I have just received the following email that was sent out to a number of other individuals:
Subject: Re: URGENT PLEASE READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 5:56 AM
DUE TO LONG LINES TODAY OBAMA VOTERS CAN COME BACK ON WEDNESDAY AND VOTE.
THANK YOU
For privacy reasons I have deleted the "From" and the names of the recipeints.
I responded by sending a reply to everyone on the list: "Obvious this is a trick that has been widely reported that would occur. Election Day is today. There is no tomorrow. Vote for the person you think is the right person for you—Obama or McCain. Don’t stand for this chicanery and shame on the people who are perpetrating it whatever the motives. Please do not send this around to others. This is America, not a hoodlum country. This is a democracy and we live by the outcomes. We do not go out and deceive."
I do not know why I received the email or why it was sent. Nor do I know if others have received one similar to it. I also assume there are tricks being played (or perhaps criminal devices being perpetrated) all over the country today and perhaps during this very emotional and historical election.
In my opinion, the federal authorities should look into all attempts to utilize chicanery, fraud, deception or any other similar type of action to thwart, supress or fraudulently increase voting rights or numbers. I am specifically stating that there is no proof that this particular email was sent by a McCain supporter, an Obama supporter or from any political or issue campaign. However, these type of activities should be investigated and hopefully America will vote for the person it believes to be the best person to be President.
This election is momentous. No matter who is elected President, we should be pleased with the turnout even if part of America is not pleased with the results.
As Jeff Crouere has so elegantly written, "While voters can raise legitimate concerns about the policies of certain candidates and disagree about the right course of action for our country, hopefully, everyone can agree that increased voter participation is very positive for our country. As long as the votes are legitimate and the laws are being followed, our political system is always strengthened when more people participate. "
So, if there is any lesson to be learned by this election and what appears to be misinformation or even improprieties, as Americans, we should and must be vigilent in making sure that all individuals are enfranchised and that no device is utilized to infringe upon the most sacred concept of American democracy--the right and the ability to vote fairly and our right for elections to be run legally. As a country, we owe ourselves fair votes and legally elected public officials no matter who might lead us into tomorrow.
It is amazing to learn that anyone with half a brain would take that e-mail as truth and try to turn it into something it was not meant to be..
Apparently the one and only person who took it as truth and took offense to it should examine himself to see why he has such a chip on his shoulder..I think there is something much bigger fanning his fire..to attack such a silly thing??
Maybe he needs to get a life..
I'd love to see some of the stories that go around the internet investigated.
It is also considered spamming to send unsolicited mail to all the names on anyone's list...Let's investigate that. Written by Mrs. Robinson
on 11/6/2008
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This email or something similar goes out every major election. It is typical GOP vote suppression. You did the right thing in responding. Written by David Quidd
on 11/5/2008
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Oh yeah... we NEED people who are gullible to vote. That's so much better than having an informed public. What would our snake-oil selling politicians do without them. Written by Help us Space Brothers, you're our only hope
on 11/4/2008
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The real scam is that republicans can't vote for the person that represents them. The republicans can't vote. This is a fabricated scam to take white people, since most republicans are white, out of the election. ALL REPUBLICANS....CHANGE REGISTRATION TO INDEPENDENT SO WE CAN VOTE OUT THE CRIMINALS LIKE BILL JEFFERSON THAT THE DEMOCRATS SUPPORT........... Written by Dollar Bill is the real scam
on 11/4/2008
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I think the story is a good one. It underscores the emotionality of the election. People are concerned when registration cards with the name Mickey Mouse. That gets and got a lot of print. You don't know how many people received that email or how much it has been circulated. So, the story is a warning but it also shows how far people will go to infringe on our rights to a fair election. Written by Sarah Wailing
on 11/4/2008
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I would think that anyone that has a computor, or access to a computor and intends to vote wouldn't be as stupid as to fall for this....... What a dumb story Steve... Now if it were a story about McCain suing the state of Virginia to make sure absentee ballots being forwarded by military personell overseas were at issue, I would say 'GOOD CALL THERE STEVE'...... Written by
on 11/4/2008
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I have just received the following email that was sent out to a number of other individuals:
