« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Montana GOP Official Out After Failed Bid To Challenge Voters
Sometimes there's justice in the world.
Earlier this month, Montana Republicans decided to challenge thousands of voters in predominantly Democratic areas, based on discrepancies in their addresses.
The GOP hastily withdrew the challenge after it sparked an outcry.
But now, the party's executive director has resigned, just three weeks before the election.
No one's saying on the record that Adam Eaton's departure is a result of the challenge fiasco. But the Missoulian reports: "Last week, rumors were running rampant in political circles that Eaton would be pushed out because of the much-criticized effort to challenge voter registrations."
The challenges appeared to win the party no friends in the state. After it was revealed that among the challenged voters was a member of the Army Reserve about to deploy to Kuwait, and an 86-year old Second World War hero, even some local Republicans denounced the gambit.
Democrats in the state had gone to court to block the challenges. The Republicans withdrew them before a ruling was made, but not before the judge issued an order charging: "The timing of these challenges is so transparent that it defies common sense to believe the purpose is anything but political chicanery."
Eaton told the paper he's going to work for an equity consulting form based in Madison, Wisconsin.
He'll be replaced by former state representative Larry Grinde of Lewiston.
Josh
Zachary
As a Montanan, this really warms the cockles of my heart. Couldn't happen to a more deserving asshat.
October 15, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
October 15, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
One would hope that Rachel covers this on her show. This is one of those perfect examples to offer up in support of the Dem position that these aren't Voter Fraud activities but Voter Supression activities.
John
October 15, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Republicans like to sow doubt and create shadowy bogeymen out of voter registration orgs, but they intentionally steer clear of details. Putting a human face on these voter registration challenges is a great way to build public support. People in Ohio need to start going through the purged voter reg lists and find cases of similar people being disenfranchised.
October 15, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep... more visual aides. :)
John
October 15, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope that doesn't mean he's going to try and work against voter fraud in WI!!!
October 15, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
"the judge issued an order charging: "The timing of these challenges is so transparent that it defies common sense to believe the purpose is anything but political chicanery."
One hopes that other judges across the US take note of this.
October 15, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Warms your cockless what?
October 15, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first thought your comment caused for me is that you misspelled "cockles" as in "the cockles of your heart." If so, then I suggest this reference in an effort to achieve a bit more precision in both spelling and meaning.
My second thought was less charitable. If you intended that spelling, it isn't particularly funny. But I consider that an unlikely interpretation if you are over age 15.
October 15, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a good strategy for Dems in Ohio to ape: Highlight how these absurd, vote-suppressing fishing expeditions are almost certain to create problems for legitimate voters. The various "vote fraud" claims around the country right now, focusing on ACORN's voter-registration drives -- and apparently running 24/7 on Fox News these days" -- are so patently absurd that it's hard to imagine anyone making them with a straight face.
Fear, baby. That's what this is about. Them poor folks and black folks are going to steal the election by showing up at the polls, en masse, in their Mickey Mouse and Superman costumes!
October 15, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the sort of nonsense that turns red states blue.
October 15, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG - I live in Wisconsin. Can't we send this guy to Alaska???? I'll bet Palin could find someone to fire so he can have a job in her administration!!!!!
October 15, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
A message from Madison, Wisconsin: Thanks, but no thanks! Good idea to send him to Alaska!
October 15, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, us Alaskans don't want him -- we're trying to get rid of creeps like this too. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Palin when she comes home. We don't plan on making it easy for her.
Meantime, very glad that the state where I was born & raised has gotten wise to these Republican voter suppression games.
October 15, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The link to this story from my feed reader had an ad from Home Depot saying they're hiring now! Heh, heh, heh.
October 15, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Both parties are filled with mobsters, folks. Vote ALL the mobsters out while we still have the right to vote....
October 15, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chicanery is a good word. Let's use it more. Now if only Fox News would mention this...
October 15, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Going to work for an "equity consulting firm"? He made that up; he doesn't have a job.
October 15, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
That clown is leaving Montana because he's afraid he'll get tarred and feathered and run out of the state anyway. One thing for sure, though, wherever he ends up, whether Wisconsin or Alabama, you can bet that he will attempt to do the same thing there. That is the nature of Repugnicant diehards - they just will cheat if possible. In their warped minds, "whatever it takes" is the guiding spirit. The only way to deal with them is to drive stakes through their hearts. Anyone got any extra stakes?
October 15, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the kind of crap that the rethugs have done since 2000.They`ve challenged ACORN in Ohio under the RICO statute.This is the same suit they tried in 2004 which was quietly withdrawn due to having no merit.This one which is backed by numb nuts, Ken Blackwell, has no merit either.It was filed from a county where ACORN didn`t even work.
Just more disruption from the repukes.
I`ve heard they`re going to be out in force challenging in this area,so I`m going to polls,armed with Greg Palast`s comic book "Steal Back Your VOTE" in poor areas and if they challenge I`m going to ask for evidence of fraud AND ENCOURAGE THE VOTER NOT TO VOTE PROVISIONALLY.
October 15, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's wrong with voting provisionally?
The alternative to a provisional vote is that the local voting official does not permit you to register any vote at all. With a provisional vote, there is a record of a person's effort to vote along with the evidence of eligibility, and it has to be approved or denied by a committee. The committee's reactions are reviewed and monitored.
There is a also a clear record of the degree to which voting officials have prevented individuals from voting, something that is not as clearly documented without provisional votes.
What is the negative side of provisional voting?
October 16, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.
October 15, 2008 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink