Obama Administration Abandons Voter Intimidation Lawsuit

This is beyond disappointing.

http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/05/29/top_stories/doc4a1f42b32c161287079901.txt


Dept. Of Justice Drops New Black Panthers Case

Obama Administration Abandons Voter Intimidation Lawsuit
By MICHAEL P. TREMOGLIE, The Bulletin


Friday, May 29, 2009


Sources told The Bulletin that there is internal dissension in the Department of Justice (DOJ) about a voter intimidation case from last year’s presidential election. Obama appointees did not want to proceed with the case, while the career prosecutors did. The incident occurred in Philadelphia and involved the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (NBPPSD).

The DOJ filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the NBPPSD and three of its members alleging the defendants intimidated Philadelphia voters during the Nov. 4, 2008 general election. The action was filed in January before President George W. Bush left office.

The complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Philadelphia, alleged that on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2008 in Philadelphia, NBPPSD members Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson were stationed at the entrance to a polling location at 1221 Fairmount Avenue, wearing the uniform of the organization. It also states Mr. Shabazz repeatedly brandished a “police-style baton weapon.”

The complaint said NBPPSD Chairman Malik Zulu Shabazz confirmed that the placement of Messrs. Shabazz and Jackson was part of a nationwide effort to deploy NBPPSD members at polling locations on Election Day. The Justice Department sought an injunction to prevent any similar future actions by NBPPSD members at polling locations.

“Intimidation outside of a polling place is contrary to the democratic process,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker at the time. “The Department takes allegations of voter intimidation seriously.”

None of the defendants responded to the lawsuit. Instead of immediately filing for a default judgment as is the normal procedure, sources told The Bulletin the DOJ asked for and received an order from the court providing an extension of time to file. Specifically, they asked the court to give them until May 15.

But on May 15, DOJ changed its mind again. Rather than a default judgment, the DOJ filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit for two of the defendants. This included Mr. Jackson, who identified himself to police as a member of the Democratic Committee in the 14th Ward. He also produced credentials to that effect.................

but don't stipulate the normal restrictions given with such a judgement.

for this case.

But my memory is failing me. :(

:eyes:

and 1 positive thread about Hillary.

:rofl:

is that something like 'more than happy?'

Sounds like a dangerous mental condition to me.

:rofl:

:crazy:

all words right.


LOL--just having a little fun.

just FYI. "Who woulda thunk it" is different from someone inadvertently misspelling something like, "He's such a moran (moron). I'm series (serious)!"

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

They will take care of those Panthers!! Don't you worry!

:rofl:

like he has something other than water in that bottle.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/obama_volunteer_on_scene_dispu.php

Despite the fact that nothing untoward occurred, some remain 'beyond disappointed' (is that possible?) that a pound of flesh wasn't exacted for crimes that never happened.

full story. Pushing fox bullshit here is ridiculous.

Two black guys showed up at ONE damn voting station in an area of Philadelphia where Obama whipped McCain's ass up one side of the street and back down it again, and somehow this constitutes "voter intimidation." Yes, we all know how absolutely terrifying black men are but TWO showed up at ONE station and somehow I'm supposed to believe that this caused panic for the voting public in Philly?? :crazy:

Fox tried their hardest to whip this up on election day and it died miserably. Now snowdays is trying to get it going again.

delete

I think everyone needs to read THIS story about what happened to the Civil Rights Division under Bush to perhaps have a greater understanding of the untold story referenced in the OP.



To the swarm that descended on snowdays within minutes- I don't necessarily agree with her opinion on this either, but at least I
know why I might disagree and can post WHY I disagree and don't just impugn her personally. She posted an ARTICLE from a large metropolitan newspaper. Can't you just comment on the article? Don't you think that other people in Philadelphia are reading a strange article about the OBAMA Justice Department dismissing a VOTER INTIMIDATION case involving BLACK PANTHERS??!! Do you think in your zeal to jump down snowdays throat you might be missing a bigger, more misleading picture that is being "reported" in Pennsylvania, you know that swing state we will be fighting for in just a few months?

