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‘Don’t tread on me’: At least one Tea Partier denied the right to vote in Texas
The Daily Caller ^
| 19 OCTOBER 2010
| Alexis Levinson
Posted on 10/19/2010 9:17:02 PM PDT by rdb3
Dont tread on me: At least one Tea Partier denied the right to vote in Texas
By Alexis Levinson - The Daily Caller 12:46 PM 10/19/2010
A Texas woman was denied the right to vote on Monday because she was wearing a button bearing a Gadsden flag the rattlesnake under the words Dont Tread on Me that has become the unofficial image of the Tea Party.
Katrina Pierson, who sits on the steering committee of the Dallas Tea Party and is also involved with the Garland Tea Party, told The Daily Caller that around 11 oclock yesterday, a Garland Tea Party member, reported that she was told by an election official that she could not vote unless she removed her button. A second election official, Pierson said, did not recognize the button and did not understand why the other official was not permitting the woman to vote.
According to Pierson, the woman refused to remove her button, saying it was a violation of her first amendment rights, and called the sheriffs office. The sheriff passed the matter on to the Dallas County Election Department, which failed to act.
The woman opted not to vote until she had done more research and figured out whether or not the election official was allowed to do that. The Garland Tea Party is currently conducting that investigation on her behalf.
If we have to file suit against the county, we will, says Pierson.
Pierson said that she had heard of a similar incident in Waco, Texas, where a voter was not permitted to vote while wearing a Waco Tea Party T-shirt.
Election officials, apparently, were concerned that sporting such symbols constituted electioneering, which the Texas election code specifically prohibits within within one hundred feet of the polls.
But Pierson says, Its not electioneering, its not a candidate, its not a party affiliation.
The Dallas Tea Party does not consider itself a political party. The code of conduct listed on its website defines the group as such: The Dallas Tea Party is, and will continue to be, an expressly non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to citizen education, empowerment and engagement. The code says the group will not issue
endorsements of candidates nor will it campaign for any candidate in any way. This is a significant difference from Tea Party groups such as the Tea Party Express, which endorses and campaigns for candidates.
The Dallas Tea Party has sent an e-mail to various Tea Party groups around the state notifying them of what happened, and is calling for people to not back down:
We encourage you to wear a Gadsden Flag T-shirt or Dont Tread on Me button when you go to cast your vote, the e-mail says. If you are denied your right to vote because of your open public support of the tea party movement, we encourage you to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
Asked why, as this seems counterproductive if members will not be permitted to vote, Pierson explained:
Theyre Tea Party members, and we stand for constitutional rights, and the first amendment being a very important one. If being an American citizen disqualifies you from voting, then we have a bigger problem than we thought.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: obama; palin; teaparty; texas
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1
posted on
10/19/2010 9:17:04 PM PDT
by
rdb3
To: rdb3
“According to Pierson, the woman refused to remove her button, saying it was a violation of her first amendment rights, and called the sheriffs office.”
The woman is technically speaking wrong.
You cannot legally engage in political advocacy in the polling place, and for that reason, you cannot wear political buttons or badges.
Since it didnt advocate a person its a grey area, but you cant advocate for a party either, and in Texas the Libertarians have used that flag and so have tea party folks.
A polite voter would just take the advice remove the badge and then go vote.
Your 1st amendment rights are limited by election laws.
2
posted on
10/19/2010 9:22:11 PM PDT
by
WOSG
(OPERATION RESTORE AMERICAN FREEDOM - NOVEMBER, 2010 - DO YOUR PART!)
To: rdb3
3
posted on
10/19/2010 9:25:04 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(Liberals are educated above their level of intelligence.. Thanks Sr. Angelica)
To: WOSG
Not so sure a Gasden flag would count as it is not a candidate nor a party. It is an historic symbol of our founding era. Seems closer to the idea of banning a person with a US Flag t-shirt.
I am sure we can dig up plenty of Obama paraphernalia in polling places in 2008 if we look around?
4
posted on
10/19/2010 9:26:06 PM PDT
by
ilgipper
To: rdb3
I have to agree with the election official. No electioneering near the voting booths. Too bad they don't enforce the rules when the Dems cheat.
