RWer ‘citizen-journalist’ alleges Ohio early-voting fraud
Sara Marie Brenner | From thebrennerbrief.com
On Friday the RWer website Human Events published a hair-raising and jingoistic account of alleged early voter fraud in Columbus, Ohio by (gasp!) African immigrants who supposedly can’t speak English.
The author is a Sarah Palin devotee named Sara Marie Brenner, who the magazine calls a “special correspondent” in Ohio. That means she’s a bush-league freelancer, who also writes for something called AntiObamaBlog, and if want to know any more about her, here’s her self-description: “A snarky conservative” who “doesn’t let public opinion get in the way of telling the truth.”
Brenner is also on the Powell, Ohio, city council, where she apparently has weathered a mini-scandal in which liens were placed on her private business for failing to pay overdue taxes. Here are some reviews of her business. By the way, she’s married to a GOP state representative.
Here’s how the article opened up:
Two volunteer poll workers at an Ohio voting station told Human Events that they observed van loads of Ohio residents born in Somalia — the state is home to the second-largest Somali population in the United States — being driven to the voting station and guided by Democratic interpreters on the voting process. No Republican interpreters were present, according to these volunteers.
While it’s not unusual for get-out-the-vote groups to help voters get to the polls, the volunteers who talked to Human Events observed a number of troubling and questionable activities.
A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, is a volunteer outside the Morse Road polling center. She has witnessed Somalis who cannot speak English come to the polling center. They are brought in groups, by van or bus. The Democrats hand them a slate card and say, “vote Brown all the way down.” Given that Sherrod Brown is the incumbent Democrat Senator in Ohio, one can assume that this is the reference.
Go ahead and click on the link above and read the rest of that article.
Why is this important? Because Obama is widely expected to win re-election to the White House by winning Ohio. And if that happens, look for this garbage story to be trotted out afterward as evidence the Democrats “stole it” in the Buckeye state.
But even a cursory review of the article shows it to be rank sophistry at its best, masquerading as an objective account of what supposedly transpired. At its worst it, it tries desperately to create a false impression of “the truth.”
The first clue that the story deserves skepticism is that it’s sourced to anonymous volunteers. They weren’t relating opinion (in which case their anonymity wouldn’t matter a hell of a lot); they were describing facts. Those are impossible to verify because Brenner didn’t bother to go there herself and witness them, and we don’t know who her sources are.
But there’s much more wrong with this account of an election supposedly being “stolen” before our very eyes.
1. Brenner describes “van loads” of people “born in Somalia” showing up at the polls. Was it two minivans vans that showed up, with 6 voters each? Or was it hundreds of 15-passenger van loads? Why doesn’t Brenner offer some magnitude of the fraud she seems so worried about? Is that because there’s no magnitude to offer?
2. How do the anonymous observers a know the passengers in the vans were born in Somalia? What clued them in that it wasn’t the Ivory Coast, Angola or South Africa? The article doesn’t say, but it does note there are 45,000 Somalian refugees in Ohio. It appears to be a simple assumption these van loads must be some of them. Maybe — and maybe not.
3. Brenner notes that “only 40 percent” of the Somalis in Ohio have become citizens. Let’s do the math: There are more than 16,000 American citizens of Somalian descent in Ohio. Which means it’s quite likely the 12 in those two minivans ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS! In which case there is nothing whatsoever wrong with them voting — and there’s no story whatsoever. Except that it appears they were voting for . . . a Democrat! Oh no.
4. Some of anonymous observers told Brenner those voters couldn’t speak English, to which Brenner adds: “The logical follow-up question is whether a non-English speaking person is an American citizen.” Incredibly, she doesn’t answer her own question. Here’s an answer: Nothing in federal immigration and naturalization law allows anonymous poll watchers the right to judge whether voters are sufficient in English or not. Brenner didn’t answer it, because that would have undercut the straw-man argument she builds: these supposedly non-English-speaking Africans shouldn’t be citizens, even if they are, which means they should not be voting, which means (I guess) that this is all blatant evidence of voter fraud. Which it is not at all. It’s total BS.
