Sanders campaign accuses Puerto Rico Dem officials of fraud

[TomCADem]

Source: The Hill

Bernie Sanders is accusing Puerto Rico’s Democratic Party officials of fraud in the territory’s presidential primary.

The campaign’s head of Hispanic voter efforts, Betsy Franceschini, told Caribbean Business in an interview that Sanders officials were initially denied access to prisons to help inmates vote.

“Our Bernie Sanders officials were never certified. We had 40 officials we submitted in time for the prisons. Not one of them was certified, while all of theirs [Hillary Clinton’s] went in. Attorney Manny Suárez had to go in order for us to be let in. This is a great fraud,” Franceschini said.

In an internal campaign document, the Sanders camp also alleged the local party’s president Roberto Prats and elections commissioner Ramon Lopez de Azua “are holding back the certifications of Bernie Sanders’ voting center officials.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/282228-sanders-campaign-accuses-puerto-rico-dem-officials-of-fraud

---

Who knew that the Democratic Party ran the prisons in Puerto Rico? I thought prisons were usually run by a State or agency department of corrections. Also, why the Democratic Party? Shouldn't the Republican Party run the prisons, since they are all into incarcerating folks?

[elleng]

1. Report on the Puerto Rico Democratic Primary Crisis

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017381164

[newthinking]

29. Note that those SPIINING here. Voting in the prisons started YESTERDAY. Two different things

They released the certifications today. Likely after realizing this was hitting the press.

There are people here really trying to spin this nastily.

[elleng]

30. LOTS of nasty here.

Good they released the certifications, last possible day.

'Nothing to see here.'

[pnwmom]

2. They don't run the prisons. And they're accusing Bernie's campaign of lying. n/t

[newthinking]

4. I hope you are not going to justify voter supression?

Watch the video linked in the first reply.

There will be 430 polling places this year. There were more than 2000 in 2008. They scheduled the primary the same day as local primaries and made the hours from 8-3PM, 7 hours. (so many people will have to make a choice between the two).

The government has already admitted that only about half of the people that come to the poles will be able to vote.

Is that something worth defending?

[MADem]

7. Puerto Ricans have been LEAVING the island in droves--there are whole areas that are ghost towns.

The commonwealth is BROKE. They have no money.

Think maybe that has something to do with the reductions in polling places...maybe?


http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/02/americas/puerto-rico-exodus/

[newthinking]

10. The government said it was due to not having enough poll workers

Any other talking point theories to try and justify this?

Even if it were funding related that would be telling about the parties and the countrie's respect of democracy and almost as concerning. Are we turning our system third world? Or can we find money to at least keep democracy on life support?

[MADem]

43. Talking points, my left foot. I was down there recently seeing family.

There's graffiti all over CONDADO.

If you don't know what that means, I am not surprised.

They can't afford to PAY people to supervise even volunteer poll workers.

You have no situational awareness. None whatsoever. Fly down there, have a look and then we'll talk.

smdh.

Here--sing along:

[Ghost Dog]

59. What does the graffiti say

in the wealthy and tourist barrio of Condado (Santurce)?

[MADem]

63. It's tagging crap--names and territory markers.

In a place where there has always been a cop every fifty feet.

When reality intrudes into that sector, you know things are bad.

Let me put it another way--you can find parking with no problem.

Will your car be unmolested when you return, though?

[Ghost Dog]

65. Ah. I was thinking, "¡Ladrones Fuera!", or the like.

Gangs, pandillas, you say...

[MADem]

67. I didn't say gangs or pandillas--I didn't witness anyone actually doing it.

It looks old and settled, though--like no one gives a shit anymore.

My people don't live in that area-we do like to go to dinner there sometimes.

[pnwmom]

11. They are false accusing the party of controlling prisoner voting.

So why believe anything they say?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141476600

[newthinking]

31. They accused the party of witholding certifications. Needed to observe.

There goes that reading comprehension... It is in your own posting.

I have been mostly staying out of arguments with you. We had some decent exchanges in the past. Why are you doing this kind of shit? Is it worth it? Maybe you should take a break from the keyboard?

[pnwmom]

57. And the party's response is that they didn't withhold certifications -- that the first

group they certified was made up of Sanders people.

I trust them more than the Sanders people. Obviously you feel differently.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/282237-puerto-rico-democratic-party-denies-wrongdoing-in-primary

"I am appalled at the remarks from the spokesperson of the Bernie Sanders Campaign in Puerto Rico, Ms. Betsy Franceschini," local Democratic Party president Roberto Prats said in a statement.

