US groups warn of moves to deny Obama victory

[skooooo]

Civil rights and trade union leaders in the United States are warning of last-minute efforts to deny victory to Democratic candidate Barack Obama by preventing thousands of likely pro-Obama voters from casting ballots on November 4.

Known as “vote suppression,” the tactic involves challenges to eligibility on a variety of grounds, including improper voter registration and insufficient proof of US citizenship or place of residence.

“This year has brought heightened efforts to disenfranchise and intimidate voters,” Wade Henderson, director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, declared recently. “These are targeted and insidious attempts to suppress the vote, particularly in communities of colour.”

John Sweeney, the head of the largest US trade union confederation, charges that groups favouring John McCain are responsible for vote-suppression campaigns in some key states.

http://www.nation.co.ke/InDepth/AmericaVotes/-/464300/485136/-/nxq1isz/-/index.html

[EFerrari]

1. This may be a stupid question, but is anyone able to go to PA

on short notice? Lynne called it days ago -- we may need people to go there. :shrug:

[skooooo]

2. I can't..

Wish I'd planned ahead, or thought ahead. I maybe could have gone somewhere to help.

[hootinholler]

3. Where and when?

I'm not too far from Gettysburg

-Hoot

[EFerrari]

4. I don't know, Hoot. But if there will be a repeat of the Brooks Bros. Riot

it will be in PA. Do you see what I mean?

If they plan to steal it in PA, they will have a plan in place and fake "demonstrators".

I guess if it does come down, we'll know from the news where. Imho, we need rapid response people -- not to interfere with the Obama campaign but to back them up. :shrug:

[skooooo]

8. Ooh..if I was there when they were trying to pull that!!

:mad:

[EFerrari]

9. That's why I asked, who could go to PA on short notice?

I can't from CA + a bunch of animals. :shrug:

[Jersey Devil]

5. I signed up as a lawyer a long time ago but no one contacted me

When the Obama campaign put out a call for lawyers for election day I signed up right away but never heard from anyone. All I received were emails asking me to make phone calls or go to PA (I am in northern nj) to knock on doors.

Then last week I received an email looking for PA lawyers to be at the polls in Philadelphia on election day. I am a NJ lawyer, not admitted in PA so I figured they didn't want me because they were specific about wanting PA lawyers. It doesn't make much sense to me because I could still monitor the polls and direct people to the PA lawyers they already have if court action or intervention is necessary.

[EFerrari]

7. That was good of you, Jersey Devil.

I may be overreacting but it just seems like common sense to have a rapid response group ready to go to PA.

Even if only to swell a crowd. :shrug:

[Jersey Devil]

6. delete