Just had a bad experience at the voting place. I know I should have done something, but I don't know

[jezebel]

what.
I live in Dacula Ga (north of Atlanta suburb, very Republican area). Today was the first day of early voting here and I went this afternoon to vote. I had my 11 month old and 2 1/2 year old with me even though I wasn't sure they would let me vote with them, but no one said a word about them not supposed to be there. Anyway after I voted as you walk out you have to hand your little yellow plastic card to one of the older people at the exit door who then gives you a I voted sticker. As I handed over my card to a man about 75-80 years old, he said to me "It's so good to see a momma grizzly out here voting to take our country back." Then he winked at me.
I was sort of stunned and just left. As I was walking back to my car, I was getting more and more bothered by what he said, I thought maybe I should go back in and complain. So I called my husband from the car and he thinks I'm overreacting to what the man said.
My husband does not pay as much attention to politics as I do, so he thinks "mama grizzly" doesn't mean anything. He agrees the "take our country back" part of it was wrong, but he just said let it go, that is how everyone in our area thinks and not to go argue with him with our kids with me. So I left.
I'm bothered by what the man said, and I am bothered because I know in my gut what he meant, and I should have responded or reacted somehow. I'm also pissed that they let a man spew his personal political views to people at the voting place even if it was after I voted.
What should I have done, or am I overreacting?

[bemildred]

1. Ignore it. No good will come of going after the old fool. nt

[EFerrari]

2. Is your local Registrar of Voters a Palinite?

If not, I'd report him. He was electioneering.

[Vinca]

3. Let it go. The old fart probably owns a Palin blow-up doll and was deep in fantasy.

[JoePhilly]

4. You MUST complain.

You handed YOUR vote to this guy. For all you know, he looked at it, saw you did not support his positions, and tossed it.

What he did was wrong. Report it.

Being old is not an excuse.

[jezebel]

5. no, it's a little blank yellow plastic card you put in the machine to vote. It doesn't have anything

on it about how you vote.

[JoePhilly]

12. Then why do you have to give it to this guy?

If the card had anything to do with your voting experience, then it would be saved ... if not, toss it in the trash.

What is it? Why does this guy collect it?

No one working in the polling place should be exhibiting ANY preferences.

And ... on the day you were there, he was collecting these cards ... maybe tomorrow, he is guiding "mommy grizzlies" to the correct line.

What he did is not acceptable. And his age is no excuse.

[glinda]

24. Report it.

[Erose999]

66. I think the card is just a RAM chip that loads your infomation onto the voting machine.

And you have to give them back because they re-use them.

I could be wrong though, I haven't really looked in to how our voting machines work.

To the OP: Report it to the board of elections. A poll worker should not be giving his personal opinions in such a way.

[OHdem10]

6. Let it go. Ignorant people that married woman only vote republican

Let him dream.

[ejpoeta]

7. i could see myself having the same reaction, but i don't think it's worth it.

you voted and you know who you voted for. apparently the fact that you had your kids with you gave him the mind to assume things.... you know what they say about assuming things.... but that only makes an ass out of him. he's not worth it. not worth your energy. perhaps in the moment if you were there you could have said that you sure wanted to take your country back from people like the republicans. but what would that have done? no. better that you didn't respond. you voted. you know who you voted for. and no amount of worrying over it will change what that guy said. it's done and over with and you should let it go now.

[gratuitous]

8. You don't have to have a Perry Mason break 'em on the stand victory

Simply report the comment to your local elections board. If they wonder what the hell you're talking about, decode the dog whistles ("mama grizzly" and "take our country back") for them. State affirmatively that you consider this to be electioneering by a poll worker, and that it's forbidden by state law. Suggest that better training of the volunteers be given so that it doesn't happen again. If you're still getting static or pushback ("Oh come on, he didn't mean anything by it" or "It's not that big a deal") re-state your position that you consider it electioneering at the polling place, and that you will consider a formal complaint if that's what it takes.

[pacalo]

14. I lean more to this point of view. It was very innappropriate.

The poll worker may as well have had a tea bag hanging on both ears, or wearing a GOP button, which is just as blatantly illegal as a verbal sign of a political view.

Having a hubby like jezebel's, though, I would report it without making a big stink about it in his eyes -- they just don't like to make waves, yet they're clueless about what's been going on politically & the degree of disregard these wingnuts have for the law.

He needs to be called on about the comment; it was no different than wearing a GOP button.

[monmouth]

9. Write a letter to the editor, that may have some consequences..LOL..n/t

[pacalo]

19. I like this way of handling it, too.

:thumbsup:

[virgogal]

10. Lighten up.

[Binka]

27. Really?

You remind me of something that needs to be wrapped in the newspaper and tossed.

