Trump Adviser Admits Voter Suppression In Wisconsin

[RandySF]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of President Donald Trump’s top re-election advisers told influential Republicans in swing state Wisconsin that the party has “traditionally” relied on voter suppression to compete in battleground states, according to an audio recording of a private event obtained by The Associated Press. The adviser said later that his remarks referred to frequent and false accusations that Republicans employ such tactics.

Justin Clark, a senior political adviser and senior counsel to Trump’s re-election campaign, made the remarks on Nov. 21 as part of a wide-ranging discussion about strategies in the 2020 campaign, including more aggressive use of Election Day monitoring of polling places.

“Traditionally it’s always been Republicans suppressing votes in places,” Clark said at the event. “Let’s start protecting our voters. We know where they are. ... Let’s start playing offense a little bit. That’s what you’re going to see in 2020. It’s going to be a much bigger program, a much more aggressive program, a much better-funded program.”

Asked about the remarks by AP, Clark said he was referring to false accusations that the GOP engages in voter suppression.

“As should be clear from the context of my remarks, my point was that Republicans historically have been falsely accused of voter suppression and that it is time we stood up to defend our own voters,” Clark said. “Neither I nor anyone I know or work with would condone anyone’s vote being threatened or diluted and our efforts will be focused on preventing just that.”

Clark made the comments Nov. 21 in a meeting of the Republican National Lawyers Association’s Wisconsin chapter. Attendees included the state Senate’s top Republican, Scott Fitzgerald, along with the executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party.



https://apnews.com/af2f0ede054d8baebbe1bb6ca47b4895

[Iliyah]

1. Duh, but it nice that it's caught on tape. . .

But as we know, he will deny it, no matter what.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Denying voters the right to vote, or to have their votes counted, etc. is unconsitutional and...

should be struck down everywhere. repugs in name and deed always, are deathly afraid of an actual, scandal-free election, where they would lose hands down in any contest.

[Beartracks]

3. "I would (not) condone anyone's vote being threatened or diluted..."

"... and our efforts will be focused on preventing just that.”

That would be fine and dandy except that Republicans have "traditionally" regarded that Democrats simply VOTING actually threatens and dilutes Republican votes, and their voters need to be "protected" from that.



==============

[Botany]

4. 200,000 were removed prior to the 2016 vote

Almost all were from Madison and Milwaukee. Trump "won" by 10 to 20 thousand.

[Blue Owl]

5. How has cheating to win become an accepted norm?

[Wounded Bear]

6. You've maybe heard of the New England Patriots?

[dragonlady]

7. The DNC is organizing to fight back

A recent Democratic newsletter contained the following:

The DNC’s Civic Engagement and Voter Protection (CEVP) department is actively recruiting lawyers and law students in preparation for 2020. As the Presidential Primary and General Election near, the DNC needs legal minds on the ground prepared to join the fight as poll watchers.

To assist us, you must:

Be a Democrat
Be a registered voter
Have (or be in pursuit of) a J.D.

No prior experience in voter protection is necessary! The DNC will train all poll watchers how to challenge, mediate, record, track, and report poll worker misconduct and/or acts of voter suppression. On Election Day, poll watchers will monitor their precinct for illegal conduct to ensure that every eligible voter who wants to vote can vote.

We work diligently to protect voters from acts of voter suppression and to educate voters on their rights at the polls, but we can’t do it alone! If you are interested in poll watching, voter protection, or just want to learn more, please reach out to Shelby Hahn at either [e-mail] or [phone].

Anyone who wants to help in this would be doing the world a favor.

[RandySF]

8. +1

[octoberlib]

9. Wisconsin has had a problem with poll monitors

in the past.

Link to tweet

?s=21

Rs have been blocked from so-called "poll monitoring" since 1982, after a "federal lawsuit claimed the RNC and the state GOP had off-duty police stand at polling places in urban areas wearing armbands that read 'National Ballot Security Task Force,' with guns visible on some."

... but last year, a judge lifted the consent decree that blocked the RNC from intimidating voters. So now they're back in business. And as we learned today, it's explicitly a core strategy for their victory.