Trump Adviser: Expect More Aggressive Poll Watching In 2020

[appalachiablue]

Source: Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- One of President Donald Trump's top reelection advisers told influential Republicans in swing state Wisconsin that the party has "traditionally" relied on voter suppression to compete in battleground states, according to an audio recording of a private event obtained by The Associated Press. The adviser said later that his remarks referred to frequent and false accusations that Republicans employ such tactics.

Justin Clark, a senior political adviser and senior counsel to Trump's reelection campaign, made the remarks on Nov. 21 as part of a wide-ranging discussion about strategies in the 2020 campaign, including more aggressive use of Election Day monitoring of polling places. "Traditionally it's always been Republicans suppressing votes in places," Clark said at the event. "Let's start protecting our voters. We know where they are. ... Let's start playing offense a little bit. That's what you're going to see in 2020. It's going to be a much bigger program, a much more aggressive program, a much better-funded program."

Asked about the remarks by AP, Clark said he was referring to false accusations that the GOP engages in voter suppression. "As should be clear from the context of my remarks, my point was that Republicans historically have been falsely accused of voter suppression and that it is time we stood up to defend our own voters," Clark said. "Neither I nor anyone I know or work with would condone anyone's vote being threatened or diluted and our efforts will be focused on preventing just that."

Clark made the comments Nov. 21 in a meeting of the Republican National Lawyers Association's Wisconsin chapter. Attendees included the state Senate's top Republican, Scott Fitzgerald, along with the executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party. Audio of the event at a country club in Madison obtained by the liberal group American Bridge was provided to AP by One Wisconsin Now, a Madison-based liberal advocacy group. - More...

Read more: https://apnews.com/af2f0ede054d8baebbe1bb6ca47b4895

---

The 20-minute audio tape gives an inside look at Trump's reelection strategy, showing that the campaign is focusing on voting locations in WI, MI and PA, which form the so-called "blue wall" of traditional Democratic strength that Trump broke through to win in 2016. Both parties are pouring millions of dollars into the states, anticipating they'll be just as critical in the 2020 presidential contest.

GOP officials publicly signaled plans to step up their Election Day monitoring after a judge in 2018 lifted a consent decree in place since 1982 that barred the Republican National Committee from voter verification and other "ballot security" efforts. Critics have argued the tactics amount to voter intimidation...



--Trump advisor Justin Clark, pictured here in September, told an audience of influential Republicans in swing state Wisconsin that the GOP will go on offense in 2020 to monitor polls.

- "After Admitting "It's Always Been Republicans Suppressing Votes," Trump Advisor Says Party Will Get Even More Aggressive in 2020." "It's clear there's no law Donald Trump and his right-wing machine won't bend, break, or ignore to try to win the presidency." Common Dreams, Dec. 21, 2019.

..One Wisconsin Now deputy director Mike Browne expressed his outrage over the remarks and the alleged strategy.
"The strategy to rig the rules in elections and give themselves an unfair partisan advantage goes to Donald Trump, the highest levels of his campaign and the top Republican leadership," said Browne. "It's clear there's no law Donald Trump and his right-wing machine won't bend, break, or ignore to try to win the presidency."

Dan Froomkin, editor of Press Watch, said that Clark's comments showed that the GOP plans to go beyond suppressing the vote and "will now supplement with aggressive voter intimidation at polls." Clark told AP that he was speaking in jest about a Republican history of voter suppression. But elections observers weren't buying it.

"This should be one of those things that Democrats never stop talking about," said Media Matters editor-at-large Parker Molloy. "This is a scandal." This should be one of those things that Democrats never stop talking about...
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/21/after-admitting-its-always-been-republicans-suppressing-votes-trump-advisor-says

[keithbvadu2]

1. Would they pick up on republican voter fraud?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/03/22/ex-colo-gop-leader-said-only-democrats-committed-voter-fraud-now-hes-charged-with-voter-fraud/?utm_term=.896d88d2d702&wpisrc=nl_p1&wpmm=1

[appalachiablue]

2. Nyet. Paywall but the headline I get.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Expect more aggressive pushback

Free people will not tolerate this nonsense.

[not_the_one]

6. This is a job for the democratic party.

For every republican "poll watcher" (read voter intimidator) there should be a democratic "poll watcher" (read voter protector).

Gerrymandering, voter purges, voter intimidation, the democratic party should be all over these abuses.

Since these practices are apparently fine with the Supremes, every state, where applicable, should have law suits being filed. One here and one there isn't going to cut it.

And concentrate on state legislatures!!!

TAKE THE DAMN GLOVES OFF!!!

[FakeNoose]

10. Poll watching is probably only going to happen in the "red" states and districts

In those areas it will be hard to find enough Democratic volunteers to offset the Repuke poll watcher/thugs. But I agree with you on filing lawsuits in every state, we should be fighting them everywhere.

