Republicans Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael Moore for Vote Bribery

[Questioninggeller]

Republicans, Out of Ideas, Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael Moore


10/6/04

You may have heard by now that the Michigan Republican Party has called for my arrest. That's right. They literally want me brought up on charges -- and hope that I'm locked up.

No, I'm not kidding. The Republican Party, yesterday, filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutors in each of the counties where I spoke last week in Michigan.

My crime? Clean underwear for anyone who will vote in the upcoming election.

Each night on our 60-city "Slacker Uprising Tour" through the 20 battleground states, I've been registering hundreds (and on some nights, thousands) of voters at my arena and stadium events. I then ask for everyone over 23 who has never voted (or didn't vote in the last election) to stand up. I tell these slackers that I understand and respect why they think politicians are not worth the bother. I tell them that I may have been the original slacker, and that I do not want them to change their slacker ways. Keep sleeping 'til noon! Keep drinking beer! Stay on the sofa and watch as much TV as possible! But, please, just for me, on 11/2, I want you to leave the house and give voting a try -- just this once. The stakes this time are just too high.

If they promise me that they'll do this, I give the guys a 3-pack of new Fruit of the Loom underwear, and the women get a day's supply of Ramen noodles, the sustenance of slackers everywhere.

I then close by having them repeat the 2004 Slacker Oath: "Pick nose! Pick butt! Pick Kerry."

It seems to have worked, as each night the volunteer tables are swamped afterwards with hundreds of new and young voters signing up to campaign for regime change for the next four weeks.

The satire of all this seems to have been lost on the Republicans. Or maybe it hasn't. The state of Michigan (where we spent most of last week) reported that over 100,000 young people recently registered to vote, a record that no one saw coming. The Slacker Tour has turned into a huge steamroller with a momentum all its own.

From: http://michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-10-06

Lansing-AP, October 6, 2004, 8:00 a.m.) The Michigan Republican Party is asking four county prosecutors to file charges against filmmaker Michael Moore, charging that he illegally offered underwear, noodles and snacks to college students in exchange for their promise to vote.

"We want everyone to participate in this year's election, but not because they were bribed or coerced by the likes of Michael Moore," said Greg McNeilly, executive director of the state Republican Party.

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2393829&nav=0RceRgjo

More at:
http://www.migop.org/pressreleases/readarticle.asp?type=press&id=2190

 

[Ladewig]

It appears as if he really broke the law by actually giving small prizes to people who promised to vote. If the law is written that broadly, then I have no problem with his being charged.

Does anyone know what the penalty is for each count if he is found guilty?

 

[The Fool]

I hope he is charged. I would like this to get to court so the court gets a chance to voice its views on the merits of the prosecutions position.

The land of the free where a stunt designed to get people to vote is a crime. If only Moore could offer them tax breaks it would be all ok....Politicians are the only ones allowed to bribe people.

 

[demon]

A no-frills campaign?

sorry
sorry
sorry

 

[KelvinG]

I hope he is charged. I would like this to get to court so the court gets a chance to voice its views on the merits of the prosecutions position.

The land of the free where a stunt designed to get people to vote is a crime. If only Moore could offer them tax breaks it would be all ok....Politicians are the only ones allowed to bribe people.

It's pretty much the same idea behind banning 527's. The politicians want to be the only ones that are allowed to lie on TV and other media.

 

[gnome]

I am curious... is it against the law to offer incentives to vote, if you don't require a pledge to support any particular candidate?

 

[Regnad Kcin]

I personally know one of the original Fruit of the Loom guys.

I think he was the apple.

 

[peptoabysmal]

I hope he is charged. I would like this to get to court so the court gets a chance to voice its views on the merits of the prosecutions position.

The land of the free where a stunt designed to get people to vote is a crime. If only Moore could offer them tax breaks it would be all ok....Politicians are the only ones allowed to bribe people.

I don't think the judge will accept a dubiously edited videotape as evidence.

It's not a stunt, Moore is offering goods in exchange for a vote. This is a big no-no in the US, unless you happen to be a Senator

 

[Tony]

It's pretty much the same idea behind banning 527's. The politicians want to be the only ones that are allowed to lie on TV and other media.

