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Secretary of State Says Similar Challenges in the Future Should be Rejected

Dems to Drop Voter Challenge Lawsuit

By AP News, 10-10-08

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) _ Montana Democrats dropped their federal lawsuit Friday against Republicans who challenged the registrations of nearly 6,000 voters because they might have changed their address.

The Montana Republican Party withdrew those challenges earlier this week, after being stung by accusations it was trying to suppress the vote in seven Democratic-leaning counties. Democrats initially vowed to press on with the case, and a hearing was scheduled for next week before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula.

But after Secretary of State Brad Johnson filed court documents saying similar voter challenges should be rejected in the future, Democrats said they were dropping their lawsuit.

"This battle has been won in the favor of the plaintiffs and the voters of Montana," said Caleb Weaver, a spokesman for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. "We feel we achieved the goals of the lawsuit and that there is no need to pursue this particular case at this time."

Within hours, Republicans issued a statement claiming the lawsuit had been dropped because the law was on their side. Party spokesman Bridger Pierce said the challenges had been made "in good faith" and were not meant to disenfranchise voters as Democrats had alleged.

"Based on the facts and the law, the Democratic Party made the only decision it could," Pierce said. "This issue at the heart of their lawsuit was moot, and there was no violation of federal law as alleged by the Democrats."

On Wednesday, Molloy had rejected the Democrats' request for an injunction but had scheduled a hearing on whether Montana registration laws run counter to federal law. In his order, the judge blasted GOP Executive Director Jake Eaton for his "mischief" in targeting Democratic voters through the challenges.

But Molloy also said it was the state — not the party — that risked violating voter registration laws, if election officials were to use the challenges to revoke or force changes to voter registrations.

The Republican challenges were based on a comparison of voter registration rolls and a U.S. Postal Service change of address database.

Under the National Voter Registration Act, such evidence is considered insufficient to challenge a person's right to vote. State law does not expressly prohibit the use of change of address information, but state election officials are bound by the federal law.

Johnson had issued instructions to that effect to county elections officials on Oct. 3. After Judge Molloy later questioned whether Johnson's instructions left room for interpretation, the secretary of state reinforced that position in court documents submitted Friday.

"To be absolutely clear, it is the secretary of state's position that a voter challenge premised solely on a change-of-address form cannot be granted to remove a voter from the registry," attorneys for the state wrote in a brief submitted by Johnson on Friday. [End of article]
Comment By Carl, 10-13-08

Doesn’t matter.  The “election” has already been decided in at least 13 states via ACORN and other fraud groups.  Obama has won and the “voting” in Nov. is merely a show.  Maybe we can save Montana, but I doubt it.

Comment By Rod, 10-13-08

I wouldn’t rule out the republicans ability to steal an election. They did it once, they can do it again!

Comment By Carl, 10-13-08

We’re not talking about “hanging chads”, or people simply so dumb they couldn’t punch out a hole in the ballot.  This is wholesale voter fraud.  Brought about by subsidized groups willfully making thousands of fraudulent registrations.  This is a direct attack on the “democratic process”.  [guess who supports these criminals].

Comment By Rod, 10-13-08

Expain to me how these voter registrations you’re talking about are fraudulent.

As toHhanging chads, they were only the items to make the news. I’m talking about wholesale disenfranchisement–and not a few hundred votes but millions in just Florida and Ohio. And this time we have all the new electronic voting to also worry about. From what I’ve heard, it’s a simple process to reprogram them, and without a paper trail to follow up after the election, we’ll never have confidence in the tally.

Comment By Carl, 10-14-08

Obviously you’re not checking out Fox news.  I’ve noticed CNN/ABC haven’t said a word.  There are currently 13 states where thousands of registration are duplicates, fraudulent, same people registering dozens of times.  Includes Ohio, Nevada, the Carolinas, Florida etc. etc.  Ohio for example, the Dem Secretary of State will not assist the local election boards to weed-out fake registrations and “early voters”.  Stand-by for the law-suits.  Widen your “news” sources.

Comment By Carl, 10-14-08

Oh never mind, it’s too late anyway.  Now, with [most likely] a one party gov’t next year, your “rights” could be gone.  The PARTY will decide what is “good” for you, what you “need”, where your money is going, and how much of it.  whether or not you should be “allowed” to have weapons.  And - there will be no one to stop them.

