NYT says campaign report indicates Bill Clinton went inside the polling place with mayor.

[madfloridian]

Bill Clinton Gets a Little Too Close to Voters in Boston

Some poll workers in Boston did a double-take on Tuesday at the unusual sight of a former president of the United States campaigning inside polling places.

Bill Clinton, an inveterate campaigner who has always loved Election Day, was ranging over the state trying to pump up voters to cast their ballots for his wife, Hillary Clinton.

“We had to remind some of our poll workers that even a president can’t go inside and work a polling place,” William F. Galvin, the Massachusetts secretary of state, said in an interview.

A pool report from Mr. Clinton’s visit to Boston’s West Roxbury neighborhood on Tuesday morning said that he went inside the polling place with the city’s mayor, Martin J. Walsh. Mr. Clinton stopped at a bake sale at the entrance and then shook hands with poll workers.

When one woman asked for a photo, Mr. Clinton said, “As long as we’re not violating any election laws,” the pool report said.

[NWCorona]

1. Thanks for this!

I posted something similar a bit ago. I'm glad to see this news spreading.

[arcane1]

2. "campaigning inside polling places"

Why even bother, if victory is so guaranteed?

[truebrit71]

120. Because, just like Nixon, they want to make sure their plans...

.... don't go awry...

[Thinkingabout]

3. Did he break any laws?

[madfloridian]

6. He's a former president, he would never break rules...would he?

[gcomeau]

19. Yes.

The well known spouse of a candidate cannot just stroll into a polling place to start glad handing the damn voters. The MA Secretary of State's office had to send the Clinton campaign a "reminder" about the election laws after this.

I'm sure their wrists are throbbing from that stinging slap.

[Thinkingabout]

51. It would be the same law Jane Sanders broke when she went into the precinct.

[gcomeau]

61. If...

...she strolled into some polling place she had no voting business in and wandered around for 30 or 40 minutes chatting it up with every voter in the place... in a state where doing that at a polling place is illegal... yup.

So when and where did this happen?

[Thinkingabout]

66. Show the law which was broken.

[Blue State Bandit]

80. Not just campaigning. He bogged down the precinct. 2 laws broken.

They shut down voting for 2 hours.There is video of the lines that formed. This is a breach of 950 C.M.R. § 54.04(22)(a). "Observers are allowed inside the polling place, outside the guardrail, unless they are disorderly or obstruct the access of voters."

WORD DOC MASS ELECTION LAW ---> https://t.co/duNiALwVQY

VIDEO FROM BEDFORD --->

&feature=youtu.be

[Thinkingabout]

86. I watched the video provided, did not see him obstructing any one, in fact I did not see him.

Don't stretch this one, as this post indicated observers are allowed in the voting place, was he disorderly, no, no video to prove he was, no video to prove he was obstructing access of any voters. There is not any violation.

[bettyellen]

89. they blocked the entrance? very doubtful. I bet people there elected to stay outside....

and vote afterward. As is their right.

[Blue State Bandit]

94. They just chose to stand outside and complain about Clinton holding up the vote?

FFS!

[gcomeau]

104. I take it she *didn't* do that then?

Ma Secretary of State's office said it broke the law. What more do you freaking want?

You. Can't. Campaign. In. Polling. Places. And strolling into a polling place you are not voting in and then hanging out chatting up the voters when you are the incredibly well known spouse of one of the candidates IS CAMPAIGNING.

[Land Shark]

113. No electioneering within 150 feet. Basically every state has a rule like that

Here is a video showing BI'll Clinton inside the polling place shaking hands.http://m.kiss108.com/articles/trending-on-kiss-108-469049/did-bill-clinton-violate-election-rules-14438573/?cmp=syn

[emulatorloo]

129. Primaries are run by political parties, not the state.

So not sure those rules apply.

[Divernan]

158. All PA primary & general elections funded by county govts

In Allegheny County, the county pays for the machines, the training, and all the salaries for poll workers.

You are confusing primary campaigns with the actual primary elections.