[virgogal]

29. Well hello,Binka. Hope you're having a nice day.

[October]

34. Rude. There was nothing in the OP indicating she was overreacting.

You need to lighten up with this type of response.

[Obamanaut]

84. Well, there was this question "...am I overreacting?" nt

[blondeatlast]

36. I won't and she shouldn't. Maybe infractions of your civil rights amuse you, but infractions of hers

don't amuse me.

[RagAss]

11. Call Harry Reid Right Now !!!!!

[ChoppinBroccoli]

13. The Big Difference, To Me............

........is the fact that he's espousing his own personal political beliefs to people ON THEIR WAY OUT (i.e. they ALREADY voted), so he's not changing anybody's minds OR their votes. If he were saying that to people BEFORE they voted, then I'd be contacting everyone I could think of. I mean, if they won't so much as let you wear a political T-shirt into the polling place, why do right-wingers get to plant proselytizers INSIDE the polling place?

[Motown_Johnny]

16. what if he isn't the one handing out stickers tomorrow? what if he is handing out ballots?

or checking people's ID?

[Motown_Johnny]

15. it wouldn't hurt to make a phone call or to write a letter/email

that boarders on harassment and I see no reason why others should be subjected to that type of comment.


Confronting him might have been an overreaction but not doing anything is wrong too.


I am pretty sure I would have told him that I just voted a straight Democratic ticket and then said "Yes, I am voting to take my country back" but I am an ass.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

17. Quietly report it to the BoE

While the local parties each have a certain amount of people at the polls, they are not supposed to campaign or make those kinds of obvious statements.

[marions ghost]

18. Report this immediately

it's not too late at all. The local Board of Elections will be interested--and they can easily get rid of him if they like. This is absolutely NOT legal to be doing this. It is harassment, just like when "comments" were made to African Americans to keep them away from the polls. You will be doing your part to make polling places neutral for all of us. Take this seriously.

It was OK what you did--reporting it to the Elections Board is the better way to go--better than just sounding off at him. I would have done both, but I have worked in elections and have no qualms about informing sleezeballs as to how the law pertains to them. :grr:

A mama grizzly wouldn't have put up with harassment, I'm sure.

[SoCalDem]

20. Saying it AFTER people vote is not such a problem, but if he says it as people check in

that would be an issue with me.. I think I would have winked back at him & said.."Um..not so much"..and let him wonder what you meant :evilgrin:

[elleng]

21. Ignore it at this point, ASSUMING you saw/heard no 'politicking' on the way in.

THAT would be unlawful.

PS, I don't think you're overreacting.

[crim son]

22. He's an old fart, he may have meant nothing, but he needs to be told

to keep his mouth shut. Report him.

[robinlynne]

23. It is illegal to suggest how someone should vote in any way within 100 feet of a polling place,

but he didn't actually say you should vote republican. Had he mentioned a party or candidate, or proposition directly, then he should be reported and never permitted to work in a polling place again. I personally think what he said crossed the line, but did not actually break voting law because it was indirect.

[NC_Nurse]

25. I find it amazing that so many people down here just ASSUME I'm a Repub.

I've had coworkers and patients just start talking RW shit to me at work and they don't even consider that I might not agree. I thought NC had a lot of Repub jerks, but GA beats them hands down!

[lunatica]

26. You voted which is all you have to do

Forget the idiot. He can't take your vote away. No reason to argue with idiotcrats.

[southernyankeebelle]

28. You should call tommorrow and report the individual. Call the election office. Look under your

local government. They need to know. I know where I live they aren't allowed to say a word. Supporters can't even get close to the doors where the voters come into. YOU MUST CALL. You don't have to give your name. You can even say you heard this elder man talk to this woman with her children make an inapproriate comment.

[islandmkl]

30. "It's so good to see a momma grizzly out here voting to take our country back."

You should have told him that you did EXACTLY that in 2008...

[Mister Ed]

31. I say ignore those who say ignore it.

I volunteer as an election judge, and when I'm there, I'm a much different person than I am here on DU.

That polling place is the sacred refuge of Democracy. As I, and the Republicans with whom I'm paired (for fairness's sake) go about our tasks together, you will never, ever hear a breath of politicking from any of us. If I were to break that sacred rule, I hope and expect that I'd be reported, and not allowed to work in the polling place again.

This isn't a matter of degree. It's all or nothing. Open the door of the polling place just a crack to those who'd try to influence what goes on there, and you may eventually have Brownshirts muscling in to oversee the proceedings.

