WELDAY OFFERS FORECLOSED VOTERS RIDE TO THE POLLS
GOP Candidate Says “Those Effected by Granholm/Barnett Recession Should be Active Voters for Change in Lansing”
(Farmington Hills)…In response to the latest attempt by Democrat candidate Vicki Barnett to divert attention from the substantive issues in the campaign for the state House of Representatives by claiming some “conspiracy” to deny those voters registered to vote from homes in foreclosure, Republican candidate Paul Welday offered all voters in Farmington and Farmington Hills who find themselves in a foreclosure situation a ride to their polling location on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
On September 11, 2008, Democrat candidate Barnett emailed local clerks, elected officials, activists and reporters alleging a Republican plot to challenge the eligibility of voters of homes that have been foreclosed upon. Her email indicates her sources for this allegation are the liberal left blogs dailykos.com and michiganmessenger.com.
Despite repeated denials of any such plan by Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis and denials that any such comments were ever made by Macomb County GOP Chairman Jim Carabelli, Democrats filed a lawsuit in federal district court on the matter. Tactics like alleging a conspiracy and filing related lawsuits are part of a long-standing practice of misinformation by Democrats nationally (see Page 54, section 2 in the 2004 Democratic National Committee “Election Day Manual” to be specific).
“Vicki Barnett is doing her best to avoid a discussion on the real issues facing the families of Farmington and Farmington Hills”, said Paul Welday. “Her attempt to change the subject from the disastrous performance of her Party to a red herring in an effort to scare voters is a new low in local politics. But given the new Michigan unemployment numbers hitting a record high of 8.9 percent, you can see why she would not want to discuss her Party’s track record.”
Welday continued, “Rather than discourage foreclosed upon voters from voting on Election Day, we encourage those from Farmington and Farmington Hills who have felt the effects of the Granholm/Barnett recession first-hand to be sure and vote. We believe so strongly on making sure those who have suffered under Michigan’s job-killing Democrat policies get out to the polls that we are offering rides to those who need one. Rather than discourage those in an unfortunate situation, our message is….we’ll pick you up!”
Voters in need are urged to call 248-476-8462 for a ride to the polls.
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Publisher’s Note: I try really hard to post campaign releases without comment, but I’m going to make just one point. Actually, it’s more of a question:
Mr. Welday accuses Ms. Barnett of distracting voters from a discussion of the issues, by sending the e-mail referenced in the release. So how is Ms. Barnett’s sending an e-mail about the story different from Mr. Welday issuing a press release about her e-mail?
Here’s what she sent, compare and contrast:
“FYI
To Mayors and Council Members and Clerks: You may want to consider a resolution to support allowing all voters to vote and soundly criticize this plan.
To Reporters: Please be aware that this tactic is being planned.
To Organizational Leaders and Others: You also may want to go on record opposing these tactics and support voter rights.
I hope my disgust is clear. Feel free to call me if you wish to discuss.” (Barnett includes her cell number and a link to the story in the Messenger.)
Here’s a little more about the foreclosure flap:
Michigan Republicans, of course, are in a state of apoplectic denial, and The Michigan Messenger, equally apoplectic, is refusing to retract. Read the story for yourself, and make sure to follow the link to the Columbus Dispatch newspaper article. You can read how the Messenger may now may be sued by a Macomb County Republican and, perhaps, one from Ohio. There’s also an interesting take on this issue tonight in TheAtlantic.com
It’s no secret, I’m a liberal. However, I have been known to criticize the Michigan Democratic Party (which I no longer support because of ridiculous moves like the aforementioned lawsuit), I sometimes support Republican candidates, and some of my best friends are Republicans.
But I can’t tolerate silly in politics, and calling somebody out for doing the same thing you’re doing by calling her out is just that.
Candidate Web sites, in case you haven’t bookmarked them yet:
www.electvickibarnett.com
www.weldayforchange.com
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Enterprise Publisher
