James O'Keefe Targets N.H. Primary

Why is it so hard for people to understand? (4.00 / 3)

There's a lot of things in life that are illegal, where you can technically do it easily -- but the risk/reward is off.

I'd point out, for example, phone tampering is a crime, but we don't lock every phone switching box behind a retinal scanner. We rely on penalties to dissuade people from tampering with phones.

Why in every other conversation with Republicans is deterrence through potentially severe punishment THE answer, but not in the case of voting law?

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 21:44:27 PM UTC

Wonderful Counter Argument, Mike... (4.00 / 2)

...which during the many hearings I've attended in the House and Senate through the years when "fraud" was discussed, I hadn't heard.  You hit it well.  Thank you.

[I'm a former has-been House member and State Senator, but I keep "Rep." on my ID name for easy reference of previous posts.]

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 22:10:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This proves our laws work (4.00 / 4)

Federal election law experts point out that procuring a ballot under a false name is a crime, even if the vote is not cast. From what I understand (I haven't watched the whole thing), this chump did not say, "I am John Doe", but, "do you have John Doe", and the one time he was handed a ballot, handed it back, because he did not want to break the law.  In other words, the penatlies under state and federal law worked to deter him from casting a ballot.

I hope the authorities investigate this and, if he did cross the line into criminal conduct, that he is prosecuted; out of staters should not be in our state breaking our electtion laws.

One last point. Kevin Smith issued a press release saying this proves the need for voter id laws. Instead of issuing press releases asking for more laws, Smith should be calling for this jamoke to be investigated to see if he violated the laws we do have. Otherwise, he is condoning what said jamoke did.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 22:05:59 PM UTC

"Do You Have John Doe..." (4.00 / 3)

...sure sounds like inferred fraud.  It's like going into a bank and saying to a teller, "Will you give me money if I told you I had a gun?"  Is that a holdup?  

And if the teller gives out some cash, and the game-player laughs and gives it back, do we just laugh at his joke too and give him a free bank calendar as a thanks for stopping by?  

[I'm a former has-been House member and State Senator, but I keep "Rep." on my ID name for easy reference of previous posts.]

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 22:15:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

exactly (4.00 / 5)

This is why it needs to be investigated, if he broke the law he should be charged. As the guru of election law in the Granite State, you more than anyone appreciate the need to enforce the laws here, we can't let the integrity of our elections be jeopardized by some jamoke from out of state. Plus, it would be a dterrent to anyone who ever even thinks about breaking the law.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 22:25:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not just Kevin Smith - (4.00 / 5)

The entire Republican leadership in New Hampshire should be strongly condemning O'Keefe's voter fraud conspiracy.

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by: elwood @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 00:03:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Investigation underway (4.00 / 5)

Update, Jan. 1 5:00PM: Mark Zuckerman, a federal prosecutor in the New Hampshire U.S. Attorney's Office, told TPM he recently became aware of the Project Veritas video and was reviewing it but hadn't formed any opinion on whether it presented an issue.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpoi...



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 22:07:42 PM UTC

Is this case solely under federal jurisdiction .... (0.00 / 0)

..... or can New Hampshire law enforcement become involved?

 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."

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by: Ed Tracey @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 01:49:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Anyone want to make a $10,000 bet (0.00 / 0)

that Kevin Smith (or someone else) asked that smug ne'er do well O'Keefe to come here and try to pull this off?

"We now know that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob." - FDR

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by: Granite Gnome @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 22:25:31 PM UTC

$5000 fine (4.00 / 3)

He came in to the polling place in a community center and gave election officials the name of a man who was still on the voter list. Voters here don't have to present any ID to vote if they are registered.

But Pilotte recognized the name and knew the man had died within the past 10 days.

RSA 659:34, I(c):

659:34 Wrongful Voting; Penalties for Voter Fraud. -
   I. A person is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 if such person:
    ...(c) Applies for a ballot in a name other than his or her own;

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by: elwood @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 23:10:54 PM UTC

They were careful to not claim a false identify, (0.00 / 0)

but unfortunately for them, the statute is worded so it doesn't matter.

(Listen carefully to the video- they always say something like "do you have a John Doe", not "I am John Doe".)

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by: The Money Magician @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 02:11:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I worked a local election in October. (0.00 / 0)

My mother had died in early July.

Her name had already been purged, and because the family reported it.

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by: elwood @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 23:19:23 PM UTC

Sorry to hear about your mom, elwood. n/t (4.00 / 4)

In the immediate aftermath of Since the start of the financial crisis, the Fed/Treasury lent, spent, or guaranteed $28 $29 $30 trillion to save the banking system.

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by: StraffordDem @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 00:08:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Elwood -- Moms And Dads... (4.00 / 1)

...are our golden treasure.  I think of mine every day, and I lost them in the mid 80s and early 90s.  Your good memories will never fade. So sorry you lost her.    

[I'm a former has-been House member and State Senator, but I keep "Rep." on my ID name for easy reference of previous posts.]

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 00:34:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kevin Smith really failed on this one, badly. (4.00 / 4)

No one, regardless of left or right or opinion in voter ID who has any pride in this state is going to take too kindly to this band of idiots coming from away trying to embarrass our hard working election officials.

Smith REALLY looks bad trumpeting this.

Let's hope these geniuses can be prosecuted on a state and federal level to the fullest extent of the law.

Social Media Director for Jackie Cilley for Governor. Follow her on Twitter & Facebook!

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 23:59:51 PM UTC

"Band Of Idiots" (0.00 / 0)

...so accurate and descriptive.  Nice job.  

[I'm a former has-been House member and State Senator, but I keep "Rep." on my ID name for easy reference of previous posts.]

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 00:35:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

it will (4.00 / 1)

increase Kevin Smith's name recognition for his goobernatorial campaign....but not in the way he should want.  

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by: susanthe @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 00:43:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

This gave us something to use later in the year. (0.00 / 0)

He hurt himself, and I"m not sure he and his merry band of idiots realize it yet.

"We start working to beat these guys right now." -Jed Bartlet

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by: cblodg @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 02:23:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Prosecute everyone involved. (4.00 / 1)

Conspiracy to commit electoral fraud is pretty darn obvious. The law against electoral fraud works because the penalty against violating it is severe enough to dissuade potential fraudsters. O'Keefe and his goons need to learn this lesson as painfully as possible so they can be a nice object lesson to anyone else who might consider committing actual electoral fraud (as opposed to the imaginary kind that gets Republicans in a lather).

Only the left protects anyone's rights.

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by: RealNRH @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 03:10:57 AM UTC

In the Monitor, Jeb Bradley falls into the same logic fail (0.00 / 0)

Smith did, claiming need for Voter ID, despite fact O'Keefe goons tried (and failed)  NOT to break law.

Meanwhile, in the UL, there are calls by city officials for O'Keefe to be arrested.

http://www.unionleader.com/art...

Social Media Director for Jackie Cilley for Governor. Follow her on Twitter & Facebook!

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 11:12:55 AM UTC

They actually demonstrated that voting fraud *isn't* happening (0.00 / 0)

...because they didn't run into a case where someone else had already used a deceased person's name to cast a vote.  (If they had, I'm sure they'd be singing that from the mountaintops.)

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by: Vis Unita Fortior @ Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 03:41:47 AM UTC