5. Brenner’s article notes there were Democratic interpreters present, but no Republican interpreters. Oh no! As if that was somehow unfair. What she doesn’t note is why there were Democratic interpreters but not Republican ones: The Democrats sent some; the Republicans evidently chose not to. Because no Republican interpreters showed up, should they ban the Democratic interpreters, too?
There is more, but you get the gist. Brenner promises to “update” her account. If Ohio proves to be the linchpin of Obama’s re-election, it will surely be updated, all right.
And it will probably be more flawed and biased then than it is now, even though it’s a stretch to believe that is possible. Good grief!
October 28, 2012 - 2:40 PM
Wonder if the reporter is related to former Virginia Governor James Lindsey Almond who declared in 1959 that the Prince Edward County Schools would never integrate. My recollection is that the public schools in that county remained closed until 1964. I recall that era was referred to as “Massive Resistance.” Sort of like what the Republicans have done since 2008.
Re: “There’s no English fluency requirement to be an American citizen.”
———
Dan,
You are right for a natural born citizen — such as one born in the US regardless of the parent’s status, one born abroad of a US citizen, etc.
However, for the most common path to naturalization see:
http://tinyurl.com/yca9378
**
Path to U.S. Citizenship
This page describes the most common path to U.S. citizenship, which allows a green card holder (permanent resident) of at least 5 years to apply for naturalization.
SNIP
Eligibility Requirements
If you are a green card holder of at least 5 years, you must meet the following requirements in order to apply for naturalization:
SNIP
Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics).
SNIP
**
#1 Even worse than the crappy article are the comments — folks threatening to show up at precincts with baseball bats, calls to intimidate foreign-looking voters, vows to keep foreigners out of various states and on and on. This is the right.
Dan, I assumed that you so quickly took this post down peviously so you could “fix” the so easily debunked point number four.
Being able to write, read and speak English is most certainly a requirement when applying for LEGAL Citizenship.
http://immigration.findlaw.com/citizenship/requirements-for-applying-for-citizenship-in-the-united-states.html?DCMP=GOO-IMMI_Citizenship-Requirements&HBX_PK=citizenship+requirements
Actually Dan, hate to tell ya, but that one fact seems to make our whole “post” moot….if one needs to speak English to be a legal Citizen,and only legal citizens should be voting…there should never be a need for interpreters of any kind, or political affiliation at ANY voting location anywhere in the US.
Thank you, Dave Hicks and Sharon N. I’ve have retooled #4 in light of your comments.
Re: Comment by Sharon N. — October 28, 2012 @ 3:12 pm
Natural born citizens might need them, in some cases.
“Being able to write, read and speak English is most certainly a requirement when applying for LEGAL Citizenship.”
Hmm.
Binders of Somalians!
Anyone with a smart phone these days can call themselves a “special correspondent”. Keep updating, hon.
The apology tour is in full swing. He was cheated, CHEATED I tell ya!
FGS, as the hanging chads and butterfly ballots have proven, even when English is your first language, the voting system can be intimidating and easy to get wrong. If people have an “interpreter” that does not take away from their legal right to vote! I wish I could say you people surprise me, but you damned well never do.
Good essay Sarah Brenner.
And people wonder why we need the picture ID law? No, they don’t. The ONLY reason Democrats don’t want it is so they can cheat. As this essay proves.
A bit of a tangent, here.
Did you know that non-citizens can serve in the US armed-forces and if they serve honorably for any period of time (even 1 day) during designated periods of hostilities, they are eligible for naturalization through such military service?
I had the honor of vouching for a couple of foreign citizen US Marines’ “good moral character” — both of whom served honorably for a number of years; one went on to become a highly decorated officer; the other’s name is on a wall in DC.