Comment By Rod, 10-14-08

You’re referring to the ACORN registration “fraud”. FOX has been making a lot of noise about it the last few days. As they did in 2000, 2002 and 2004. What it boils down to is that ACORN is required by law to turn in every registration they receive, even ones they know to be problematic. They flag the problematic ones for the election boards to screen (they are the ones who make the decisions on who is eligible to vote, not registration takers). And every election, a few weeks after ACORN drops off the forms, someone, always a republican, accuses them of fraudulantly submitting registrations. Why, because ACORN targets low income, minority voters, who tend to vote democrat. The republicans don’t want them to vote, so they always try and get them removed.
There was a case recently of ACORN firing some employees, but that hardly qualifies as “widespread fraud”. What it doess show is a long time organization policing its own ranks. For widespread fraud you need only look back to Karl Roves tactics in 2000 and 2004. Especially in Ohio.

You might want to spend less time spreading FOX’s half truths and more time trying to find the truth.

Comment By Carl, 10-14-08

How trusting.  amazing.

Comment By illustr8r, 10-14-08

How would you feel if the ACORN group had ties to republicans? Would you defend their actions and dismiss their tactics as easily?

ACORN’s objective is to create chaos on Nov. 4th. Obama is tied to them.
http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=308790381199062

But, never mind. Nothing to see here.
*head*desk*

Comment By Rod, 10-14-08

Illustr8r, if ACORN was going to yacht clubs and private golf clubs, or even our own Iron Horse subdivision up by Big, excuse me, Whitefish Mountain, they would end up registering mostly republican voters. Because they target low income and minorities, they get far more people who prefer democrats. What’s wrong with that? It’s no different then pastors standing up in front of their congregations and telling them to vote for someone or another. And since the pastors are in essence subsidized by not having to pay taxes ....

Carl, as far as my being trusting, you need new glasses, because I’m about as skeptical as they come. Do I think the dems are capable of dirty politics? You bet. Power corrupts. Are they capable of being hyopocritical? Certainly. But what we’ve seen from the “republican revolution” should make everyone want to throw the current bums out. This current administration will be forever remembered as the most corrupt, inefficient, hypocritical, and immoral administration in the history of the republic.

Comment By Carl, 10-15-08

Better check out just who in congress was taking the money from corporations they were supposed to be “over-seeing”.  Follow the money trail.  It will tell the story.

Comment By illustr8r, 10-15-08

More fraud, not ACORN, this time...this time these folks are well educated and not the atypical ACORN enthusiasts.Guess who they want to be their President…

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/15/voter-fraud-alert-houseful-of-out-of-state-obama-activists-registered-as-ohio-voters-received-absentee-ballots/

And yeah. The people who had their hands in the cookie jar at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac were the ones who rushed for a resolution to cover their involvement. Did you know that the bailout at first had about 1m in handouts to ACORN attached to it till the House Repub threw a fit and got it tossed out?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxVZTKq1vA

McCain tried to get more regulation in 2005 to stop the bleeding but the Dem congress blocked it. What did O do?

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/15/obama-voted-present-on-fanniefreddie-reform/

*sigh*

Comment By Carl, 10-15-08

illustr8r - give it up.  it does not matter how many links anyone cites, logic… reason… record..it does not matter.  It is a cult.  and the followers of Obama will not be swayed.

Comment By Ron C., 10-15-08

A cult? Like the McCanaanites?

Comment By illustr8r, 10-16-08

Ha! Funny. Just like the McCainites...or is that Obamatons?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtGrp5MbzAI&feature=related

I know Carl. I give up. When things go south at least I can say I didn’t vote for him.

Comment By Rod, 10-16-08

When things go south? Hate to break it to you, but things have already gone “south” and the U.S. is in big trouble. Trouble so big that the chances of anyone fixing it, McCain or Obama, are slim to none. We are all in for a nasty time ahead. And we have President Bush to thank for it. Did you vote of Bush?

Comment By illustr8r, 10-16-08

True. I should have said- further south. My 401k has been hit hard too. It’s going to a tough go ahead. It’s a matter of the best way to handle it. I don’t think O has the best plan. He campaigned to the far left in the primaries and the bobbed and weaved his way to the center afterwards. Off script and off teleprompter he tells us that he wants to “spread the wealth around”. His socialist slip is showing. He does have the most liberal voting record in the Senate.

Bush has his faults and hasn’t done well for the Republican brand. After carping on his record for 8 years in the media the American public have been convinced he’s a dufus. They forget that his tax cuts brought back the economy after 911...and the homeland hasn’t been attacked again under his watch. The Presidents job is to protect the country. That is what it says in the Constitution. It’s not his job, again, to spread OUR wealth around.