[emulatorloo]

160. Yes, I've found out I was incorrect on this. Simply put I was confusing IA caucus w Primaries.

[passiveporcupine]

118. Nice deflection

[vdogg]

64. Damn those pesky facts.

Damn them to hell.

[gcomeau]

107. Which pesky fact would that be?

[redwitch]

73. Link to a source? nt

[Thinkingabout]

90. What source are you looking to find?

[redwitch]

95. Proof that Jane Sanders was wandering around polling places not her own. nt

[Politicalboi]

123. I saw her here in Ca

Yes I know it was her. She said she was looking for the Colonel Sanders, but I knew it was her. She can't hide from me. I told her yes, I am voting for Bernie too, but in June. She's early.

Rules and laws do NOT apply to the Clinton's. Even her supporters will look for excuses they never thought they would have to. I would be embarrassed, but that's me.

[redwitch]

125. It's maddening!

Electioneering is voter fraud. It is unAmerican and it pisses me off.

[passiveporcupine]

119. From what I read, he was shaking the hands of the poll workers, and thanking them

Not shaking the hands of the voters. But we may just have to wait to see how this one "shakes" out...pun intended.

[cherokeeprogressive]

24. He did if he uttered the name Hillary Clinton to a voter.

And if he didn't talk to voters, then why go in?

[arcane1]

30. That's the "otherwise promote" part of the law, definitely.

As a former president whose wife is a candidate, his mere appearance is going to be interpreted as "otherwise promoting". There is literally no other reason for him to be there, inside the actual polling place.

[AlbertCat]

42. if he uttered the name Hillary Clinton to a voter.

He doesn't have to do that.

It's impossible to separate him from the candidate.

It's the same as if someone walked in with big sign that said: "VOTE FOR HILLARY".

I'm not naive enough to think the Clintons are not aware of the conflict of interest.

Unbelievable..... and low down dirty. MY cat is less of an opportunist.

[gcomeau]

53. He didn't even have to do that.

He's a former president. EVERYONE knows who he is and who his wife is.

Just being there chatting it up with voters as they are voting is campaigning. As the MA secretary of state's office had to "remind" the Clinton campaign after this happened.

[Thinkingabout]

63. He could have been a poll watcher, the rules has to be followed, does not

Say anything about not allowing him into the polls, the law does not allow soliciting, do you know if he solicited?

[cherokeeprogressive]

98. Does the following lead you to believe he could have been a poll watcher?

The state committee of a political party may appoint a person to act as a challenger of voters at any polling place in the commonwealth at a state election, and a city or town committee of such a party, in a city or town in which municipal officers are nominated by primaries or by caucuses of political parties, may appoint a person to act as such challenger at any polling place in such city or town at a municipal election. Such challenger may challenge any voter during the hours that said polling place is open for the purpose of voting; and a statement signed by the chairman of the committee appointing him shall be sufficient evidence of his right so to act. He may be compensated for his services by the political party whose committee appointed him. He shall be assigned by the election officer presiding at the polling place to such position within the polling place as will enable him to see and hear each voter as he offers to vote. Nothing herein contained shall deprive any other person of the right to challenge a voter as provided by law.

That's the Massachusetts Poll Watcher Rule. Care to comment?

[Thinkingabout]

99. I could have been an observer, did he act to challenge, if the answer is no then this does not apply

[cherokeeprogressive]

106. If he isn't an appointed poll watcher and isn't a resident, he had no business in the polling place.

I guess that's lost on you.

[passiveporcupine]

122. You are being intentionally obtuse about this

And it's not helping your cause any.

[gcomeau]

114. You know damn well he wasn't. Your efforts are getting pathetic now. -eom

[JDPriestly]

68. Just his presence would be part of the campaign.

I don't know Mass. law, but if true, Clinton should have known better.

If people didn't know who he was and he avoided drawing any attention to himself, he might get by with it.

But his very person is a campaign sign.