Franceschini had accused party officials in Puerto Rico of witholding certifications from Sanders officials, initially preventing them from organizing voters in prisons.

"The claim that the Democratic Party is delaying the certification of the Sanders' poll workers is preposterous. The first complete set of pollworkers for tomorrow's primary we have certified were all from the Sander's Campaign."

[Gman]

16. Nothing but losers whining

It's so friggin old now.

[newthinking]

6. It was the elections officials who witheld the certificates needed to enter the facility

Is your reading comprehension that bad or do you care if you misreport this kind of thing?

[pnwmom]

13. Try reading this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141476600

"The claim that the Democratic Party is delaying the certification of the Sanders' poll workers is preposterous. The first complete set of pollworkers for tomorrow's primary we have certified were all from the Sander's Campaign."

[Gman]

19. So they lie

It's all they have left.

[pnwmom]

20. It's the only tactic they have left. n/t

[newthinking]

25. So they just certified them the day before the vote (when shit was starting to hit the fan).

Their comments say they did it today. Sanders made the accusation early in the morning.

Fucking almost childish.

"Oh shit! This is going to the press. Get those out quickly before I have my press conference to act outraged at the accusation!!"

[pnwmom]

26. Bernie's people only came to them the day before the vote. Which is typical. n/t

[newthinking]

38. There is a video right on this site from FRIDAY. Care to walk that back?

[pnwmom]

41. Friday is the day before Saturday. So, no. n/t

[OwlinAZ]

55. Hillary supporters never admit to any kind

of voter suppression. What a surprise.

[GoneFishin]

60. Makes sense. Voter suppression is a favorite diry trick for right wingers. But they always deny it.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. Well of course he does.

How could a majority of Democrats anywhere choose to deny him their votes?

[newthinking]

5. Yes, because fucking with voting is a democratic value

The government has already said that there will only be enough polls to accommodate half the expected voters. And that is only one of the issues occurring,

[Agnosticsherbet]

8. It is an excuse to explain the failure of his campaign.

Poorly run campaign, badly managed, that failed to convince a majority of Democrats that he was the best candidate.

[newthinking]

18. Right.

However you deal with your conscience is your own.

[Agnosticsherbet]

22. My conscience is clear.

It is Sanders Campaign that has the problems.

[newthinking]

23. uh huh...

[Agnosticsherbet]

24. LOL

It is good when people laugh together.

[MrMickeysMom]

36. Your memory is wiped clear

Or, you never read. Probably that is it right there.

[Agnosticsherbet]

39. LOL again.

[MrMickeysMom]

33. Actually, if you read this breaking news Saturday, you would know how ridiculous that sounds...

Reduction of precincts to that of 1/5 of what they had in 2008 (over 2,000 then, and now only 432 precincts?)

They also decided that voting time would be shortened between 8 am to 3 PM, actually believing all these people would not only have time to vote after church, but vote in DIFFERENT precincts - one for local elections which had been changed from caucus to primary voting, and the other election for national/presidential.

No one in this short order, REGARDLESS of economic times, should commit this election fraud where there are not enough people volunteering for poll work, and all of a sudden, everyone has to scramble like fucking sardines in various cans across PR.

What a FUCKING FRAUDULENT ACT.

[rhett o rick]

9. The Clinton campaign will lie, cheat and do anything to win. The Wealthy think they are

entitled. And their minions carry their water.

[newthinking]

14. The last part of your statement is the most surprising

But unfortunately it seems to be true.

[bjo59]

32. The minions carrying water is always the head scratcher - do they think that their devotion is going

be remembered even one day after their usefulness no longer matters?

[GoneFishin]

61. It's a real phenomenon. Right wingers furious about poor people getting $200/month to makes ends

meet, but have no problem at all with stratospherically profitable companies receiving billions in free tax subsidies.

What they consider logical is pathetic and child-like.

[Democat]

64. Can't wait until you're banned for attacking Democrats

You're doing Trump's work for him.

[rhett o rick]

70. Sen Sanders is a Democrat and no one gets banned for attacking him.

Alerting, locking, hiding, censoring, banning, gravedancing are all traits of conservatives. Not a thing "politically liberal" there.

[Democat]

75. I would be happy to see people banned for attacking either Democrat

I will support either Democrat over Trump. I disagree with the idea that DU should be a place to bash Democrats during the election.

Sander and Clinton are both qualified to be president. We need to beat Trump regardless of which one is the nominee.

Bashing our own candidates only helps Trump.

[joeybee12]

79. The Sanders campaign will lie, cheat and steal

just to get their supporters to believe anything...he lost months ago, get over it.

