Iamthefallen's Journal: Republicans slashed tires on democrat party vans

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- The sons of a first-term congresswoman and Milwaukee's former acting mayor were among five Republican activists charged Monday with slashing the tires of vans rented by Democrats to drive voters and monitors to the polls on Election Day.

Sowande Omokunde, son of Rep. Gwen Moore, R-Wis., and Michael Pratt, the son of former Milwaukee acting mayor Marvin Pratt, were among those charged with criminal damage to property, a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The activists are accused of flattening the tires on 25 vehicles rented by the state Democratic party to get out the vote and deliver poll watchers November 2.

Also charged were Lewis Caldwell and Lavelle Mohammad, both from Milwaukee, and Justin Howell of Racine.

The Democratic party rented more than 100 vehicles that were parked in a lot adjacent to a Kerry campaign office. The party planned to drive poll watchers to polling places by 7 a.m. and deliver any voters who didn't have a ride.

Some Democrat officials have criticized Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann, a Republican, for taking more than two months to bring charges.

McCann said FBI agents were involved in interviewing witnesses in four states: Georgia, Virginia, Maryland and New York.

"We asked the FBI knowing that this probably wouldn't be their first priority," he said.

Rick Wiley, state Democratic executive director, discovered the vandalism on the morning of Election Day.

"It was unbelievable that people could stoop this low in a political campaign," he said. "I figured it had to be someone from the opposition. But I didn't think someone on the paid Bush campaign would do this."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted sources Sunday as saying the five were paid staffers.

Wiley didn't say whether the vandalism prevented anyone from voting, but he said poll watchers were about two hours late.

Moore did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Is anyone surprised that the fanatic Bush supporters would do this?

I mean we all knew about the republicans plan to disenfranchise voters and prevent them from going to the polls by any means necessary. That was all over the news before the election.

Now substitute Republican with Democrat, Democrat with Republican, Bush with Kerry and you have the real story.

But this is different! An isolated incident for sure. They don't represent the democratic party. Unlike those evil republicans who acted with malicious intent. Because they're eeeeviiiil.

well played

[NeMon'ess]

While reading it I was thinking it sure was good Democrats didn't get caught doing this since the ELF is certainly capable and willing if the cause and occasion are right.

Defending Democracy

[cyranoVR]

Everyone knows that Get out the Vote Efforts == Voter Fraud!

Duh.

Just ask Brent!

Re:Defending Democracy

[SiliconJesus]

Sadly - its actually pretty close.

Getting people that have no interest in voting, to vote by use of scare tactics is hardly a principal to base our government upon.

BTW - aren't we done with the political shit yet? The oath of office has been taken - can't we just leave the knives firmly in each other's backs?

Re:Defending Democracy

[cyranoVR]

BTW - aren't we done with the political shit yet? The oath of office has been taken - can't we just leave the knives firmly in each other's backs?

Weren't you paying attention in History class?

It never ends [lukecole.com].