The case began in the early 1980s when the Democratic National Committee sued the RNC for voter suppression tactics that targeted about 45,000 people in low-income and minority areas. The RNC subjected minority voters in New Jersey to misleading election notices, the intimidating placement of off-duty police around polling places, and the unlawful practice of “voter caging” whereby unfounded voter challenge lists are compiled from returned mass direct mailings.
The case, DNC v. RNC, resulted in a 1982 decree in which the RNC agreed not to engage in voter caging and intimidation activities or to target minority voters.
Despite the consent decree, the RNC began using similar tricks in Louisiana in 1986. Under the guise of fraud prevention, the RNC facilitated voter caging programs and other tactics. Commenting on the program, Kris Wolfe, the Midwest RNC political director, sent a memo to Lanny Griffith, the Southern RNC political director, saying “I would guess this program will eliminate at least 60,000 to 80,000 folks from the rolls…If it’s a close race…this could keep the black vote down considerably.” The DNC filed a contempt motion to reopen the case and enjoin the RNC from conducting the Louisiana programs. Once again, the RNC voluntarily agreed to a consent decree rather than fight the claims in court. The result was a 1986 decree [PDF] in which the RNC agreed not to do any ballot security programs anywhere in the country without prior court approval.
More than 20 years later, on November 3, 2008, the RNC moved to terminate the 1982 and 1986 consent decrees. The RNC claims the consent decrees hamstring their efforts to combat voter fraud, despite the fact that voter fraud is less common than death by lightning.
Well, they got the Supreme Court. Now’s as good a time as any to get “official” permission to suppress the vote again. Beats winning by actually getting more votes than the other guys, I guess.
Beats winning by actually getting more votes than the other guys, I guess.
It’s a whole helluva lot more reliable, you betcha…
When did they stop?
After reading the latest round of the behaviors by RNC/GOP, I have decided they are Nazis. If we aren’t careful, it won’t be Tea Baggers it will be a repeat of Kristallnacht (November 9, 1938).
How about a new law.
DEATH if you get caught caging voters!
You fuckers seem to think this is a joke!?
Look around. Look at the fucking MESS you have created in this country! Don’t come crying to the people when they RISE UP against your ass!
Tampering with our elections IS the cause of all our problems.
I really ain’t for the death penalty, but you know, the damage your doing to us, it’s about time your stopped permanently.
YOUR CAUSING OUR DEATHS OUT HERE!
YOUR RUINING OUR LIVES OUT HERE!
A pipe dream to get legislation to make you be put to death for caging and tampering and allowing these electronic vote tabulation devices in.
You officials all god damn chicken shit motherfuckers when it get’s right down to it!!
All official legal speak and the same fucking crap actions. You fucking turn us into criminals for asking questions! The difference between you and the MAFIA is that the MAFIA doesn’t have local sheriff’s, cops, doing their bidding all the way down to the lowest levels!
(I hope this sparks some thoughts in the readers mind about how fucked up things really are)
We can’t keep up with your bullshit legislation, you pass the motherfucker faster than we can get it removed, outlawed, and rolled back. Always we loose ground, always we are disenfranchised.
When I say DEATH, I mean a LEGAL death, roll up your sleeve, strapped to the chair in the chamber, and let the shit hit the tubes!
A lot of folks probably won’t agree with me on THIS BLOG, but I don’t give a fuck anymore. I have to say it. I have to make you think about it. Would you have let Hitler get away? Answer carefully. What is the greater interest of the people?
Drain the swamp? Or fill the fucker up with toxic poison and death and keep letting the monsters attack us?
my–democracy is a pesky thing, isn’t it? far be it for the republicans to allow little things, such as full voter enfranchisement, get in the way of their climb to power.
So what was the court’s verdict?