Campaign 2004: Voter registration workers cry foul (West PA)

[No Mandate Here.]

<http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04294/398767.stm>

An ostensibly nonpartisan voter registration drive in Western Pennsylvania has triggered accusations that workers were cheated out of wages and given instructions to avoid adding anyone to the voter rolls who might support the Democratic presidential nominee.

Sproul & Associates, a consulting firm based in Chandler, Ariz., hired to conduct the drive by the Republican National Committee, employed several hundred canvassers throughout the state to register new voters. Some workers yesterday said they were told to avoid registering Democrats or anyone who indicated support for Democratic nominee John F. Kerry.

Tharp said volunteers were sent door-to-door to seek registrants but were instructed to first ask prospective new voters which candidate they planned to support. "If they said Kerry, we were just supposed to say thank you and walk away," Tharp said.

Brenda Snyder, a volunteer with the Republican Victory Center in Erie said workers "absolutely never" were told not to register Democrats. She said some workers were not paid "because of discrepancies in their paychecks" and said the party was attempting to correct the problem. Tharp, for instance, said she was paid only $14 for 15 hours of work after being hired at a rate of $11 per hour.

...Lots more, including Rethug charges of "playing politics" The horror!

[truthisfreedom]

1. news just keeps rolling in... my outrage button broke off a while ago.

now what do i do?

[jkshaw]

9. Wonderful sentiment truthisfreedom!

"My outrage button broke off a while ago." What a wonderful quote -- Since it describes so well the way I feel too, I'd like to adopt it if you don't mind! My eyes nearly crossed while I read my e-mailed Progress Report that came in this morning (from The American Progress Action Fund, of which I am a member). I read it as soon as I turned on the computer and before I had my coffee. I felt absolutely drained by the time I finished it. Good thing the coffee had finished brewing by the time I staggered out to the kitchen!

http://www.dragongoose.com

[sandnsea]

15. cold anger

Just work until you drop, then get up and work some more.

[Joy Anne]

2. elsewhere in PA

I know Republicans used a temp agency to recruit voter registration in Harrisburg, too, and I've just written to the newspaper to ask if the agency was this same outfit.

[Sinnerman]

18. REPUBS To STEAL ELECTION AGAIN

Sarasota County, Florida - Heavily Republican Base has County Elections Commissioner Scratching head why they have now 246,000 New Republican Voters When 2002 Census has only 228,000 Total reported residence. What The Fuck !!! Why isn't this being reported on CNN

[Sinnerman]

19. REPUBS To STEAL ELECTION AGAIN

Sarasota County, Florida - Heavily Republican Base has County Elections Commissioner Scratching head why they have now 246,000 New Republican Voters When 2002 Census has only 228,000 Total reported residence. What The Fuck !!! Why isn't this being reported on CNN

[Joy Anne]

3. elsewhere in PA

I know Republicans used a temp agency to recruit voter registration in Harrisburg, too, and I've just written to the newspaper to ask if the agency was this same outfit.

[Divernan]

4. GOP paying one dollar each for Kerry yard signs.

That's the rumor out of Murrysville, a conservative bedroom community of Pittsburgh, as told to staff of a Democrat legislator by Republican constituent.

[PA Democrat]

5. I've had 2 signs stolen

in same general area. This weekend I am laying in wait with a garden hose and a camera.

Democratic headquarters in Pittsburgh is asking for PHOTOS of the thieves. The best way to discourage these folks is to publicly humiliate them.

[mom cat]

6. This must be nation wide, Is there anyone pulling all of the tampering

stories together? This needs to be blasted everywhere.

[No Mandate Here.]

8. I'll open a new thread

with this site cited...

<http://vote2004.eriposte.com/>

[mom cat]

16. Thanks a lot. Please post a refresher memo every day if you can.

This game is going to be won in overtime, and what you are doing will help a lot...Thanks. :yourock:

[enough]

7. kick from PA (nt)

[RedEarth]

10. ....

[Zang]

11. question

Isn't this normal? I mean, don't the firms reserve the right to register whomever they want? As opposed to registering people and then tossing out forms of those who they are opposed to?

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Of course the republicans are trying to cheat these people out of their pay

This behavior is business as usual. I have noticed that the gop seems to always be paying people to work for them, probably because nobody would be willing to volunteer their time for chimp.

[GOPBasher]

13. How do they get away with blatent cheating.. constantly. Serious question

Can anyone give me a clue. I have no idea how they get away with CONSTANT cheating.

[w4rma]

17. Big media won't cover this properly because they want Repugs to win.

So their owners and CEOs and stockholders can get big $$$$ from the corporatist Repugs and more deregulation which translates into more power over Americans by these ultra-wealthy few.

And don't even expect John Ascroft to prosecute or investigate Republican voter fraud. He thinks God ordained him and Bush to rule the world.

[Beetwasher]

14. Sproul Needs To Be PROSECUTED As Soon As Possible

I think RICO might be able to be applied here...

[Mandate My Ass]

20. A tally of election semi-dirty tricks

IN THE SCRANTON area, a brouhaha erupts when the new Republican majority on the Lackawanna County Commission votes in mid-October to move 23 polling places - all in heavily Democratic neighborhoods.

Across the state in Pittsburgh, library officials decide to toss a private company that had been allowed to set up voter registration tables after seeing evidence the firm was only registering Republicans.

And down in Florida, all hell was breaking loose yesterday on the first day of early voting, with flaps over computers crashing and incomplete absentee ballots. The biggest problem in the Sunshine State, however, seemed to be long lines.

And Election Day 2004 is still 14 days away.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/9956890.htm

[ninkasi]

21. Oh, all of these things are problems...

but the biggest problem, the way I see it is brother Jeb, using every sleazy tactic he can, to steal another election for Chimp.