Husband Of GOP Contender Votes Shirtless

[Rose Siding]

Old Lyme — John Johnson, the husband of Republican state Senate hopeful Diana Atwood Johnson, voted shirtless on Tuesday after becoming enraged when told he could not enter the polls wearing a T-shirt with a political message that endorsed his wife's candidacy.

Thomas McGarry, an attorney who worked as a moderator at the Cross Lane Fire Station, said that he stopped Johnson a little before 8:30 Tuesday morning and asked him to leave because Johnson wore a shirt that read “Diana 2004.” McGarry said the shirt was a violation of state statutes that require endorsement materials to be kept 75 feet away from the polls.

McGarry said that Johnson became upset, left the room and tore his shirt off in the hallway, where he threw it down and then returned, muttering obscenities as he walked by McGarry. The moderator said he could have called police to report the disturbance but decided instead to ignore Johnson.

http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=554E08AF-D937-4699-A199-63C1FAB9807E

[WI_DEM]

1. what an asshole

hope this gets lots of negative publicity.

[CarinKaryn]

2. Why do we keep giving repugnents breaks?

He should have been arrested for creating a disturbance in a polling place. Any idiot knows you can't distribute (or wear) campaigne materials in a polling place.

Let's stop cutting these jerks slack and file complaints when they misbehave!

[quaoar]

3. Why didn't he

Just turn the shirt inside out?

[calico1]

5. Duh. That would be too simple.

And besides, he must know what the rules are. Did it deliberately I'm sure.

[LiberalFighter]

18. Says a lot about the wife's campaign

and respect for the "rule of law"

[louis-t]

6. Duhhhh! That would have worked.

We have some great minds here at DU!

[hughee99]

11. Would that comply with the law, though?

"state statutes that require endorsement materials to be kept 75 feet away from the polls"... Since his shirt was "endorsement material", the shirt itself (unless the letters can be removed) cannot be within 75 feet, inside out or not. This is kind of a technical point, but had he worn the shirt in, he may have still been violating the law.

[efhmc]

12. I once had a campaign sticker on my dress when I suddenly decided to

pop in and early vote. Well it was raining so the campaign election judges told me to just close my raincoat. That seemed to solve the problem for them.

[hughee99]

14. I figured that would be the case,

but if someone else in your situation wanted to make an issue, they could remove their raincoat after getting past the judges. I'm not sure what the spirit of the law is in this case, but I'm pretty sure that this guy was trying to make a statement rather than comply with the spirit of the law. The statement he made... "I'm an asshole"

[swag]

4. "His teats may not be connected to a dairy, but they do have

their own perky charm."

[yellowcanine]

7. What a jerk. This is standard practice at the polls - no politicking

inside the polling place or within a certain distance of the polling place. Voters should be able to cast their vote without being intimidated or harrassed by partisans. It is also known as democracy. Jerk.

[BJ]

8. That's not very Christian.

“A man of his age should know that you don't come into a polling place with any political statements whatsoever,” McGarry said.

Wot a maroon!

[Scairp]

10. His chronological age isn't the point

He sounds like the typical repuke, childish man who is willfully playing by his own rules. You don't need maturity to know that you don't display any endorsements at the polls, just eyes and the ability to read. There are always signs outside the polls telling you no endorsements or campaigning of any kind in that area. He knew exactly what he was doing and was daring anyone to challenge him. He sounds like a complete asshole.

[LisaM]

9. Years ago a friend of mine was asked to remove a button he was wearing

when he pointed out to the poll worker that it said "Peace" in numerous languages, he was allowed to keep it on.

[Shakespeare]

13. The guy's an attorney--I'm betting he KNEW it wasn't allowed.

And tried to do it anyway, because republicans are assholes.

Some scumbag in an SUV with a Bush-Cheney sticker tried to run my husband off the road TWICE this morning (his car is festooned with various anti-Bush, pro-Kerry stickers).

I have no goodwill left for any of these people. Screw them all.

[johnfunk]

15. Should've called the cops

Conduct such as his is an attempt to intimidate both poll workers and voters. Throw the 'Thuglican in jail, toss away the key.

And let him keep his silly-ass t-shirt.

[CheshireCat]

16. Did I misunderstand something?

I have always worn political buttons and tee shirts to the poling places when voting. So do many other South Carolinians. Is this a state law?

[Lasira]

19. I don't think it's the law in Missouri

or at least no one has ever said anything to me. We just voted on an amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman, and I showed up to vote wearing my HRC "I vote marriage equality" shirt. Not a word.

[CO Liberal]

17. Does Anyone Know If Diana Atwood Johnson Won Yesterday?

:shrug:

[leftofthedial]

20. terrorist

a dem's spouse would be in Gitmo by now.