Posted on 10/20/2010 12:44:17 AM PDT by American Dream 246
Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher reports voter intimidation in Harris County, Texas (Houston) by volunteer poll watchers trained by King Street Patriots, a local non-partisan group who started the True The Vote campaign. Tommy leads with this inflammatory paragraph saying:
In a story that’s sure to draw comparisons to the New Black Panther Party member who brandished a nightstick at a Philadelphia polling place in 2008, a Tea Party group called the King Street Patriots has been accused of “1960s style” voter intimidation in primarily minority precincts on the first day of early voting in Texas. The group is being sued by the Texas Democratic Party, following the filing of 14 voter intimidation complaints with the county clerk, and another two dozen with the Texas Democratic Party chairman.
Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of King’s Street Patriots strongly denies the allegations and noted that it was absurd that “little old ladies” would be intimidating anyone. She says that one 65 year old woman poll watcher came back from poll watching, after being kicked out for simply being present–itself a violation of the law–in tears.
Engelbrecht also notes that King’s Street Patriots learned they were being sued by the Texas Democratic Party at 11 a.m. yesterday morning when not one poll watcher had yet been removed and not one complaint sent to the county about any untoward actions.
In one instance, three poll watchers were yelled at by a Democrat Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee who said,”Why are you here? We have never had poll watchers here. Ya’ll need to get on out of here.”
Lee then demanded that the polling place judge give him information about the three poll watchers and the presiding judge complied–giving him their private information. The three poll watchers now fear for their safety and wonder what will be done with their personal information which included their phone numbers and home addresses.
Tommy Christopher, who, it should be noted is a White House correspondent and not a Texas native nor a Texas reporter, makes an outrageous linkage to the Philadelphia Black Panther case. In that case, Black Panther members were armed and preventing people from voting.
The alleged cases here in Houston are unsupported accusations with no documentation and no video or audio proof. Meanwhile, the poll watchers themselves report being yelled at and harassed, told to leave, and intimidated.
Catherine Engelbrecht expressed frustration about the situation–about being sued, about the constant barrage of negative national media and the misunderstanding around the purpose of True The Vote.
“We want everyone to have a free and fair election,” Englebrecht said. “That’s all we want. We are 100% innocent.”
Houston blogger Kevin Whited notes that it looks like the “Colorado Model” is being brought to Harris County, Texas. He goes on to explain:
Of course, Matt Angle features in The Blueprint, a fine piece of political journalism that describes how a handful of committed millionaire progressives managed to flip formerly reliably Republican Colorado to the Dems over a few election cycles, through strategic funding of down-ballot political races, creation of a loose network of “independent” news organizations and “ethics” groups to pound targeted opponents, and liberal use (no pun intended) of the legal system to tie up ostensibly conservative organizations. Angle all but promised to bring the Colorado Model to Texas, in the form of his Lone Star Project (and associated groups).
And if you begin to connect the dots locally — as Cory Crow also does — you can see elements of the Colorado Model at work, right here in Harris County. Now, There’s nothing illegal or unethical per se about the model. In many ways, The Blueprint is a great political novel that just happens to be true. However, given the state political media’s occasional interest in the influence of big money in politics (when it happens to be a donor like, say, Bob Perry), it would be nice to see that same interest extend to progressive big money and the machinations of nominally “independent” front groups.
Another local Houston blogger, Cory Crow does connect the dots:
It’s interesting to note that, on the same day the HCDP added KSP to their lawsuit the George Soros/Matt Angle backed Texans for Public Justice filed an ethics complaint against KSP based almost entirely on reporting found in another Colorado Model media outlet, The American Independent, which was then dutifully carried by another Colorado Model “news” outlet The Texas Tribune which conveniently forgot to disclose TPJ’s funding ties to Texas Democratic king-maker Matt Angle.*
So we have several (allegedly) Democratic partisan groups suing and filing ethics complaints against an (allegedly) Republican partisan group for (allegedly) performing the exact same actions they’re (allegedly) involved in.
Now, to connect the dots even further. Earlier today, I noted that The Texas Tribune just partnered with the New York Times who has just opened a Texas division. From Poynter Online there’s this:
In addition to Texas Tribune’s public policy reporting, the Times plans to publish some cultural and lifestyles coverage in the new regional pages. Evan Smith, who was a longtime editor of Texas Monthly before becoming editor of Texas Tribune, will commission and edit the additional content separately from his duties at the Tribune.
The Democrats seem to want to make Texas a battleground state–by any means necessary. The only sticking point has been a small grassroots organization simply wanting to make sure Harris County elections are free and fair.
No doubt, this is not the last we’ve heard on this story.
I see no signs of anybody doing anything about any of it. Rat vote fraud has been going on en grosse since the 60’s. To date, the pubs have done zero about it. From 2001 until they lost their majorities in 2007 gave them 6 years to address it. They didn’t.
We will see.
Our movement is diffuse. Each person takes action on their own based on their principles and capabilities.
I never saw myself as a leader; I am a Scout. Just like my pioneer and Commanche ancestors, I have a talent for slipping in and learning what the enemy is up to.
I provide the intel; it’s up to each person to take the action they think best.
That’s the reason for my involvement on the issue of vote fraud. Once I discovered the magnitude of the fraud, I set out to learn all of the ways that the commies cheat their way to power.
I urge every Freeper to get involved. Some go to protests. Some volunteer for campaigns. Some donate money. Some become Election Judges or Poll Watchers. Some are “keyboard warriors” who gather, archive, collate, and analyze data into useful info for the rest of us.
Every single Freeper has a part to play in the Revolution. This is the same battle they took up in 1776. Same Revolution for Liberty, different tyrants.
This election is just a battle in a war that will not end soon. The Left never gives up. Reagan crushed Carter; they licked their wounds and regrouped. The USSR fell apart; the commies redoubled their efforts to take over the USA.
What to do right now? GO AND VOLUNTEER. Every county Republican Party in the country needs volunteers for campaigns and election workers. Learn what the enemy is up to and report back on FR. Share your experiences as I have.
The most perfect warrior I ever met was one of my small unit tactics instructors at West Point. He was a Green Beret who had fought for TWELVE ONE YEAR TOURS IN VIET NAM. War was his life. It’s the same for us, but the food is better and we don’t get shot at.
Some are about as good as sitting in a canoe in 6 inches of watter to do a live report on flooding in our nieghborhoods...
It’s all about perception...If they can fool you, they have won...Regardless of the truth...
Time to tump over some canoes!!!
Damn straight my friend!!!
After the election...When all the dust settles...You won’t hear about it unless one of us in the County read or see it...
Check your FReepmail inbox...
What I find odd is that every election, I get a card telling me WHERE and WHEN I am registered to vote.
They did not send one this time. Is that on purpose? Is it because I registered as a Republican last time I voted?
25% of Texas voters are in Harris county. That’s why all conservatives in the Houston Area need to get out and vote, volunteer to be poll watchers, etc.
>>However, instead of getting mad at me... Go punch a liberal in the mouth. Their ass kicking is well overdue.<<
That’s a deal. Worth a night in jail and anger management classes.
I’m a former Spring-tonian myself. Lived right off 2920.
How long ya been gone and when ya comin back home?
Houston has enough problems with the left-over squatters from Katrina.
I left after joining the Navy, and haven’t made it back yet =( Well, except when I can talk the wife into spending vacation there or Business travel.
Ill be back to stay when I retire or when Texas secedes... Whichever comes first ;)
Well get here as fast as ya can....were waitin on ya before we start the succession procedures.
God bless.
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