It's also the same with gun control. Politicians want to be the only ones who are legally able to defend themselves.

 

[daenku32]

I don't think the judge will accept a dubiously edited videotape as evidence.

It's not a stunt, Moore is offering goods in exchange for a vote. This is a big no-no in the US, unless you happen to be a Senator

Shouldn't services be part of that? Since Bush will only give speeches to those who sign a waiver promising to vote for HIM?

However in both cases, since Moore is not going to follow up whether they voted or not, and gives the items purely on a verbal 'promise', I don't see the difference between underwear and verbal consultation.

 

[Segnosaur]

This isn't the first time Moore has done things of questionable legality....

- During the Canadian election earlier this year, Moore had made comments about how Canadians shouldn't vote for the Conservative party. (In Canada, we have laws against people from another country influencing our elections)

- When he filmed Bowling for Columbine, they had a scene with him purchasing ammunition from a store here, without showing ID. (In Canada you have to show ID to buy bullets.) He might have shown ID before the scene was shot, but the police still wanted to question him about it.

Personally, I think such law suits are A) a waste of time, and B) counterproductive, since they end up giving Moore more attention than he really deserves.

 

[jj]

From: http://michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-10-06


http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2393829&nav=0RceRgjo

More at:
http://www.migop.org/pressreleases/readarticle.asp?type=press&id=2190

How is this any different than sending "helpers" to rest homes to tell all the people there to vote for Bush? (Yes, in the last presidential election my mother met such a person. He was quite upset with her because SHE insisted on filling out the ballot. She's dead now, it won't happen again. Chilling, I think, though, and if anything is illegal ...)

How is this different than the schoolbus operator in town offering rides to all the senior citizens to vote against the town tax levy?

If the last two are legal, this is deliberate harrassment under false color of law, and should be treated as such.

If the other two I've mentioned aren't legal, why aren't the people who did it in jail?

 

[Rob Lister]

Re: Re: Republicans Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael Moore for Vote Bribery

How is this any different than sending "helpers" to rest homes to tell all the people there to vote for Bush? (Yes, in the last presidential election my mother met such a person. He was quite upset with her because SHE insisted on filling out the ballot. She's dead now, it won't happen again. Chilling, I think, though, and if anything is illegal ...)

How is this different than the schoolbus operator in town offering rides to all the senior citizens to vote against the town tax levy?

If the last two are legal, this is deliberate harrassment under false color of law, and should be treated as such.

If the other two I've mentioned aren't legal, why aren't the people who did it in jail?

In the first case, what Moore did (assuming the AP report is true) is illegal.

In your mother's case, you stated nothing that constituted an illegal act - and given that you probably just made it up in the first place, it is par for the course.

In the 'schoolbus' case, it would be illegal under certain circumstances. It is legal to offer rides to the polls, it is [probably] illegal to mandate how they vote once they get to the polls, and unenforceable regardless. I suspect you made that up as well but who knows, maybe you actually told the truth. I would certainly believe that one before I'd believe your first story.

 

[jj]

Re: Re: Re: Republicans Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael Moore for Vote Bribery

In the first case, what Moore did (assuming the AP report is true) is illegal.


I see. This is different how? He has no way of enforcing how someone votes, just like 'W' has no way of enforcing those contracts that he passes out at appearances.


In your mother's case, you stated nothing that constituted an illegal act - and given that you probably just made it up in the first place, it is par for the course.


Retract your false accusation.

As to the issue, please explain how intimidating someone into allowing another party into filling out their ballot is legal.

I got a call from the nurses on that one, I couldn't even make out what my mom was trying to tell me on the phone. No, I have no idea how she voted. I didn't ask. It's not my business.


In the 'schoolbus' case, it would be illegal under certain circumstances. It is legal to offer rides to the polls, it is [probably] illegal to mandate how they vote once they get to the polls, and unenforceable regardless. I suspect you made that up as well but who knows, maybe you actually told the truth. I would certainly believe that one before I'd believe your first story.

Well, you can confirm the last one by reading the "Warren Township NJ" weekly rag from, oh, about 10 years ago, give or take, for that one.

