Political Junky
Gold Member
- May 27, 2009
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Looks like Cons are desperate for more registered Cons.
Legalize.org
Be Careful When You Sign that Petition: Strange Republican Connections to the Anti-Prohibition Movement
Posted on August 24th, 2006 by smokey
A report from LeftyGreen.com has brought a sneaky voter registration ploy by the Republican party to Legalize.orgs attention. Apparently, a booth has been set up in Fresno, CA that supposedly offers passers-by the opportunity to sign a petition aimed at legalizing marijuana. The anti-prohibition message is just a front, however, as petition-signers are (unbeknownst to them) abruptly registered as Republican voters. It is unclear why the party would do this (perhaps to express demographic diversity in the its ranks?). For the full story, plus pictures, click here.
Another question, here, however is whether or not the petition itself is legit. The first answer that suggests itself is an emphatic NO!, but several recent developments have me wondering. Come this Novembers Election Day, voters in Nevada, will have to decide on whether or not to let a tax and regulate marijuana policy become law. The biggest supporters of this petition, however, are Nevadas Republican party big-wigs. Reports out of Philadelphia claim that a similar conservative-backed movement is taking place there as well. At a glance, this seems crazybut we must remember that, traditionally, Republicanism is not as much rooted in the social conservatism that we see today but in free market liberalism that is entirely conducive to legalizing drug use. One wonders if there is really anything beyond cross-generational hatred of long-hairs that has kept Republicans off the mark here for so long, especially given the fact that the financial stakes are so high.
Whether or not the petition is real, of course, is beside the point. The voter registration trick is flat-out reprehensible. But maybe we should think twice about what sorts of politicians we are trying to persuade. The conservative right may be an untapped resource in the fight against prohibition.
Legalize.org
Be Careful When You Sign that Petition: Strange Republican Connections to the Anti-Prohibition Movement
Posted on August 24th, 2006 by smokey
A report from LeftyGreen.com has brought a sneaky voter registration ploy by the Republican party to Legalize.orgs attention. Apparently, a booth has been set up in Fresno, CA that supposedly offers passers-by the opportunity to sign a petition aimed at legalizing marijuana. The anti-prohibition message is just a front, however, as petition-signers are (unbeknownst to them) abruptly registered as Republican voters. It is unclear why the party would do this (perhaps to express demographic diversity in the its ranks?). For the full story, plus pictures, click here.
Another question, here, however is whether or not the petition itself is legit. The first answer that suggests itself is an emphatic NO!, but several recent developments have me wondering. Come this Novembers Election Day, voters in Nevada, will have to decide on whether or not to let a tax and regulate marijuana policy become law. The biggest supporters of this petition, however, are Nevadas Republican party big-wigs. Reports out of Philadelphia claim that a similar conservative-backed movement is taking place there as well. At a glance, this seems crazybut we must remember that, traditionally, Republicanism is not as much rooted in the social conservatism that we see today but in free market liberalism that is entirely conducive to legalizing drug use. One wonders if there is really anything beyond cross-generational hatred of long-hairs that has kept Republicans off the mark here for so long, especially given the fact that the financial stakes are so high.
Whether or not the petition is real, of course, is beside the point. The voter registration trick is flat-out reprehensible. But maybe we should think twice about what sorts of politicians we are trying to persuade. The conservative right may be an untapped resource in the fight against prohibition.