[w4rma]

112. The Globe also reports Clinton told one voter, “Pull the lever for Hillary.”

According to the Clinton campaign’s pool report, Bill took at least one photo with a voter outside Holy Name, kissed an elderly woman on her head, and signed another voter’s Hillary sign. The Globe also reports Clinton told one voter, “Pull the lever for Hillary.”
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2016/03/01/bill-clinton-massachusetts-voting-laws/

[cherokeeprogressive]

117. Have you seen a SINGLE Hillary supporter say "Yeah, that looks bad."?

One? That's what I find wildest about this whole thing.

I was the Lead Poll Worker Trainer for Orange County, CA. I wrote the book that was used for four years as far as Poll Worker training and polling place practices goes. I know what's allowed and what isn't in a polling place. Hell a PICTURE of Bill Clinton wouldn't be allowed on a T-shirt in a polling place during California's upcoming primary.

Change it and come back, put a jacket over it, turn it inside out, or leave and if you refuse to do one of those things I'm calling the Sheriff. One thing I can promise you though is that if one of my Poll Workers allowed that person to vote they'd be permanently barred from working the polls ever again.

[w4rma]

135. Most every informed Hillary supporter that I am encountering is an authoritarian. (nt)

[Kelvin Mace]

36. Yes:

Activities at Polling Place. Within 150 feet of a polling place as defined in 950 CMR 53.03(18)(c), no person shall solicit votes for or against, or otherwise promote or oppose, any person or political party or position on a ballot question, to be voted on at the current election.

http://www.mass.gov/courts/docs/lawlib/900-999cmr/950cmr53.pdf

Cut and dried.

[Thinkingabout]

56. if he did not solicit for any votes within 150 ft it is not a violation.

[redwitch]

67. It is unethical at the very least.

And you're ok with it?

[Thinkingabout]

93. It isn't any more unethical than Jane Sanders in the precinct this morning. A law

has to be broken, I could go into a precinct and observe, ergo, "poll watchers", it is not against the voting laws.

[Politicalboi]

128. She voted in HER precinct in VT ONLY

How many people really know what Jane Sanders looks like. Bill Clinton is a billboard for Hillary, and he wasn't even voting in Ma. This is what we call CHEATING. But you continue to come up with excuses, you guys are going to need to get used to doing this.

[Thinkingabout]

132. There has to be a violation of statues, what statue has been violated?

[Divernan]

159. JANE. WAS. THERE. TO. VOTE!

As you well know!

[Thinkingabout]

163. Did she solicit any voters?

[highprincipleswork]

48. "Is Obama a Muslim?" "Not that I'm aware of." - Hillary Clinton

Election Laws? Not if we're breaking any, because I am completely unaware of the geographical distance that political parties have to keep from polling booths on election day.

[JDPriestly]

60. California law prohibits campaigning in a polling place.

Bill Clinton's very presence in a polling place is a campaign in and of itself.

[arcane1]

69. Exactly, it qualifies as "otherwise promoting" n/t

[madfloridian]

4. Really?

“He can go in, but he can’t approach voters,” Mr. Galvin said. “We just took the extra precaution of telling them because this is not a usual occurrence. You don’t usually get a president doing this.”

Good grief I hope this is not a usual occurrence. I did not think it was legal for him to be inside. Bill Clinton esp. since he is known by everyone.

[CTyankee]

8. Bill's sense of what is appropriate and what is not fails again...

[dragonfly301]

50. Once a cheater, always a cheater

do we really want 8 years of that? No.

[CTyankee]

55. I'm voting for Bernie in our primary, which unfortunately, is in late April...

[UglyGreed]

9. Just the sight of

him could be consider a violation

[Baitball Blogger]

14. I don't think he should have been given access unless he could prove that he was eligible to vote

there.

[INdemo]

151. How about campaigning with a bull horn

Within the restricted zone of a polling place
A voter in that precinct should file a complaint and it would stick because Bill Clinton violated the law.

[riversedge]

5. ....

[AlbertCat]

26. The ho-hum attitude by Hillary supporters toward questionable behavior is noted...

...again....and again....and again...