*****************************************************************************************************
Edit - the "invisible ink" is that Bush politicized the Justice Department even into the formerly sacrosant "career" area and this prosecution needs to be looked at skeptically, since they hardly prosecuted ANYONE in this division.

the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department basically shut down and just plain did not process complaints in any way resembling previously normal procedures.

Anyone can google "Bush Justice Department Civil Rights Division" and come up with story after story of complaints that were just totally ignored. Same with the Department of Labor. The evil of the Bush Administration was far more widespread and actively involved in shutting down the regulatory roles of government than most Americans have any idea of. Those "career" people are still there and the only thing we can pin our hopes on is that competent management can come in and FORCE them to do their jobs or force them out if they do not.

months only to have political upper folks stop them in their tracks.

to the OP, I really do not understand why the case did not go forward. From what I had read at the time it was a clear case of intimidation.


PS, thanks for responding to the story.

about with the word 'default"?--How it is used?

Cirque in post 13 gave this link worth reading
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/obama_volunteer_on_scene_dispu.php

You have the Fox News View, You have the Talking Points reporting and then you have the Philadelphia paper you posted in the OP. Then you have background info I posted about how politicized the Bush Justice civil rights division was

Just taking the Fox news and the Talking Points combined, I doubt very much that there was actionable voter intimidation from a prosecutorial point of view. But, the paper's version that you quoted in your OP put the worst possible slant on the story as regards the Obama Justice Department. I don't think it's bad that you posted the story, I think people need to know as much as they possibly can about everything they read and what others are reading.

I assume that's what you mean by reading between the lines. The Bush DOJ used the DOJ to go after any group that tried to register minority voters or help them vote.

As misguided as the Panthers were, that's what they thought they were doing. So the Bush DOJ went after them.

The Obama DOJ has dropped the case, because the case was a miscarriage of justice in the first place.

would spout a right wing argument on what was always a trumped up accusation. Kudos to the Obama Admin for not pursuing this BS. Dissapointed? Yeah you and the freepers.

Op Poster must not know what the Left think about this particular case....obviously.
Guess he/she thinks we are so stupid, if we read "voter intimidation" will just get mad at Obama!

That's funny (hope no one fell for it, or they are gonna be looking kind of silly!! :rofl:

Is that how it works? A swat team comes in to shut down "make-shit-up-'outrage? Did you BOTHER to read the NEWSPAPER ARTICLE that was posted in the OP as the source of the "make-shit-up outrage"?

The OP did not write the article, she posted the article. The article paints a HORRIFIC picture of perceived Obama Justice Department shenanigans concerning voter intimidation in Philadelphia by a Philadelphia newspaper. There are thousands of people in Philadelphia reading that same paper and getting the same misconceptions as the OP. But good job shutting down one more thread that MIGHT have led to some productive discussion of why the PAPER was wrong and how the OP did not know the entire story. Shut down every thread that posts something you don't like in it with your swarm behavior and then congratulate each other with a job well done.

has constantly posted nothing but negative articles about the President. From the smallest issue to something like this...nothing but RW slanted, negative, one sided articles.

Shooting down the poster doesn't make the articles go away. Particularly if they are from mainstream and not wingnut sources. That's when you should be extra concerned to get the facts out.

This Philadelphia article is very disturbing on a number of levels (journalistic), and I'm glad to know about it.

not much (rw sites are fill of it). But I did run across this. Bartel Bull affidavit. I have not found the original at this point. Thought you might be interested.


..........The civil suit filed Jan. 7 identified the three men as members of the Panthers and said they wore military-style uniforms, black berets, combat boots, battle-dress pants, black jackets with military-style insignias and were armed with "a dangerous weapon"and used racial slurs and insults to scare would-be voters and those there to assist them at the Philadelphia polling location on Nov. 4.

