..guess my wearing of the t-shirt that states, "...either I vote or I kick your a&&" is in jeopardy then....hmmmm
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.
Well if there is ANY VOTER fraud, this could very much result in such an ANGRY BACKLASH that it could be VIOLENT.
Or rather, if the worse happens, it could very well we could very well go from the ballot box to the cartriage box.
I am not sure if the Obama administration realizes how close we are to seeing a rebellion, or if they are well aware of it because they are actively inciting it. I think I would put my money on the latter.
So where is the legal and political action against this elected official??
I have thought for quite awhile that we will not get out of this mess without a REAL civil war. Depends on how bad we want freedom. I hope that if these elections are stolen by fraud some of our red state governors will start secession. There won’t be anything to lose by doing so at that time. Widespread reports of voting fraud could certainly start violent reaction before the elections are over.
And what would happen here will make the riots in France look like a Sunday picnic I’m afraid.
I passed the article on to our GOP area leader. Unfortunately, I doubt we’ll have enough extra hands to have dedicated poll watchers.
umm here’s his pic so unlikely he’ll be prosecuted for anything just like moochelle:
sorry about the long link
..guess my wearing of the t-shirt that states, "...either I vote or I kick your a&&" is in jeopardy then....hmmmm
” Or rather, if the worse happens, it could very well we could very well go from the ballot box to the cartriage box.”
bullseye
To the 14 people lodging complaints...
“Did you vote?”
“yes”
“Dis you only vote once, this time?”
“yes” (ding ding ding ding ding)
Very dissapointed in El Franco Lee, he should know better than to pull this type of crap, or at the very least get caught up in it...But he is NOT the real story here...
The fact that we have an effort to put people into these “questionable” voting locations apparently IS being effective, and these “volunteers” should have been prepared for and briefed on the intimidation that would come from the opposition in the first place...
The local “idiot” news services got the story about these poll watchers totally wrong...But why am I not surprised...
Democrats can’t win in the arena of ideas; so they stoop to cheating. They’re punks, and they need an *ss-whupin’...
More serious in my opinion as an election official...
“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.”
This is illegal, that election judge should be removed immediately from thier job officiating over this early voting location RIGHT FRAPPIN’ NOW!!!
El Franco Lee should be charged with receiving proprietary information and should be charged and prosecuted along side this election judge RIGHT FRACKIN’ NOW!!!
This should not stand!!! I suggest those that live in the Harris County area need to get on the phone with the County Clerks office to get their take on this, then if that doesn’t give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, then call the Harris County DA’s office demanding an immediate investigation, and resolution on this issue RIGHT FRIGGIN’ NOW!!!
Patricia R. Lykos District Attorney 713-755-5800
Jim Leitner First Assistant D A 713-755-5814
Special Prosecutions Bureau 713.755.5840
Time is a wastin’ this is two day into the early voting cycle...This is our chance to rattle the rafters right now...
Guess where my first phone call is going to today???
Pat, I better not get an answering machine...That is a quick way to get into trouble if you do not address this issue right now, and do it publically...Right now!!!
“...poll watchers were yelled at by a Democrat Harris County Commissioner ***El Franco Lee ***...”
If they are screaming then there is FRAUD or an attempt to defraud in the works! “The lady she protest too much”!
Video is key to document this sort of crap. The local news always films voters in the polling place on election day, so I assume that it's legal to video the day's events. Something for us to keep in mind and confirm if possible.
BTW, the grammar in the first sentence is atrocious. "... 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." This sentence makes it sound off the bat that the True the Vote poll watchers were intimidating voters.
Exactly, call in the Feds. Make it a big deal that these lady’s were intimidated by an elected public official.
“Screw you, America. The DOJ serves us, only us, cracker."
If Texas men had any spine left they would double down on this M’er F’er and make sure that any vote fraud was caught then make the F’er who committed the fraud hurt.
I was raised in Texas and Im ashamed to say that the men in my home state now send old ladies to the front lines instead of getting off their dead asses and taking care of business themselves. I honestly cant believe the day came that I declared Texas men to be limp wristed pussies...
UGH... Whats next? they gonna paint the Alamo pink and turn it into a hair and nail salon? Just disgusting...
Democrat Voter fraud in Texas.
Thanks for the alert L.
Why do you assume they "got it wrong"? Maybe they didn't.
Maybe it's time to stop giving Houston political writers like Julie Mason and Cragg Hines the benefit of the doubt when they put out misinformation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.