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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: I hate brainwashing! on 9/17/2008 10:54PM
Unfortunately for all Americans; black, white, yellow, green or whatever, America on Line is trying to divide us racially in order to capture the black market. (Divide and you shall win) Shame on you AOL. I for one will be finding another ISP if you continue to instill hatred among us American brothers and sisters. You're nothing but a bunch of greedy opportunistic egg heads aiming to brainwash a sector of our population for profit.
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By: Cawz on 9/18/2008 12:45AM
My neighborhood is full of forclosed houses here in Mich. Many people were paying their mortgage on land contracts and the original owners were pocketing the payments. That "legal" practice is SICK,vindictive, and typical. Anyone remember the Temptations song,Ball of Confusion? "People moving out, people moving in, why, becuase the color of their skin. Run, run, run, but you still can't hide." Or, the the lyrics during the vietnam war, " The Revolution, will not be televised." These times in 2008, are worse in my opinion. Vote Obama/Biden 2008 and take an unregistered friend in quickly help them get registered. If DeBolt voting machines steal another election ORGANISE and FIGHT back!!
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By: pat on 9/18/2008 1:13AM
The law also states that just because your house is IN FORECLOSURE does not preclude you from voting. Foreclosures can be stopped at any time. Your home must have been FORECLOSED. Being on a foreclosure notice is not good enough.
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By: Jaye Harding on 9/18/2008 1:34AM
If losing you house in foreclosure means losing your right to vote doesn't that mean we're reverting back to the early days of government when only landowners and men could vote? That being the case are more Whites going to be disenfranchised since more whites will loose their homes than any other ethnic group simply because there are more of them?
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By: dwight Green on 9/18/2008 3:06AM
Dear Willie Henry, You base your argument on a lie and then speak about what you believe as if it's truth and we are naive for not believing what you believe. Where did you get this notion that Obama plans to raise taxes on us, the little people? That's the lie that you use to fool yourself. If you don't like obama, stand up like a man and say the real reason. Stop trying to fool us and yourself. You look childish doing it.
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By: Debbie on 9/18/2008 6:41AM
Brothers and sisters in Flordia......get out there and rally your friends, neighbors, co workers, church members and yes...even strangers!!! We can win with your hard work. We are NOT going to stand for this RepubliCONS crap any longer! Take back this country! Make phone calls, knock on doors, walk through malls, talk to people in restaurants, at sporting events...whatever it takes. LET'S SHOW THEM THAT WE THE PEOPLE RUN THIS COUNTRY! Go to Barack's website, they have all the tools you'll need, phone lists, address lists, instructions on how to get to the people. NO MCCAIN, NO PALIN, NO MORE LIES!!!!
LET'S DO THIS!
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By: Vivian Wilson on 9/21/2008 4:59AM
THIS IS DISGUSTING. BLACK PEOPLE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER SO THAT YOU CAN VOTE.
1. Get a voters registration card
2. Get a photo ID with your current address
3. Find out where you voter precient is a head of
time and go early to vote.
YOU KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE.
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By: H. Allen on 9/18/2008 7:41AM
Willie Henry wake up! Stop believing the McCain Camp lies. Obama is not raises taxes on the middle-class and people with small businesses. It's a lie, it's a lie.
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By: Trasa on 9/18/2008 9:02AM
First of all, anyone who says stop playing the race card like the early comment by dr j is simply dillusional. You been living in your own world for so long you have no clue what's up. My mom said it best. The American people is so busy working to survive that those in power whether it's politically or big business will get over on the American people and with what is happening, sounds true. I'm not suprised one bit if they are resorting to this tactic to suppress votes that they feel will go to the oposing side. If you think that those in America are not that greedy to do it, then your probably one of those that thought the housing market was the best idea, until it came crumbling down because once again, people behind closed doors were finding ways to work the system to their greedy advantage and in the end, it did prevail. Of course it's a way to target them and probably if they can, they will target other groups. True, I do agree we shouldn't bring this into play, but the reality is, it's the way it's done in America. That's why we still have selections on applications like are you male/female, what's your ethnicity. Personally who cares. If your applying for a job look at by qualifications and background,etc. Receiving credit, make sure my rating and other things are up to parr. The truth is, there are those that just want to express their authority and once again find a way to get over on the American people.
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By: wanita on 9/18/2008 9:07AM
"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."
WAKE UP PEOPLE this is a ploy against people of color and the poor. If you can't see that if McCain wins this is going to be "more of the same" then you are blinded by your greed.
There is only one reason to make sure that those who lost their homes don't vote and that's because the majority are people of color and the poor.
If you have any depth open your eyes and see what's going on in America right now. Don't be fooled by the game of politics. WAKE UP! If you want change don't settle for petty politics and false claims of reform.
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