I guess you can tell I feel strongly about this. I wouldn't push my advice on you, but since you asked, I say report him. It's unlikely that much of anything will happen, but you'll have done what you should.

[blondeatlast]

38. Exactly, and I'm so glad you offered your experience in this thread.

:applause:

[renate]

71. I like and admire your attitude

I think even a whiff of partiality in a polling place stinks. It's completely and utterly inappropriate, especially since the system is still run by humans who could conceivably be accused of "losing" or folding, spindling, or mutilating a ballot, or hacking a voting machine. (Obviously you never would, and almost certainly this tea partier never would, but the system has to be above suspicion.) All or nothing is right.

:thumbsup:

[sweetapogee]

88. Like you,

I'm also an election judge. My question is this, What exactly is the complaint? Were any laws broken? Was the right to vote denied?

I cut and pasted the OP into Word and found that it contains 341 words, 23 lines 1652 characters. All this because an 80 year old poll worker, possibly a volunteer said something (1 sentence, approx 10 words) that reminded us of someone we don't like. I'm I the only person here who thinks complaining about this makes us look we are trying to pick a fight? It sounds to me that the man was trying to be friendly. The OP didn't appreciate it, agreed, but perspective people.

On Tuesday, I have to mentally prepare myself for the fact that there are going to be pukes in the same room as me, voting for pukes. I'm I supposed to keep my mouth shut for the entire day in fear that some puke will write the newspaper or call the election board to complain about me? If I act in an unlawful manner or deny the vote, then ok, but just for trying to be pleasant?

[AC_Mem]

32. The fact that

this man made you feel uncomfortable while you were voting and made reference to a political party clearly shows a problem at your voting site. My opinion is that it should be reported and I like the idea of writing a letter to the editor of your local paper.

This was very inappropriate, we should never feel uncomfortable during our voting experience. This is America, not some third world country for God's sake.

[The Backlash Cometh]

33. Call the supervisor of elections and complain.

[Dawson Leery]

35. Never mind what I would have said.

I would not have been silent as you have.
Feel free to report this to the Board of Elections.

[Quantess]

37. Maybe he was hitting on you.

He was almost going to tell you he's got hair all over his back and is hung like a grizzly. The wink is a clue.

[Freetradesucks]

39. You are over reacting.

Calm down.

It would be awesome if we could find apolitical people to volunteer at every voting station across the country, but that is not possible. Some will be for one party, some for another. Like you said, it did not change your vote, so just lighten up.

[madamesilverspurs]

40. His remark needs to be reported.

It doesn't matter whether it was said before or after you voted, there is usually some prohibition against such conversation in polling places. Nor does his age matter. Chances are you aren't the first, and without correction the remarks could become more inappropriate. It's no different from those who make 'mildly' racist comments, erroneously assuming that my blonde hair and blue eyes put me in agreement with them; it's crossing a line and I let them know it. For your sake, for the sake of the voters who will be in that place tomorrow, and for the sake of those little ones of yours -- report it. Please.

[immoderate]

41. His remark doesn't mean anything.

He didn't say who or what to vote for. Mama Grizzly is a type of bear, and "taking the country back' can be said of anyone voting.

He may be cautioned for "hitting on" a voter, but I can't call that electioneering.

That said, I think that is out of line for a poll worker.

--imm

[marmar]

47. "taking the country back' can be said of anyone voting"

Are you serious?

[beac]

52. Are you not aware that Sarah Palin repeatedly refers to herself and other like-minded women

as "Mama Grizzlies"???? And/or that "Take Our Country Back" is directly from the Tea Party handbook?

The guy was making a DIRECT reference to Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. He needs to be reported and FIRED (election workers are paid employees, not volunteers.)

[niyad]

59. "mama grizzly" is a dog-whistle meme of the reichwingnuts, in case you are not aware.

his whole line was a standard reichwingnut meme, and it is surprising that you seem unaware of this.

[immoderate]

74. Consider the purpose of speaking in code.

These words are ambiguous. Yes they are used as slogans, but they have other uses. I think I know what was on his mind when he said them. But I can't read his mind. He could plausibly say he meant something more benign. It depends a lot on what rights he has to hold that job.

Same thing with Clarence Thomas and perjury. (I haven't recently read the transcript so I may be wrong here.) I don't remember Clarence refuting details of Anita Hill's testimony. I remember he berated the media and the committee for racist attacks on him. In a court of law he would have been unresponsive. In congressional testimony, different standard. OTH impeachment and conviction at that level is a matter of votes.

--imm

[Joe Chi Minh]

42. How dare you label me a dumb beast! I'm not a Republican. How dare you!

I'm another one who always thinks of a riposte hours too late.

