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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Grandmother with peace button denied vote - ACLU consulted
2006-11-01
Yet another case of Rovian Granny Oppression...
A voter who wore a "Grandmothers for Peace" button while casting an early ballot at the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder's Office was escorted from the building after she refused to remove the button.

Election officials asked Rita Ague, 63, to cover her button Monday, saying she was electioneering within the 100-foot limit of a polling place. "It's the law," said Terry Sholdt, acting director of the election department. "We don't allow people to wear anything political. Grandmothers for Peace is an active political organization."

Ague, a grandmother of four, said she is not a member of Grandmothers for Peace and has been wearing the button for 10 years because she believes in what it says. "I'm a grandmother and I believe in peace, I believe in love and I believe in justice," she said.
Uh-huh, sure, granny, now doff the button or ska-daddle.
Ague contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado Tuesday. Cathryn Hazouri, executive director, said Ague's removal from the public building was likely unconstitutional. She said electioneering occurs when a person campaigns within 100 feet of a polling place for something tied to the ballot - a candidate or an issue. "Peace is not political," Hazouri said. "I don't think there were any peace candidates and I don't think there were any war candidates. Peace and war were not on the ballot."
Not according to Howlin' Howie.
Posted by:Anguper Hupomosing9418

#8  Look at it this way - one less vote for a Democrat!
Posted by: Raj   2006-11-01 19:09  

#7  They are indeed an active political organization. Googled it and got all kinds of hits..mostly lots of Grandmother's for Peace Interantional. Anytime you see the "International" moniker, you know what the score is. Looks like many states have their own chapters. Definitely looks like a setup. ACLU prolly had advance warning.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2006-11-01 17:55  

#6  These crypto-commie nutters were for the US to unilaterally disarm in the 80's so the Soviets could nuke us in peace. Same agenda as the Euro anti cruise and Pershing 2 missile Red Babies who just knew the Soviet SS-20s aimed at Europe were there for peace.
Posted by: ed   2006-11-01 17:33  

#5  Seems to me woman got jobbed and is justified to be pissed off.

Nope. It's simple, you want to vote and you've been asked to remove the button. Then remove the button. This was staged.

Oops, almost forgot, screw the old hippie hag!

Posted by: Peter Jennings   2006-11-01 17:32  

#4  Not sure, but I think ANY political button counts. For instance in my area, no buttons with a candidate's name on them.
Posted by: lotp   2006-11-01 17:01  

#3  "We don't allow people to wear anything political. Grandmothers for Peace is an active political organization."

The question is, are they an official political organization. And what constitutes that designation. I couldn't find any listing as a 527 with the IRS or FEC with this group. Is it a simple endorsement or contribution of a candidate? Seems to me woman got jobbed and is justified to be pissed off.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-11-01 16:53  

#2  "has been wearing the button for 10 years" Mostly during those militant and expanists Clinton years. I don't buy it.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-11-01 16:07  

#1  I could easily see the ACLU getting folks to wear a variety of pins and shirts into the polls to provoke a response. The El Paso County Clerk & Recorder's Office should have been prepared. At the very least a statement stating what was and wasn't a legal pin/shirt in the paper and at the booth so that the voters and acting director of the election department knew the rules. THis makes the lawsuit a bit easier when it inevitably comes.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2006-11-01 14:11  

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