• February 14, 2012

Homes and voting are privileges, not rights!Oh God now it begins: our quadrennial debate about voter fraud versus vote suppression. The head of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan has decided that a wonderful way to protect against “voter fraud” will be to get lists of foreclosed homes and check those against voter rolls to make sure that people whose houses are foreclosed — and what is that, about 130 percent of all Michigan residents at this point? — don’t get to vote if they aren’t residents of those addresses anymore.

Macomb County is in the Detroit metropolitan area and is among the most distressed counties in the nation in terms of the number of foreclosures it experiences monthly.

And according to our very esteemed and reliable information source called Wikipedia, Macomb County’s black population doubled between 2000 and 2005 as African-Americans moved out of Detroit.

BUT! Of course none of the Macomb County Republican Party’s actions could be construed as racist, because they just care about “making sure voters are who they say they are,” not about preventing poor black people from voting for Obama, although presumably that would be one very significant side benefit.

Lose your house, lose your vote [Michigan Messenger]

{ 60 comments }

shortsshortsshorts September 11, 2008 at 10:46 am

Happy 9/11!
You foreclosed loserz.

Delicious September 11, 2008 at 10:47 am

If you are a hobo, you must register from your hobo camp.

Are we clear?

irisheyes September 11, 2008 at 10:48 am

This sort of shit makes me physically ill. Have none of these people read “Iggie’s House”?!

BobLoblawLawBlog September 11, 2008 at 10:50 am

Oh, Christ. Now I’m gonna have to get drunk and hatefuck my pillow. Works better than crying into it, I swear.

shoeho September 11, 2008 at 10:50 am

[re=92385]irisheyes[/re]: They can read?

Godless Liberal * September 11, 2008 at 10:50 am

I had thought there might be some things to which even the Republican party would not stoop in order to win, but I realize now how foolish I was.

helzapoppn September 11, 2008 at 10:52 am

“Macomb County’s black population doubled between 2000 and 2005…”

Yep. From less than 3 percent to a little under 6 percent. A regular Rainbow Coalition.

Once again, a Michigan politician does the whole state proud.

[/sarcasm]

soytrucknutz September 11, 2008 at 10:53 am

If you can’t figure out your adjustable rate mortgage, you probably aren’t going to figure out that butterfly ballot either. But oh ho, what am I talking about, the electronic voting computer will figure out your vote for you!

Dientes September 11, 2008 at 10:54 am

umm you totally shouldn’t be able to vote unless you make more than $5 mill./year. those silly middle class people are obviously lazy otherwise they would have worked there way up the economic ladder by now to richness. stupid lazy people that have to get mortgages to afford a house.

Serolf Divad September 11, 2008 at 10:55 am

Voter suppression is as American as the lynching of teenaged boys who whistle at white ladies. And now you Politically Correct losers are trying to deny America that great tradition, too! Well we’re not going to stand for it, do you hear me? We have Sarah Palin and God on our side. If God wanted black people to vote, He would have made them white.

Sussemilch September 11, 2008 at 10:55 am

Chinese Hell #7: Corrupt officials and landlords who oppress and exploit the people are dismembered by a chariot in this chamber of hell.

Johnny Zhivago September 11, 2008 at 10:56 am

Seriously, Democrats and Independents have been so resentful, so uppity, so sexist, so gay and so anti-American this year that you really wonder if the whole miserable lot should be banned from voting in this election – just to teach them all a lesson.

dano September 11, 2008 at 10:57 am

I suggest these homeless loser would-be voters take up residence in one of McCain’s Empty domiciles.

ManchuCandidate September 11, 2008 at 10:58 am

The Republicans are trying to rewrite Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The new version is:
Uncle George Jefferson’s Subprime Foreclosed House

Well we’re movin on out,
From the east side.
From a foreclosed bungalow in the burbs.
Movin on out,
From the east side.
We finally got a piece of the shaft.

Ham don’t fry in the kitchen;
Shrimp don’t burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin’,
Just to pay up that bill.
Now we’re out of the suburbs,
Gettin’ our vote kicked back.
As long as we black, it’s the Repub way,
There’s everything wrong with that.

Well we’re movin on out,
From the east side.
From a foreclosed bungalow in the burbs.
Movin on out,
From the east side.
We finally got a piece of the shaft.

