PA is a closed Dem primary. Why would an Obama ad say "register as a Democrat"?

[jackson_dem]

Democrats will already be registered as Democrats...The man who is losing the Democratic vote by 1 million+ has an ad running on facebook that takes you to:



http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/pavoterregsem

Remember this?



Obama has lost the Democratic vote by over a million yet leads the overall popular vote, minus FL and MI, by almost 700,000. Put two and two together. Look at the exit polls. For instance, he would have lost Missouri if it weren't for rethugs voting 75-21 for him. In Wisconsin they went 70-30 for him. And so on in almost every state outside of the racial voting ones where, since almost all rethugs are white, the rethug vote went to Clinton.

[napi21]

1. It's true, you can change your registration, vote in the closed

primary, and then just change it back again. I haven't lived there in quite a few years, so I don't know how many other local offices are on the Pa. ballot. If there are inportant local positions on the ballot, most likely there will be FEW who would do that, but if, like here in Ga. there was only the Presidential candidates, then there will most likely be many more.

[Skwmom]

2. Rush Limbaugh is urging PA Republicans to register as Democrats

so they can vote for.......Hillary Clinton. The Republican votes in the later states went to Clinton b/c of Limbaugh and others urging their listeners to support her. Surprised you didn't know that.

Obama is trying to register new voters and to vote in the PA Democratic primary you have to be registered as a Democrat. I'm sure he'll also take cross over Republicans as well.

Newsflash: A candidate cannot win in November without getting non-Democrats to vote for them.

[jackson_dem]

5. That is an Obama machine lie. Obama won the rethug vote in both Ohio and Texas

In Wisconsin he won it 70-30 just like he won it big on 2/12, 2/9, and Super Tuesday. The myth is that after 3/4 rethugs started voting in droves for Clinton. We don't know who won it in the sham caucus in Wyoming. In MS she won it because of racial voting. Since rethugs are almost all white it isn't a shocker the candidate who won 75% of the white Democratic vote won a similar share of the rethug vote. Regarding Texas and Ohio, he won the rethug vote there along with indies while losing the Democratic vote, as he usually does. Obamites are only crying because he didn't win it by 40-55 points as he usually did. Which goes to what you just said. The same thing happened to his number among independents, which fell from the usual 2:1 to a single digit margin. Guess what? He never fucking had magic crossover appeal. He was getting votes because he was not Hillary Clinton. Those some folks then switched to Clinton on 3/4 to keep the Dem fight going. Guess what? In May they will be back with Obama so be glad. However, the damn well won't be in November if he is the nominee...

Obama knows he can't win the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania with Democratic votes so he is trying to get rethugs to bail him out like they did in Missouri and numerous states.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

50. I know he is encouraging stilly folks to vote for HRC--where is documentation that people actually

do?

[Skwmom]

56. An analysis supporting this have been posted more than once.

(including newspaper articles). Of course, I'm sure you know that. I should have saved it and will in the future.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

Pew Research Poll..Exit Polls in Mississippi.... 'Limbaugh Effect' Softens Blow For Hillary

Mississippi: 'Limbaugh Effect' Softens Blow For Hillary Clinton

John K Wilson Posted March 12, 2008

...Approximately 25% of Clinton's voters in Mississippi were Republicans voting for a candidate they hate in order to try to undermine Barack Obama. Obama's 61-37 margin of victory in Mississippi would have been around 70-30 without Clinton's Republican voters, and Obama would have easily expanded his delegate win there from 19-14 to 24-9.

...The exit polls in Mississippi proved that these "HillPublicans" are not sudden converts to the Clinton campaign. As this diary noted, 70% of those who have a strongly favorable opinion of McCain picked Clinton. In addition, 6% of the voters in the primary voted for Clinton and said they would be dissatisified if she won the nomination; only 1% of the primary voters went for Obama and said they would be dissatisfied if he won.

According to a Pew Research Poll in February, substantially more Republicans would support Obama (8%) rather than Clinton (5%) against McCain, so we know this voting is tactical.

more at the link

[BumRushDaShow]

57. Where is the "documentation" that they are voting for Obama to throw the race?

[rodeodance]

61. I am not the OP

[Hugabear]

71. They support his advertisers pretty faithfully

When Rush tells them to use this or that product, they do so very faithfully.

So what makes you think that at least some of them won't follow his bidding when he tells them to do something like this?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

115. wired news: Did Limbaugh's Crossover Voters Break Ohio Law?

Did Limbaugh's Crossover Voters Break Ohio Law? By Kim Zetter March 12, 2008

A reader tipped me off to an issue that's come up with crossover voters in Ohio. It seems that some Republican voters have bragged online that they voted Democratic ballots in the Ohio March 4th primary in order to influence the outcome of the presidential election. Essentially, they wanted to help Hillary Clinton win the Democratic nomination over Barack Obama because they think she's the weaker candidate and would lose against Republican John McCain in November.

The so-called Republican "plot" was instigated by conservative radio talker Rush Limbaugh (at right) who urged Republican voters in Ohio and Texas before the election to cross over for the primary to rig the nomination for the November election. Voters in those states could do this at the last minute because their local election laws allow voters to change party affiliation at the polls.

Here's a post made by one voter who bragged about switching:

Lastly, they had me sign the affirmation about switching parties and supporting the principles of the Democrat party. I said that would be easy, because they don't have any. Everybody got a good chuckle as there isn't a Democrat within 5 miles any direction from where I vote. I then proceeded to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton. Dirty as it felt at the time, I have a feeling I'll be rewarded in the long run.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/did-ohio-cross...

