Free hamburgers OK for voters (Burgers for votes in Milwaukee!)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | 2/17/04 | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

[mafree]

A promotion offering free hamburgers to people who vote in Tuesday's primary election does not violate state election laws, assistant Milwaukee County district attorney Michael Mahoney said Monday.

The 89-cent hamburger offered by V&J Foods, which operates 14 Burger King restaurants in the Milwaukee area, does not constitute something of value being offered for a vote, Mahoney said.

State election laws prohibit offering anything exceeding $1 in value as a voting incentive.

The district attorney's office was asked to look into the matter after someone complained to the city Election Commission that a radio ad offered free Whoppers to people who showed up at the restaurants today wearing an "I Voted" sticker.

As it turns out, the promotion actually offers a free hamburger with the purchase of an order of french fries, Mahoney said.

[mafree]

"Smokes for votes" in 2000- now "Burgers for Votes" in 2004. Ain't Milwaukee grand?

[mafree]

Can you ping to WI list please?

[The G Man]

For the price of a hamburger today, I will gladly pay you Tuesday.

[mwyounce]

The 89-cent hamburger offered by V&J Foods, which operates 14 Burger King restaurants in the Milwaukee area, does not constitute something of value being offered for a vote, Mahoney said.

Ouch...

[kcvl]

Clinton can do one better than that. $20 and a six-pack after church on Sunday and a free bus ride to the polls that aren't suppose to be open. Pine Bluff, Arkansas - Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton, Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters, etc. - 2000

[RandallFlagg]

Everyone clear the road! Michael Moore's somewhere on the highways at high speed trying to get to Milwaukee as we speak.....drooling!

The most dangerous place in the world is between Moore and Cheesy Poofs!

[EggsAckley]

Canadian beef........?

[Prodigal Son]

Does Krystal's still exist in the US? Man, I used to love to go there and order about 12 of those little burgers.

[mountaineer]

The Dems reportedly paid the homeless in Milwaukee with cigarettes in 2000 to vote for Gore. Cheapskates! Joe Kennedy paid West Virginians $50 per vote for his boy JFK back in 1960!

[dennisw]

"Smokes for votes" in 2000- now "Burgers for Votes" in 2004. Ain't Milwaukee grand?

I love Wisconsin, had a great time there, but I see 'cRATS in other states offering free heroin and crack for votes. NY and NJ ?? How about free hot wheels for your low rider in Cali? You tell me.

[mafree]

I should give a little background on this. V & J Foods is owned by a local attorney, who is a big backer of one of the mayoral candidates. Ads promoting this were run only on a popular radio station that appeals to young Blacks who prefer hip-hop music.

[cspackler]

Cheesy Poofs? Did you mean puffs? Oh wait, never mind....

[Landru]

I see your local government's hard at work, again.

...a mighty creative bunch, these guys.

[mafree]

I don't know Krystal's. What part of the country were they in?

[mwyounce]

Honestly, I see this as a little different than 2000....

In 2000, didn't the Gore campaign round up homeless people and give them cigarettes in return for absentee voting? This is an after the fact "reward" for voting and doing your civic duty.

I may be splitting hairs, but this sounds less like a conspiracy to get voters for one person and more like just getting out the vote.

[elli1]

As it turns out, the promotion actually offers a free hamburger with the purchase of an order of french fries, Mahoney said.

And most people will buy a soft drink, too. Pretty good promotion--targets people they know will be out & about and will get some folks into the store who normally aren't customers. Luring potential new customers is what the promotion is trying to do.

[mafree]

Joe Kennedy paid West Virginians $50 per vote for his boy JFK back in 1960!

Dayum! $50 bought a lot back then.

[Indy Pendance]

Remember this? Doesn't Marquette have a Burger King on or near campus?

[snip]

The Milwaukee GOP also filed complaints alleging two dozen incidents of “voter fraud of a kind previously seen only in Chicago.”

• “Marquette University students were seen taking 10 or more ballots at a time.” A survey of 1,000 students by the campus Marquette Tribune found 174 who said they voted more than once. “Students said that identification was rarely checked . . . (and) they picked up extra ballots or were handed multiple ballots and voted on all of them.”

• “Poll workers told a voter to "vote Democrat.' ”

• “A poll worker at the door was reported saying, "If you're voting for Bush, you might as well leave.' ”

• After one student told ABC News he voted four times, Marquette President Robert Wild was “shocked, disappointed and frankly angered.” A news story pointed out that voter fraud can get you 4 1/4-years in prison and a $1,000 fine. The student quickly retracted his story.

[Snip]

Marquette Voter Fraud - Election 2000

[mwyounce]

Krystal's are still around in the Southeastern US.

According to their website at Krystal.com:
Krystal currently has franchise locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Texas.

[mafree]

I may be splitting hairs, but this sounds less like a conspiracy to get voters for one person and more like just getting out the vote.

Could be, but then, see post #11- they don't do this every election.