International Election Observers Warned by Abbott
Updated: Oct. 24, 4:30 p.m.:
Project Vote Executive Director Michael Slater on Wednesday issued a statement addressing Attorney General Abbott’s warning to international elections observers.
“America stands for democracy. It appears that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is ashamed of Texas’s voting rights record or he would welcome observers with open arms. Instead, he is threatening them and attacking groups that are working to ensure that every eligible Texan is allowed to vote.
“Project Vote is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan, non-profit voting rights organizations. As such, we recently advised the Organization for Security ...
Comments (34)
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
American exceptionalism.
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Thanks, Greg. We really don't need the UN in Texas....
Cynthia Casper Robertson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Screw Greg Abbott. He represents all that is bad with politics and Texas. He's a waste of flesh and don't even get me started on how much taxpayer money he's pissed off in frivolous lawsuits. Supreme Court handed him his ass when they ruled in favor of Obamacare since he was the first one out of the gate in filing a lawsuit. He's anti anything that is just and right for the people.
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No, American Constitutional sovereignty being enforced. Thank you, Greg Abbott!
Pete Rodriguez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I hope he defines "foreign" as anyone who does not live within the political subdivision within the city or county, whichever is smaller
Ismael Melendez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If there is nothing to hide then there should be no problem having these observers here.
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
They have no authority to observe here. Read a book
Aldo Merino via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oh, the nonsense of Texas politics. All the grand posturing, heated rhetoric, and self congratulation, that ultimately sets the stage for the rampant hypocrisy that almost always follows.
It's like reading a press report about the Iranian elections in 2009.
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yeah. They only need observers in places that have an uneducated, poor populace, that disenfranchises minority voters, that has a Draconian justice system, with barbaric overly used death penalty cases.....oh, wait. Never mind.
Susan Inez Aulds via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lori you need to read a book. The US is signatory to a number of treaties relating to the UN. Treaties duly ratified by th US Congress are the law of the land. And after the coup d'etat in 2000 and the spate of voter repression laws passed by Republican state legislatures, minorities and the elderly need to be protected in order to exercise their right to cast a ballot.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He would rather have Tea Party Patriots from King Street.
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
And your *&^damn Queen Street Patriots are not welcome either!
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
UN has no authority here. Saying it does doesn't make it so. Voter repression is a myth.
David Alan Turchen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Last I heard Lori the United States is a member of the U.N. in fact the host nation.
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The US governs itself. Doesn't bow to UN. We are a member but I wonder why...can think of better uses for our money. We will have to agree to disagree on this.
Debbie Spencer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Arrogant jerk. If we can monitor other nations, they should be able to monitor us.
Stanley Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The state needs monitoring with all the ignorant tea baggers running around.
There is and has been voter suppression. What there hadn't been is a rash of voter fraud. That us a red herring. 10 cases in 5 million votes-- last I heard.
Robert Sheldon
Someone should suggest that the OCSE perform their observations during early election. At my Randalls the checkout lines are easily within 100 feet and it is a grocery store. Does Texas have a law against grocery shopping by Europeans?
Bonnie Alexander Lesley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why would an AG want to protect those who really are committing voter fraud? I think he is admitting guilt.
Tim Hurst via Texas Tribune on Facebook
but its ok for american observers to be involved in other countries elections? buffoon
David Clayton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
lol don't bring rational thought into this.
Manny Soy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What are we afraid of? We have the stupidest people in office they blow their dog whistle and all the stupid teabaggers come out barking merica merica we don't need no monitors. Yeehaw!
David O
Looks like Greg is beginning his quest to be governor but can't find a coyote to shoot.
Lance Lowry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'm not scared of Europeans... I am a Texan who owns lots of guns... What are they going to do, mug me... Maybe they are here to learn about how an election should be run... Let's vote the Texan way... Or maybe not on second thought... Grrr We voted for Perry last time....
Robert Thompson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lori Trammell and Mike Openshaw: We all know how ethical and trustworthy Texas Republicans are on redistricting and election rules. No Supreme Court has ever proved them wrong....Yeah, go Texas. We're sovereign even from rationality. Go Perry! #imwithstupid2014 #oops
hans5162@ix.netcom.com hans
What is sad is that the OSCE feels the need to send election monitors. Greg Abbott can say what he wants and sue who he wants. The reality is that the measures passed to combat "voter fraud" were a solution in search of a problem. There has been no identified voter fraud. The intent was to make it difficult for poorer minority voters to vote. The reasons are strictly partisan, but the effect is to disenfranchise a part of the electorate. That is not a sign of a functioning democracy, but is instead a sign of dysfunction. In the same breath as Abbott threatens the election observers from the OSCE, he actively encourages groups like the King Street Patriots, who have a history of voter intimidation, while mindlessly waving around copies of the Constitution. Either you believe in democracy or you don't. Democracy means allowing all the voters to participate in making a decision on who is going to be your political leader. In a healthy democracy, you respect the decision of the voters. Greg Abbott and the Tea party whack jobs are undermining democracy in the U.S. by engaging in voter suppression and questioning the legitimacy of duly elected leaders.
Sidney Lambert III via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Well played.
Sidney Lambert III via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The election process in Jefferson County, Texas earlier this year was at best sketchy. It had the feel of dropping a ballot in an incinerator, all results having been predetermined. Interesting.
gypsy314 ne
Thank God someone with brains and a back bone give them hell Greg Abbott
donald baker
I suggest armed Texas also be outside of the distance markers to protect Texas voters from intimidation from these UN thugs
Dale Curry
Aww poor Abbott, he keeps losing frivolous lawsuits against the FED and now the International Observers are coming to watch the repubs disenfranchise minorities and democrats. If they are not trying to do something snarky, then whats the problem with observers. Where's that Texas hospitality Abbott? Again you clearly demonstrate you are little more than a political hack using his office to further the interest of his party over the state!
Richard Pilling via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I thought for a moment this was a story about Syria, where they don't let international observers in to their 'free and open' voting; this being because they have to get on with the business of rigging the vote, and have no time for outsiders getting in their way... ... ... ... hang on a minute!
Kerry Brix
AG Abbott is almost as embarrassing as Rick Perry. He is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on politically motivated and frivolous lawsuits to forward his shallow parochial agenda. When will Texans wake up and demand accountability from these narrow minded fundamentalist GOP hacks?
Meme Me
Is this an article about the Texas Attorney General and our election or a promo article for project vote, the anarchist group?