[UglyGreed]

62. Well who do they resemble???

[senz]

75. You'd think they'd worry about the stench rubbing off on them.

[passiveporcupine]

29. Your concern over the lack of respect for election rules is noted

What does that say about your candidate? I hope nothing, but considering it was her husband, it might say a lot.

[Kelvin Mace]

47. If Sanders did this

you would be having an aneurysm.

[hollysmom]

7. I thought you could go into a polling place not your own, you jsut could not talk to people

about politics, weather is fine though. Identifying yourself or your spouse or parent as a candidate, not good, but shaking hands if you don't have a cold is ok as long as you keep your mouth shut. Ditto for the mayor.

[madfloridian]

10. Mayor huge supporter of Bill's wife. Should think twice even if legal.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/mayor-walsh-endorses-hillary-clinton-at-rally-inside-great-hall/36707802

[Bubzer]

28. Massive obvious conflict of interest going on here.

[hollysmom]

71. well, that is pretty obvious, the rules are different for different people

I was just addressing if it is legal.

[INdemo]

156. Bill Clinton is fast becoming the

Dick Cheney of Hillary's campaign
Hell they already have Karl Rove (David Brock)

[arcane1]

11. Being a former president and husband of a candidate, it's hard to remove the electoral context.

[MADem]

13. I think you have it right. Of course, it's only a crime if you're affiliated with the

"wrong" candidate.

[SheenaR]

57. Please tell me then

if not to act as a campaign surrogate, why he was in the polling place

in your own words.


Don't play the victim card here. "Wrong" candidate? A rule was broken. During one of our most important privileges as citizens. That's a big deal.

You and your crowd can pretend it's not all you want. Win dirty, win at all costs? See what happens when you need us in November

[MADem]

74. He was there "to thank poll workers." Bernie could have gone round thanking poll workers, too, if

he wanted to. He could have sent his wife. His friends. Maybe he did, for all you know.

It's stupid to whine and cry about something that the other side COULD HAVE DONE AS WELL.

If Sanders did not do this (and we really don't know if he did or didn't) that's because he didn't feel like doing it, not that he "couldn't" have done it. He could have had Belafonte, West, and all of his other surrogates out there as well. He could have sent his wife out to thank poll workers and buy bake sale goods all the live-long day.

The one playing the "victim" card isn't me, here. Your post deserves to be memorialized, so "me and my crowd" will have a record of it down the years:

SheenaR
57. Please tell me then
View profile
if not to act as a campaign surrogate, why he was in the polling place

in your own words.


Don't play the victim card here. "Wrong" candidate? A rule was broken. During one of our most important privileges as citizens. That's a big deal.

You and your crowd can pretend it's not all you want. Win dirty, win at all costs? See what happens when you need us in November

The threat at the end was especially worthy of note.

[Lazy Daisy]

88. I don't think anybody will be so forgiving

When Trump uses this same tactic in the GE. Seeing as he's backed by all kinds of really ugly people, if they show up to just give coffee and donuts to the poll workers and not say anything to the voters?

But I'm sure you will argue the KKK has every right to do so correct?

[MADem]

97. You can "not like it" but so long as he stays within the lines, ya gotta go with the flow.

They CAN say things to the voters--they can say "Nice day" and "How do you do?" and "How about those Knicks" but they can't say "Vote for me" or repeat campaign slogans, or hand out buttons, stickers, etc.

In tight races you see this often. It is what it is--you just have to make sure you don't step over the line. Trump free-associates, he might have a hard time reining in his mouth--but if he could control himself, he could get away with it, too.

[SheenaR]

105. No they cannot within Mass law

Not inside the facility. Not within 150 feet.

[MADem]

109. This is not true. I am IN Massachusetts.

They can go in the facility, they can walk around, they can talk to people so long as they don't talk politics or electioneer, and they can pose for selfies.

They can also buy baked goods at the bake sales at those places, and talk about how tasty the cookies are.

You're just wrong in your understanding of the law here.

And there's no reason that Bernie, or his wife, or his surrogates, are prevented from doing the same.