[BumRushDaShow]

54. Exactly. And you will hear nothing but crickets now...

Like you, I have listened to wingnuts for some 30 years, since before Limpballs came on the air (and I ironically heard the addict's very first broadcast on WABC when I was tuned in to hear Lynn Samuels and she was booted for his debut). This is the "know thy enemy" strategy to find out what the "other side" was concocting - including listening to the likes of the Rev. Les Kinsolving, Bob Grant, (the now-deceased) David Brudnoy, Jay Diamond (who for some reason was dubbed "leftwing" ), Oliver North, G. Gordon Liddy, Curtis Sliwa, Herb Homer & Dom Giordano & Tom Marr & Rollye James (locally here in Philly). And as less and less progressive voices graced the airways, it was a pleasure to find sites like this to bathe in to get my side. One of the few to take these guys on was Joe Madison, who at one time had a show on WWRC in a slot next to Oliver North (and who was briefly syndicated on black talk radio here) and he could take them all down as stridently as the best of them (which is oddly why he was popular among wingnut callers who would endlessly try to take him on and who would ultimately fail miserably). I believe Madison is now on WOL (and he is on satellite radio XM).

Be that as it may, anyone who hasn't done long-term nose-holding in order to listen to these insane entertainers, can't really appreciate their subtleties or their not so subtle brainwashing and jedi mind tricks played on the weak repuke - with Limpballs having been ordained their ultimate Pied Piper. And these mind-numbed people WILL do as he says.

[jmg257]

97. "Rush the Vote" is definitely a repub scheme to get Hillary elected. NO doubt about that.

[Faryn Balyncd]

105. Voters you(#5) call "rethugs" are diverse, & include independents who helped win Congress in 2006...

(1.) Some Limbaugh Republicans have voted in the Democratic primary with no intent to vote Democratic in November. These saboteurs have been significant in the March primaries in Texas and Ohio, and predominantly voted for Hillary Clinton.

(2.) Other disenchanted, and more thoughtful, "Eisenhower Republicans" have voted in Democratic primaries, even before the GOP nominee was settled, and will vote Democratic in November, just as many of these voters did in 2006. Limbaugh Republicans refer to these detested Republicans as RINO's, and have done their best to make them extinct in the GOP. evidence indicates that significant numbers of this group, even including Dwight Eisenhower's granddaughter, support Barach Obama. Some of this group, including elected office holders, have switched registration from Republican to Democratic.

(3.) Which brings us to the most significant group: INDEPENDENTS. These comprise approximately 1/3 of the electorate, have predominantly supported Republicans since 1980, but have strongly supported Democrats since 2004.



Perhaps some of group 2 ("disenchanted Republicans") should be more properly classified as Independents.

What the voters, and office holders, in groups (2) and (3)have in common is that they recognize that the Republican Party does not represent the American values they hold.

Without the support of Independents and disenchanted former Republicans we would not now control the House and Senate.

Using the tern "rethug" indiscriminately to describe all of the above is a disservice to those who are now joining with us to restore our democracy.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

119. 70% of those who have a strongly favorable opinion of McCain picked Clinton.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/12/25440/6407/80/4...

[Capn Sunshine]

125. Is your ass sore by now?

What with all the boneheaded stuff you keep pulling out of it?

[krkaufman]

128. "Which goes to what you just said." -- You call it a lie and then agree?

Clinton has experienced a surge in Republican/indy votes only AFTER McCain had wrapped-up the Republican nomination. Why Obama is winning the Republican/indy demo before or after the McCain victory is a wholly separate issue from the Clinton crossovers; as you indicate, Obama's R/I margins dropped only after the McCain victory -- so it is logical that those R/I voting for Obama prior to McCain winning the Rethug nom indicates they felt more strongly about voting for Obama than voting for any Republican candidate. The case for Clinton is just the opposite.

[krkaufman]

127. Also... most recent Rethug surge for Hillary ...

... is largely due to McCain having wrapped-up the Rethug nomination. Prior to his doing so, Rethugs were still voting in their own primary, to choose between their stellar slate of candidates.

[ProSense]

3. Did you notice the state law posed a deadline for such registration?

Are you upset that Obama is smart?

[MaineDem]

4. Did you read what you posted?

People can enroll as Democrats by March 24. What's wrong with that? I think all states have that in their laws. There's always a cut-off.

[jackson_dem]

6. He can't win with Dem votes and knows it. You want rethugs to choose our nominee?

[Hepburn]

7. Geeeeeeeez,

This argument gets soooooooo cirucular!

[jackson_dem]

8. Only Barack Obama would need to include "register as a Democrat" in ads and flyers

Can you name other past Democratic primary candidates who had to do the same? Did Kerry? Gore? Clinton? Dukakis? Mondale?

[MaineDem]

9. It's law here in Maine that we include this information

When we advertise our caucuses the ability to register by a certain date has to be part of the notice.

This is not the big deal people are making it out to be.

[jackson_dem]

10. If it is the law in PA and someone can prove it then I will say lock this thread

This isn't the first time the Obama campaign has tried to use rethugs in a Democratic primary. Hence the presumption when one sees something like this is he is doing it again.

[POAS]

62. Do you suppose there is even the remotest possibility

that this is aimed at independents and those that are not registered voters yet?

[BumRushDaShow]

68. The closed primary here in PA requires this:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/cwp/view.asp?a=1192&q...

Qualifications of Registered Voters at a Primary

* Individuals must be registered and enrolled in a political party to vote in that party's primary. (emphasis mine)

* All registered electors are entitled to vote on constitutional amendments and ballot questions and in all special elections that might be held concurrently with a primary.

