Grayson accuses Paul supporters of intimidating voters

The Washington Post ^ | May 18, 2010 | Chris Cillizza & Felicia Sonmez

[DakotaRed]

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson is accusing ophthalmologist Rand Paul's (R) campaign of conducting a "widespread voter interrogation scheme" as voters go to the polls today in the primary for retiring Sen. Jim Bunning's (R) seat.

Grayson's campaign issued a memo to reporters this afternoon highlighting a document it claims Paul's campaign has been distributing to supporters. The Paul campaign document instructs supporters to check voting machines before polls opened at 6 a.m. and "attempt to determine that all voting machines are set to zero."

The document (PDF) also directs Paul supporters to conduct exit polling as voters leave the polls from 8-9 a.m. and 12-1 p.m., make GOTV calls in afternoon, and then return to the polling places at 5:45 p.m. and "identify yourself as a representative of the Rand Paul campaign who will be witnessing the vote counting." It also instructs supporters to "immediately call the election hotline" to report any "irregularities."

[DakotaRed]

See also Paul Responds to Voter Intimidation Allegations

"In eastern Kentucky, some Paul supporters were asked to leave polling places after being accused of harassing and intimidating voters."

"I've heard nothing from our people about any altercations," Paul said. "It's kind of funny, my brothers and sisters were waving signs and they were a few feet too close -- someone told them and they backed up. I wouldn't call that intimidation. That's just someone telling you what the rules are."

[ansel12]

It looks like Trey Grayson is so sleazy that he is going to try and give the democrats the seat if he can.

No wonder the guy went from 30 points ahead to being wiped out, we really dodged a bullet with this ex Bill Clinton guy when the Kentucky voters kicked him to the curb.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

What is an “interrogation scheme” ???

The guy can’t speak English? His passions ran away with him???

[wastedyears]

Is he related to Alan Grayson?

[lmr]

I can see some of Ron Paul’s supporters conducting themselves in this fashion. Seeing not much difference between father and son, I am starting to think that if the Paultards had the reins, like the far left does now, the thugs that surround the leader may be just as bad or worse than the ones that surround Present Obama. I think such power and control for many of them would ignite even more belligerence than they already possess. BTW, I’m not familiar with the other candidate, so if I lived there, I would have probably sat this one out.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

What is an “interrogation scheme” ???

The guy can’t speak English? His passions ran away with him???

---

He means “intimidation” ???

Geeeeez, I’m glad the other guy won!

[abigailsmybaby]

If intimidation at the polls is legal for Black Panthers, it’s legal for everybody.

[Cololeo]

Grayson should have just hired the Black Panthers. No worries, no problems.

[WKUHilltopper]

Stick a sock in it, Grayson. McConnell! You’re NEXT!

[Lancey Howard]

Heh, the scumbag Democrats are irate because somebody wants to make it harder for them to cheat.
Interesting.

[jiggyboy]

I wonder if they got the date right on this copy of the standard vaguely-sourced “voter intimidation” press release. Coakley’s gang blew it a couple of months ago.

[TheThinker]

"In eastern Kentucky, some Paul supporters were asked to leave polling places after being accused of harassing and intimidating voters."

Well, under Obama's rule, apparently even if they were waving nightsticks, it shouldn't really matter.

[DeaconRed]

ONE GRAYSON DOWN! ! ! ! ! !
ONE TO GO (FLORIDA--ALAN)

[Allegra]

I can see some of Ron Paul’s supporters conducting themselves in this fashion. Seeing not much difference between father and son, I am starting to think that if the Paultards had the reins, like the far left does now, the thugs that surround the leader may be just as bad or worse than the ones that surround Present Obama.

I agree; I have found the Paul faction to be quite obnoxious and aggressive.

That being said, I am willing to see if Paul Jr. is more sensible than his kooky dad. It looks as though the KY voters didn't have much in the way of choices this time around.

[old republic]

I can see some of Ron Paul’s supporters conducting themselves in this fashion. Seeing not much difference between father and son, I am starting to think that if the Paultards had the reins, like the far left does now, the thugs that surround the leader may be just as bad or worse than the ones that surround Present Obama. I think such power and control for many of them would ignite even more belligerence than they already possess. BTW, I’m not familiar with the other candidate, so if I lived there, I would have probably sat this one out.

One pesky detail that this article fails to mention that would explain this behavior is that Grayson is the Secretary of State who oversees the elections, and Grayson had refused to recuse himself from overseeing his own election. There was a definite moral hazard and conflict of interest on Grayson's part. If the Paul supporters were indeed checking the machines to make sure that they were set to zero, they had every reason to be doing it.

[Repeal The 17th]

“...if I lived there, I would have probably sat this one out...”
-
Yeah, that’ll show ‘em.

[sickoflibs]

LOL, isnt claiming ‘voter intimidation’ a democrat party loser talking point? Did they scare the illegals away?

[The Working Man]

Well, I do live in Kentucky.

I had the opportunity to listen to all of the candidates. One of the Louisville radio stations had each one on over the last few weeks to discuss their positions in one on one’s with the radio host. It was VERY informative. And quite frankly, Rand Paul has the better platform over Trey Grayson. Mr. Grayson is viewed as a “insider” and from what I can tell from the news media does act like it.

With the anti-incumbent mood sweeping Kentucky and the nation, Mr Grayson really didn’t stand a chance.

And also his being Secretary of State did not help him in the perceptions of the electorate.

[RonPaulLives]

People can say whatever they want about Dr. Rand Paul, but the fact is that he knows, understands, and believes in the Constitution. I have known about Rand a few years here in Kentucky.

Here's all we need to know about his opponent in the primary, Charles Merwin Grayson III: he is a former Democrat who was a big fan of Bill Clinton, he ran his entire nasty and lie-filled primary campaign as if he were still a Democrat, and then there's this...
On March 3, 2009, a few of my friends met with Grayson to discuss a particular piece of legislation, and to learn a little more about Grayson himself. They started by asking Grayson if he had ever read the Bill of Rights or the Constitution. Though he had sworn an oath in order to take his position as the Secretary of State, Grayson responded in plain terms, “we never had to read that in law school.”

I would say good riddance to this neo-con opponent, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back and run for Governor next year...that's what entitled government bureacrats do. But in the meantime, long live liberty.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I will not endorse Junior Paul for the general (same goes for the leftists Kirk in IL and Castle in DE). The Democrats are going to have a field day exploiting his radical links, especially to Adam Kokesh (nevermind the Truther movement). I see the Paulbots are sore winners in this thread, still smearing Secretary Grayson.