5
posted on
10/19/2010 9:26:15 PM PDT
by
KarlInOhio
(Grblb blabt unt mipt speeb!! Oot piffoo blaboo...)
To: WOSG
The libertarian party is a political party. The tea party is NOT a political party any more than the civil rights movement was a political party.
6
posted on
10/19/2010 9:26:58 PM PDT
by
gleneagle
To: WOSG
That particular flag has been used by patriots since before Texas was a state or the USA was a country. I do not see how it can be construed to advocate anything besides freedom. I guess that being for freedom is not allowed?
7
posted on
10/19/2010 9:27:28 PM PDT
by
jospehm20
To: WOSG
In Ohio, you can’t ware anything suggesting your political persuasion in a polling place. I can see this in a way, if you do it might be suggested that you are tiring to alter a voter’s choice.
8
posted on
10/19/2010 9:28:17 PM PDT
by
doc1019
(Martyrdom is a great thing, until it is your turn.)
To: WOSG
I have a Gadsden on my car’s bumber and I live in
bla-bla-blue MA. I’m surprised my car hasn’t been trashed yet.
9
posted on
10/19/2010 9:28:42 PM PDT
by
MissyMack66
(Obama strategy: deny US military votes but give convicts the vote. This is NOT OK!)
To: rdb3
Ms. Pierson should have used the FLOTUS Defense: “I am, like, so very important that I didn’t know, tee hee.”
10
posted on
10/19/2010 9:30:21 PM PDT
by
kromike
To: rdb3
There have been some locations where the GOP challenger against Eddie Bernice Johnson does not appear on the ballot.
11
posted on
10/19/2010 9:32:39 PM PDT
by
GeronL
(http://libertyfic.proboards.com <--- My Fiction/ Science Fiction Board)
To: rdb3
Just leave the button in the car, woman. We’ve got real problems in this country, and this is a stupid distraction.
12
posted on
10/19/2010 9:33:16 PM PDT
by
Jedidah
To: GeronL
Yep, and that needs official intervention pronto. Eddie Bernice has a credible and capable opponent, and she’s caught in scandal.
Not that I think a Republican can beat her in South Dallas.
13
posted on
10/19/2010 9:35:17 PM PDT
by
Jedidah
To: Jedidah
Hopefully the Texas Secretary of State and AG have been informed of this.
14
posted on
10/19/2010 9:38:52 PM PDT
by
GeronL
(http://libertyfic.proboards.com <--- My Fiction/ Science Fiction Board)
To: jospehm20
“I do not see how it can be construed to advocate anything besides freedom. I guess that being for freedom is not allowed?”
You cant advocate it out loud in the voting booth.
Election laws are a pain in the rear and Dems violate them with impunity ... one of those funny things about them.
15
posted on
10/19/2010 9:41:46 PM PDT
by
WOSG
(OPERATION RESTORE AMERICAN FREEDOM - NOVEMBER, 2010 - DO YOUR PART!)
To: rdb3
Two things; 1) Poster #12 is so right; 2) An NAACP tee shirt would get a pass, I’m betting, in Texas, in south Dallas??
16
posted on
10/19/2010 9:43:47 PM PDT
by
RitaOK
To: gleneagle; jospehm20
The tea party is NOT a political party any more than the civil rights movement was a political party. The Texas Election Code prohibits "electioneer[ing] for or against any candidate, measure, or political party".
The Tea Party isn't a political party, but they do advocate voting for or against specific candidates or measure.
Sorry, but this is "beating a dead horse". Leave all political statements of any kind in the car when you go to vote.
17
posted on
10/19/2010 9:48:44 PM PDT
by
justlurking
(The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good WOMAN (Sgt. Kimberly Munley) with a gun)
To: rdb3
Just take off the damn button and go vote. Put it back on as soon as you’re done. Geez....
18
posted on
10/19/2010 9:54:52 PM PDT
by
KoRn
(Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
To: justlurking
Can you wear an American flag?
That flag is NOT the flag of any political party or candidate.
She should be free to wear it.
Go arrest the Wookie for actual violations of the law.
To: KarlInOhio
Unless you are michelle Obama, attorney and wife of the so called president shoveler in cheif
20
posted on
10/19/2010 9:58:31 PM PDT
by
funfan
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