Paterlanger September 11, 2008 at 10:59 am

Speaking of disenfranchised Detroiters, I’m wondering when Rove will deploy the “What will the blacks do if Obama looses meme”? Most of the middle-aged white guys I know would rather vote for the anti-christ than cast a vote that they think is going to placate a bunch of rebelious homeless welfare queens and drug dealers, i.e., they’d gladly cut off their noses to spite their faces. Que the Fox poll topic “will Obama loss lead to rioting” in 3..2..1…

obfuscator September 11, 2008 at 10:59 am

[re=92389]Godless Liberal *[/re]: Come on, you’re being too harsh. You’re forgetting that they played Earth, Wind & Fire over the pa system at the RNC last week.

accidental_tourist September 11, 2008 at 11:01 am

I’ve had enough. Have you? How about a little road trip to Macomb County. Bring gas and pitchforks. These SOB’s are due a serious lesson.

NoWireHangers September 11, 2008 at 11:02 am

Sounds like the Macomb County Republican Party is long overdue for a good shiv shanking.

SayItWithWookies September 11, 2008 at 11:03 am

“McCain’s regional headquarters are housed in the office building of foreclosure specialists Trott & Trott. The firm’s founder, David A. Trott, has raised between $100,000 and $250,000 for the Republican nominee.”

So this is how we run a respectful, civil campaign — have your rich lawyer fundraising friends send you a list of foreclosed people so you can prevent them from voting. Do any eligible voters object? Nobody? The motion is passed!

Johnny Zhivago September 11, 2008 at 11:05 am

Actually, this is compasionate conservatism in action.

In Alaska, where they practice small town conservatism, families evicted from their homes by foreclosure are allowed to escape into the hills where they can be hunted down by helicopter and light aircraft.

Urbanachiever September 11, 2008 at 11:05 am

In Chicago, you still get to vote even if you are:
1)Homeless
2)Mentally Ill
3)Visibly high/drunk when you show up at the polls

And hey! It’s worked out well for us!!

superfecta September 11, 2008 at 11:06 am

Don’t you have to be a white, male landowner to vote? They’re just trying to enforce the law!

YellowSnow September 11, 2008 at 11:07 am

Take it easy, this isn’t such a bad idea. Why don’t we just relocate them to hobo shelters in the Republican parts of town. I’m guessing the head of the republican party has a house with a yard big enough for a few dozen settler tents and a nice flower garden in need of more highly productive ‘fertlizer’.

LittlePhatGuise September 11, 2008 at 11:07 am

Just carry your cardboard box on your back, right into the booth.

TheHappyPundit September 11, 2008 at 11:07 am

If they can’t pay their mortgage, well, it is unlikely they’ll be able to afford the newly reinstituted poll tax; up yours, Constitution!

freakishlystrong September 11, 2008 at 11:08 am

Expecting the Rethugs to actually conduct a fair vote is like putting lipstick on a pig. At the end of the day, they’re still pigs.

DoktorZoom September 11, 2008 at 11:09 am

Keeping blacks from voting is not racist. Blacks complaining about being kept from voting IS racist.

TGY September 11, 2008 at 11:09 am

You must be *this many* years in debt to participate in Democracy.

Also, iz in ur voter register, disenfranchizin’ ur peeps.

Viva la Cynthia September 11, 2008 at 11:09 am

Well, maybe there should be a rule about something like if the bank still owns 3/5 of your house, you can’t vote? I dunno, I just heard that figure somewhere…

Cogito Ergo Bibo September 11, 2008 at 11:10 am

I’m waiting for the GOP-leaning registrars in all the low-income areas recently (or soon to be) hit by hurricanes to do something similar. That and making everyone play “where’s my polling place?” after more than a few of them are put out of operation in those areas.

Advocatus_Diaboli September 11, 2008 at 11:11 am

If your house was foreclosed, you vote on WEDNESDAY, November 5th.

kudzu September 11, 2008 at 11:12 am

“making sure voters are who they say they are…”

Well, if you’re black, you’re not a voter. If you say you’re a voter, you must be white! The Republican Party will make sure people are not trying to weasel their way out of their blackness.

snig September 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

“I’m poverty’s new Sherrif, and I’m bashing in the slums…”

tunamelt September 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

[re=92416]LittlePhatGuise[/re]: Much like a turtle. But turtles can’t fucking vote.

mookworthjwilson September 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

[re=92413]Urbanachiever[/re]: 1-And your point is? If you’re homeless you lose your citizenship???
2) So if you are bi-polar you lose your citizenship???
3) Then they should probably let you dry out…

magic titty September 11, 2008 at 11:15 am

[re=92398]Serolf Divad[/re]: Truer words have never been spoken.
Black people have the right to whoop ass during this election season, yes?

[re=92405]Paterlanger[/re]: This just scared the shit out of me. So thanks for that.

WadISay September 11, 2008 at 11:16 am

May I suggest that the homeless provide sex, blow and golf outings to the Macomb voter registration officials? It seems to have worked pretty well for the oil companies.

bryan j September 11, 2008 at 11:16 am

we should restrict voting to anyone who hasn’t have their home foreclosed
only those who have lost a home or a child in iraq should be allowed to vote.
and high school dropouts.
and the gays.
basically everyone but the 0ld rich white man should get a vote.
rich old white man should just be banished to texas, where they belong.