They can't hand out buttons or bumper stickers, or wear tee shirts, or say "Vote for ____" but they can chat about non-election stuff and smile and wave and take snapshots.

[SheenaR]

111. The law was posted before in several threads

President Clinton is not a registered voter. He is a surrogate and advocate of the campaign. Unless the law posted on here multiple times was incorrect, it says they are not allowed to loiter in there at all.

I'll delete all posts to the contrary if you find me the law saying otherwise. I will also delete my post calling you ignorant because it wasn't very nice

[MADem]

115. I am not going to argue with you about this.

He and Marty were walking up to but not over the line. You do not HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED VOTER to enter a public building. Sorry if you don't like that.

Sanders and his surrogates are free to do the same--for all we know, they've been doing just that.

The day you can successfully accuse someone who is the guest of a city's mayor of being a "loiterer" is the day you hit ten lotteries at once. You can't make up laws just because you don't like someone. They had business in that polling place--they were there to "thank poll workers."

Again--the Sanders team CAN do this, TOO--no one is stopping them -- and for all you know, maybe they are doing this--it's not that long a drive from Burlington to western MA, for example.

[passiveporcupine]

32. Bill would have to put a bag over his head

not to be "recognized" as part of Hillary's campaign.

[Divernan]

161. Only registered voters allowed in polling places. Period!

If you ever bothered to sign up to be a poll worker, you'd have received training and know that.

You should do that.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

No photographs allowed inside the building, and no campaigning within 50 feet. The Clintons don't believe in following the law. Never have, judging by the number of times they have found their way around the rules.

[MADem]

16. You sure about that?

[TBF]

21. Bernie is allowed to vote. Whereas Bill was hanging out in Mass - not where he lives.

Unbelievable.

[MADem]

23. Marty Walsh is NOT stupid. He knows where the line is--so does Clinton. This dog won't hunt.

Walsh’s office denies any wrongdoing. “President Clinton joined Mayor Walsh to thank poll workers in West Roxbury this morning. They were not campaigning inside the polling location,” spokesperson Bonnie McGilpin said.


http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2016/03/01/bill-clinton-massachusetts-voting-laws/


There's no residency requirement to enter a public building. He was accompanied by the Mayor of Boston. You might not like it, but he was coloring within the lines.

Sanders could have gotten off his best intentions and jetted off to do the same, and deployed HIS surrogates to do the very thing as well. For all we know he might have done just that and we haven't seen the news reports yet.

[madfloridian]

37. Then it's all okay then.

It's fine. All the ugly words toward us who supported Bernie...and as the DNC chair said in her own words...we are not Democrats if we support Bernie who she says is not a Democrat.

They played the racism game with Bernie's good name. That is not okay.

I have always voted Democratically, but now I am not one.

Go figure.

[MADem]

78. I do not understand what that post has to do with what I have written.

What Bill Clinton was doing at the polls, Jane Sanders, Bernie Sanders, all of Bernie''s surrogate celebrity supporters, they could have done (and who knows--maybe they did?) too.

There are things you cannot say- Like "Vote For Bernie!" or "Feel the Bern" - but you can shake hands with people who approach you, you can thank poll workers, you can buy bake sale goods, you can talk about football, or what a nice day it is today, so long as you don't hand out bumper stickers or buttons and "exhort."

It's illogical to get mad at people for maximizing their advantage, especially when the other team could have--and for all you know, maybe did--the very same thing.

[passiveporcupine]

38. Yes, of course, if Bill did it, so did Bernie

And while he may have been coloring within the lines, his marker pen was bleeding out beyond the lines.

Like I said in another post, he'd have to put a bag over his head not to be recognized (in other words campaigning for) as Hillary's husband and in favor of her winning.

[MADem]

65. Who said "so did?" He could, though if he wanted--you should probably read what people

write. You keep creating scenarios not in evidence. If he wanted to get off his duff and do it, he could have. NO ONE is stopping him. If he doesn't want to get up and go do it, it's on HIM.

