There is a lot at stake in this presidential election and the current polls have McCain and Obama in a statistical dead heat. Does that mean time to play dirty?
Could we be headed to a repeat of 2000 where hanging chads had the electorate on pins and needles waiting for the final results?
It appears that the Republican Party is prepared to use any means necessary to win in several battleground states.
According to the Michigan Messenger, James Carabelli, the chairman of the Macomb County, Michigan Republican party says, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure those people aren't voting from those addresses."
What is extremely disturbing is that challenging voters on this basis is a legal practice and the Republican party is gearing up teams in several states to challenge voters with an organized effort titled "the election integrity program."
The Obama campaign filed a complaint in court Tuesday to stop it.
Forclosure Crisis
People demonstrate outside a HOPE NOW home ownership preservation workshop at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Demonstrators hoped to draw attention subprime mortgage crisis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP
Joseph Barratt, 55, and others demonstrate outside a HOPE NOW home ownership preservation workshop at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Demonstrators hoped to draw attention subprime mortgage crisis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: A foreclosure sign stands in the yard of a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: Sebastian Villalba mows grass and weeds to prepare a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: An Orange County Sheriff eviction notice hangs on a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: Sebastian Villalba mows grass and weeds to prepare a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: Sebastian Villalba mows grass and weeds to prepare a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Getty Images
A crowd of protesters hold up anti-war signs Friday March 28, 2008, in Freehold Township, N.J., as one of the presidential helicopters lands near a company where President Bush was visiting to spotlight the administration's efforts to save struggling homeowners from foreclosure. The president plans to stop by a mortgage counseling company that's part of the "Hope Now" alliance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
AP
Bill Suky, right, points out the arriving helicopter of President Bush Friday March 28, 2008, in Freehold Township, N.J., to wife, Dolores Suky, second right, Lucille Cerbini, left and Francine Jordan, second left, as they stand with a gathering of Bush supporters. President Bush was visiting New Jersey to spotlight efforts to save struggling homeowners from foreclosure. The president plans to stop by a mortgage counseling company that's part of the Hope Now alliance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
AP
Diane Beeny holds up an anti-war sign as she stands with a large crowd of protesters Friday March 28, 2008, in Freehold Township, N.J., near a company where President Bush was visiting to spotlight efforts to save struggling homeowners from foreclosure. The president plans to stop by a mortgage counseling company that's part of the Hope Now alliance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
AP
In his book, "How To Rig an Election," convicted Republican operative Allen Raymond says that these and other tactics are standard operating procedure in political campaigns.
Attorneys call the practice of using lists to block voters "caging."
So the question becomes is this a caging tactic designed to target African-American voters? Considering that African Americans were disproportionately impacted by sub-prime loans, it could be.
According to the Center for Responsible lending, ten percent of African Americans homeowners with subprime mortgage loans will result in foreclosure. But Macomb County has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation.
The Republican party is backpedaling, even calling the newspaper's story a fabrication, then saying if such a plan was in place, it was only talk and would not be carried out.
In a conference call held by the Obama campaign Tuesday, campaign attorney Bob Bauer broke down what it really meant to be on a foreclosure list in this so-called "Lose Your Home, Lose Your Vote" scheme.
"The fact of the matter is a home foreclosure list does not mean A - (the voters) don't live there or B, that the home has been lost. If they did lose their home, they could STILL vote. It's illegal and it's an attack on their right to vote," Bauer said.
The Obama campaign has filed a complaint in the Michigan courts to block any attempt to stop voters using foreclosure lists on election day.
Do you think this is an attempt to suppress black voters?
More From NPR News & Notes
+ Home Foreclosure Victims To Lose Their Vote?
+ Lose Your Home; Lose Your Vote?
Comments: (123)
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By: Emelda Dixon on 9/16/2008 6:11PM
I've got news for the McCain camp! I lost my home 2 months ago, but guess what I changed the address on my voter regristration before I slept the first night in my new place of residence.
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By: Emelda Dixon on 9/16/2008 6:15PM
I've got news for the McSame Camp! I lost my home 2 months ago, but I had the presence of mind to change the address on my voter's regristration as well as all other legal documents before I even slept the first night in my new residence.
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By: Leslie on 9/16/2008 7:08PM
Barack's voters will not be blocked. Not only will Barack win the presidency, McCain and Pailin will be relieved they don't actually have to follow through on all of those lies they have been telling.
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By: BERNICE on 9/16/2008 7:32PM
I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE OBAMA TEAM IS UP ON THIS BECAUSE NOTHING WOULD GRIEVE ME MORE THAN TO KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE UP TO THIS AND WE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AFTER IT'S DONE.
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By: Sick of It on 9/16/2008 7:59PM
I'd like to see the Obama campaign set up a registration website, listing registration requirements, the laws and voter's rights state-by-state. The website could take questions from voters as well. It could also be a place for citizens to report shady tactics such as "Lose your house, lose your vote." Actually, each state government should do this, but some states might be a little unethical.
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By: Emelda on 9/16/2008 8:55PM
There is a site already set up for new voter regristration as well as updates to change your address. I changed my voter regristation when I changed my car regristation. We really need to stay on top of this, people just can't see pass the man's color. I would vote anybody if they were pink with gray stripes and yellow polka dots if I thoght for a minute it would give me an iota of hope that something was going to change.
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By: nate dorsey on 9/16/2008 9:12PM
Well im not suprised at all there doing what they know how to do best and that is cheat. By the way anyone who is african american and voting (R) should be ashamed that there party is trying to shut there race up like the old days this makes me sick and hurt inside. G
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By: Emelda on 9/16/2008 9:16PM
GO TO BARACKOBAMA.COM, CLICK GET INVOLVED, IT OFFERS THE OPTION FOR VOTER REGRSTRATION FOR ALL STATES RIGHT THERE. SPREAD THE WORD!
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By: Obama Voter on 9/16/2008 10:42PM
It's seems the Republicans are up to their same "old" tactics, and sadly, they sometimes work on uninformed voters. I'm glad Sen. Obama is standing up and taking a stance against this. It's up to voters now to spread the truth and make every vote count!
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By: GOP wants to steal your vote on 9/16/2008 11:10PM
It doesn't end there. In other states the GOP is preventing Blacks who do not have a Driver's License or Passport the right to vote. The GOP will stop at nothing to prevent Blacks from voting. They are already tring to steal this election. This issue desperately needs attention from the Obama camp.
Read more in a www.Newsweek.com article by Jonathan Alter called ‘Jim Crawford’ Republicans.
"The GOP is working to keep eligible African-Americans from voting in several states.".......
"Now, with the help of a 2008 Supreme Court decision, Crawford vs. Marion County (Indiana) Election Board, white Republicans in some areas will keep eligible blacks from voting by requiring driver's licenses. Not only is this new-fangled discrimination constitutional, it's spreading."
"In Crawford, the court upheld an Indiana law essentially requiring a passport or driver's license in order to vote. But more than two thirds of Indiana adults have no passports and nearly 15 percent have no driver's licenses. These eligible voters, disproportionately African-American, will need to take a bus or catch a ride from a friend down to the motor vehicles bureau to make sure they obtain a nondriver photo ID. Otherwise, they cannot vote in Indiana this year."
Read more at www.newsweek.com
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