Posted on 01/17/2006 11:22:00 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
For all the overheated talk of fraud in Wisconsin's last presidential election particularly in Milwaukee one incident stands out and demands significant punishment.
Those who slashed the tires of 25 rented vans and cars at the GOP headquarters in Milwaukee the morning of the 2004 election may have prevented hundreds of people from voting.
Five men, including the sons of two prominent Democrats, are on trial for felony property destruction. Testimony resumes today in a Milwaukee courtroom.
This is not just another run-of-the-mill case of vandalism. It's an affront to our democratic system.
The Republican Party of Wisconsin had rented the vehicles to shuttle GOP-friendly voters to the polls. That's perfectly legal. In fact, it's noble.
If you need a ride to the polls, you probably can't drive or don't own a car. Perhaps you are disabled or elderly. Democrats target similar help to voters likely to vote Democratic.
What's not OK is preventing people from voting by sabotaging their transportation. It's dastardly and far worse than the actual physical damage to the vehicles, esti mated at over $2,500.
Charged in the Milwaukee case are Democratic campaign staffers Sowande Omokunde, 26, Michael Pratt, 33, Lewis G. Caldwell, 29, Lavelle Mohammad, 36, and Justin Howell, 21.
The trial has drawn extra attention because Omokunde is the son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D- Milwaukee, and Pratt is the son of former Acting Milwaukee Mayor Marvin Pratt.
Defense attorneys in recent days have suggested out-of-state Democratic operatives may be trying to pin the crime on the local men.
We trust the jurors will determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, who is responsible. And when they do, a severe penalty is in order.
The Republican Party of Wisconsin has exaggerated the extent of voting problems in the last presidential election to bolster its misguided attempt to require all citizens to show photo identification cards at the polls. Some in the GOP also want to do away with same-day voter registration, which would squelch voter turnout more.
That said, the Republicans have a right to be sensitive about Election Day shenanigans when 25 of their vehicles are slashed and rendered useless hours before the polls open.
The tire attack was partisan, blatant and brash. The penalty must be steep to deter similar crimes and to protect future elections.
First-term U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., enters court with her son Sowande Omokunde in Milwaukee. Omokunde and four other Democratic activists were charged with slashing the tires of vans rented by Republicans to drive voters and election monitors to the polls on election day in 2004.
"The Milwaukee Five" Ping.
Omokunde?
How is it that Moore's son's last name is Omokunde? Born out of wedlock or he changed it in an effort to honor his African "roots"?
He also goes by "Supreme Solar Allah"
Republicans were disenfranchised!
Where's Jessie Jackson?
All you need ask is what the reaction would be if the situation were reversed - if Republicans had done this.
I hope the judge asks himself that too before sentencing.
I don't understand why the democrats just can't accept the fact that the levee we bombed in New Orleans was not done out of malice, but mere payback. </ sarcasm>
Whoa. Okay, that provides some insight.
Why isn't this Republican Disenfranchisement?
Just had to get that dig in, didn't they? But even they have to admit, this is no joking matter. The Democrats are the guilty ones here and no amount of spinning will get them out of it. It would appear, however, that the WSJ would like to put this behind them as quickly as possible without looking to terribly closely at out of state connections.
Diana, how much longer is this trial expected to last? What's your take on getting a conviction? I REALLY want a guilty verdict & harsh sentence!
FAILURE TO CONVICT will be a dire signal to the future of the democratic process in America. The next step is thugs intimidating voters at the polls.
I noticed the same thing but I just couldn't bring myself to give a crap, no matter how hard I tried.
Democrat crime in a Democrat district? No jail time whatsoever is my bet.
The trial started on the 9th. They're trying the five together, and it's expected to take 2 weeks to wrap up.
They're going down for this, I have no doubt. No one was allowed to plead out. It's a jury trial. The only thing would be if the defense can prove that these thugs didn't do it and it was "DNC Operative Ninjas" from out of state, LOL! Either way, we win. :)
Agreed.
Gesundheit!
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