You seem to ignore the fact that there are a good number of independents or unaffiliated voters in this state who don't vote in any primaries but who vote in general elections. This year, the state general assembly is up for election and there are a number of contests in repuke districts with competing candidates. Additionally, after losing a number of congressional contests in 2006, I expect repukes are trying to field candidates to run against the Democrats who won their original seats. If a repuke who wants to stay a repuke wishes to screw up his/her own local race to do a supposed protest vote, then that is their loss. Otherwise, it is time for the Democratic party to get its former Democrats back and that means appealing to and recruiting them - not just for Presidential election purposes but also for the Dems to gain more seats in Congress. This strategy helped to boot repuke ilk like long-term Congressman Curt Weldon out of office in 2006. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the 2006 election actually resulted in a net gain of 6 new Democratic Congressman out of Pennsylvania alone.

[Hepburn]

12. Hello....

...did you stop and think that there are first time voters or new voters who are NOT aware of what party Obama is in???

GMAFB.....you are so oblivious to the real world, at times it is frightening! Maybe YOUR list did not appeal to new voters...duh...

[jackson_dem]

13. You are amusing. Your own words wind up thrown back atyou

Before getting to the boomerang, does Clinton have to remind folks she is a Democrat? How about the others? Anyone who is planning to vote in a Democratic primary has to know which party that candidate h/she intends to vote for is in. Or at least 99.9%.

Speaking of "oblivious to the real world", you think Obama is the first Democrat to appeal to new voters (one past Democratic candidate, for example, appealed to many new voters--and this is a guy who came in second during the primaries! I would mention him but there is a gag rule on mentioning his name imposed by Obamanation.)? Why has he gotten 49% of the vote (a whole 2%* more than his rival!) of the claims made about him being the greatest politician ever are accurate?

*Minus FL and MI.

[Hepburn]

15. Because she and her campaign are too stupid to do so...

...that does not mean that she should not. Try again...and thanks for the straight line.

Let us know when you stop spinning. And I will again remind you, I am for Obama because he is NOT Hillary.

[jackson_dem]

20. I know. Much of Obama's votes comes not on merit but because of irrational Hillary hate

They hate her for being exactly what he is. On substance they are extremely similar.

[Maine-ah]

63. that's funny.

if someone doesn't like HRC, they're irrational. So if they're so similar, then wouldn't someone like you have an irrational hate of Obama?

I'm an Obama supporter. I'm rather tired of the same two families running this country for over 20 years. Time for a change, imho.

I supported Kuncinich before this point.

[reflection]

99. one question

Not relevant to the subject at hand... Is that cute baby yours? Reminds me of my youngest daughter. He/she is gorgeous (sorry, couldn't tell which)

[Maine-ah]

100. yep, that's my girl BB Maine-ah

thanks! She's 16 mos old now, and already going through terrible two's!

[reflection]

102. Well she's beautiful

Of course, all children are. I wish I could have frozen my two daughters at that age. They're 7 and 5 now.

(No reply necessary as I did not intend to hijack this thread)

[Recursion]

81. A lot of people don't like her for a lot of different reasons

Some are "irrational" but not all. A lot of us simply don't trust her.

[POAS]

64. OR

new voters may not be aware that is they don't declare as Democratic they cannot participate in the Dem prinary!

[Recursion]

75. Only Obama is attracting independent and crossover voters

Which, as I apparently need to remind you, is a Good Thing.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

121. Bill Clinton won the election with 43 percent of the popular vote

If you want a divided states of america, then winning by 43% (only dems) is the way to go.

Its also a bit risky with the vote rigging and voter caging that goes on these days.

[Faryn Balyncd]

134. You'e absolutely right. . . . .

. . . . (and for those, like the OP, whose strategy seems to be to win win 43% (or some such minority #), it's helpful to have a Ross Perot around to take votes away from the opposition.)

[totodeinhere]

41. If they register as Democrats then they instantly become Democrats.

That's regardless of what they were registered as before. That's how they system works. Or would you prefer a system under which if you are registered to one party you are forced to stay in that party for the rest of your life? Come on now.

[Recursion]

77. I think the OP wants an ideological purity test

Clinton supporters are looking more like commissars every day...

[onenote]

74. since I know you can't be this stupid, you must just be dishonest

What do you think voter registration drives do...they register people. When Democrats encourage people to register they encourage them to register as Democrats. You think this is bad? You think Democrats are just "born"? Of course not. Obama is trying to make sure that people who want to vote for him are able to do so. This would include a lot of previously unregistered people, including young people. He told them what they should do.

The fact you find this to be sinsiter says volumes about you and none of it good.

[JerseygirlCT]

88. Um, they WILL be Dem votes when the voters are registered as

Democrats.

Are you suggesting we need a loyalty oath in the Democratic party?

This line of "reasoning" just isn't going to fly. Suddenly encouraging new Democrats is a *bad* thing???

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

120. no one can win without some cross overs n/t

[Faryn Balyncd]

133. "Obama Republicans" support Obama to win IN NOVEMBER - Why lump them with the Limbaugh "rethugs"?

If you get your way and alienate everyone who has ever been a "rethug", as you say, will you be happy if we revert to a permanent minority party, or would you rather we become extinct?

[Hippo_Tron]

148. And we can't win in November with just the people that voted for Kerry in 2004

Being instantly distrustful of anyone who stayed at home or voted Republican in 2004 is a sure fire losing strategy.