The complaint said the three men engaged in "coercion, threats and intimidation, ... racial threats and insults, ... menacing and intimidating gestures, ... and movements directed at individuals who were present to vote." It said that unless prohibited by court sanctions, they would "continued to violate ... the Voting Rights Act by continuing to direct intimidation, threats and coercion at voters and potential voters, by again deploying uniformed and armed members at the entrance to polling locations in future elections, both in Philadelphia and throughout the country."

To support its evidence, the government had secured an affidavit from Bartle Bull, a longtime civil rights activist and former aide to Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign. Mr. Bull said in a sworn statement dated April 7 that he was serving in November as a credentialed poll watcher in Philadelphia when he saw the three uniformed Panthers confront and intimidate voters with a nightstick.

Inexplicably, the government did not enter the affidavit in the court case, according to the files

"In my opinion, the men created an intimidating presence at the entrance to a poll," he declared. "In all my experience in politics, in civil rights litigation and in my efforts in the 1960s to secure the right to vote in Mississippi ... I have never encountered or heard of another instance in the United States where armed and uniformed men blocked the entrance to a polling location."

Mr. Bull said the "clear purpose" of what the Panthers were doing was to "intimidate voters with whom they did not agree." He also said he overheard one of the men tell a white poll watcher: "You are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker."

He called their conduct an "outrageous affront to American democracy and the rights of voters to participate in an election without fear." He said it was a "racially motivated effort to limit both poll watchers aiding voters, as well as voters with whom the men did not agree."............


http://yedda.com/questions/Obamas_Ties_Black_Panthers_8627678161013/#reply

not much (rw sites are fill of it). But I did run across this. Bartel Bull affidavit. I have not found the original at this point. Thought you might be interested.


..........The civil suit filed Jan. 7 identified the three men as members of the Panthers and said they wore military-style uniforms, black berets, combat boots, battle-dress pants, black jackets with military-style insignias and were armed with "a dangerous weapon"and used racial slurs and insults to scare would-be voters and those there to assist them at the Philadelphia polling location on Nov. 4.

The complaint said the three men engaged in "coercion, threats and intimidation, ... racial threats and insults, ... menacing and intimidating gestures, ... and movements directed at individuals who were present to vote." It said that unless prohibited by court sanctions, they would "continued to violate ... the Voting Rights Act by continuing to direct intimidation, threats and coercion at voters and potential voters, by again deploying uniformed and armed members at the entrance to polling locations in future elections, both in Philadelphia and throughout the country."

To support its evidence, the government had secured an affidavit from Bartle Bull, a longtime civil rights activist and former aide to Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign. Mr. Bull said in a sworn statement dated April 7 that he was serving in November as a credentialed poll watcher in Philadelphia when he saw the three uniformed Panthers confront and intimidate voters with a nightstick.

Inexplicably, the government did not enter the affidavit in the court case, according to the files

"In my opinion, the men created an intimidating presence at the entrance to a poll," he declared. "In all my experience in politics, in civil rights litigation and in my efforts in the 1960s to secure the right to vote in Mississippi ... I have never encountered or heard of another instance in the United States where armed and uniformed men blocked the entrance to a polling location."

Mr. Bull said the "clear purpose" of what the Panthers were doing was to "intimidate voters with whom they did not agree." He also said he overheard one of the men tell a white poll watcher: "You are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker."

He called their conduct an "outrageous affront to American democracy and the rights of voters to participate in an election without fear." He said it was a "racially motivated effort to limit both poll watchers aiding voters, as well as voters with whom the men did not agree."............


http://yedda.com/questions/Obamas_Ties_Black_Panthers_8627678161013/#reply

In blistering remarks to a Saturday morning rally, former Robert F. Kennedy aide Bartle Bull embraced Republican John McCain for president, hurled Barack Obama under the bus, and then backed it slowly over the Democratic nominee.

“America needs a president who is grounded in patriotism, not drowning in ambition,” Bull told a crowd of 150 gathered in Lower Manhattan. “I have used that sentence many times in the last three months, and not once — never once — have I been asked which candidate is which.”