But don't play the "Oh he's bad for doing that" card when it's unusual for politicians to NOT do this. They stretch it to the max and they know where the line is.

Of course he wants to be recognized--if Cornel West shook hands of people who came up to him in front of a polling place, or Harry Belafonte, or Jane Sanders, or anyone associated w/the Sanders campaign, the idea would be TO BE recognized.

The idea of electioneering near polling place laws is to limit the influence--not to eliminate it totally. That would be impossible to do, anyway.

[passiveporcupine]

83. So did Bernie? For all we know he might have done it, we haven't seen the news reports yet?

give me a break.

OK I will cede you with one victory here. You were trying to call a poster on his incorrect statement that campaigning is not allowed within 50 feet of a polling place (it's 150 feet), and/or the legality of taking a photograph inside a polling place. I don't know if he meant a campaign photo op or just any photo, but you are correct...I see no laws prohibiting photos in a polling place. I will say that a picture of Bernie voting is not a "campaign photo op".

I will admit I overreacted to your response because I did not read the post you were responding to.

You still implied Bernie "might" do the same thing Bill just did, when I think we all know, even you, that he would never go there. Bill joked about crossing the line. He knew exactly what he was doing and how far he could go.

[RiverNoord]

77. That's a quote?

That's even worse. I mean, a former President of the United States and spouse of a current candidate for the same office 'thanking poll workers' in the midst of an active party primary at which his spouse's candidacy is being voted on?

That's absolutely not OK. I am not a 'picker and chooser' of 'wrongs' committed by one candidate's camp vs. another. Lots of questionable things can happen during elections, and supporters of even the squeakiest-clean candidates are often right there in the thick of it.

But... this conduct is really... wow - really, really wrong. I'd like to know if President Clinton has thanked poll workers at many Democratic primaries in the past, where his wife's candidacy or any other issue he has personally supported has not been involved. But - even then, it's just fundamentally wrong for a former United States President to publicly enter polling places during any active election and speak with, well, anybody.

[TBF]

81. "Coloring within the lines" is not enough to win the general.

Good luck.

[MADem]

92. Look--no one is preventing the Sanders Camp from doing the same thing. And for all you know,

maybe they ARE doing the same thing.

Not sure why you are getting so angry because he's maximizing his team's advantage. For all you know, Sanders' celebrity backers are doing the very same thing. If I learned Susan Sarandon was out there shaking hands with people or buying baked goods at polling place bake sales, I'd think "He's working his ground game" not "Waah, bad, good luck."

Politicians have ALWAYS done this kind of thing.

They know where the line is. They'll go right up to it, because the stakes are high, obviously.

And if Bill Clinton getting up off his duff and playing that card with the Mayor is a deal-breaker, well, I don't know what to tell you. I won't be annoyed if I find out Sanders was working the field south of the VT border. He would have been smart to do just that.

I think if people keep working hard for HRC, she won't need a lot of luck.

[Baitball Blogger]

102. If he's breaking the rules, it matters.

He should have no access inside a polling area unless he has been pre-approved as a poll worker, a poll witness or a voter.

[TBF]

127. Susan Sarandon is not a former president

who is married to one of the current candidates. Not even close.

[passiveporcupine]

35. Arel you implying that Bernie does not have the right to vote?

Seriously? You said/implied a lot of sketchy things here lately, but this one takes the cake.

[MADem]

45. No, I'm "demostrating" (as opposed to IMPLYING) that it's not illegal to take a photo in a polling

place (pull the string, read the whole conversation before you start flinging crap at people, please).

Here's another photo taken in a polling place:



And speaking of "sketchy" things to say--this is the rudest comment on this thread--pat yourself on the back:

passiveporcupine
35. Arel you implying that Bernie does not have the right to vote?
View profile
Seriously? You said/implied a lot of sketchy things here lately, but this one takes the cake.

[passiveporcupine]

52. YOu deny it?

YOu are one of the most regular snide and sarcastic posters here. At least from my observation and I tend to be snide and sarcastic, so I recognize it. And this post, trying to imply that being in a voting place while voting is even comparable to being in a polling place when you are not voting, or even legal to vote there, is one and the same thing?

