raise!" They help us get our targets to sign meeting agreements so we could clear out. The police get a kick out of how peaceful and organized a crowd of 700-1500 can be.

We may not have time to do all that planning together. If there is reason to believe that the election of 2008 was stolen and people are planning a nationwide/worldwide demonstration, I hope they remember the peaceful teachings of Ghandi, Jesus and MLK Jr. Follow this example because it has been proven to work time and time again.

[missjabez]

If McCain wins, we'll know the election was stolen. This man's campaign is disastrous; prominent leaders of his party are trying to distance themselves from him so fast it'll make your head swim. No, we've been walked over too many times;if McCain wins by illicit means, we will protest.

[PatrickforO]

This makes me want to hurl. I've said it before - I never, ever in a million years thought I'd be worrying whether my vote would count. If we win by a landslide, or if we have to contest the results for months, we will do so, and then we will have trials for this despicable and un-American activity perpetrated on this nation by neoconservatives. There needs to be hard time in prison for these thugs.

[JRsNana]

I fear that if this election is stolen, this country will not look to general strikes and non-violent actions to voice its feelings. I think, at this point, after what we've gone through the last 8 years, after what we've gone through the last 8 MONTHS, I think this country will explode. There will be an "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" period of time that will astonish the Republicans with its vehemence against them. No more complacency. No more. Never again.

[Hopefulinfl]

In the 2000 election I was concerned about a Constitutional crisis and therefore was relieved, even though sad, when Gore conceded. Fast forward eight long years... and we have all payed oh so dearly.

If this election is again taken, I am now older and wiser and too much is at stake. Now I say, in the words of Tom Petty, "No I won't back down". If there is proof that this election was taken, we as Americans will have three choices: cower, head for the airport (tempting, I must say) or stay and protest peacefully and within legal bounds. I believe I will have no choice but to protest by all legal means. It will be the only way to salvage this democracy.

[Hopefulinfl]

OOPS, I wrote it so fast, it should say "we have all 'paid", oh so dearly.

[serena1313]

Reports of voting irregularities in state after state are increasingly worrisome. Hundreds of thousands -- if not millions -- of votes are in jeopardy. West Virginia and Texas voting machines are flipping to McCain. Voters in Florida have stood in line for as long as 5 hours. How many gave up and went home? Someone not associated with any campaign is picking up absentee ballots in Southern Florida. Up to possibly 100,000 votes for president in North Carolina may have been lost. About 50,000 votes have been purged in Georgia. Bush asked the Justice Department to get involved in purging 200,000 votes in Ohio. And there's more, but you get the idea.

I have to say Iam really nervous about this.

[kjstjohn]

I am happy to report that my 19-year-old daughter voted today in Cobb County, Georgia. She was purged from the voter rolls because of a data mismatch but voted after the poll worker looked up her registration information. That was a big relief.

More good news. The line was huge and mostly (90%) minority. It took about 3 hours to get through the line.

[kjwhite]

But what do want to bet that in the predominantly "republican" areas, there are no lines, no waiting, with plenty of voting booths/machines for all.

This is a tactic that republicans have always used, where in predominantly democratic areas they only give you a couple of polling places, and those only have a couple of machines. It's meant to discourage people by keeping them standing in a line all day. They hope that some will get frustrated and walk away without voting. Thankfully I think this year, with so much at stake, democrats will stand in those lines ALL DAY if necessary.

Let's just hope it's not for nothing. I think a stolen election this year would not be allowed to slide. Americans would really rebel against it. I know I will.

[armadillious2002]

They will try to steal this election. At this point I have know doubts. The hype about the Bradley effect and so on is all leading up to this and MSM is falling for it and playing their game for them. Quite frankly in my opinion - if we win - it will be a miracle.

[Michale32086]

@bygollymissmolly

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And you think that 10% of the people who said they were going to vote for Obama changed their mind in the voting booth. I don't think so.
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New Hampshire during the Democratic Party primary....

'nuff said...

Michale.....

[kenergy599]

People, if you haven't done so already, go to the website freedocumentaries.org and
watch a documentary titled "Hacking Democracy".
I promise it will enlighten you.

[kjstjohn]

I have already seen it. Terrifying.

[WorkingClass]

If Oboma is denied the presidency there will be spontaneous riots. The riots will mark the beginning of a bloody insurgency that could drag on for decades.

[LollieDotCom]

I disagree. I believe they may start, but Obama will denounce such behavior in the strongest terms and remind us the power of peaceful resistance. Peaceful resistance will be organized and we will win. I give it up to two weeks. It may take up to two weeks after the election, but I truly believe Obama is going to be our next president before December and that means we've got to win by a landslide whether we have to protest or not. :)

I trust Obama and his team of lawyers.

