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Race-baiting whisper campaign in Wisconsin aims to preempt Obama GOTV efforts
I haven't been checking the other reader posts over the weekend so I apologize if something about this was already posted.
It looks like the flyer is aimed to preempt the Obama campaign's GOTV efforts. After all, campaign workers and volunteers will be making calls and knocking on doors. While the content of the flyer is almost laughably transparent, it could still be effective in dampening the greeting the campaign gets when they do try to contact these voters. In any case, the flyers are clearly directed against Obama's ground game, as opposed to just an attempt at spreading malicious rumors. Anybody else see anything like this?
The Daily Beast reports that neighborhoods in Wausau, WI are being flooded with flyers claiming to represent the Obama campaign. They are transparently false to pretty much anyone who seen any item from the campaign, but it's still pretty sleazy stuff, and brazen in its race-baiting. The Daily Beast has a photo of one of the originals, but here is what it says:
Barack Hussein Obama II
As a registered Democrat, we want to make sure you support your party lines.
Barack Hussein Obama II, has requested we go door to door and have you vote early. We will be calling you to follow-up on this flyer. Don't worry, as a registered Democrat, we are allowed to call you directly.
Remember, you are not only doing this for your party......but also for the Black Community!
Change means.....BLACK!
We will take care of our people when we win this election on November 4th, 2008. Don't wait, vote now and take a friend that will vote for the next Black President.
Approved and Sponsored by: Barack Hussein Obama II for President, Wausau Chapter
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Sad... I am sure the Obama campaign and the Wisconsin Democratic Party already know about this... 9 more days... at least til the voting is done... the counting may go on for a while.
October 26, 2008 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope you also sent an email to tpm about this. They are collecting this kind of info.
This is hugely distressing! First I've heard of it.
October 27, 2008 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
When I saw something about this on another message board last night, I sent TPM an e-mail with a link to another blog that also had a picture of the flyer and comments similar to what is on the Daily Beast.
I hope they can find out who is responsible. Putting country first, huh? Don't make me gag.
October 27, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is not only sad but pathetic, (I'll leave out reprehensible as that has never deterred the far right from these tactics). The truth is that the only way the GOP can win is by utilizing slander, distortions, and outright lies. Regardless of who originated this particular anti-Obama campaign, I have only John McCain and the GOP to hold responsible.
October 27, 2008 12:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is pathetic. I haven't seen anything like that down here in Milwaukee, but I'll let you know if we do.
October 27, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sadly, not an isolated incident. I live in DC and was treated to this at a recent Obama fundraiser with some of my NoVA friends:
It made a bit of a stink locally, but never got the national traction of the Ashley Todd story, for example. Crap - sorry for dropping the ball on it. I should have taken more responsibility for publicizing the incident here on TPM. Maybe would have resulted in a bit more daylight.
October 27, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barack Hussein Obama II is black? What the heck? When did this happen? Why did no one tell me?!?!??! Next we'll here that he has fathered 2 black babies, and that he's christian, and democrat.
Noooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 27, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am sure plenty of people feel like there is no limit to underestimating the stupidity of the electorate. I don;t buy it. People will see this for what it is.
October 27, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Try contacting the local TV, paper, and TV news outlets.
October 27, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wisconsin never used to have voter registration by party.
Has this changed? I doubt it, but would like to know for sure.
The flyer purports to be addressed to the voter "as a registered Democrat"--- not likely . . . unless, as I say, Wisconsin has changed its law.
Why won't Democrats make an issue out of the Crime Values Party's opposition to free and fair elections?
Instead, in Wisconsin, they have pretty much ceded the media advantage to the vote-suppression scheme of rightist Atty Gen'l J. B. Hollen, who cloaks his scheme with rhetoric about "protecting your right to vote," etc. So far, the courts have resisted---but the battle for public opinion is being LOST by the Dems, it would appear. Even in Feingold's home state, the party appears feckless, dazed, confused, and impotent.
October 27, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remember that Feingold started by running against the state Democratic power structure.
Don't get me started about the state party. Out here in outstate, we're pretty much neglected by the state party.
October 27, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wisconsin does not have party registration, so there aren't any "Registered Democrats"
October 27, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
On the other hand, the Obama campaign seems to have done a tremendous job in Wisconsin. We just drove through small towns like Reedsburg, Mauston, Osseo today, towns where Democrats have had minimal visible presence in past election years, and there are Obama lawn signs in profusion.
I know "lawn signs don't vote"--but it must have taken a really impressive organization to plant a sign in a farmyard on County K in Juneau County.
So as far as Wisconsin is concerned, the mad-dog racists are losing . . . and how!
October 27, 2008 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like Matthew Weaver is setting up his Wisconsin chapter.
October 27, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure this illegal. These sorts of things really need to be prosecuted harshly on both sides, though the Republicans are at least 10 times worse at it than the Dems.
October 27, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first thing that hit me was that this was meant to scare off white people...the ones who may WANT to vote for Obama, but are right on the line of trusting. "We will take care of OUR people when we win this election.." That is one of the things I hear in Pensacola, Fl...that the 'blacks' will rise up and take over, and make us pay them back for what we have done to them. And then there is the use of 'Hussein"..even naming their 'organization' with it. Come on....this is meant to scare whites. And, yes...it is sick and disgusting. I voted today..and I feel GREAT!! I waited in line for 20 minutes...I have NEVER waited before!!
"Change means.....BLACK!??????" Racists!!!
October 27, 2008 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I've been to Wausau (having grown up in southern Wisconsin), and I'm not shocked by this news.
The good thing for Democrats in Wisconsin is Madison, which might just rival the east and west coast when it comes to being a liberal and open city.
I'm starting to think that the Republican's attempts to smear Obama in states where they don't stand a chance (like Wisconsin) means that they aren't trying to win the race anymore. They are just trying to make an Obama presidency as difficult as possible for Barack Obama. All they know is hate and divisiveness, so it's almost hard to blame them.
I've always been amazed at a political party that thrives and runs on hate and division in this day and age. It looks like this election might just be a repudiation of hate and divisiveness in our country. I truly hope that's the case.
While I love being a new Nevadan (just moved here this spring), I will always be a Cheesehead at heart.
I hope the ignorant fear mongers who did this are caught, prosecuted and exposed.
October 27, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The republican party under Bush has become a criminal organization. It uses racial hatreds, lies, and damn lies - anything it can do - to try and steal this election, just as it physically stole the election in 2004 in Ohio, and probably in 2000 in FL, brother Jebs state.
It reminds me of the movie the Godfather. The so called party of moral values is the most immoral monstrosity we have seen in our elections in the last 100 years. For them, their true God is the God of Greed, feeding their sociopathic desire for money and power.
Let the election of Sen Obama be a new beginning. We should reset the calender to the year 1 AB (after Bush). And the word Bush should become a new and all inclusive profanity in our language, that all generations to come will realize what was one of America's self generated darkest times in our history.
As someone said, remember all the after 9/11 bumper stickers - "God Bless America"?
Well, it looks like it is going to happen, and Bush and his stinking criminal gang are going to be tossed out of power. Hallelujah !!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 28, 2008 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink