 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gogirlgo
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 4777
Location: No deal, stalker.
|
| Back to top
|
|
 Posted: 10/28/04 - 13:46 Post subject: Reasonable or silly?
Just ripped this from Yahoo.
Student Get-Out-The-Vote Drive Halted
AP 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
Superintendent William Andrekopoulos acted late Wednesday, citing a policy that prohibits the district from being a political advocate.
His decision came a day after Republicans accused Democrats of using the students for political gain because the program was organized by the Wisconsin Citizen Action Fund, whose parent organization endorsed Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) for president.
Students at 33 Milwaukee schools called voters and went door to door in minority neighborhoods and areas with historically low voter turnout, urging people to cast ballots in Tuesday's election. The young people, ranging in age from 11 to 18, often conducted the efforts during school hours.
"There were too many variables associated with canvassing for the district to manage," district spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said. "The administration felt it had to take action to avoid the appearance of any impropriety."
Supporters said the youngsters were getting a valuable lesson in democracy and denied any partisanship, insisting the students did not wear political buttons or clothing and did not encourage people to vote one way or another.
"The students are bearing the brunt of a decision based on political pressure that is being brought on the district," said Larry Marx, co-executive director of Wisconsin Citizen Action. "This is a project that the district should be proud of."
But Chris Lato, communications director for the Wisconsin Republican Party, said the program amounted to "exploiting schoolchildren on the taxpayers' dime to conduct what is clearly a Democratic, partisan get-out-the-vote effort."
|
|
|
|
|
MechEngDropout
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 10474
Location: Off the grid
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 13:51 Post subject:
It should not be done during school hours. If they want to organize a school event to go door to door after school, no problems.
|
|
|
|
|
phillycat
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 1953
Location: Da hood
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 13:52 Post subject:
How is that a Democratic initiative? I thought that it was to urge traditionally non-voters to get out and vote. I think my biggest concern would be sending kids out into the neighborhoods knocking on doors. If I was a parent that would make me a bit nervous.
|
|
|
|
|
Running Brewer
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 12 Oct 2004
Posts: 3872
Location: Santa Poco
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 13:59 Post subject:
While I don't agree with them stopping this I see why it was done.
Last election numerous dead people voted for Gore, as well as the members of the dem. party drove around urging homeless to vote, even providing transport and cigrettes, all they had to do was vote for Gore. After the 2000 election the people here in Milwaukee just want a fair election. Let the dead rest, they really don't need to vote anymore and help people all you want to get out and vote, but don't offer them incentives for any canadate
|
|
|
|
|
runaroundsue
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 18 Sep 2002
Posts: 6629
Location: supporting GREENer pastures
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 14:59 Post subject:
| Running Brewer wrote: | While I don't agree with them stopping this I see why it was done.
Last election numerous dead people voted for Gore, as well as the members of the dem. party drove around urging homeless to vote, even providing transport and cigrettes, all they had to do was vote for Gore. After the 2000 election the people here in Milwaukee just want a fair election. Let the dead rest, they really don't need to vote anymore and help people all you want to get out and vote, but don't offer them incentives for any canadate |
I think it was specifically the memory of all the fraud that was uncovered in Milwaukee that provoked the "unfair" from The GOP. Let's not forget the Milwaukee students that admitted that it was real easy to vote multiple times. (of course retracted their statement when they found out it came with a big fine).
I think the door-to-door thing bothered me the most. It they set up a booth after-school at the mall. I'd say "great"
|
|
|
|
|
Gogirlgo
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 4777
Location: No deal, stalker.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:00 Post subject:
This is a get-out-the-vote effort that teaches schoolkids the importance of getting out the vote.
If I, Go, had sponsored it, it would be equally bad, using the argument of this logic, b/c I've also endorsed Kerry. What that says to me is, if you take a stance on something, be prepared to not be allowed to be a viable part of the community.
|
|
|
|
|
genie
Master of Prissface
|
|
|
Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:16 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | This is a get-out-the-vote effort that teaches schoolkids the importance of getting out the vote.
If I, Go, had sponsored it, it would be equally bad, using the argument of this logic, b/c I've also endorsed Kerry. What that says to me is, if you take a stance on something, be prepared to not be allowed to be a viable part of the community. |
What I gather from what RB is saying is, and this is my feeling too....if you, Go, merely sponsored a program to get non registered kids out to vote and also educate them on the general importance of the process, then no....not bad. If, because you endorse Kerry, or Nader, or whoever, you put pressure on, offered incentives for, or presented your candidate's platform without an equally presented platform for the other candidate, or promoted your candidate, badmouthing the other one....then yes, bad, cheesy, unfair tactics.
