GOP Election Theft And Motivating The Discouraged Voter
Here’s my “thoughtmare,” my daytime nightmare; it’s an admittedly a paranoid mental state, certainly suggestive of a conspiracy theory, but lately, I’m stuck with it. Here you go:
Do upper echelon Republicans know that in certain swing states the fix is in?
If so, that might make some sense of the incredible inconsistency of the Romney/Ryan campaign, the most recent example being their lack of policy and issue coordination with Paul Ryan, and their seemingly willful casualness about researching the effect of his record on independent and (the few remaining) undecided voters.
At times – many times – it seems they think it simply doesn’t matter what they say or do. Maybe that’s simply the fallout of incompetence, or overconfidence, or desperation, but I hear my “thoughtmare” again. Have GOP state voter I.D. and registration laws been so successful that the Romney/Ryan camp is secure in the outcome? That would certainly be a reason to avoid speaking in particulars about issues, to refuse tax returns, etc. They wouldn’t want to upset a perhaps tenuous apple cart and rely on voter suppression alone to win. And they must know, if they provide details:
about their true intentions for gutting Medicare and Medicaid,
or try to explain away that their budget plan (plans?) will increase the deficit and move more Americans into the “poverty zone,”
or present their plans for draconian laws infringing women’s rights,
that even the most successful voter suppression effort on election day will be overtaken by an electorate that wallops them at the polls. So, far better for Romney and Ryan to remain vague – or mum – and provide no details that would damage them with independents and undecideds. For example, earlier this week, Romney’s insulting “whiteboarding” of the differences between his and President Obama’s health care policies was a bravura performance – a clinic on appearing to be candid, but, in fact, saying absolutely nothing that adds to or advances the argument.
I suggest that GOP efforts to suppress access to the 
voting booth, i.e. suppression of Democrats, is more than incidental, it, combined with redistricting, is the primary GOP strategy. In an eerily true sense, Rooney-Ryan can put aside the pretense, quit campaigning, and await the assured results on the evening or November 6, 2012.
Perhaps as important as direct voter suppression is the indirect chilling effect on Democratic voters’ participation decisions. The spate of GOP-inspired voter suppression laws since the 2010 election continues to be a major topic throughout the media. News about the laws is stark for Democrats, particularly the poor, African Americans, Hispanics. Many laws are confusing, documents required for valid voter registration or valid I.D.s difficult, impossible, or expensive to obtain.
It’s safe to say that many voters are discouraged, and
some believe that it’s useless to try to register or vote, although, in fact, they may actually possess valid documents,
others simply decide to not attempt to meet voter I.D. requirements, even though,
for many, – if they only knew – the process would not be unusually difficult, or
still others opt out and decide to stay home on November 6th rather than risking confrontations over the validity of their I.D.s.
In the three examples, these discouraged voters are removed from election day tallies, except for the few who submit absentee or provisional ballots (which are often disapproved). Group one of discouraged voters, in fact, already have valid I.D.s. They fear that they do not, however, Group two, with assistance, would discover that they can meet state requirements and will be able to vote. Yet, many will not get that kind of information or assistance, for example, in rural areas. Group three still can be reached with active outreach programs and assistance on voting day.
About the scenarios above, I’d bet dollars to donuts GOP staff have studied and focus-grouped each, and have found the discouraged voter group to be numerically significant, especially in the swing states. In the end, either directly through ludicrous voter I.D. laws, or indirectly by blocking discouraged voters, this one-two punch will disproportionately reduce Democratic votes.
That’s the “fix” I mentioned at the start of this article that may be in, and it may be so “in” that GOP hot dogs think it a certainty they’ll prevail in the expected “toss up” states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Florida. I know, I know, this concern I have is a little tin foil hatty, but recall the GOP stole both of the last two presidential elections, with uncounted Florida voters in 2000, and with long lines at heavily Democratic polling places in Ohio, a tactic, by the way, they have teed up in craven fashion for 2012. Also, the opposition is better organized than in 2000 and 2004. Citizens United has increased both their funding sources and the secrecy within which they can operate. Gives me the willies.
We’ll need to unfix the fix. Certainly we need to continue efforts to identify and assist voters with I.D. problems. Lawsuits are being vigorously argued everywhere this is possible. The Department of Justice may still intervene directly in recalcitrant states like Florida.
Regarding discouraged voters, I’ll be looking to learn whether anyone on the Democratic side has polled/focus-grouped the chilling effect these laws have on voting participation. Evidence of this passive intimidation might be helpful in the effort to enjoin or overturn state suppression laws in court, perhaps before November.
Do state Democratic parties down in the grassroots have aggressive and coordinated plans to deal with the upcoming election? I’m confident they do, but we need to look for ways to improve right up until November 6th, and thereafter. One way would be to try to learn who the “discouraged voters” are. I’d guess that most will be found to possess all the I.D.s they need or have a relatively easy path to an appropriate I.D. For example, for some in Pennsylvania, a simple car ride to and from the DMV may be enough to insure his or her franchise.
If a fix is in, we can unfix it. But we need to continue to pursue all methods available. On election day, protect our voters. I do not doubt that some of the lower life forms in the GOP will actively harass. Also, if we identify and assist the “discouraged voters,” and assist them to their polling place, we may have an important effect on the outcomes in those very close races, and, not just the presidential race, but the House and Senate contests as well.
– Alexis de Tocqueville, January 29, 1848
From his speech delivered in Paris to the Chamber of Deputies
three weeks before the French Revolution of 1848
Should some in the Republican party believe it possible to, in effect, steal a third consecutive presidential contest, and then have its winners simply assume office, as before, under a temporary cloud, they may be overplaying their confidence in the present relative quietude of the mass of the American people. Just as De Tocqueville warned the French Chamber of Deputies prior to to outbreak of the 1848 February Revolution, they too are insensitive to the volcano awakening beneath their sleeping heads.
De Tocqueville spoke on January 29, 1848. Parisians took to the streets, like volcanic lava rolls down a hillside, on February 22:
I am told that there is no danger because there are no riots; I am told that, because there is no visible disorder on the surface of society, there is no revolution at hand. Gentlemen, permit me to say that I believe you are mistaken. True, there is no actual disorder; but it has entered deeply into men’s minds. See what is preparing itself amongst the working classes, who, I grant, are at present quiet . . .
This, gentlemen, is my profound conviction: I believe that we are at this moment sleeping on a volcano.
I’d implore the GOP to take care this time. The election you steal – again – may be your last.