[Hestia]

4. Judge Orders Massive Purge of Wisconsin Voter Rolls

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/16/788597832/judge-orders-massive-purge-of-wisconsin-voter-rolls


Hmm, spoke to a group in Wisconsin, viola, voters purge. But's it's the poor wittle 'pugs who are picked on.

Nothing to see here, move along

[appalachiablue]

5. +1

[Lonestarblue]

7. Trump's reelection strategy in a few words.

Lie, cheat through voter suppression, rely on friend Vlad to deliver the votes.

[BlueIdaho]

8. Voter intimidation

How predictable

[hedda_foil]

9. Always in minority neighborhoods using pairs of white tough guy types to personally challenge voters

We need official poll watchers and lawyers in every one of the likely vulnerable precincts to prevent russiapubliscum abuse of the challenge privilege. Otherwise, voters will be both intimidated and subjected to horrendously long lines. And we absolutely have to have well trained Democratic poll workers to prevent russiapubliscum poll workers from just accepting bogus challenges.

They've been pulling this crap forever and it works.

[BlueIdaho]

13. We need the renewal of the Voting Rights Act.

All this obscenely racist behavior started the day the voting rights act was killed.

[BaronChocula]

11. Oh yeah, pal?

Expect more gop dopes like you indicted for election and voter fraud. I can't wait!

[bluestarone]

12. They Will Just be there to make shit up THEN

Tie it up in the courts with Barrs blessing!! (STALL STALL STALL) How do we get around this shit? The courts are LOADED against us!

[AKing]

14. Expect Intimidation by Armed Wingnuts flaunting their weapons

[swag]

15. Kind of buries the lede, the voter suppression bit

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-reelection-aide-voter-suppression


Trump Reelection Aide Taped Admitting GOP Has Historically Relied On Voter Suppression


Justin Clark, one of President Donald Trump’s top reelection aides, was caught on tape telling powerful Republicans in Wisconsin that though the Republican party has “traditionally” used voter suppression tactics to win in swing states, this year, the party will go on the offensive due to relaxed Election Day rules.

The Associated Press obtained the recording from a liberal advocacy group, taped during the November 21 Republican National Lawyers Association’s Wisconsin chapter meeting.

“Traditionally it’s always been Republicans suppressing votes in places,” Clark said. “Let’s start protecting our voters. We know where they are. … Let’s start playing offense a little bit. That’s what you’re going to see in 2020. It’s going to be a much bigger program, a much more aggressive program, a much better-funded program.”

Clark told the AP later that he was referring to false accusations that Republicans engage in voter suppression.

[appalachiablue]

16. Why didn't you post that article? Much of the same info

is in the AP article I posted. Also the AP is accepted as a source in the LBN section which has rather strict rules. I don't know that TPM is accepted or used in LBN. Also, I planned on adding the Common Dreams article which ads more. ~

AP:
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of President Donald Trump’s top reelection advisers told influential Republicans in swing state Wisconsin-
-- that the party has “traditionally” relied on voter suppression to compete in battleground states, according to an audio recording of a private event obtained by The Associated Press. The adviser said later that his remarks referred to frequent and false accusations that Republicans employ such tactics.

Justin Clark, a senior political adviser and senior counsel to Trump’s reelection campaign, made the remarks on Nov. 21 as part of a wide-ranging discussion about strategies in the 2020 campaign, including more aggressive use of Election Day monitoring of polling places.
-- “Traditionally it’s always been Republicans suppressing votes in places,” Clark said at the event. “Let’s start protecting our voters. We know where they are. ... Let’s start playing offense a little bit. That’s what you’re going to see in 2020. It’s going to be a much bigger program, a much more aggressive program, a much better-funded program.”

Asked about the remarks by AP, Clark said he was referring to false accusations that the GOP engages in voter suppression.
--------------
“As should be clear from the context of my remarks, my point was that Republicans historically have been falsely accused of voter suppression and that it is time we stood up to defend our own voters,” Clark said. “Neither I nor anyone I know or work with would condone anyone’s vote being threatened or diluted and our efforts will be focused on preventing just that.”
Clark made the comments Nov. 21 in a meeting of the Republican National Lawyers Association’s Wisconsin chapter. Attendees included the state Senate’s top Republican, Scott Fitzgerald, along with the executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party.
Audio of the event at a country club in Madison obtained by the liberal group American Bridge was provided to AP by One Wisconsin Now, a Madison-based liberal advocacy group.

The roughly 20-minute audio offers an insider’s glimpse of Trump’s reelection strategy, showing the campaign focusing on voting locations in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which form the the so-called “blue wall” of traditional Democratic strength that Trump broke through to win in 2016. Both parties are pouring millions of dollars into the states, anticipating they’ll be just as critical in the 2020 presidential contest.

[swag]

17. hi.

I had not intended to offend you.

I didn't post the TPM story in here because it would have been a dupe.

I just wanted to highlight that I thought that the voter suppression item was the bigger part of this story.

As to whether TPM is considered a news source for LBN, yes it is.

Thanks for the original post. I do appreciate it.