And party affiliation is so loose in this country that people don't generally change it unless they want to vote in a different primary than last time.

You want our nominee to be chosen only by people who have demonstrated party loyalty and frankly I think that is the best way to choose a candidate who can't appeal beyond our party.

[Guava Jelly]

11. Maybe because he wants to get more votes and win?

[jackson_dem]

14. Yup, he will try to win by hook or crook

[ecdab]

17. Oh my god - Obama is helping to register people as Democrats

we Democrats that spend numerous weekends of our lives trying to get new people to register as Democrats should be very upset with Obama for expanding the party base.

[jackson_dem]

19. Yeah. Guess who they will vote for in November when they change their registration back?

[ProSense]

21. Obama because McCain sucks! n/t

[jackson_dem]

24. A Democrat winning a majority of rethug votes? are you serious?

If someone gets 20% from the other party that is quite a feat. You are saying Obama will get a majority of the rethug vote.

[ProSense]

26. No, you're saying that. Obama will get the majority of votes. n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

72. How did Ronald Raygun get in office "by a landslide"?

Surely not just by relying on the votes of "traditional" repukes. He took a LARGE percentage of the "traditional" Democratic vote!

So all of your arguments to date promote the nonsense that Democrats are the only ones allowed to crossover and vote for repukes but repukes aren't allowed to crossover and vote for Dems if they feel that their party is not servicing their needs?

I expect you are a repuke yourself!

[ecdab]

31. If they change their registration back, getting them to take that first

big step and change their registration to begin with is always the most difficult part - as anybody that has ever spent time trying to do so knows very well.

By the way - the point of your thread here is very silly. Get out and try to register some new Democrats yourself as opposed to whining about people that are doing just that - you may actually do some good for your country and future generation if you do.

[Guava Jelly]

23. That is true for both camps

any objective person can see that

[jackson_dem]

27. .

[dcindian]

16. Ya your right we need less democrats.

You republican shill.

[mattclearing]

18. Right, we should only appeal to the 30ish% of America that registers Democratic.

That's a great recipe for victory.

[jackson_dem]

22. That isn't what he is doing. Guess who these rethugs will vote for in the general?

Clinton won in a landslide and got only 13% of the rethug vote. Once a rethug, always a rethug in almost all cases. These are McCain voters Obama is trying to use to bail him out in a Democratic primary.

[mattclearing]

25. But Republicans don't even like McCain that much.

He'll be easy to peel votes off or keep people home with, but we have to put up someone who won't be a human GOP GOTV machine, which is what Hillary would be.

[jackson_dem]

28. No. Obama gets basically what Gore and Kerry got from rethugs against McCain

He gets 8% (Pew). Gore got 8%, Kerry 6%. Clinton gets 5% (Pew). The notion that rethugs, who are Republicans based on fundamental beliefs, would vote in droves for Obama was always an Obama created fantasy.

You think rethugs aren't going to turn out after they run ads swiftboating Obama as racist against three out of four voters by using his mentor/pastor? The rethugs will turn out in 2008 like they did in 2004 and 2000. The question is whether we choose someone who can turn out Democrats or someone who bleeds away a significant chunk of Democratic support.

[mattclearing]

30. That's not true though, because I know Republicans who genuinely prefer Obama

and plan to vote for him, but will go third party before they will vote for Hillary or McCain. You'd be surprised, people have a lot of respect for Obama on both sides of the aisle.

And people calling Obama racist when McCain's lilly-white ass is at the Republican convention with that sea of white faces isn't going to fly.

[jackson_dem]

34. That is true. That is based on a Pew poll, not gut feelings or random anecdotes

Crossover voting has existed forever. Clinton got 13% of the rethug vote in 96'. Obama is getting what Gore got and about what Kerry did. Was there any hype about "Kerry Republicans"? Bush got 11% of the Dem vote both times and Dole 10%.

That is a separate issue. If anyone can swiftboat McCain as a racist it is Obama. That is one thing he has experience doing...The idea that Obama is immune on this makes no sense. All they will have to do is run an ad splicing Obama's public rhetoric about "unity" and "getting beyond race" with footage of his pastor/mentor. Obama will be done after that. He will be swiftboated as racist against three out of voters. The numbers don't add up. Even if 10% of them buy it Obama is done.

[mattclearing]

36. You are saying Obama will swiftboat someone as a racist?

That's reprehensible, to compare Obama to the people who tried to destroy Kerry.

The sea of white faces at the Republican National Convention will show who the real racists are in this election.

People are more worried about what other people will think about Obama with regards to this "scandal" than what they think. Why not let people decide for themselves, rather than assume they will accept the media spin that Obama is responsible for every comment his pastor ever said, and every person who has made a business transaction with him.

[jackson_dem]

38. He already did it to the Clintons

If Bill Clinton's three decades of work on behalf of equality could be erased by him saying "fairy tale" regarding Obama's Iraq record then imagine what would happen to Obama with an Obama/Wright ad. Obama doesn't even have a long public record like Bill. We can't ignore this. Maybe Obama can somehow beat it back but we can't pretend or hope it won't come for it will. Pastorgate is a wet dream for the rethugs and they even are lucky enough to have video of many of his remarks!

[mattclearing]

42. The Clintons did it to themselves.

And the media made a big deal out of the fairy tale comments. If you think the Obama camp tried to draw attention to Bill Clinton's critique of his Iraq record, you are crazy.

The only thing that is a wet dream for Republicans is a Clinton ticket. They can't wait to drag us through the 90's and beyond again. Don't give them the chance.

