Should people with foreclosed homes be able to vote?

crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Just an email I received... interesting issue here.
It's the ugliest attack on voting rights we've seen in recent history--if you live in Michigan and you're in danger of losing your home to foreclosure, Republicans will try to take away your right to vote.1
McCain's response? Silence. Like Bush in 2000 and 2004, he's trying to keep a safe distance from these tactics, while benefiting from them. McCain could end this with a phone call. But he won't.
It's voter-suppression at its worst. They're taking advantage of folks falling on hard times and using it for political gain--kicking people while they're down. It's time to hold McCain publicly accountable for this strategy.
Will you join us in outing McCain for not denouncing these tactics and invite your friends and family to do the same? It just takes a moment:
http://colorofchange.org/michigan08/?id=1673-589095
For years, Republicans have engaged in "caging"--challenging the eligibility of voters on election day to suppress turnout and intimidate voters.2 They'll often try to reject voters by claiming they don't live at the address where they're registered. This year, they've taken it to a new low--the chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan said last week, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses."3
In other words, they'll target every voter whose house is on a foreclosure list, and challenge their voting rights on election day. But just because your name is on a list, it doesn't mean that you've lost your home or moved. In fact, many homeowners stay in their homes for months after the foreclosure process has begun, and some people are able to catch up on their payments and reverse the process.4
So why are Republicans illegally targeting homeowners who've had a tough time under Bush's economy? Because they know they're likely to vote for Democrats, and for Obama for President. In Michigan, over 60% of sub-prime loans were made to African-Americans.5 And in general, people who've been hit hard by the economy are less likely to vote for Republicans. This tactic won't just affect struggling homeowners--it will cause longer lines and delays at the polls for everyone that lives in a neighborhood with a high number of foreclosures. And that's the point.
After making the plan public, Michigan Republicans are backtracking and claiming they were misquoted.6 But everything indicates that these are exactly the kinds of tactics they'll use,7 and they're just trying to squash an embarrassing story.8
Similar tactics are being used across the country, but the McCain campaign simply sits in the background, quietly benefiting from voter suppression. The Obama campaign is fighting against this plan in the courts,9 but they need our help to expose these dishonorable tactics and make this a national story.
If enough of us step up and connect the dots, we'll give the press a reason to make the connection between McCain and what's happening in Michigan. And as we've seen in our other campaigns,10 when we stand together behind a clear message, the press covers it and moves our message forward.
Calling on McCain to publicly reject these tactics is just the first step in our campaign to shame the Republican Party for attacking the voting rights of struggling homeowners.
Please join us:
http://colorofchange.org/michigan08/?id=1673-589095
Thanks and Peace,
-- James, Gabriel, Clarissa, Andre, Kai, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
September 17th, 2008
1. "Lose your house, lose your vote," Michigan Messenger, 9/10/08
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...-589095&link=1
2. "Caging list," Wikipedia
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...-589095&link=2
3. See reference 1.
4. "Obama campaign files suit over "voter-foreclosure" plans," Michigan Messenger, 9/16/08
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...-589095&link=4
5. See reference 1.
6. "Flap over foreclosure challenges in Michigan grows," Chicago Tribune, 9/16/08
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...-589095&link=6
7. "Former GOP operative explains why Republicans will use foreclosure lists to block voters," Michigan Messenger, 9/15/08
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...-589095&link=7
8. "Messenger rejects GOP plea for retraction," Michigan Messenger, 9/12/08
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...-589095&link=8
9. See reference 4.
10. ColorOfChange.org campaign against Congressional Black Caucus debate on Fox News
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...589095&link=10
11. "D.N.C. Shuns Fox in Debate Schedule," The Caucus (New York Times blog), 4/5/07
http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=m...589095&link=11
 
jellyman1213

jellyman1213

Member
It does not say your right to vote will be taken away, only that the validity will be challenged. I see nothing wrong with making sure the voting address is accurate. If you are not trying to vote illegally you will not have anything to worry about.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by jellyman1213
http:///forum/post/2761049
It does not say your right to vote will be taken away, only that the validity will be challenged. I see nothing wrong with making sure the voting address is accurate. If you are not trying to vote illegally you will not have anything to worry about.
But this isn't what was said. The statement was, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses."
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
I think that is horrible if it is valid. Yet another way our country has changed. I think you should be able to vote if you are a citizen of this country, period, and that includes all people who are felons IMO. Simply because you broke a law at one time does not mean that you should not be able to exercise your rights to decide how this country should be run. Simply because you are having money problems and may lose your house means you can't decide how the country is run? Please. That is ridiculous. What's next? If your credit score is below 600, you won't be able to vote?
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
How about we dowse this fire with a small dose of reality and a little truth.
they were going to use foreclosure lists as one tool to confirm people voting are actually still residents in the precinct they are attempting to vote in. Now I can see where Democrats would have a problem with preventing people voting multiple times as it is a long standing tradition in their party

I figure it is fair turnaround after the Democraps despicable campaign to prevent absentee ballots from deployed service men and women from being counted in the last two elections.
 
mkzimms

mkzimms

Member
why not just dissolve the electoral college and dispense voter registration by SS# and let people vote anywhere they like by just counting the popular vote?
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
It is kind of messed up trying to keep anyone from voting, however I wouldn't say its the worst violation of voting rights in history. Atleast they don't say 'well you can vote, but only if your grandfather voted....'
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
You know, if the lame democrats could just admit they are wrong they would win a whole lot more elections. Every time they lose it's either "we got cheated" or "We need to do a better job of getting our message out" Last two elections there was more money spent in support of the Democrat candidate than the Republican. The message is getting out there, the American people are rejecting it.
Now we have a current climate where any Democrat worth ounce of beans would be a lock if they had put up a reasonable candidate. But instead they decide this is there chance at long last to elect some left wing fruit loop like obama, with the most liberal voting record in the nation. Polls indicate they shot themselves in the foot again. Generic polling Dem vs. Republican has the Dems up double digits yet the race is a dead heat.
 
jmick

jmick

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/2761344
You know, if the lame democrats could just admit they are wrong they would win a whole lot more elections. Every time they lose it's either "we got cheated" or "We need to do a better job of getting our message out" Last two elections there was more money spent in support of the Democrat candidate than the Republican. The message is getting out there, the American people are rejecting it.
Now we have a current climate where any Democrat worth ounce of beans would be a lock if they had put up a reasonable candidate. But instead they decide this is there chance at long last to elect some left wing fruit loop like obama, with the most liberal voting record in the nation. Polls indicate they shot themselves in the foot again. Generic polling Dem vs. Republican has the Dems up double digits yet the race is a dead heat.
I agree and disagree with this. I agree as a whole they should stop crying about past election fraud and be more proactive to ensure it doesn't happen again. The message is out there if you know how to find it, the mass media is weak on substance and IMO, they picks bits and pieces from each side and they don't really do a good job of presenting the real issues.
I do agree, with everything that has happened they should be a lock. Then again, when the polls are tight it makes for stories that are a lot more compelling which means more $$ from advertising and better ratings.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
I readily admit I havn't been able to fully research this yet.
That said, if your home is foreclosed it is no longer your address. Don't you have to vote in the proper precinct?
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Don't know muck about Michigan. And I really don't care. (It snows up there, even during man made Global Warming)
But living in an area where ALOT
of folks from Michigan and other cold Northern states come to spend their winters. I hear many of them gloating/bragging of voting in both States. And I am being totally honest when I say this...none of the ones that I have heard say this were voting Republican. So no worries Crimzy, the wealthy crowd is doubling up for ya'll.
 
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