[AngryOldDem]

43. Seems to me...

...just like you can't do electioneering within a certain distance of a polling place you should not be able to do it in the polling place, either. Goes double for poll workers.

If it had bothered me as much, I would have called the Board of Elections and let them know that one of their workers needs a refresher on correct conduct.

[Cleobulus]

44. As far as I'm aware electioneering(as this guy did) is illegal within polling places....

and also illegal within quite a few feet(tens or hundreds, depending on state law) of the polling location. In addition he's a poll worker, which makes it even more atrocious.

[Obamanaut]

72. How can it be electioneering, or attempting to influence a vote, if the

statements were made after a vote was cast?

It may have been a harmless statement re a mother taking her cubs with her while she attempts to take her country back from the do-nothing overpaid politicians currently in office.

[Cleobulus]

77. Easy, he could have been overheard by someone who hasn't voted yet...

that's why poll workers are not supposed to utter their own opinions in the polling place in the first place.

[Obamanaut]

80. "Could have been overheard" or "was overheard" ? nt

[chemenger]

45. You are a momma grizzly ... you just happen to be a democratic momma grizzly

and you are voting to take back our country (from fascist jack-booted rethuglicans).

[beac]

55. That may be, but that is NOT what that guy was referring to.

He was referencing Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. There is NO doubt about that.

[Obamanaut]

78. MY psychic powers don't agree. There is NO doubt about that either. nt

[beac]

83. Might want to get a tune-up then,

Mama Grizzly = Sarah Palin
Take Back Our Country = Teaturds

Lather, rinse, repeat.

[hedgehog]

46. I'd report it to the Board of Elections, then chuckle to myself -

you sure fooled him!

[Obamanaut]

48. Can a momma grizzly be of any political party, or no political party,

and the guy was commenting on how you were taking your cubs with you wherever you went, and voting to take the country back from whomever you might happen to want it taken from?

Not every word or phrase uttered is an insult.

In answer to the last line of the OP, I vote overreacting.

[beac]

Wrong.

"Mama Grizzly" is Sarah Palin's self-proclaimed title and "Take Our Country Back" is 100% Tea Party.

You'd have to have been living under a rock for the past year not to know that. :eyes:

[lame54]

54. Doesn't that equal campaigning too close to the polls?

[beac]

56. I'd sure say so.

I hope she reports the old Teabagging, Palin-worshipping fool.

[Obamanaut]

65. Years before Sarah Palin came onto the scene (I am 68) I heard/read

stories about the dangers of getting between a mama grizzly and her cubs.

Some folks would like to see the country 'taken back' from the over-paid out-of-touch politicians in D.C.

Not every phrase/word uttered is an insult, not even for rock-dwellers.

[beac]

73. That may be, but in THIS year "Mama Grizzly" and "Take Back Our Country"

is 100% Palin/Tea Party. To try and plead otherwise is just silly.



*edited for typo

[laundry_queen]

49. I'm kind of shocked at how many people are saying to ignore it.

We all know who says things like "mama grizzly" and we all know what 'take the country back' is code for. He should be reported, no question. You felt uncomfortable with what he said, because it made it obvious what side he's on, and that is all it should take for you to report him.

[backscatter712]

50. I'd complain. Even if not illegal, it's certainly unethical.

It's still early voting, we don't know where this guy's come from, or what access he has to ballots or election equipment.

You're well within your rights to complain.

[KurtNYC]

51. creepy

it's like he was flirting. eeeewww.

[Javaman]

53. Report it.

that's politicking within 100 yards of the voting booth.

While he may not being overt in his actions, making his position known is against voting rules, plus this guy is a "volunteer" and should be removed promptly.

People who volunteer at voting sights have to maintain a level of neutrality at the voting station.

Clearly he is not. I would get the old bastard kicked out.

And yes, he is creepy in that "family guy" old man sort of way.

[beac]

57. Report it.

How anyone can think this guy wasn't making a direct reference to Sarah Palin and her Teabagging cohorts is truly beyond me.

Palin practically has "Mama Grizzly" tattooed on her forehead and "Take Back Our COuntry" is 100% Teabagging blather.

[slackmaster]

58. Since he made his comments after you voted, you probably don't have a valid complaint

Let it go.

[beac]

60. But, as someone pointed out upthread, what if he's working a different station tomorrrow--

like handing out ballots or checking IDs? He needs to be reported and reminded that his political opinions, however thinly veiled, are NOT welcome in the polling place.

[LawnLover]

61. Yes, you're overreacting.

He's a brainwashed dipwad. Nothing you could possibly say to him will make a difference. No amount of complaining to the powers that be will change him. And I doubt they'll send him away.