IMHO, I have known naturalize citizens who were far better citizens than many of the folk with long family histories on these shores.
Make sure you click on the link in the text to the “reviews” of Sara Marie Brenner’s small business, a music studio. They’re quite interesting.
So, exactly how would you cheat by bringing in busloads of Somalians, or any other unregistered nationality?
The cheaters would have to know the name of a registered voter and be able to pass for that voter. Even without an ID, you have to, I think, tell them your address.
And you have to know that they haven’t already voted, or not standing behind you in line, or not a relative of the poll worker.
Does anyone believe you could “steal” enough votes this way to make a difference in any election?
Here we go with the beginning of the excuses why Romney lost…biased left leaning media; election fraud in Ohio [fill in any state], “racism” by black voters favoring the President; “ageism” – not enough old white men voted for him; “sexism” because the President will win the women’s vote; “xenophobia”- foreigners had the audacity to exercise their right not to vote for him; Romney wasn’t a “real” conservative, or he wasn’t a “severe” enough conservative….or just, “you people!”, or, “Stop it, this is hard!”
Countdown to excuses: 9 days and counting.
Sad to say, Dan R, I think there are many who do believe that.
Somalians are the new ACORN.
Dave Hicks,
I see the point you are trying to make, although I would say naturalized citizens..or 14th amendment citizens at birth, rather than the “natural born” phrase….but oherwise..I see your point, but still disagree with it.
I would think that children of naturalized legal citizens would have parents who would teach their children English by the time they were old enough to vote. I really can’t think of a reason why they wouldn’t.
Dan R.
I don’t know how I could make it any clearer, but I’ll TRY.
Because legal citizenship requires the ability to read, write and speak English….and only legal citizens can vote, how can anyone who cannot read, write or speak English be a legal citizen?
Hence, anytime that a person, or a group of people needs an interpreter to vote..it would indicate voter fraud.
There’s a hell of lot more danger of election fraud from spyware or tampering with the voting machines owned by Romney supporters and bundlers. The possibility of such fraud is immense and huge. We’re not talking about fifteen people transported in a van to vote. We’re talking about miscounting and/or tampering with tens or even hundreds of thousands of votes in a manner thaqt is very difficult to trace.
drip, drip, drip…., drip, drip, drip….
Y’all did look at those reviews of Brenner’s business, right? Where music-lesson customers complain she was the rudest businessperson they had ever dealt with, and where they complained she had harassed them to give political contributions to her and her husband? Btw, the BBB of Central Ohio has a file her biz, and they have given it an ‘F’ rating.
And just btw: the BBB is a pro-business outfit!
Frank must be back from his trip! Has the acid worn off, Frank? (I doubt it)
Look at Ms. Brenner’s picture. She’s an up-do and a 25-lb. weight loss from being Palin’s less attractive sister. Bet that’s who she dresses up as for Halloween. Only this year, people will say, ‘So, who are you supposed to be?’
dave @ 8:25……
Interesting. It seems that back in 2009 or so, when the ease of cheating, and the difficulty in tracing these computerized voter machines was exposed, it prompted the Tea Party, among some others, to request that the use of those voting machines be discontinued..or at the least..some sort of back up ballot be required.
Are you saying that you would have “backed us” in that request? Who knew?? It seems that we were told it was “much ado about nothing”.
“Interesting. It seems that back in 2009 or so, when the ease of cheating, and the difficulty in tracing these computerized voter machines was exposed, it prompted the Tea Party, among some others, to request that the use of those voting machines be discontinued..or at the least..some sort of back up ballot be required.”
I was advocating such a back up system in 2004, 5 years before the Tea Party ever existed. And here is how it should work. So I reckon what you’re saying then, Sharon N, is that the Tea Party liked my idea and adopted it. That is cool. Even a blind pig manages to find an acorn now and then.