[rhett o rick]

86. The very fact you say that proves my case. She hasn't won and those that claim otherwise

don't accept the democratic system. And don't tell me to "get over it". We have 2.5 million homeless children and 16 million children living in poverty and 21 vets committing suicide every day because of the status quo that you seem to be supporting. I will never get over that. The fact that you can is sickening.

[Gman]

12. Is there ANY place where Sanders' campaign can just accept

That they lost? This unsubstantiated whining after every single loss has destroyed his credibility.

[newthinking]

15. You can educate yourself by taking 5 minutes

[joeybee12]

80. Can you take five minutes to stop promoting Bernie's latest garbage? nt

[pnwmom]

17. They want us not to notice that he just lost the Virgin Islands by 86.5 to 12.3.

[bjo59]

34. Clinton = 5 delegates; Sanders = 2 delegates and you're getting excited over that?

[MADem]

44. Sanders is not going to be the nominee no matter how much or how little he loses the VI by. nt

[pnwmom]

51. Since I know how important every single delegate is to you, you should know

that the actual account is 6 for Hillary and 1 for Bernie.

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/VI-D

[rhett o rick]

21. We haven't lost and we will not sit down and shut up like those that are devoted to their

authoritarian leader. While you support higher profits for Corporations, we fight for ending the homelessness of 2,500.000 children.

You are on the wrong side of this class war.

[msongs]

27. time to investigate bernies alleged wins and see how many were from fraud lol nt

[bjo59]

35. Absolutely and well said.

[GulfCoast66]

71. If this primary is a class war

You have already lost.

[rhett o rick]

72. Where did you come from?

Bob-Bye #87

[GulfCoast66]

73. Left field😘

[Skittles]

45. NO

[MFM008]

56. Sanders gets 100% of the delegates

from the state of DENIAL.

[reACTIONary]

83. LOl, +10 eom

[gwheezie]

28. What a surprise

So when Bernie wins a primary, no one should be concerned his supporters cheated.

[bjo59]

37. Why are you talking about "supporters"? The people who are cheating are the powerful within

the Democratic Party.

[newthinking]

40. Catch that? Sounds just like Republican shit right? *Voter* corruption. Next accusation will be

that people are voting twice! Get Limbaugh on the phone!

[shenmue]

48. Wrong

[SusanCalvin]

42. PR lets prisoners vote??

Wahoo! *That's* the big story here.

[BainsBane]

46. You know Clinton is winning when they shout fraud

Bernie's polls obviously show him doing badly there.

[shenmue]

49. Yeah

[Jopin Klobe]

47. Drip ...

... drip ... drip ...

[msongs]

50. oddly enough vernie says the election is NOT rigged and has never accused any one of ACTUAL fraud

that I recall. ACTUAL fraud that is. yet on DU his crowd repeats fraud/cheating/rigged dutifully by the hour

[OhZone]

52. Like I said months ago -

they'll be all into conspiracy theories. Oh well.

[puffy socks]

53. Well color me shocked!

Each time they look sillier and sillier pretending the elections are rigged against Bernie.
My favorite is still the the claim of Hillary rigging the coin toss in Iowa.

[MFM008]

54. More sour apples

[Tarheel_Dem]

58. Oh Lord. Really?

[Norman Conch Quest]

62. It's called "Desperation"

[sufrommich]

66. Sorest loser ever.nt

[MADem]

68. This looks like the legacy. It'll overshadow everything else. nt

[askeptic]

74. A reminder for you - Hillary 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/the-end-of-hillary-clinto_b_9791460.html

[joeybee12]

81. A reminder of her great speech supporting Obama

I wouldn't expect that classless buffoon from Vermont to do anything like that.

[Laser102]

69. Well, of course they are. I have never seen such whining and complaining in my life.

Is this what we can expect from a Sanders president? WAH, Wah, Putin was mean to me. Germany won't do what I want. Stomp, stomp. Childish.

[GulfCoast66]

76. Of course they accuse fraud

They lost. Kind of a pattern.

[Norman Conch Quest]

85. Shazam!

[LiberalLovinLug]

77. By hook or by crook

[joeybee12]

78. In other words, Bernie the Lying Loser is preparing his goons

to believe he only lost because of this...what garbage he is.

[SoFlaJet]

82. The Cry Baby Candidate

I am so over this pretend democrat.

[George II]

84. My understanding is that there is NOT a "Democratic Party" in Puerto Rico, there are a number of....

....local parties throughout the island. At least that's what MSNBC explained this afternoon.