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Voters: Beware of Phony Voter Guides
November 07, 2006 12:31 PM
California voters have been flooded with deceptive, official-looking voter guides in the weeks running up to today's election.
Mailings titled "Voter Information for Democrats" and "Senior Citizen Voter Information" resemble voter guides put out by the political parties and advocacy groups, like the AARP or the League of Conservation Voters.
But the groups behind these mailings are hiding their true identities -- they are in part funded by the tobacco and oil industries, according to campaign watchdog groups.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
"These mailers are designed to be misleading," says Kim Alexander of the non-profit, non-partisan California Voter Foundation. "Many voters believe they represent an ideology that they really don't."
For example, the guide titled "Voter Information for Democrats" features a smiling Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) on its cover and urges voters to vote "No" on two ballot propositions that Feinstein and other Democrats actually support. One proposition would increase the tax on cigarettes while the other would create new taxes for the oil industry.
Front groups for corporations, including R.J. Reynolds, Philip Morris, Chevron Corporation, Occidental Oil & Gas and Aera Energy, helped pay for the mailing, according to campaign finance filings.
The records show the same groups contributed to the "Coalition for Senior Citizen Security" for the guide titled "Senior Citizen Voter Information."
While the pamphlets state that the groups are "not an official political party or organization," Alexander says people still get confused and advises voters to always read the fine print.
Live Election Scorecard: Click Here for Everything You Need to Know.
November 7, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (42)
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The Gay Old Perverts are desperate. Too bad you can't change your vote after the fact. Well, it didn't sway me, I voted democratic and felt good about it. Screw George Bush and his Oil War.
Posted by: Dennis | Nov 7, 2006 1:03:40 PM
Especially beware of broadcasting companies who attempt to influence the election by running the Country Music Awards - the greatest celebration of southern music - the night before the election!
Posted by: Chris Baker | Nov 7, 2006 1:48:28 PM
Come on over to MD, where the republican governor's campaign handed out bad sample ballots that listed the governor and the republican candidate for the US senate as DEMOCRATS. And where the same campaign has bused in dozens of homeless and unemployed people from Pennsylvania (many of whom believed they were coming here to work for the democrats)!
Posted by: corbett | Nov 7, 2006 2:06:48 PM
First it was in 2000 where republicans broke the law by not allowing votes. Now they purchase machines they later can hack to change votes. Last they try to fool people.
This is just a distraction trying to fool people. Neocons are playing the game to look desperate but they already have a plan up their sleeve to make it look fair but its not.
To simplify NWO is in play now. Bilderberg group along with large business will do anything to make it look fair but underneath the carpet cheat. Just like the WMD in Iraq.
Posted by: ExCIMan | Nov 7, 2006 2:13:19 PM
You cry babies. All you Democrats do is whine and moan and claim foul. If you were so confident that you were going to win this election, you wouldn't be acting like little babies. Dirty tricks are a part of politics and they occur on both sides. If you don't believe that, you are nothing but a Democratic hack.
Posted by: Kirk | Nov 7, 2006 2:30:00 PM
Republicans are nervous the money grab might be over. Send a message with your vote today!
Posted by: Mark J | Nov 7, 2006 2:31:08 PM
The Republicans are really desperate this time around. Is there no low they will stoop to to steal the elections? What a bunch of lowlifes.
Posted by: Gerry | Nov 7, 2006 2:32:07 PM
The post by the last poster shows 1. hatred and 2. the poster is misinformed. The hatred "Gay Old Perverts". The misinformation "Oil War". The allegation of calling this an "Oil War" is a hate statement as well. But is mostly misinformation. There is no evidence that would lead any rational person to believe that the war in Iraq is for Oil. Saddam is out of power. He is sentenced to Death. Al Queda leaders are encouraging their operatives to leave Iraq to attack US interests elsewhere. Al Queda by admission, has killed too many muslims. Saddam Hussein asked that Iraqis shake hands and stop the violence. Its sad to see how far skewed people have gotten on this War and how far off base guys like Dennis are.
Posted by: Micky | Nov 7, 2006 2:32:30 PM
This certainly has the stink of Karl Rove all around it. Of course he will be insulated by several layers of so called "Christian" evangelists.
Posted by: Bob Stagner | Nov 7, 2006 2:33:22 PM
I'm glad I voted absentee weeks ago. No tricks being played on me. The Republicans will stop at nothing to steal votes. I hope the Dems take both houses, so Bush can't destroy this country any more than he already has. IMPEACH BUSH!
Posted by: Anita | Nov 7, 2006 2:33:39 PM
Here in Ohio its the absentee voter ballot.
No ID needed to vote, the system is much like the Old Cook County of Ill. If the Democrats don't win I'd be surprized.
Posted by: XMAN | Nov 7, 2006 2:38:57 PM
You left wing Democrats and your irrational comments. They should be published in the comic section of a newspaper. Keep them going, I love making fun of you all.
Posted by: yourfunny | Nov 7, 2006 2:49:01 PM
I bet Nicaragua had a cleaner election than we do.
Carter better get back on the plane - we need him.
Posted by: Ole2 | Nov 7, 2006 2:53:15 PM
Brian,
you are the investigative MAN! So get the heck off the phone and get back to work. That pic has got to go! You are above that!!!!!!
Posted by: Ole2 | Nov 7, 2006 2:55:26 PM
I know there is all sorts of Bush bashing and attempts to unjustiably connect him to big oil. The fact is that the United States has some control of 20% of the world's oil supply. That is hardly significant. Whay not let the free market system work? Competition from biofuels and from the pending development of oil extraction from the oil shales in Colorado and Montana will in time serve to make the oil market more competitive and ultimately bring fuel prices in line. As far as the deceptive pamphlets are concerned, in Tennessee it seems the Democratic factions think we are so stupid that they can just about put anything on radio or television and think the voting public will suck it up. I doubt that to be the case. I have seen no pamphlet related to any party.
Posted by: Earl Barnett | Nov 7, 2006 3:08:44 PM
Gee. All comments from the left decrying with certainty the immorality of the right. What a shock.
Sorry guys, I grew up in Daley's Chicago. No sale. Elements in both parties stoop if they think they can get away with it.
And fwiw, I am a JFK Democrat. You shame your party.
Posted by: Bill | Nov 7, 2006 3:23:49 PM
Here is a thought. Throw all of that crap you receive in the mail away and read the book the attorney general of your state sends you. Do what I do, vote with your mind and heart. Don't be a robot. People died for this right of ours to vote, don't take it lightly.
Posted by: Sheila | Nov 7, 2006 3:27:27 PM
I'm so glad I read this. I actually received this mailer and immediately knew it to be fraudulent because it did NOT say "California Democratic Party". I was thinking of voting "no" on the cigarrette tax because I just thought $2.60 was too high and no gurantee that the money would be allocated appropriately. But now that the tobacco companies have blatantly perpetrated these morally reprehensible measures, I am now voting YES!
Posted by: Riley | Nov 7, 2006 3:38:44 PM
WHENever our desperate leaders decide to start behaving as believers and defenders of democracy instead of just preaching it, will there be anything that resembles what our forefathers envisioned. Right now, we're actively being used and repressed as common dupes by those who will do anything to retain their grasp on power as their accountability is flatly non-existent. There is no drug or kool-ade more potent than power or the ability to control who lines their pockets with what, and until we put the public back into Public Servant we should continue to expect more of the same.
Posted by: real_american_hero | Nov 7, 2006 3:40:52 PM
Wow, anyone conspiracy much?
Posted by: Tony | Nov 7, 2006 3:45:36 PM
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