Just know this: you DID vote to take your country back. Just not in the way he's thinking.

[marions ghost]

81. OH yes they will

The PTB will remove him right away--BOE people are sensitive to allegations of impropriety.

Good try Lawn Lover :thumbsdown:

[mstinamotorcity]

62. He said it matter of fact

And you can report him to your local election board. And since you did not vote like a mama grizzly ( it's a bear wouldn't be caught dead at the voting booth ) the wink wink is on him.:P :P :P

[niyad]

63. report this situation at once. we know what the reichwingers are doing this election,

and they should not be allowed to get away with it. allowing this guy to go unreported will just up his rhetoric.

NO, you are NOT overreacting. ignore the ones who say you are. this is important. ignorning their threats, their lies, their little tactics, is why they get bolder and bolder.

[ensho]

64. you should believe your own thoughts and not do what a husband says

he is not your daddy.

[ellie]

67. Report him

Give these people an inch and they take a mile.

[SteveG]

68. This is illegal - and a criminal offence

in many states. Electioneering in a polling place is a felony in many states, though I do not know about GA.

[BlueDemKev]

69. Mama Grizzly

I live in Forsyth County Georgia which is arguably the most Republican county in the state. Conservatives in Georgia are typical right-wing, "damn-the-facts" conservatives who just believe anything that Glenn Beck tells them. Don't take it personally, just pray the rest of the country doesn't become as backward as our state has.

"Mama Grizzly" is Sarah Palin's description of modern, conservative women. The old codger at the polls probably assumed you were a conservative and was trying to be friendly in his own way.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/27/what-does-mama-grizzly-really-mean.html

If it really bothered you, call your election supervisor's office and tell them you don't believe that poll workers need to be disclosing their personal political views while on the job. Otherwise, chalk it up to a southern redneck and move on.

Thanks for voting!

[Hannah Bell]

86. baloney. he was working in a polling place, he has no business making partisan comments.

he should be reported.

[BlueDemKev]

89. That's what I said....

...he did cross the line by letting his personal views to slip out. However, it is up to this lady to report him, not us.

[TheKentuckian]

70. Report him to the BoE and write your paper.

If nothing else it will be there in case there is a pattern with this worker.

The ignore people are surrender monkeys and their attitude allowed an election to be stolen.

It may be nothing but it is at least as possible that this guy does this all day everyday and disrespects or even acts to disenfranchise those he doesn't "like the look of".

I'm in freaking Kentucky and have never heard of such (though I've seen some eyes rolling as I walked to the Democratic table and such).

Reporting your concern can cause no harm but swallowing it may be taking away the straw that would break the camel's back. This dude could easily be one that has used his passes and is now being selective about who he makes off the cuff comments to.

[shimmergal]

75. He should be reported

to the election board. He's not a volunteer; those are paid positions and if he's working early voting he stands to make a fair amount of money from it during the season. The least he can be expected to do is observe the law and not show his political preference on the job.

You probably did right not to snap back at him, but the Election Board needs to know. If you identify where it happened and the date, they can pin down who it was. In this recession, it shouldn't be hard to replace him with someone who _will_ observe the rules for election workers.

Sorry, Im regretting not being able to work at a polling place next Tuesday. Because of health issues I can't take the 12+ hour day at this time. But it's maddening that an old fool like this can just say what he feels like while he's getting paid with taxpayer money.

[hedgehog]

76. So, what happened?

[AsahinaKimi]

79. "good to see a momma grizzly out here voting to take our country back"

I probably would have dropped down on all fours and BIT HIS FREAKING LEG OFF. :kick:

[DaveinJapan]

82. Overreacting!? Google "Mama grizzly" and see what comes up...

That was ABSOLUTELY a right wing *nudge*, and just reading it made me shudder.

Overreacting!? Ridiculous.

[Hannah Bell]

85. teabagger code:

What Does 'Mama Grizzly' Really Mean? - Newsweek
Sep 27, 2010 ... A mama grizzly is a conservative woman with “common sense,” as Sarah Palin puts it, someone who “rises up” to protect her children when she ...
www.newsweek.com/.../what-does-mama-grizzly-really-mean.html - Cached


The man shouldn't have been working in a polling place. Report him. A record of such reports might be important in the case of a challenge to the vote totals or procedures.

[Dappleganger]

87. Report the bastard.

Voting is our most serious duty as an American and volunteers should be completely non-partisan at the polls.

[Beaverhausen]

90. Are there any local Democratic groups in your area? You could also report it to the DNC

seriously, you should report it to someone.