Kansas GOP Chair Sends Email Boasting of Voter Caging

[proud2BlibKansan]

Kris Kobach, a former counsel to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft who is currently the chairman of the Kansas GOP, sent out an email on Thur entitled “Kansas Republican Party Year in Review” in which he brags of voter caging. Blue Tide Rising has the goods:

… Kris Kobach, chairman of the Kansas GOP, sent out a self-congratulatory litany of accomplishments. Among them was one particularly eye-catching item:

“To date, the Kansas GOP has identified and caged more voters in the last 11 months than the previous two years!” <…>

Slate.com has the best comprehensive write-up on how the Republican Party employs caging techniques to suppress the votes of the poor, the deployed, and college students. (You know, likely Democratic voters.)

Did we mention it’s illegal? And that Kris Kobach is proud to be doing it?

Since Kris Kobach can’t expand his own party or force his own Party’s members to support his candidates he’s shamelessly trying to keep Democrats from voting instead. This is the stratagem of a desperate and shrinking party.

Someone needs to ask Kris Kobach which voters he’s caging and how he’s doing it. Someone like a newspaper editor or perhaps a Grand Jury. … (more)

More on Kris Kobach here and here (He apparently suffers from an advanced case of Lou Dobbs disease). Depending on what methods are being used in Kobach’s admitted voter caging scheme, it may very well be illegal, but hardly surprising. Voter suppression through caging lists has become a standard part of the Republican playbook to steal elections for some time now. In Sept McClatchy detailed current Republican voter caging efforts underway in Florida and Ohio to “impede Democratic-leaning minorities from voting in 2008,” and back in July PBS NOW took a look at the Republican Party’s voter caging plan “designed to keep Democrats from voting, allegedly by targeting people based on their race and ethnicity.” Watch that video here.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/12/26/kansas-gop-chair-sends-email-boasting-of-voter-caging/

[Fovea]

1. How the mighty

have shot themselves in the foot...

Or something.

I am amazed how supposedly intelligent people become stupidly arrogant in short order under the culture of corruption.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Check out this comment at Blue Tide Rising:

Beware of Kris Kobach. Unless Sebelius can find another partyswitcher, he's going to be next AG. Kobach is more dangerous than Kline. Kobach is actually smart and accomplished attorney.
:scared:

http://bluetiderising.blogspot.com/2007/12/kobach-admits-to-coordinated-voter.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. More from Blue Tide Rising:

Slate.com has the best comprehensive write-up on how the Republican Party employs caging techniques to suppress the votes of the poor, the deployed, and college students. (You know, likely Democratic voters.)

Did we mention it's illegal? And that Kris Kobach is proud to be doing it?

Since Kris Kobach can't expand his own party or force his own Party's members to support his candidates he's shamelessly trying to keep Democrats from voting instead. This is the stratagem of a desperate and shrinking party.

Someone needs to ask Kris Kobach which voters he's caging and how he's doing it. Someone like a newspaper editor or perhaps a Grand Jury.

http://bluetiderising.blogspot.com/2007/12/kobach-admits-to-coordinated-voter.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Don't ever expect a newspaper to do what, er, a newspaper should do.

[havocmom]

4. Hope the ACLU jumps on this and hangs him with him with his own boast

If he admitted caging, sue his ass.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. His downfall would certainly be a treat.

[eridani]

5. Contact the DNC about this ASAP!

http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues

voter protection is listed on the above form as one of their key issues.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Great advice - thanks!

[Richard Steele]

6. Grrrecommended

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Thank so much

[annabanana]

7. Caging is ILLEGAL, right?

I mean it's really against the law...right? This should be at the top of every progressive blog & forum in the country.

Going into the '08 election season, it is absolutely vital that the greatest number of people possible are aware of this tactic... and the GOP reliance on it!

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Yes, let's post this EVERYWHERE

This bastard's gotta go.

[bad_robbie]

14. Illegality of voter caging

"I mean it's really against the law...right?"

I'm trying to figure that out, myself. After reading the Wikipedia article*, it sounds like it's illegal if it is done to disenfranchise anyone protected by the Voting Rights Act. And the RNC is under a consent decree to not participate in the practice. If Kobach were doing it with help, assistance, blessing, etc. of the RNC, then we could argue he's in violation of the consent decree.

It's definitely underhanded. And it seems unethical and antithetical to the concept of representative government. Even though voter challenging is generally allowed by law, it shouldn't be done except in egregious cases, and some form of remedy should be provided for those wrongfully challenged (other than just having their registration status restored). Like a fine for the challenger, to be split between the state and the wrongfully challenged -- so there's an incentive to challenge your challenge, so to speak.

*Deduct one letter grade from me for using Wikipedia as source.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Wikipedia has its uses

Check out Kobach's entry. It has already been edited to include this latest little stunt. :)

He is really really bad. For me as a Kansan, it isn't just that he has admitted this caging, there are many other little stunts. I am hoping this will derail him once and for all. It's critical since he is rumored to want to run for state AG. And we have had enough crazy AGs in Kansas. LOL

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Kolesar]

13. Slate.com story by Dahlia Lithwick, May 31, 2007

http://www.slate.com/id/2167284/

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Very interesting

Thank you.

I am hoping we can break the pattern of ignoring this here in Kansas.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Update - the state GOP responds:

Christian Morgan, the state GOP’s executive director, admitted to a poor choice of words but denied the existence of any voter suppression campaign.

First, Morgan said, caging by one definition involves direct mail. The Republican effort referenced by Kobach does not. He described it as a face-to-face effort to identify Republican voters and the issues important to them and then get them to the polls on election day.

“We’re trying increase voter turnout, not suppress it,” Morgan said.

He added that only election officials — and not party officials — can challenge a ballot in Kansas.

“Why would we even undertake such a thing when only election officials can challenge a voter’s qualifications?” he said. “This is much to do about nothing.”

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/9126

[atommom]

18. So "by one definition" they didn't do it. Sure sets MY mind at ease.

I don't trust Kobach or his minions any further than I could throw them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. It's just a poor choice of words, atommom

:rofl:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

20. How about... where's the outrage that our own Judiciary Comittees aren't pursuing legal

action on caging? Tim Griffin was doing it in the White House. He was then rewarded by being appointed US Attorney. He's now working for Fred Thompson (probably getting ready to do dirty tricks). No word that it's hurt him.........

I have no knowledge if the House or Senate Committees ever asked him to testify. Do you?

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Nope I don't believe they did ask him to testify

[KansDem]

22. Kick for the Friday crowd

:dem:

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Thanks

We need to push this and ask The Star to cover it (and not just on one of their blogs - they did that already).

It's up on Kos and Huffington Post. If you can think of other blogs to post it, please do.

[Supersedeas]

24. the Oligarchy will not stand by while real democracy takes shape