[rodeodance]

141. yes, it was the BO camp who racialized the campaign.

[rodeodance]

40. BO and his campaign have already switboated the clintons as being racist.--that is REPREHESIBLE!

[mattclearing]

43. Link? n/t

[rodeodance]

44. search dU--it is well documented

[mattclearing]

45. Oh yeah, I should back up your faulty rhetoric.

I actually know what Obama did and didn't do. How about you prove your accusations for a change?

[rodeodance]

47. ok---start withMcCamy Taylor. she has several well documented posts. I

do not know which one addresses this issue.


you say you know your story?--all i can ask is that you get the several posts--they are long ones. or pm her.

[mattclearing]

48. I'm not going to do your research for you, and a DU'er is not a valid source for substantiation.

If you can't even find a simple link using Google for your accusations, maybe you should consider whether you have any idea what you're talking about.

[rodeodance]

49. to bad for you then. As her research would give a valuable learning experience.

[mattclearing]

51. A valuable learning experience might teach you the difference between too and to.

You have no room to lecture me on anything.

[rodeodance]

52. too bad

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

123. right - he should never have made the Clintons & surrogates say all of those things

poor Hillary, poor thing, why does everyone pick on the Clintons?

[UALRBSofL]

76. Coming from a pentecostal family I can say

When they see the Rev. Wright videos they will come out in droves to vote for McCain.

[MaineDem]

29. Many are unenrolled.

[hfojvt]

118. How do you know they are not registered independents?

Rather than Republicans. We had at least one person at our caucus meeting ask about changing his registration back to independent after the caucus.

[Hugabear]

33. DUMBEST argument ever

Show me ANYWHERE in that first ad that it's directed to rethugs.

Does it strike you that there might be plenty of people who would vote Democrat who just haven't registered to vote? What if someone had just turned 18 within the past year, and hadn't registered yet?

Do you generally have a problem with "get out the vote" drives?

If your candidate wins, I hope that you'll have the same opposition as you do now. I hope you'll oppose voter registration drives.

[jackson_dem]

35. So you hope McCain wins if Hillary is the nominee?

I am helping with a voter registration for next month. Thanks for asking.

I don't know about you but I am registered as a Democrat, just like 99.9% of Democrats. We don't need to be told to "register as a Democrat" because we either are, or if we are Democrats registering for the first time we will naturally register with our party. Only non-Democrats would have to be reminded to register as a Democrat...

This wouldn't be an issue if Obama didn't have a history of using rethug ringers.

[Hugabear]

37. Straw man

I said nothing of the sort.

Obama was merely pointing out that in order to vote in this particular primary, that you have to be registered as a Democrat. There are plenty of people who, when they register, decide they don't want to affiliate with either party, and list themselves as independent or NPA (no party affiliation). They might have progressive leanings, and might want to vote for either Hillary or Obama in the primary, but wouldn't be able to do so if they're not registered as a Democrat.

[Hersheygirl]

46. You don't make any sense to me.

There are a lot of people out there that might not realize they have to declare a party when they register to vote. They might not even know the difference between a closed and open primary. Hell, I am over sixty and I didn't even know that much about how a caucus worked until this year. There are a lot of things I'm learning this year about the primary season that I never bothered to concern myself with.

I'm getting a lot of people to register to vote this year and I'm urging them to register as a democrat. Gosh, how stupid of me.

Just talked to a friend who is democratic committee member from Lebanon County( in case you didn't know that's a county in PA) and he told me his republican brother who is a Reagan republican is urging people to vote for Obama. I found that quite telling about how people feel around here about McCain and Hillary.

[Skwmom]

58. One in an unending string of DUMB arguments.

[Forkboy]

131. You must have missed all his other posts.

[Hepburn]

39. Here is why....

[shraby]

53. That's because independents can't vote

in the primary and he wants to remind them that in order to vote, they have to re-register as Democrats.

[rox63]

55. Obama is attracting a lot of young and first-time voters

They may not be aware that they have to be a registered Dem by a certain date to participate in the Dem primary. Facebook is largely populated by young people, so I find it perfectly normal that a Dem candidate would be encouraging young people to register as Dems before the 3/24 deadline.

[ikojo]

59. This type of thing happened to Cynthia McKinney

The Republican party urged people to register as Democrats and vote against Cynthia in the Democratic primary, so she would lose. Her opponent, practically hand picked by the Republicans won.

They call this crossover voting and it is covered well in the documentary Blackout.

The Republicans want Hillary as the Dem nominee because they know she has HUGE....and I mean HUGE negatives across party lines. They know she will LOSE big time in the general election.


Rush Limpballs is merely being the pug water boy once again.

[Warren Stupidity]

60. OMG OBAMA IS REGISTERING DEMOCRATS!

THAT IS THE LAST FUCKING STRAW!

(sarcasm tags temprorarily disabled in GDP)

[rodeodance]

66. I see you have a reading comprehension problem. Please re-read the entire OP

[Recursion]

73. You mean the OP that points out Obama is registering new Democrats?

I'm shocked. SHOCKED!

[rodeodance]

83. You missed the thesis of the OP. Care to discuss that?

[Recursion]

85. Enlighten me

the OP seems to be insinuating that there is something obviously bad about Obama telling his supporters to register as Democrats. I'm missing what's bad about that.

[rodeodance]

96. I think it was that but also more of a question.

[Warren Stupidity]

87. Your post was dishonest bullshit.

You took the Pennsylvania campaign ad to register new democrats in the closed democratic primary and conflated it with the Nevada campaign flyer to register all voters in the open nevada primary. Both of these efforts are or were entirely legitimate within the context of their respective primaries.