If we’re going to have electronic voting machines, the machines should print a paper receipt listing how the vote was cast, which the voter could check for accuracy, and deposit into a barrel before they leave the polling place.
In light of recent comments by Sharon N & Dan, I thought this was interesting. Sad nonetheless.
http://www.ukprogressive.co.uk/breaking-retired-nsa-analyst-proves-gop-is-stealing-elections/article20598.html
Re: Comment by Sharon N. — October 28, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
Because legal citizenship requires the ability to read, write and speak English….and only legal citizens can vote, how can anyone who cannot read, write or speak English be a legal citizen?
——————
Wrong.
The literacy tests were outlawed years ago. There are quite a few legal citizens who cannot read or write.
Then Dan seems to be advocating that what people SAY about his “blog” should be more important than anything he might have actually written on it….interesting again.
Is there still any doubt that the left is in melt down mode?
You believe that theory, Ron? I dunno. Seems like it would take too massive a conspiracy, that would ultimately leak,
Okay Dave Hicks, you may have a BIT of Point there, however, if this were the case for legal immigrants, why do the requirements for citizenship not make that distinction? Also, people who can’t read or write can still understand English and don’t need an interpreter to give them instructions for any special accomodations needed, if any.
Comment by Dan Casey — October 28, 2012 @ 9:02 pm
Dan,
She could be the best, most polite businessperson in the world or the worst, rudest businessperson in the world without it having any bearing on this nonsensical article. Paying or failing to pay taxes has no bearing on her opinion.
Were she running for office such personal criticisms are logically relevant to deciding who to vote for. However, your “ad hominem” attack is irreverent, save possibility as related to her credibility in reporting alleged facts and the veracity of the story — and were she honest about being a bad, rude businessperson, who has failed to pay taxes; that would be off the table.
I have my doubts Dan. I can tell that I don’t like voting on electronic voting machines.
“You believe that theory, Ron?”
Ever heard of Michael Connell?
Well Dan, good for you!! But I believe you are flattering yourself if you think that the Tea Party never would have considered this if you hadn’t thought of it first…ha ha ha.
So, while we were being called conspiracy therorists when voicing our concerns about unreliable voting machines..you never stepped up and claimed YOUR very own “tin foil hat”? Shame, Shame Dan.
Hey Sharon N., for sure the left is melting….drip, drip, drip…
The following is provided by Kimberly Stassel in her Friday column in the WSJ:
“The problem with a spending freeze is you’re using a hatchet where you need a scapel”.–Senator Obama, September 2008.
“Starting in 2011,we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years”.–President Obama, January 2010.
Sharon N, they think we don’t remember that crap. And, ol’ dano comes up with the “great” idea to run that stuff about Romney, forgetting that all he accomplishes is to emphasize all the obama flops.
BTW Dan,
I hope you know that my “shame shame” was a bit tongue in cheek. Have a great night…I am out.
Dan in #25: Sharon N, is that the Tea Party liked my idea and adopted it. That is cool. Even a blind pig manages to find an acorn now and then.
When you’re talking about the tea party I think the correct usage of that phrase is “Even a blind acorn manages to find a pig now and then.”
And then they put lipstick on it.
Yo, Frank.
The WSJ is a Murdoch rag. Got that gravatar yet? I’m beginning to think you’re too dumb to figure it out.
Dave, In the same vein.
So, exactly how would you cheat by bringing in busloads of Somalians, or any other unregistered nationality?
Jim Moran’s son told you how; Find people who are dead or not voting, use their utillity bills to get phony voter registrations, then get busloads of clueless folks to “be” those people.
Democrats have cheating down to a fine art. We need voter ID to make it harder for them.
old danny, thinks we are in a recovery with NS laying off employees… mind full of rocks
Hey Art, sooo, are you denying the accuracy of the obamnesia episode? Do YOU have Obamanesia? I don’t think so…I just think you are a kool-aid guzzeling, pea-brained, lib.
