Thursday, October 16, 2008

Internal Emails Show Obama Campaign Targeting Felons To Vote

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire has obtained internal emails from the Michigan Department of Corrections which discusses a request from the Barack Obama campaign, which was denied, to enter the prison facility to register voters.

From the internal email, Cheryl Groves, 8/1/08- : "Hi Richard, Alice Corey, Field organizer for the Obama campaign, called ICF asking if she can come in and preregister prisoners who will be discharging prior to the election. Is this something we should or should not allow? I am sure other facilities will be contacted as well..."



An Obama spokesman in Michigan acknowledged that a new organizer made the request, but supervisors nixed the idea as soon as they found out about it. The campaign denied all association with a second request to the Department of Corrections. The emails say that a Theresa Collins, identified as the national coordinator of “Inmates to Support Barack Obama,” asked the prison to post information about how prisoners could make campaign contributions to Obama. That group doesn’t appear to have any Web site.

The email chain shows that Richard Stapleton, administrator of the department’s Office of Legal Affairs, told a colleague to deny the campaign’s request. The email, which Washington Wire received from Obama opponent, was verified by a Corrections Department spokesman.

“We’ve got to make sure they’re out first,” said John Cordell, the spokesman. “We could say you’re out on Oct. 31, but if they do something between now and Oct. 31 that would make us think they’re a danger to society, then we’ll rescind their parole.”
The second question referred to was from Cheryl Groves, subject :"Another election question," which says "Richard- Carson City has now received information from Ms. Theresa Collins, National Coordinator of the 'Inmates to support Barack Obama' campaign. She wants us to post information detailing how inmates can be 'part of the solution by helping to support Barack Obama through individual contributions.' She has included a form for inmates to donate $2.00, $5.00, $10.00 or other amount.

Since you indicated below that we cannot facilitate campaign activities on state properties, I assume we should be denying this request as well...correct?

Let me know what you think. If you'd like me to fax you a copy of what was sent to Carson City, just let me know. Thanks Richard!."

According to the Obama campaign, via AP, Obama has "co-sponsored a Senate measure that would allow all ex-felons to vote," but they deny they are "directly targeting ex-felons for registration."

Obama has co-sponsored a Senate measure that would allow all ex-felons to vote, but his campaign isn't directly targeting ex-felons for registration. His campaign does include relevant info on its Web site and educates volunteers so they can explain state laws to those who may not realize they have the right to vote, said spokesman Kevin Griffis.


These internal emails obtained, linked above, shows those denials to be just more lies by the Obama campaign, because requesting a voter registration drive IN prisons, is directly targeting felons.

Obama, more lies we can believe in!!!

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