While FoxNews is doing its best to smear Al Franken by questioning some of his challenges of poorly marked ballots, (while ignoring the fact that Coleman is doing the same thing), the Coleman camp kicked it up a notch and did the unthinkable.
Coleman is now challenging ballots that were clearly marked for McCain for president and Franken for Senate--because anybody who voted McCain HAD to have meant to vote for Coleman!!!
That's right folks. If you live in Minnesota and voted for John McCain, according to Norm Coleman, there is no way you could have voted for Al Franken. Your ballot is now in jeopardy.
The anger I have is extreme. I can't imagine in this day in America that a national party thinks they have the right to DICTATE how I vote!
See the ballots for yourselves:
Clearly marked, but still challenged. Every damn one.
Coleman's camp wouldn't have challenged these if they didn't think they could get away with it, although I can't fathom how that this will stand. If it somehow does, then it sets one hell of a scary precedent. If I vote for president, then apparently I have to vote for everyone down the ticket on the same party no matter how objectionable they may be.
No. It can't possibly be that someone in Minnesota respected John McCain's service but DIDN'T want a chicken-hawk draft dodger like Coleman.
Or that a Republican agreed with McCain's moderate stance on stem cell research but was appalled by Norm Coleman not only voting against stem cell research, but palling around with right wing extremists.
Or how about this conservative explaining how Coleman lost his vote.
Could you imagine if Al Franken challenged every ballot that voted for Obama but not him? Could you imagine the outrage on the right if he had did that?
For that matter, some of you in the comments have pointed out that the voter could have been intending to vote for Obama and made the mistake.
Send this video to everyone you know. This shows just how desperate the GOP has gotten and gives a new, cold meaning to the phrase "Win by any means necessary".
UPDATE: Reclist? You guys...Aw shucks...
Seriously, please DONATE TO FRANKEN'S LEGAL RECOUNT FUND
https://secure.alfranken.com/...
Also: Apparently there was a diary posted with the same video. Linked for proper mojo.
UPDATE II: Finally, yes it is likely that these challenges won't stand. But some here are whining we shouldn't take this seriously. This does warrant outrage because a sitting US Senator is arguing that clearly and properly-filled out ballots against him should be thrown out or given to him instead! I was outraged when the GOP was challenging thousands of people's voter registrations as well. Just because most didn't stand--you don't just laugh it off and ignore it. Trust me guys, I'm from Florida. I've seen what can happen.