Your response, sir, was pathetic. Here’s another one for your pea-brain to digest:
“If I don’t have this done in three years, then there’s going to be a one-term proposition”–President Obama, 2009.
“We’ve got a long way to go but…we’ve come too far to turn back now…And that’s why I’m running for a second term”–President Obama, October 2012.
Re: Comment by Dave — October 28, 2012 @ 11:46 pm
Dave,
You don’t really believe that Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is responsible Sharon N, & the Tea Party pig in lipstick, do you?
OTOH, some here have speculated that Suzie, Sharon n, et al are unrestrainedly fanciful and extravagant strawmen fabricated by Dan or someone to ridicule the right. Could that “someone” be ACORN?
Ah, what a dastardly conspiracy the left has painted with that pig.
I’m surprised none of the libs on this blog have told Artie how racist his avatar is…
Frank his communist agenda isnt done yet and the libbies want all the free stuff they can get before we go under for good.
Suzie Q: reading the reviews of this woman’s business, I don’t believe it’s Democrats doing the cheating. She’s apparently an inveterate liar who is now in trouble with IRS, too. I didn’t find a single positive review in the dozen or so I checked. She also gets an “F” from that bastion of liberal thought, the Chamber of Commerce.
Ah, I see Frank is up on his “How To Win Friends & Influence People” tutorial again, too. What a lovely, lovely person. Norman Vincent Peale is spinning in his grave.
This lib feels left out. I’ve never rec’d any gov’t freebies.
Suzie commented:
Find people who are dead or not voting, use their utillity bills to get phony voter registrations, then get busloads of clueless folks to “be” those people.
Democrats have cheating down to a fine art. We need voter ID to make it harder for them
Gee. I didn’t know dead people still get utility bills! Those power companies will do anything for a buck!
I’ve been tracking her wing-nuttiness for a while. She’s well documented here (all the way down to her stolen business model):
blog.tpeacock.com/search/label/Brenner
Your blog loads slow, Tim.
Must be the deluge of comments and reactions that are being posted by the millisecond on it.
Very interesting stuff, Tim. Thanks for the comment. Apparently, I have only scratched the surface of the tornado of wackiness known as Sara Marie Brenner.
Does her husband truly have presidential ambitions? I’ve read that here and there but it’s been difficult to discern whether it’s true, or deliberate hyperbole.
I do hope they have gotten that problem of remitting employees’ withheld taxes to the IRS cleared up. Because not paying the IRS the taxes you have withheld from employee paychecks is a huge non-non and it can dog a business for a long time — especially one with an F rating from the pro-business group, BBB.
hey you libs! Here’s another one for yous’:
“so, if somebody wants to build a coal-fired plant, they can, it’s just that it will… bankrupt them”–Sen. obama, January 2008, on his plans to financially penalize coal plants.
“Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution”–Sen. obama, August 2008.
Now for the WHOPPER!:
“Here’s what I’ve done since I’ve been president. We have increased oil production to the highest levels in 16 years. Natural gas production is the highest it’s been in decades. We have seen increases in coal production and coal employment”–President obama, October 2012.
I’m SERIOUIS! you can’t make this stuff up!
She’s like a low-rent Bachman.
Frank, all I have to say is, George Bush… Liberals win.
hey justin t….barry obama. sheesh.
#50 Gee, Tim’s blog loaded VERY quickly on my ancient laptop, MMM.
gdad, it loaded quickly for me at home, too. But MM may be referring to pdfs documenting Sara Marie Brenner’s federal tax liens for not remitting to the IRS taxes that were withheld from her employees’ pay. Those would not load at all for me.
There are newspaper stories about those from a small paper in Ohio, but they’re behind a paywall.
I noticed that all this voter fraud at this place was apparently not reported to the police. This seems very strange. Oh and nobody at all seemed to be savvy enough to take out a phone camera and record this intimidation and voter fraud. This story does not hold water.