I want our candidate to reach out to independent and republican leaning voters - that is how one wins in the general election. I want our candidate to encourage voters to register and vote. That is really important to the Democratic candidate as a lot of our base constiuency does not bother to vote. Both Clinton and Obama went after independent voters in the open and semi-open primaries. But of course you know that and you are just engaged in bullshit.

[rodeodance]

95. Please direct you post to the OP

[POAS]

67. Better he should urge voters to register

Republican is the logic in the OP I guess.

NO sarcasm tag needed.

[Texas Hill Country]

65. There is a difference between Obama doing this and Limbaugh doing this.... SHADY.

I am loosing hope.

[JVS]

69. There might be people who aren't registered at all who need to do so in the next week

[Barack_America]

90. Um, yeah. Especially in Philly.

What a bullshit OP.

[Hugabear]

70. You know what? I'm going to challenge you on this - provide hard facts, please

Can you provide hard facts to back your statement up? Because the last time I checked, ballots didn't list your party affiliation. They list the candidates, any other local issues, and that's about it. So how can you sit there and say that you know for a fact that every "crossover" or Independent vote went to Obama?

If you're going to make a statement like that, please give us some proof.

[onenote]

78. OP DEMANDS THAT NO NEW VOTERS BE ALLOWED TO REGISTER AS DEMOCRATS!!

At least that what the gist of it seems to be.

In a forum full of idiotic posts, it is quite an accomplishment to become the idiot in chief.

[BumRushDaShow]

82. Exactly.

The OP promotes the repuke strategy that encourages low or no turnout of Democrats and discourages registration of new Dem party members, many of whom might be full adult age but who have never voted, or those who were felons but are now eligible (per PA rules) to vote again, or who are teens now of age to register, OR who are unaffiliated or registered "Independent" and who like what they hear as the Dem Party platform, or who were once Dems but moved to suburban areas that essentially FORCED them to register as repuke (and this is sadly very common here - particuarly in the rim counties of Philadelphia), and who are now fed up and more courageous and are willing to go against the pressure and register as a true Dem... meanwhile their own repuke ilk comes out in droves and wins the election.

The irony is that per a news story I heard on the radio this morning (which was true), the repukes have not won PA in 20 years (since * Sr.). But the OP apparently wants McCain to take PA if the anointed Queen of the Hill can't have it by cheating and deception.

[Hugabear]

92. we don't WANT rethugs voting for Democrats

That's exactly what the OP is saying.

Let me know how that works for you in the general election!

[izzybeans]

79. Yeah because registering new democrats is an evil, evil thing to do.

[pdxmom]

80. This whole primary thing has been a mass of confusion. Open primaries,

closed primaries, caucuses, mixed caucus/primaries. Facebook is primarily young people. Many young people may not be registered or may have registered as Independents. Since PA is a closed primary, if these people want to vote for Obama, they have to be registered as a Democrat. What in the world is wrong with informing would-be voters of what they have to do and what the requirements are to cast their ballots? Isn't that what GOTV is about?

[blue neen]

84. Independents in PA are not allowed to vote in the primary.

They have to be registered as one of the two main parties to vote on April 22.

There also are many unregistered voters that the campaigns are trying to reach. There is a deadline for this on March 24.

I helped someone register the other day. Believe it or not, he is 62 and had NEVER voted!

I live in southwestern PA, and there is NOT a huge concentrated effort to get Republicans to switch their registration to Democratic. Will some people do it? I'm sure they will, but I don't think it will be a massive crossover.

[Vinca]

86. Because he's bringing more people into the Democratic party?

Why is that a bad thing? If there's an opportunity to switch parties and a person wants to, I don't see how this is a terrible suggestion by the Obama campaign.

[Barack_America]

89. Ye gads! Repeating Board of Election facts?

When will it stop?

And by that I mean you acting like an asshole posting these obvious hack pieces. Your desperation is showing, BTW.

[Barack_America]

91. By the way, I'm doing the Devil's work today...

Registering new Democrats in Pennsylvania!

And I even registered a Democrat yesterday that switched from Republican!

I'm clearly the lowest kind of sinner!

[helderheid]

93. Darn you to heck!

[jackson_dem]

109. Me too next month, and in Delaware, NJ, and Maryland

There is a difference between registering new Dems and using rethug ringers who are "Democrats for a day" to interfere with our primaries.

[rodeodance]

98. You missed the thesis of the OP---or do not want to acknowledge it??

[BumRushDaShow]

103. You missed the answer to that thesis in a myriad of posts.

Why are you adverse to the party gaining new voters? Are you a Republican?

[jackson_dem]

108. That party isn't. These are McCain voters interfering with our primary

Democrats don't need to be reminded to register as Democrats...Did someone stand over your shoulder and have to remind you which party to affiliate with when you registered?

[Hugabear]

136. "Democrats don't need to be reminded to register as Democrats"

Except they're NOT Democrats until the register as Democrats! DUH.

How many people do you think there are who vote Democrat 95% of the time, but are not registered with any party? Quite a few, I'd wager.

[BumRushDaShow]

142. You will hear crickets...

When one is set in their way, they cover their ears.

I know alot of people who are either unaffiliated or are registered as "Independent" but who lean or will vote Democrat. This is particularly true in the suburbs. In this state, there are alot of folks who oddly, like their local repuke officials (Township supervisors or Commisioners, etc) and/or who have no other choice but to vote for repukes locally because no Dems challenged the repuke candidate and that repuke hasn't negatively impacted them, so they go on and vote for them... Yet they will vote Dem for the top of the ticket consistently.