The lifelong activist and former Village Voice publisher presented his impeccable liberal-Democrat credentials.

“I had the privilege of serving as Robert F. Kennedy’s New York campaign manager when he ran for president in 1968,” Bull explained. “I was arrested as a civil-rights lawyer in Mississippi, and I campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment. But in honest conscience, I cannot support the Democratic ticket in this campaign.”

Bull aimed at his target and charged like a longhorn.

“Character in the White House should be more important than charisma on the campaign trail,” Bull declared. “Barack Obama does not want to ‘change’ America. Barack Obama wants a different country.”

Turning to Obama’s financial agenda, Bull minced no words.

“Obama’s notion of economic fairness is pure Karl Marx,” Bull said, “plus a pocketful of Chicago-style ‘community organization.’”

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YWNmZDQ4MWE2OTFkOGZlMThmZDJkMWNhNDdhY2UzMWI%3D

I knew this had to be some old PUMA bullshit, you can smell it from miles away. I still maintain that the o.p.'s style is very familiar. For those of us who were here throughout the primaries, I think it's pretty clear that he/she has been with us before.

the article. I really do not understand folks who have been Democrats all their lives who suddenly do an about face.

one with a nightstick, I would be disappointed that the DOJ dropped the charges also.

so, I give up.

you posted upsteam last fall when the incident occurred. TPM is a site I have bookmarked. But thanks for the review.

SWARMING??

My personal thoughts are that snowdays isn't worth the trouble, but if other want to "swarm" her always Obama-critical, ALWAYS Obama-negative posts then what do I care?? They obviously feel that they have good reason to. And from what I've seen, they probably do.

I still think it's important to address the substance or lack thereof in the original article posted by the OP. My concern isn't so much if someone posts right wing talking points here, since most are smart enough to recognize and deflate those points. I learn a lot more personally when someone attacks the gist of the comment/article and not just the poster.

I knew about the politicization of the civil rights division a long time ago, which is why my smell-o-meter went up right away. I bet there are lots of people who don't know that background, or the Fox news involvement, either. Further posting on the substance brings out good info about Bartle Bull. So now, I'm a lot more equipped to shoot it down when some conservative tells me how the Obama Justice Department is supporting Voter Intimidation by Black Panthers with weapons at a polling place in Philadelphia - which is probably how Rush and Sean would/will condense this story for their listeners. It's important for everyone to know the back story.

It's just more of the usual smear of trying to link Obama to "scary" militant types(like they tried so hard to do with Ayers) and to imply that he is one himself.

Now, was that also the purpose of the OP? I have no idea, although I concede it's possible.

this was NOT my purpose. I was appalled when I first saw those images of the man with the nightstick last November. I am so glad to see one positive outcome of the suit --he is banned from voting sites in the future.
Also--if I have not thanked you--thanks for the articles you posted. But I am well aware of the politicization of the civil rights divisions under Bush. But reminders are good.
Later.




...........It's just more of the usual smear of trying to link Obama to "scary" militant types(like they tried so hard to do with Ayers) and to imply that he is one himself.

Now, was that also the purpose of the OP? I have no idea, although I concede it's possible. ............

/:think:

:(

I am actually doing so more research into this, after the most excellent report FiredUpDem had on this issue. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8442313

The PUMA scum are whooping round their burning crosses about this story.

The Right if you are White Reverend Amy Siksind was only too keen to don her white sheet, linking this story to ACORN (of course), Bailouts, The Census, The Dept. of Justice (Obama), General Motors & Chrysler, The Obama Administration, Obama Comrades, Uppity Woman, Voter Fraud, Voting & Voting Rights and the stimulus tax package. Wow two supposed "new black panthers" could have such a wild field of influence.

This district went 95% for Kerry in 2004, I do not know the 2008 result, I expect the same or even more.