In other words, education is one thing.....pushing your candidate's agenda is another, which I have suspected was the impetus behind P Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign all along. If you could be completely impartial that's great. I don't think this is what's happened, and obviously in 2000, from what RB says, it didn't happen then either.
|
|
|
|
|
genie
Master of Prissface
|
|
|
Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:16 Post subject:
sorry, duplicate post
|
|
|
|
|
Gogirlgo
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 4777
Location: No deal, stalker.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:18 Post subject:
| genie wrote: |
What I gather from what RB is saying is, and this is my feeling too....if you, Go, merely sponsored a program to get non registered kids out to vote and also educate them on the general importance of the process, then no....not bad. If, because you endorse Kerry, or Nader, or whoever, you put pressure on, offered incentives for, or presented your candidate's platform without an equally presented platform for the other candidate, or promoted your candidate, badmouthing the other one....then yes, bad, cheesy, unfair tactics.
In other words, education is one thing.....pushing your candidate's agenda is another, which I have suspected was the impetus behind P Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign all along. If you could be completely impartial that's great. I don't think this is what's happened, and obviously in 2000, from what RB says, it didn't happen then either. |
Right. I'm saying I don't see where it says in the article that there was a particular endorsement going on, so without facts like that, I have to assume there wasn't. In which case, it's just educational.
|
|
|
|
|
genie
Master of Prissface
|
|
|
Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:21 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: |
Right. I'm saying I don't see where it says in the article that there was a particular endorsement going on, so without facts like that, I have to assume there wasn't. In which case, it's just educational. |
But do you agree that partisanship should not be part of the process?
I wonder if it were somehow more tightly administrated/better organized whether it would work better and not lead to anything like that? Thoughts?
|
|
|
|
|
RexRacer
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 814
Location: A pancake house of ineffable crappiness
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:26 Post subject:
I'm most concerned with a. ) the during school hours part; and b.) that it was a voter drive concentrated among what should be considered a democratic stronghold (even if the people were traditionally marginal voters) given that it was a 'non-partisan' group.
I would have much less trouble if the Young Democrats or Young Republicans were drumming up GOTV efforts on school hours.
|
|
|
|
|
Gogirlgo
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 4777
Location: No deal, stalker.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:26 Post subject:
| genie wrote: |
But do you agree that partisanship should not be part of the process?
I wonder if it were somehow more tightly administrated/better organized whether it would work better and not lead to anything like that? Thoughts? |
Yes, I think voter apathy is outrageously high in this country where not all of us even had the right to vote until relatively recently. So the point is to get out the vote, not a particular vote. Non-partisan effort.
|
|
|
|
|
genie
Master of Prissface
|
|
|
Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:35 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: |
Yes, I think voter apathy is outrageously high in this country where not all of us even had the right to vote until relatively recently. So the point is to get out the vote, not a particular vote. Non-partisan effort. |
I agree!!! (time to get the snow shovels  ) Should we start a new thread about voter apathy? I'd love to know what everyone thinks the reasons for that are.....you game?
|
|
|
|
|
phillycat
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 1953
Location: Da hood
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:41 Post subject:
| genie wrote: |
What I gather from what RB is saying is, and this is my feeling too....if you, Go, merely sponsored a program to get non registered kids out to vote and also educate them on the general importance of the process, then no....not bad. If, because you endorse Kerry, or Nader, or whoever, you put pressure on, offered incentives for, or presented your candidate's platform without an equally presented platform for the other candidate, or promoted your candidate, badmouthing the other one....then yes, bad, cheesy, unfair tactics.
In other words, education is one thing.....pushing your candidate's agenda is another, which I have suspected was the impetus behind P Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign all along. If you could be completely impartial that's great. I don't think this is what's happened, and obviously in 2000, from what RB says, it didn't happen then either. |
Just an FYI, didn't get a chance to go to the PDiddy event yesterday (too much work to do) but I did hear on the radio this morning that he clearly is not making this a non-partisan event. He is for Kerry and would like to see Kerry elected.
|
|
|
|
|
genie
Master of Prissface
|
|
|
Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 10/28/04 - 15:49 Post subject:
| phillycat wrote: |
Just an FYI, didn't get a chance to go to the PDiddy event yesterday (too much work to do) but I did hear on the radio this morning that he clearly is not making this a non-partisan event. He is for Kerry and would like to see Kerry elected. |
Thanks PC....I suspected as much. 
|
|
|
|
| |
All times are GMT - 4 Hours
|
|
|