[jmg257]

94. Hmm...I'm not a campaign chief or anything, but...so the people can vote for him???

[against all enemies]

101. Obama can bring in nonvoters, Hillary drives them away. Got it.

[jackson_dem]

110. What data supports that? The existing evidence shows Obama bleeds a large chunk of Democratic voters

[democrattotheend]

104. PA voter registration is completely out of whack with voting behavior

Montgomery County, a suburb of Philly, has more registered Republicans than Democrats and a lot of independents, but Kerry beat Bush there by 12 points.


In Westmoreland County, outside Pittsburgh, registered Dems outnumber registered Republicans 2:1, but Bush won there by 12 points.

There are a lot of other counties like that. So voter registration is often outdated and not reflective of current behavior. People in Montgomery County who used to be Republicans because they liked low taxes but have voted for Democrats for several years because they are turned off by the Christian Right might still be registered as Republicans or independents.

And the Nevada flyer that you guys keep posting was made by a volunteer and the campaign asked them to stop distributing it.

[cloudythescribbler]

106. Obama-bashing "Jackson Democrats" aside, if the rules allow it, why not?

It's not as if a registered independent choosing to register as a Democrat to vote in a Democratic closed primary is committing a sin against God and man. If the laws in Pennsylvania give someone 30 days or whatever time frame in which they can register as a Democrat, there's no reason that the more transcendent ethics of particular anti-Obama partisans should intimidate anyone from doing so if that is their political desire.

[jackson_dem]

111. Ironic. Obamites themselves were singing a different tune after 3/4 until now

Remember the claims of rethugs interfering with our primaries on behalf of Clinton, even though St. Obama won the rethug vote in both Ohio and Texas (a fact the Obama machine is baldy lying about, but that is typical from that camp.)? So the thinking is rethugs voting in Democratic primaries, even if closed, is great--so long as they vote for St. Obama. Got it...

[cloudythescribbler]

130. As has been noted repeatedly by others on DU, different Reps have different REASONS for their votes

Limbaugh has specifically been urging his many millions of listeners to vote for HRC to screw up the Democratic Party. Repugs have been voting in large numbers for Obama throughout b/c, even when he was still running behind in the polls nationally by double digits, they liked his message. Now, no doubt there are some Repugs who vote HRC b/c they like her too, but that isn't what Limbaugh was advocating.

Now, if HRC OR Obama register new voters, or get independents and Repugs to register as Democrats for the requisite period of time, that is simply playing the game as given by the rules as given. Nor do I see anything grossly unethical in doing that.

I am NOT aware that HRC has (or has been accused even on DU of) recruited Repugs SPECIFICALLY with the idea of screwing up the Democratic Party, which, while technically legal I suppose, WOULD BE morally reprehensible, IF it were happening, which I doubt is the case on any significant scale.

[anonymous171]

107. Ummm, so they can vote in the democratic primary.

And that other banner wasn't distributed by the Obama campaign.

[jackson_dem]

113. Did anyone have to remind you to register as a Democrat?

(assuming you are a Dem). Real Democrats don't need to be told which party to register with. It is rethugs and indies who do since they may be under the impression that PA is officially an open primary...

[anonymous171]

117. Maybe uneducated or youth voters don't know about the rules.

And yes I am a registered dem.

[jackson_dem]

122. When you see the box for party does any real Dem have to think what box to check off?

Obama is playing by the rules but I think it is a sign of weakness he needs to play games and bring in rethugs for a closed Dem primary. He knows he is going to lose the Dem vote, like he does almost every time. Even in his big Wisconsin win he won Democrats by only 3.

[anonymous171]

124. He's bringing people into the democratic party who wouldn't join otherwise.

That is GOOD!

[jackson_dem]

129. THAT is good. Bringing ringer "Democrats for a day" is not, although it is legal

[jlake]

112. He has radio ads FILLING the airways in Philly saying the same thing....

not targeting new voters - but asking Republicans and Independents who want to vote for Obama to register as Dems.

I guess he'll do anything to win.

[BumRushDaShow]

143. I live in Philly. What radio ads are you talking about?

I haven't heard one campaign ad other than one from someone running for State Senator against the now-dropped-out-of-the-race Vince Fumo.

The "ads" that are running are coming from the City of Philadelphia's Election Commissioner urging voters to register for a party before the deadline if they want to vote in the Primary.

Seems Clinton supporters will say anything on boards like this, including outright lies, in order for their candidate to win.

[jlake]

144. No, they're Obama ads "Paid for by Obama for America"

I don't know what stations. I was driving through on Friday and heard them about 5 times in a half hour.

[BumRushDaShow]

145. Sorry but I don't believe this at all.

Ad time isn't cheap and this type of saturation doesn't happen in the 4th largest market in the country, even for political ads, let alone for a single candidate, and especially when an election is still a month away. A typical 30 minute time slot has 8 minutes of commercials.

[onenote]

154. and you shouldn't believe it

Consider the source....

[jlake]

155. Well, okay - that's fine. But He is certainly flooding the airwaives

His ONLY chance to dent Hillary's PA numbers is by having a HUGE turn out of new voters and former reps, indies in Philly.
So I think it is a good strategy -- and they are expected to spend 500K per week now through the primary.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/pahome .... pretty much the words used on radio "you must register as a Democrat by March 24th"

[557188]

114. Obama doesn't care about the party

He'd give up the House/Senate just to fuel his ego.