Dirty Bigots seem to forget the voter intimidation of 2000 and 2004. They seem to forget the long lines people had to wait in (8 hours). Perhaps they wanted to send a message to those who would attempt to block elderly African Americans from voting - NOT THIS TIME - The Election Clerk told Police that there was no problem and that these two panthers were NOT intimidating voters.

With NO complaint from the Election Clerk - there was no case to answer. So PUMA and their new Faux News Buddies can dance around however many burning crosses they want. There was no case to answer.

:applause:

BigotBasher, I am so glad that you are a member of this site.

We'd love to have you come hang out in AAIG. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=258

Please drop in sometimes!

in the case. I have read that the gov. did not enter it in their filing. I know it is from a rw site but it is the only place I could find it. msm only posted very neutral short stories. But I am trying to do some research on this case.


http://michellemalkin.cachefly.net/michellemalkin.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/bull-declaration_04-07-20092.pdf

Are you even serious?

Do you realize that this nursing home is in a black neighborhood with black voters? Who do you think they were intimidating? Intimidating people into voting for McCain?

else please post it. Bull is a civil right activist who worked with RFK Jr.

In blistering remarks to a Saturday morning rally, former Robert F. Kennedy aide Bartle Bull embraced Republican John McCain for president, hurled Barack Obama under the bus, and then backed it slowly over the Democratic nominee.

“America needs a president who is grounded in patriotism, not drowning in ambition,” Bull told a crowd of 150 gathered in Lower Manhattan. “I have used that sentence many times in the last three months, and not once — never once — have I been asked which candidate is which.”

The lifelong activist and former Village Voice publisher presented his impeccable liberal-Democrat credentials.

“I had the privilege of serving as Robert F. Kennedy??s New York campaign manager when he ran for president in 1968,” Bull explained. “I was arrested as a civil-rights lawyer in Mississippi, and I campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment. But in honest conscience, I cannot support the Democratic ticket in this campaign.”

Bull aimed at his target and charged like a longhorn.

“Character in the White House should be more important than charisma on the campaign trail,” Bull declared. “Barack Obama does not want to ‘change’ America. Barack Obama wants a different country.”

Turning to Obama’s financial agenda, Bull minced no words.

“Obama’s notion of economic fairness is pure Karl Marx,” Bull said, “plus a pocketful of Chicago-style ‘community organization.’”

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YWNmZDQ4MWE2OTFkOGZlMThmZDJkMWNhNDdhY2UzMWI%3D


Former RFK aide Bartle Bull rallies for John McCain Saturday in Manhattan.

link from michelle malkin along with a post saying this piece of shit is a civil rights activist! I guess this is officially an open board.

And it's not to get at the truth! And anyone who relies on Michelle Malkin to make their case isn't interested in the truth either.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8442313&mesg_id=8442424

Bartle Bull is ill-equipped to identify "intimidation" in that context.

That community was invested in not being screwed again, most of us were also concerned about disenfranchisement.

The man with the nightstick was guilty of poor judgement, nothing more.

That man was a friend of an official poll watcher, he spoke with police and then left the scene.

I mean, weren't we all worried about disenfranchisement and fraud???

Read my post from election day:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8442313&mesg_id=8442424

stations in predominantly black neighborhoods? They threatened to challenge nearly everyone to clog up the voting process, and if I lived in that neighborhood, I'd probably crack some RNC skull too. But if you, snowdays, Bartle B-U-L-L, and Michelle Malkin want to make a big deal of this, I'd say you're in spectacular company.
:rofl:

is that you got BC to assist you. SHOCKED I SAY!:rofl:

:rofl:

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Michelle Malkin must be pissed, too. How disappointing for both of you. :eyes:

this shit on democraticunderground, is what I want to know?

And I ahve to admit I was a bit put off by it. Voter fraud and intimidation are wrong from both sides of the aisle. This just puts ammo in their quiver.

I guarantee the right will be all about this come tommorow saysing "reverse racism" etc....