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

Wow, it's been a week already and we haven't heard anything about Michael Moore?

Charlie (keep him out there, till at least Nov 1st) Monoxide

 

[jj]

I am curious... is it against the law to offer incentives to vote, if you don't require a pledge to support any particular candidate?

That's exactly what I'm wondering.

 

[Rob Lister]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael Moore for Vote Bribery

Lister: In the first case, what Moore did (assuming the AP report is true) is illegal.


I see. This is different how? He has no way of enforcing how someone votes, just like 'W' has no way of enforcing those contracts that he passes out at appearances.

Enforcement has nothing to do with it. The wording of the law varies from state to state but the commonality is that it is illegal to promise goods or services (beyond varying nominal values) in compensation for voting. Rides to and from polling stations are generally allowed, as is a cup of coffee (IMS), but little else. Which state are you interested in. I'll look it up for you if I get time.

Lister: In your mother's case, you stated nothing that constituted an illegal act - and given that you probably just made it up in the first place, it is par for the course.

Retract your false accusation.

I made none, so far as I know.

As to the issue, please explain how intimidating someone into allowing another party into filling out their ballot is legal.

Your original assertion, which I didn't believe, was that he was upset with her because she filled out her own ballot. There is nothing illegal about being upset, nor with helping a willing other fill out a ballot. She was unwilling and, according to your own story, filled it out herself.

I got a call from the nurses on that one, I couldn't even make out what my mom was trying to tell me on the phone. No, I have no idea how she voted. I didn't ask. It's not my business.

If you couldn't make out what she was saying, how do you know you're repeating it as spoken? You've confimed the probability. I know hold it beyond a resonable doubt.

Well, you can confirm the last one by reading the "Warren Township NJ" weekly rag from, oh, about 10 years ago, give or take, for that one.

Gee, I don't happen to have that particular edition handy.

 

[fishbob]

The wording of the law varies from state to state but the commonality is that it is illegal to promise goods or services (beyond varying nominal values) in compensation for voting.

I think that the last few words are missing from this sentence. It is illegal to try to buy votes for specific candidates or ballot measures. It is civic minded and commendable to try to get people to go to the polls. Did Moore bribe people to vote for Kerry or did he offer them underwear and noodles just to go vote?

 

[pgwenthold]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael Moore for Vote Bribery

Enforcement has nothing to do with it. The wording of the law varies from state to state but the commonality is that it is illegal to promise goods or services (beyond varying nominal values)

How nominal is nominal? When I go to vote, I get little stickers that say "I voted." Are they of sufficient nominal value? Apparently so. So to, apparently, are free rides to the voting place. But a three pack of underwear and Raman noodles are too far?


IOW, the value allowed is somewhere between I Voted stickers and Raman Noodles?

 

[Rob Lister]

I think that the last few words are missing from this sentence. It is illegal to try to buy votes for specific candidates or ballot measures. It is civic minded and commendable to try to get people to go to the polls. Did Moore bribe people to vote for Kerry or did he offer them underwear and noodles just to go vote?

It is illegal, in all fifty states (so far as I know) to do what Moore did. It doesn't matter that he didn't demand the vote go a certain way. There was a big to-do about this very thing in Florida (2000 election).

I doubt moore will actually face criminal charges but I'm certain he could if the issue gets pushed. I know he was joking. So would a DA. So would a Judge. So would a jury.

Still, it's illegal.

MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW (EXCERPT)

Act 116 of 1954
168.931 Prohibited conduct; violation as misdemeanor; “valuable consideration” defined.

Sec. 931.

(1) A person who violates 1 or more of the following subdivisions is guilty of a misdemeanor:

(a) A person shall not, either directly or indirectly, give, lend, or promise valuable consideration, to or for any person, as an inducement to influence the manner of voting by a person relative to a candidate or ballot question, or as a reward for refraining from voting.

(b) A person shall not, either before, on, or after an election, for the person's own benefit or on behalf of any other person, receive, agree, or contract for valuable consideration for 1 or more of the following:

(i) Voting or agreeing to vote, or inducing or attempting to induce another to vote, at an election.