Voting in the presence of teabaggers

[madamesilverspurs]

This from today's paper:



Scuffle at election office a lesson in personal rights and democracy



Jane Griffin
Guest columnist


In school I learned that voting is a privilege and a responsibility in this country, and I have certain rights related to this privilege.

Election Day just passed, and I participated in doing my civic duty. I mailed my ballot in more than a week before Nov. 3 to make sure it arrived on time, but I went with a couple friends who needed to vote on Election Day so I could get my “I voted” sticker and show my support for them voting.

I was happy to wait outside in the lobby while they completed their ballots, but I was not so excited when a fellow citizen asked me to leave the premises. This man was very upset because the shirt I was wearing had a picture of President Obama on it.

I was having a conversation with my former high school history teacher who had stopped by to drop off his ballot, so my teacher and I tried to explain that my shirt was in no way propaganda. Barack Obama is the President of the United States and he isn't running for office for another three years. Well, this explanation didn't work for the man, and after notifying an election judge, someone who worked at the election office politely told me I had to leave since I was violating a statute.

I asked to see this statute and then I would leave, but after being told the sheriff would be called I decided to wait outside to view the statute. The man who was so upset at my attire followed me as well as my teacher out while trying to take our pictures.

We asked that he not take our photo because I had left as he wanted, but he began to yell that he had the right to take our picture since we were in a public place and that no one could make him stop.

While I waited to be presented with the statute forbidding my T-shirt and my teacher tried to reason with the angry man, two sheriff's deputies arrived and one told me that I was on a fine line and he could cite me with disorderly conduct. I didn't think I was being disorderly waiting on the grass and thinking about how I hoped there wasn't any real crime these deputies raced away from in order to keep me in line.

After continuing to wait for the law I was supposedly breaking, I asked the man who escorted me out if I would be breaking the same law if I was wearing a George Washington shirt. “Of course you would be,” was his response.

Finally, the clerk and recorder showed up to shed some light on my awful crime. I found out that in fact I was not breaking any law. It is not illegal to have a picture of the president on my shirt.

I was relieved because no one wants to be arrested for walking into an election office, but more than anything I was scared.

I was scared that one ignorant and hateful person tried and succeeded in intimidating me and forcing me to leave a place I had every right to be at.

I have voted in every election since I turned 18, and I'm thankful I grew up learning that it is my duty to do so. Everyone should have the opportunity to be heard, but if a few are yelling, then we are all drowned out.

If these few are working to intimidate the whole, then we are frightened to raise our voice and join in a reasonable discussion.


Jane Griffin is a Greeley resident and supporter of voting no matter what you wear to do so.

www.greeleytribune.com

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[annabanana]

1. If you had done it LAST year, I'd agree with them.. THIS year

I agree with you. .

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Last year would have been fine too.

Poll workers shouldn't be wearing partisan attire or displaying anything overtly political. But a private citizen voting or accompanying a voter is under no such obligation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. #1 Assumption: Teabaggers are stupid and almost always WRONG

I was at an event in August with teabaggers where a congressman was meeting one on one with constituents. The teabaggers were complaining the congressman was breakng the law by not addressing the entire crowd. We all knew the only reason the teabaggers wanted him to address the crowd was so they could shout him down. So we asked what law are you referring to. We got blank stares, then saw hurried whispering among the teabaggers and finally one of them said "THE FIRST AMENDMENT!"

Another teabagger at that event tried to tell us that a Health Care Reform bill had already been passed and it said (on page 912!) that if your teenage daughter gets pregnant, she HAS TO have an abortion.

So yes, always always always assume the teabaggers are dipshits who have no idea what they are talking about.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Here's a better link

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20091107/OPINION/911079985/1025/NONE&parentprofile=1025

[donco6]

4. Doesn't surprise me.

Greeley is teabagger central here in N. Colorado.

I'm now glad it smells like cow shit.

[mdmc]

5. It smells like dead cows

I almost went to UNC there.. I went to visit, I liked it - very low key..
Then the wind changed.

I had worked in a meat packing plant in HS..
I couldn't do it..
I went to CSU..

[Toots]

6. Vote By Mail....Smart, very smart

If only Democrats would wake up and realize that if everyone voted by mail our turnout would probably triple..

[Ian David]

8. I fucking hate Republicans. n/t

[Dr.Phool]

9. Last year I was working outside a polling place in Ocala.

The first thing I did when I arrived was to check in with the Marshall, and make sure everything I did was legal. After I found a nice shady spot to spend the day, passing out literature and talking to voters.

After a while, I noticed the Marshall talking to people for a while as they entered the polling place. It turns out, not only was he the Marshall, but he was also soliciting voters for our opponent.