Jamelle Bouie: Donald Trump is setting a time bomb for racial violence on election day

[babylonsister]

Donald Trump is setting a time bomb for racial violence on election day
Filed under Commentary at 17 hrs ago

Jamelle Bouie, Contributor


Donald Trump spins so many tales and goes after so many different groups and individuals that it's sometimes easy to miss his most invidious rhetoric. For months, the Republican presidential nominee has undermined confidence in our electoral system, warning his supporters that this election will be "rigged" and stolen through "voter fraud."

Trump first told his supporters of this conspiracy theory at an Ohio rally in August and followed up the claim in an interview with Sean Hannity: "I'm telling you, Nov. 8, we'd better be careful because that election is going to be rigged. And I hope the Republicans are watching closely, or it's going to be taken away from us." This was in line with comments from his surrogates, like longtime adviser Roger Stone, who told Breitbart that Trump would begin to talk "constantly" about voter fraud. "He needs to say for example, today would be a perfect example: 'I am leading in Florida. The polls all show it. If I lose Florida, we will know that there's voter fraud.' " Stone continued: "'If there's voter fraud, this election will be illegitimate, the election of the winner will be illegitimate, we will have a constitutional crisis, widespread civil disobedience, and the government will no longer be the government.'" The implication is clear: If Trump loses, he should foment this "civil disobedience." And he should start preparing his supporters for it now. He seems to be doing just that.

"The only way we can lose, in my opinion ... is if cheating goes on," said Trump during another August rally in Pennsylvania. In Wilmington, N.C., where more than a century earlier, white terrorists toppled a black-led city government in a violent insurrection, Trump warned his supporters that without strict voter identification laws, people would be "voting 15 times for Hillary."

These are rhetorical time bombs, statements that cast doubt on our democracy, planted with growing frequency as Trump tries to rationalize the fact that he's losing. There's a chance this is harmless, that Trump will resign himself to defeat if he loses to Hillary Clinton and bring his supporters with him. During the first presidential debate, moderator Lester Holt asked him whether he would "accept the outcome [of the election] as the will of the voters," and he said unequivocally "the answer is that if she wins I will absolutely support her." But that was before he lashed out against the media for his poor performance, before the polls began to tilt back in Clinton's favor.

Now that he's behind, Trump has returned to questioning the legitimacy of the election. More critically, the idea that he would respect the results of the election, full stop, ignores the hatred that's come to characterize Trump's campaign, the violence he's condoned against protesters and other vocal opponents, the virulent prejudice he's brought to mainstream politics, and the apocalypticism of his message, where he stands as the final hope for an embattled minority of resentful whites. These rhetorical time bombs, in other words, could be the catalyst for actual intimidation and violence, before and after Election Day. And if that violence and intimidation strikes, it will be against the chief targets of Trump's campaign: people of color.

more...

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/11/donald-trump-setting-time-bomb-racial-violence-election-day

[pandora nm]

1. And in many states, voter intimidation is legal

The most devastating effect of Trump’s candidacy may be yet to come.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/scare-the-vote/503387/?utm_source=poltw

What, practically, does Trump mean? It’s not as if his supporters can follow unsuspecting voters into the booth, or conduct cyber-monitoring or check the hanging chads—but U.S. election law is remarkably permissive when it comes to so-called “election challengers.”

According to a study by the Brennan Center, 39 states currently permit private citizens—including, say, Trump supporters or Clinton supporters—to challenge prospective voters on Election Day. What happens to the voter varies, explained Wendy Weiser, director of the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program.

In some states, those challenging must provide election officials with some sort of valid reason for contesting a voter’s eligibility.

But in 24 states, private citizens can challenge a voter at the polls without offering any documentation that might call this eligibility into question.

All this means that a challenger intent on, for example, “stopping crooked Hillary from rigging the election” could feasibly single out any number of voters without any evidence to offer, and try to keep those voters from casting a ballot by calling into question their eligibility.

.....much more at link........

[Mc Mike]

9. Any coordination between private dRumpfers and repug party officials in these activities

Last edited Sat Oct 29, 2016, 10:07 AM - Edit history (1)

violates the '82 Federal Consent Decree. In my state, poll watchers have to get serial numbered certificates issued by county officials, must be registered electors of the county, and any certificate they produce that they got with help from local repug party officials will automatically put them in violation of this part of the consent decree, if they don't have a prior court order in their possession:

Neither the RNC or its agents, servants, employees can be involved, directly or indirectly through other party committees, in voter fraud prevention efforts ... no ballot security, ballot integrity efforts, no prevention or remedy of voter fraud is permitted by RNC or agents.

The consent decree is in effect until 2017, though repugs went to the Supreme Court to try to get it overturned for this election.

Basically, they will have to break the law to try this crap, and not only will we wind up winning the election, their lawbreaking will cause the Consent Decree to be extended again. And a bunch of them will be liable for prison sentences.

[Coyotl]

2. This is a voter suppression strategy, create long lines in the Dem strongholds that vote 95% blue.

And this is how seriously people should take Trump's rigged claims at this point:



It is alarming to hear Trump say he is gaining ground in inner city wards. That is where Republicans go to steal votes; black neighborhoods that vote 95% Dem is where there are lots of votes to steal. Is this boast a warning sign?

[Mc Mike]

6. Still haven't heard anything about Sproul's people, yet.

And I'd love to get the actual guidelines about my state law's practical definition of "vexatious delay" to voters, and about this line from Penn P.L. 333, Act No. 320: Any person who refuses to permit election officers to act, ... or who in any manner, prevents them from performing their duties and rights, is breaking the law and subject to imprisonment from 1 month minimum to 2 years maximum, or both. (Article 18, Sec. 1808).

In the 2012 election period, I'd already gotten Election Protection training and volunteer contact info, by this time. The EP coalition is lagging, at least not communicating with me, despite several reqs for info on my part, though the open threat of illegal trumpf repug activities is more pronounced.

[retrowire]

3. yep. misogynistic violence too. nt

[TonyPDX]

4. Republicans and Tea-baggers are bad at everything else. Why expect them to be good losers?

[BSdetect]

5. Its a delayed time bomb - Nov 28 he told them.

[SDJay]

7. Yep. I've Seen A Lot

out there about concern regarding violence after this piece of crap gets rightfully drubbed by HRC. That's a valid concern.

I'm becoming more concerned about violence ON election day. I can honestly see a bunch of Drumpfelstillskins with their open carry rifles hanging out at polls in black neighborhoods, gay neighborhoods, Latino neighborhoods, etc. outside of polling stations, just trying to incite something horrible.

No, I really, truly don't think there's any depth to which Drumpf and the scum who work for him won't sink. I've never seen anything like it.

[heaven05]

8. yep

truth is..........obvious to those with a conscience and the ability to think critically. Very rare among the trumpenfuhrer followers.