Its incredible that people don't see this. Be a Democrat for only a day? Disgusting. We should be making these people Democrats/progressives FOR LIFE.

Obama is encouraging split ticket voting! Ugh...and democrats agree with this? Cult members continue to amaze me.

[bunnies]

116. Ever heard of Independents?

They need to register as Dems is they want to vote. If you're really that uneducated, I feel bad for you.

[krkaufman]

126. I would guess because he's trying to win by bringing new voters ...

... to the Democratic Party. I know a lot of people want to go with a strategy of alienation of independents and disaffected Republicans, but I'd prefer that we keep the door open for those looking for another way.

[Avalux]

132. Because my Dad, a Republican his whole life, will register as a Democrat and vote for Obama.

A lot of people in my family will do the same. If you want to disparage my family, go ahead. They are good people who were misguided for awhile but are sick of the mess this country is in.

Your hatred for Obama is causing you to post absurdities.

[WinkyDink]

138. I suggest they get cracking, then.

[Faryn Balyncd]

135. Is - - THIS WOMAN - - one of the "rethugs" (as you insist) you want to KEEP OUT of our party ? ? ? ?

..... Is she one of the detestable "rethugs" who you insist (contrary to her own public statements) will vote for McCain?

Why I'm Backing Obama

By Susan Eisenhower





Forty-seven years ago, my grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower bid farewell to a nation he had served for more than five decades. In his televised address, Ike famously coined the term "military-industrial complex," and he offered advice that is still relevant today. "As we peer into society's future," he said, we "must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."

Today we are engaged in a debate about these very issues. Deep in America's heart, I believe, is the nagging fear that our best years as a nation may be over. We are disliked overseas and feel insecure at home. We watch as our federal budget hemorrhages red ink and our civil liberties are eroded. Crises in energy, health care and education threaten our way of life and our ability to compete internationally. There are also the issues of a costly, unpopular war; a long-neglected infrastructure; and an aging and increasingly needy population.

I am not alone in worrying that my generation will fail to do what my grandfather's did so well: Leave America a better, stronger place than the one it found.

Given the magnitude of these issues and the cost of addressing them, our next president must be able to bring about a sense of national unity and change. As we no longer have the financial resources to address all these problems comprehensively and simultaneously, setting priorities will be essential. With hard work, much can be done.

The biggest barrier to rolling up our sleeves and preparing for a better future is our own apathy, fear or immobility. We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again; he is a man who can salve our national wounds and both inspire and pursue genuine bipartisan cooperation. Just as important, Obama can assure the world and Americans that this great nation's impulses are still free, open, fair and broad-minded.

No measures to avert the serious, looming consequences can be taken without this sense of renewal. Uncommon political courage will be required. Yet this courage can be summoned only if something profoundly different transpires. Putting America first -- ahead of our own selfish interests -- must be our national priority if we are to retain our capacity to lead.

The last time the United States had an open election was 1952. My grandfather was pursued by both political parties and eventually became the Republican nominee. Despite being a charismatic war hero, he did not have an easy ride to the nomination. He went on to win the presidency -- with the indispensable help of a "Democrats for Eisenhower" movement. These crossover voters were attracted by his pledge to bring change to Washington and by the prospect that he would unify the nation.

It is in this great tradition of crossover voters that I support Barack Obama's candidacy for president. If the Democratic Party chooses Obama as its candidate, this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected and encourage him to seek strategic solutions to meet America's greatest challenges. To be successful, our president will need bipartisan help.

Given Obama's support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole. Without his leadership, our children and grandchildren are at risk of growing older in a marginalized country that is left to its anger and divisions. Such an outcome would be an unacceptable legacy for any great nation.


Susan Eisenhower, a business consultant, is the author of four books, most recently "Partners in Space: US-Russian Cooperation After the Cold War."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

You've repeated the term "rethug" at least 16 times, so far in this thread, and persist in applying this denigrating term to both Limbaugh Republicans as well as thoughtful Americans such as Susan Eisenhower, millions of whom will vote Democratic in November.

In using such juvenile language you place yourself in the same boat as the Republican propagandists who, refusing to recognize adjectival forms, persist in talking about the "Democrat Party".




Why such hostility to those who seek to join with us to reclaim our democracy?

[JackRiddler]

137. OMG, someone's getting people involved in the election!

Stop that! Only Democrats should vote for a Democrat, everyone else should GO AWAY!

[tekisui]

139. First time voters have to be registered.

We should welcome them.

[JackRiddler]

140. No, never!

Not if they're not voting for Clinton.

[oasis]

146. "You can be a Democrat for one day and then return..etc." Obama's flim flam.

[against all enemies]

147. Let's make it so there can be no new Democrats. You're brilliant.

[Hippo_Tron]

150. Only old Democrats count and they have to live in big blue states

Seems like some Clinton supporters can't count to 51 or 270.

[Hippo_Tron]

149. OMG CALL CONGRESS RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!

This is HUGH!!!

[chascarrillo]

151. Obama wants Democrats to know that there's a deadline to register? The horror!!!

Wow. I lost brain cells reading that.

[bread_and_roses]

152. for goddess sake, it simply states the requirements for voting in PA primary

and that is somehow suspect? Young and even older first-time voters often don't have a clue about Primary rules, as anyone who has done voter registration knows. It's a sad day when posters here object to registering new voters, especially young and minority voters. And if anyone here thinks that Obama - or Hillary - are the fist pols to ever try to poach Primary votes from other Parties, I have a nice bundle of sub-prime mortgages to sell you - cheap!

[oasis]

153. kick