[Michale32086]

@peloquin

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We still have bills to pay, Michale. Nobody with an ounce of common sense is going to organize, or join an organized strike effort, if there isn't sufficient evidence of the election being stolen.
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Well, the people I am referring to don't really have an "ounce of common sense".. They are the ones that concern me. Easily influenced...

Unfortunately for this country, the hysterical Right does not have the monopoly on such dangerous individuals..

Michale.....

What's sad, is there is ALREADY evidence that this crap is going on. What's worse is there's no recourse to stop it. So maybe a few people go to jail or get probation after the election, or get sued - BIG FLIPPING DEAL. The damage will have been done - just like FLA in 2000.

[propitiousmoment]

Why don't you be considerate and use the "Reply" button when you want to respond to someone's commment?
And leave out the extra spaces/characters, it takes up too much room.
Thanks!

[Michale32086]

@iyamchazz

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the Syrian foreign minister calls it an act of terrorist aggression
{{{

The Syrian government refuses to acknowledge that Hezbollah and Hamas are terrorist organizations.

Does anyone really CARE what Syria says???

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Syria will respond.
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ooooooooOOOOooooooo Scary..... :^/

@bygollymissmolly

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No, it is not different.
{{{{

What training, experience or expertise allows you to make such a claim??

Wishful thinking doesn't count..

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They attacked within the borders of Syria. That is considered invading another country.
{{{{

Actually it is not. It would be considered a border violation, at the most.. An invasion is a completely different animal than what occurred.

Using your definition, it could be argued that, when the Terrorists struck on 9/11 that was an "invasion" which could have prompted gross measures to be implemented along the lines of what Abraham Lincoln did during the initial days of the Civil War.

We weren't "invaded" by terrorists on 9/11. We were attacked. Syria wasn't "invaded". Syria was attacked.. I don't even think THAT argument could be made because of the nature of the operation...

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But, then, I'm sure you approve of the Bush Doctrine.
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Which one? At last count, I believe there are 4... Or is it 5??

If you are referring to the doctrine of pre-emption, yer damn tootin' I believe in that...

}}}}
your days are numbered.
{{{{

Actually, I am an demonstrable Obama supporter, so I am not sure what you mean by this..

Michale.....

[theseanachai]

Michale, put a sock in it already. Your comments don't make any sense and your{{{{are really irritating.

[RightWingMarine]

wait wait wait, in the event of a McCain victory there should be a protest by not showing up for work? Isn't the democratic party the one that wants to expand welfare and give people money to not work? Isn't that why I'm working OT, because millions on welfare depend on me?

[Michale32086]

"There is mimicry and there is mockery and THAT was definitely MOCKERY!!"
-Dr Leonard McCoy

:D

Michale.....

[IndependentLass]

"...expand welfare and give people money to not work." ?
Where on Earth did you get THAT? Next thing you know, you'll be claiming that Democrats are calling the soldiers "Baby Killers"!
Get out of the 60's and join the 21st Century! We've got REAL problems and don't have time for all this outdated RightWing crap.

[LollieDotCom]

Big corporations hand outs yes, welfare not nearly so much. The Republicans are big supporters of spreading the wealth, but their version is restricted to only spreading the wealth upwards to the wealthiest. Same thing happened before the first depression. Wow, it's a recipe. Cool. I hope we don't follow it again. It's really devastated those of us that work for a living.

Remember Rightwingmarine, most of the poor people in America are WORKING poor. And don't forget to double tip your waitress tomorrow. She's working on far less than minimum wage + tips in this economy. Word up, if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat out. These people are often single parents truly struggling to stay off the streets. And if anyone in the world needs a tax break more than a big corporation, among millions of other working poor and middle class, your waitress sure does. If you can't see that, my heart goes out to you.

[bodyoftruth]

Can someone please tell me why there has not been a follow-up story regarding Mike Connell and Karl Rove? Connell has been the behind the scene guy for the 2000 and 2004 elections as well as the DOJ firings. He has been implicated in vote rigging (as in stolen elections) and the disappearance of emails from both the White House and Karl Rove's server. He also is responsible for setting up Congress IT server. Scary!!!

Where is the follow-up story? This needs to get out to the MSM to put the GOP underground on notice that we are aware of what they are up to. McCain's false claim that the race is narrowing and citing skewed polls (AP) to help back up this false contention.

Please do a follow-up to the Connell story before they try to steal this election as well!!!!!