Regarding the economy. There are plenty of stories out there about it. This might be enlightening:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/12/the-quotes-that-explain-the-entire-financial-meltdown/

And speaking of our 401k, the Dems want that too:

http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081012/REG/310139971

Comment By Rod, 10-16-08

Bush engineered the largest budget deficit in our history! Part of it was his tax cuts. If you spend billions of dollars a day and don’t bring in enough money to cover it, you have a deficit. He was able to cover it with massive selling of treasury notes (to the Chinese, Japan, S. Korea, Saudi Arabia, et al.) which we will be paying off for years to come. But with the devaluation of the dollar, nobody wants to buy the notes any more. Gee, I wonder where that leaves us? Up a creek without a paddle?

The reason people carp about him is that his decisions have been terrible. As far as his being a dufus, he was smart enough to get elected, though I suspect his brother Jeb isn’t real happy about it since he was supposed to be the one running for president and now the chances of another Bush ever getting nominated for president are pretty slim.

Comment By Carl, 10-17-08

Yes, ignore the Barney Franks and C Dodds etc. ignore the Senators and Congressmen who tried to “blow the whistle” and blame it all on Bush.  Well, the the heck, He’s been blamed for everything from Global Warming to oil prices to huricanes etc.  As for B.O. - I guess we should listen to Biden and be patriotic and pay our taxes, “spread the wealth around” to those school drop-outs who spend their time smoking dope rather than getting a job.

Comment By whitefishman, 10-17-08

Voting for Obama is a vote for PILING ON THE TAXES. If you think that means someone other than you will pay for it you are naive.  The only way you are correct is if you are (have been) a non-productive citizen. Unfortunately the republican party could have found a better candidate for president but at least you know who McCain is. He will tell you the truth, like it or not. Obama has done little for me or any other average taxpayer. Careful with your vote!

Comment By Carl, 10-17-08

Exactly.  B.O.’s record, ideology etc. do NOT support his campaign promises to “cut taxes for 95%” etc.  While increasing “free” programs.  and - look at the current FBI investigations of ACORN, look at the actions of Ohio etc. etc.  This silent acceptance of “the ends jusifies the means” indicates a very real moral weakness.  This will not bode well for our future.

Comment By Rod, 10-17-08

Carl, are you actually suggesting that Bush and his republican colleagues are not to blame for the huge deficit we’re in?

Comment By Carl, 10-17-08

No, I’m not suggesting that.  The “blame” should be very well shared by our Senate/congress and President.  As well as the lack of oversight [Barney & friends], of the mortage industry.  The point is, there is nothing in B.O.’s record to suggest he will fulfill his campaign list of goodies.  But, a question - just how did a junior senator suddenly win the dem primaries and find multi-millions to run a national campaign?  Does anyone know where all this money and/or political power appeared from?  I don’t see information on any of that. I find that disconcerting.

Comment By Rod, 10-17-08

Okay, you say there is nothing in Obama’s record to suggest he will be able to accomplish what he says he can. What in McCain’s record suggests he will be able to do anything to correct our current financial and budget mess?

I say, the republicans had control of the purse strings for many years (9,10?) and we all have seen the results, I’m willing to give the dems a chance. They balanced the budget once before, I say let them try it again. If they can do it, our grandchildren will thank us. I don’t see McCain as a maverick reformer, but just another republican with the same tired answers to the most pressing problems we have faced in generations.

Comment By Carl, 10-17-08

McCain was one voice in the sea of stupidity we call the Senate - He at least tried.  But no, he did not succeed.  It just may be that the dems can balance the budget.  But I guarantee there will be no glorious tax cuts as the propaganda suggests.  Now, I always thought Americans were a skeptical lot when it came to politicans ‘bearing gifts”.  I know I certainly am skeptical.  Yet, it seems so few are bothered by the contradictions of Obama’s record versus his words.  The contradictions also of “goodies” promised versus the hard reality of budget constraints.  McCain’s proposals are more moderate, but again, I’m not sure if they are achievable.  Oh - and don’t overlook who was “in control” of the congress.  [somehow Pelosi and “control” don’t seem in sync].

Comment By illustr8r, 10-17-08

Thing is, when Clinton “balanced” the budget he did it with the help of Republicans.

http://www.senate.gov/~rpc/releases/1997/BUDDEAL2.JT.htm

Now, if O wins, it is possible that the Dems will control both the House and Senate...lead by liberal Dems Pelosi and Reid. There will be no one to intervene when they want to go on a hope and change spending binge. No firewall between them and us. Whatever new program or tax or whatever will pass.

There is a lot to read here but it is information about O that you haven’t heard on ABC,NBC, CNN and probably never will. Hatred of Bush isn’t enough reason to hand the keys of our economy and security to a veiled socialist. McCain wasn’t my first choice as a candidate but the other option is too scary.

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/series8.aspx

Comment By illustr8r, 10-17-08

More, about what may happen if the Dems control everything.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

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