We learn
in this Mother Jones magazine article that people are bragging on Facebook that they plan to fraudulently collect Walker recall signatures and destroy the signed petitions. Which Wisconsin voting officials say would be felonious behavior.
These plans, discussed in Facebook posts that were first reported
by the blog PolitiScoop, entail posing as recall supporters and
gathering signatures, only to later destroy the petitions. They also
include telling Wisconsinites that they can only sign one recall
petition (which is false—they can sign different petitions as long as
they each correspond to a different organization) and directing
signature collectors to the homes of registered sex offenders. (Requests
for comment were sent to each of the Facebook posters who allowed
messages from other users.)
In one post, Will R. Jenkins says, "I'll be able to destroy 15-20K
signatures." If things go well, he adds, he might even "be able to
destroy upwards of 15-20% of the entire collected ballots in the state
of Wisconsin":
Our Wisconsin Attorney General can have Facebook ID these people in a nanosecond.
I believe anyone can identify these persons. Just type their name in. But I "know" this kind of person. They do not have the ambition to canvas; their pleasure is talking tough-guy talk to a computer screen. Yes, prosecute anyone breaking the law, interfering with a legal electoral process, yes. But fear them? Better: Post their faces at Recall service centers so the volunteers will recognize them in their midst (should they have the ambition to show up).
ReplyDeleteGiven there will be cranks who do this stuff, all the more reason for volunteers to try to get more volunteers. My personal strategy is to engage citizens and ask them to get 20 signatures, and to try early to bring my own personal number to 100. That's where my energy will be.
The room at Bay View Library last Tuesday was packed, with chairs being brought in til the space was over the limit, standing room only. That is what heartens me; and so many people we can pair with to make it a fun outing.
We'll find out. Even conspiring to commit voter fraud is a crime.
ReplyDeleteIf Van Hollen lets it go like a PSU Administrator lets go of pedophilia, then I say we can add D-B Van Hollen's name to the recall petitions.
Notice that NOT ONE WisGOP politician has stepped up to say "This is not acceptable," and their silence is deafening.
Has the GAB been made aware? Steps need to be taken now because this could hurt the effort in the end?
ReplyDelete