OzoneTom September 11, 2008 at 11:16 am

I’m sure that they have plenty of other homes to vote from.

Doesn’t everyone?

Botswana Meat Commission FC September 11, 2008 at 11:18 am

You shouldn’t be allowed to vote unless you can drive a standard transmission car, have at least one good “scar story,” walked eight miles through the snow to get to school and have attended a key party.

That’s the America I want to live in.

bup September 11, 2008 at 11:19 am

Democrats should start collecting addresses of manor houses that are burned to the ground during the revolution, to make sure they don’t vote.

Texan Bulldoggette September 11, 2008 at 11:27 am

[re=92432]bryan j[/re]: “rich old white man should just be banished to texas, where they belong.” Hey, that’s not nice. We got enough rich white crazy old people already. He should go to FL & set up domicile with the cranky old Jewish folk–won’t be able to tell the difference.

pondscum September 11, 2008 at 11:27 am

[re=92413]Urbanachiever[/re]: You forgot 4) dead

cheeto_christ September 11, 2008 at 11:27 am

downer. ‘ guy slept through civics class?

btw here’s their intertubes address:

info@macombgop.com

and their ph #

(586) 731-6217

have fun wit it

grendel September 11, 2008 at 11:29 am

[re=92389]Godless Liberal *[/re]: You must have missed the last two annointments… I mean elections… yeah, elections…

MoodProcessor September 11, 2008 at 11:29 am

@Botswana Meat Commission FC – Would walking 8 miles in the snow on a liquor run qualify? If I set fire to rich houses in transit?

AngryBlakGuy September 11, 2008 at 11:33 am

…is there any doubt now, that Republicans HATE the Americans people with the heat of collapsing star?

VanTwee September 11, 2008 at 11:38 am

Look, this is a confusing policy, and I’m sure we all have a lot of questions. Before we start jumping to conclusions about whether or not this is discrimination against blacks or the poor, maybe we should call the Macomb County GOP headquarters at (586) 731-6217, or fax them at (586) 731-8861. I’m sure chairman James Carabelli (jimc@macombgop.com) would be happy to address your concerns.

VanTwee September 11, 2008 at 11:41 am

[re=92459]cheeto_christ[/re]: oh dang

AxmxZ September 11, 2008 at 12:00 pm

The silver lining here is that the Obama campaign now has some very clear goals.

WhatTheHeck September 11, 2008 at 12:01 pm

Do I have to pay property taxes on my car as my main dwelling place when I’m foreclosed?

bryan j September 11, 2008 at 12:03 pm

[re=92456]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: I love your name.

WhatTheHeck September 11, 2008 at 12:13 pm

… and BTW, if you own 8 homes, you get to vote 8 times.

shortsshortsshorts September 11, 2008 at 12:16 pm

[re=92569]WhatTheHeck[/re]: Ah the good ‘ol days.

nutcracker September 11, 2008 at 12:17 pm

I think those foreclosed voters should seize the opportunity to take for their own a symbol of hate and fear and burn a cross on Mr. Carabelli’s lawn.

V572625694 September 11, 2008 at 12:42 pm

[re=92413]Urbanachiever[/re]: Don’t forget “dead” voters! They’re a great Windy City tradition!

mumrock September 11, 2008 at 12:42 pm

Macomb County, birthplace of the Reagan Democrats, is alive and well I see.

Keith Ellison, the U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s Fifth District, is considered to be a safe district. Yet he’s fundraising like there’s no tomorrow to because he wants to increase voter turnout. The north side of Minneapolis is on a par with Detroit in terms of foreclosures. I can picture a lot of Fifth District residents being turned away because of a foreclosed address. I’m making a donation to keithellison.org. Anyone else?

“Vote as if your liberties depended on it. Because they do.”

sati demise September 11, 2008 at 12:48 pm

The Republicans are blocking a bill to protect Americans from predatory lenders because they want to cage black voters?

They are so patriotic! This is the new and improved American way!

Miller September 11, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Debtor’s prisons and allowing only the landed gentry to vote. These are ideas I can get behind. Will no candidate speak to my values?

http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/

ProgressiveReb September 13, 2008 at 11:07 am

This is outrageous. And if it happens in Michigan, it will certainly happen in other states.

We must fight back. Progressive Future has a great action page posted where you can write to Michigan’s Secretary of State, Terri Lynne Land, and tell her that this kind of interference with the basic right to vote is unacceptable, and that you expect her to say so—publicly. Just click here.

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