Obama campaign says phoney callers trying to impede Latino voting

[maddezmom]

Source: RGJ.com

By Kristin S. Larsen • [e-mail] • October 23, 2008

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign officials in Nevada have filed a complaint with the secretary of state about callers pretending to be from the campaign trying to disenfranchise Spanish-speaking voters.

Spokesman Jeff Giertz said at a Wednesday news conference in Reno that the campaign received two reports of such attempts in Nevada.

"We want people to know that this type of dirty trick is going around," Giertz said. "It's clearly targeted to

Spanish-speaking voters, being that the calls were made in Spanish."

Sparks resident Raul Murillo, 50, said he received a cell phone call Oct. 13 asking him to vote for his presidential candidate over the phone, which is illegal.

"I said, 'No, I want to vote for Obama. I want my vote to count for him,'" Murillo said.

He said the caller identified herself as part of the Obama campaign, but Murillo said he knew something was wrong because he is an Obama volunteer.



Read more: http://news.rgj.com/article/20081023/NEWS19/810230379/1232

[Alcibiades]

1. We will find out who is behind this

In NC during the primary, a group did voter suppression using calls on behalf of one of Obama's opponents. This is the 21st century, there are phone records.

McCain's trying to suppress the Latino vote in Nevada. This will cost him a lot more Latino votes across the country than it can possibly gain him. Another boneheaded call by the most boneheaded presidential campaign ever.

[EFerrari]

2. I'll try to get this out to my Latino network.

I really hate these bastards. :grr:

[Judi Lynn]

3. People need to know this is being attempted. Hope no one falls for it. Thanks. n/t

[Chulanowa]

4. Why does this keep happening?!

Year after year, voter suppression, vote-flipping, intimidation, even outright violence.. .And nothing happens! It's almost like this shit has become part of the whole election ritual, like it's "normal." This shit isn't a dirty campaign trick, it's a federal fucking crime that endangers our nation.

[brentspeak]

5. GOP throwing everything including the kitchen sink this time around

Their usual bag of tricks.