Ehrlich's (R) Campaign tried to suppress African American Vote in Maryland

[yellowcanine]

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/253/091/Robocalls_linked_to_Ehrlichs_campaign.html

The calls were to majority African American Prince George's County and Baltimore City and targeted to potential O'Malley (D) voters. So how is this not a potential violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act as well as Maryland voter suppression laws?

Ehrlich appears to be getting a pass on this because he was soundly beaten.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Today's WashPost had an editorial on this issue

The headline called it "skulduggery"

From the editorial:

"State law requires such calls to identify their sponsor; these did not. Another statute forbids any attempt to dissuade potential voters from going to the polls. As leaders of both state parties have said, the calls were a disgrace. Now it's up to state and federal authorities to investigate. Who knew what inside the Ehrlich campaign should be part of any probe."

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/08/AR2010110805729.html

Normally I disagree with the Post, its coverage and its editorials. But for once, they are correct about something.

U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin has already asked US Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate these calls.

We received one of these calls at home shortly before the polls closed and immediately knew there was something very wrong. It had an almost hypnotic effect, sort of like: stay home...relax...(They forgot to include: you are getting sleepy...you will always vote for Republicans...Democrats are bad...). Of course it didn't affect me because I voted early, and my husband voted during a break from running the Democratic info table outside our polling place.

I should add that we are Caucasians and live in Montgomery County; the calls were not limited to Baltimore or Prince Georges County.

[yellowcanine]

3. The calls were not limited to PG and Baltimore City but they potentially had the most effect on

African American voters and therefore should be considered a potential violation of the Voting Rights Act.

[LiberalEsto]

4. I agree with you nt

[SpiralHawk]

2. Typical Republicon

Hates honest American government. Does his damndest to undermine it, including illegal and immoral acts. Soooooo republicon.

[Kingofalldems]

5. This is at least the second attempt at voter suppression

by Ehrlich and Co. He's Nixonian.

[LiberalEsto]

7. That's right: see my next post

Nixonian definitely describes him.

Another big issue I have with him is that as governor he ordered Maryland State Police to spy on anti-war protesters.

[LiberalEsto]

6. This isn't Ehrlich's first voter suppression incident

In the 2006 election, Ehrlich sent out literature claiming that 3 prominent Democratic African-Americans had endorsed him for governor (and also endorsed Michael Steele, current GOP national chairman, for Senate).

Senator Ben Cardin mentions this in his June 7, 2007 opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the subject of “Prevention of Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation in Federal Elections".

Cardin wrote: "The title of the piece is “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats” and “Official Voter Guide.” The cover page prominently displays three African-American politicians: former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne Curry, former Congressman Mfume, and current Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson. Under their names is the statement “These are OUR choices,” implying that all 3 gentlemen had endorsed Mr. Ehrlich for governor and Mr. Steele for senator. That is false. Mr. Mfume and Mr. Johnson endorsed my candidacy over Mr. Steele for the Senate. The flyer concludes with a citation to the general election, on Tuesday, November 7, 2006, and legal authority lines (required under Maryland election law) noting that the literature was “paid and authorized” by both the Ehrlich and Steele campaigns."

Cardin further stated: "This type of deceptive literature is despicable and outrageous. It is clearly designed to mislead African-American voters about prominent endorsements by well-respected politicians. Maryland voters have a legal right to vote and pick the candidate of their choice. I was also upset to read in the Washington Post that a Maryland Republican election worker guide for poll workers stated that their “most important duty as a poll worker is to challenge people” trying to vote. This election guide was rightfully denounced by civil rights groups as a voter suppression and intimidation effort."

Link: http://cardin.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=275709&


SALON also wrote about this 2006 effort by Ehrlich:

"A flier distributed in majority black Prince George's County, and unsubtly hued red, black and green, featured three prominent black Democrats -- Kweisi Mfume, a former congressman and former head of the NAACP; Wayne K. Curry, the former county executive in Prince George's County; and Jack B. Johnson, the current Prince George's county executive -- stating that each endorsed Steele for the U.S. Senate and Ehrlich for governor. In reality, none of them had endorsed Ehrlich, and only Curry had endorsed Steele. On the back of the flier was a "Democratic Sample Ballot" that endorsed Ehrlich for governor and Steele for Senate.

The men who were passing out the deceptive fliers were homeless, and had been trucked in from Philadelphia specially for the event with the promise of three meals and $100 cash in exchange for one Election Day's work."

Link: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/11/21/cheat_sheet

When Ehrlich was governor of Maryland for one term, he also vetoed legislation allowing for early voting, voter verified elections, and an anti-voter intimidation bill.

[Blue_Tires]

13. in '02 he also had campaign staffers

hire homeless 'volunteers' to canvass and distribute literature in black neighborhoods...if that wasn't enough, the homeless workers were only given a fraction of the promised pay...

[Brewman_Jax]

8. Not their first time

and they wonder why black people don't vote for them. :eyes:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. But it's all good. The Republicans elected Allen West, who happens to be black.

So they're not racist.

:sarcasm:

(Not mentioning the fact that Allen West, besides being black, happens to be batshit insane and an all around disgusting human being who disgraced himself in uniform and will in all liklihood disgrace the House of Representatives in some way or another. But fear not, the Republicans have found that "black friend" they've long been searching for.)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. He and Steele tried this shit before and got away with it! They

weren't held accountable then when they in fact won and they're not being held accountable now. I wonder why...

At any rate, we are smarter than that in Maryland and didn't fall for the shenanigans this time around.

[LynneSin]

10. Not the first time that Ehrlich has done this. Repukes are disgusting in this nature

Here in Delaware, O'Donnell specifically hired african-americans to work for the day at the polls in her campaign. I even chatted with one of these 'volunteers' who said she wouldn't even think of voting for O'Donnell but the pay was good.

BTW it didn't work - in the districts where O'Donnell did this she received about 10% of the votes.

[Kingofalldems]

11. Special Prosecutor needed---this is huge.

[political_Dem]

14. We need the UN to oversee our elections like other countries.

The tally of incidents regarding vote suppression is staggering. And what is worse, such acts always prey upon people of color. What is more, there is a long history of harassing Black people on the way to cast their vote. The sad thing is that this has happened so often that now each generation has their own story of having their vote tampered with--from literacy tests to the Diebold machines.

It is even a bigger travesty that these heinous acts do not get prosecuted. It is a hate crime period.

[Scurrilous]

15. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Kingofalldems]

16. Kick this so everyone can find out about this slimy

republican.