This is exactly what I refer to when I say sketchy.

And I never knew sketchy was a bad word.

Sketchy...not thorough or detailed. Like this photo op.

[Purrfessor]

124. I admire your persistence. Some people just can't accept

that Bill Clinton is within his rights to enter a voting precinct as long as he refrains from campaigning. Their hatred for anything Clinton is as deep or deeper than the Republicans hatred of Obama. I've never seen anything like it.

[Freaked Out]

79. Uh, you do know Vermont is voting today?

Bernie's casting his own vote. All perfectly legal and I'm sure he doesn't stick around and say "VOTE FOR ME!" He's already proven his case, and he will win Vermont with ease. MA will go to Bernie, because (CENSORED).

Clinton has zero reason to be in MA polls.

[JimDandy]

54. Are you sure it's 50 ft? Another MA poster said 150 ft.

In every jurisdiction I've lived in, it has been at least 100ft from the entrance to the polling location. I've been living in a mail-in ballot state for approx. the last decade, though, so maybe election laws have changed in the meantime.

[INdemo]

154. It's 150 Feet

[JimDandy]

162. Thanks. Apparently some lawyer is already looking into filing a case.

Pretty egregious what Clinton and that Mayor did.

[Punkingal]

15. Just outrageous. I have no respect left for him at all.

[marions ghost]

17. I wonder about his sanity

he's not making very good decisions.

[Punkingal]

18. It's called hubris, and neither of them bother to hide it anymore.

[Duval]

136. Yep! nt

[TBF]

20. I was just waiting to see what they'd pull this time. nt

[Lizzie Poppet]

22. Rules are for peasants, not their masters.

Get with the program!

[kgnu_fan]

25. is that OK?

[scheming daemons]

27. Primaries aren't subject to the same election laws as general elections

Primaries are events run by the individual parties, and election law doesn't apply.

Nice try, though.

[madfloridian]

33. Whatever Bill does is okay. Whatever the Clintons want they get.

Except there is such a bitterness now after all the lies and innuendo about Bernie and his supporters.

[arcane1]

34. Then link us to the special primary-only election laws.

Thanks in advance.

[retrowire]

31. This is the look I am giving the clintons right now.

:|

[scscholar]

39. Well Nicky Haley in SC did this less than two weeks ago...

so what's the big deal? How is it fine when they do it, but not when we do it?

[madfloridian]

41. Oh, it's been decided....

if the Clintons do it and if Nikki Haley does it...it's okay.

[arcane1]

46. "Republicans do it too" is the worst possible defense n/t

[jeff47]

131. Because SC and MA have identical laws. (nt)

[retrowire]

40. Is this illegal or not?

Either way, it's bad.

[SheenaR]

58. Illegal

per the quotes of Mass law that have been in and out of threads here.

Surrogate cannot be inside.

It's absolute bullshit

[LuvLoogie]

43. Bill Clinton's aura is always within 150 feet of any polling place in whatever state he's in.

His Presence is like a weather system that makes you bundle up or put on your your baggy shorts and a Hawaiian Shirt. He's like knockout gas that keeps you from voting for Bernie.

[MADem]

49. OMG-that's hilarious....!!!! nt

[Orsino]

152. Okay, that is funny.

[Vinca]

44. Where I live this would be illegal.

[Divernan]

91. Damned illegal in Pennsylvania

Only registered voters, appointed/elected poll workers and "observers" with court appointments are allowed inside the polling place. Candidates and anyone campaigning for a candidate cannot come or stand within 20 feet of the doors to a polling place.

Anyone with the least knowledge of campaigning knows of these restrictions and similar ones in other states. Is Bill slipping mentally?

[arcane1]

96. The defense (such as it is) so far appears to be that he wasn't actually "campaigning."

Which is, of course, complete bullshit.

[dchill]

126. Campaigning is WHY he was there.

[arcane1]

139. Exactly n/t

[Divernan]

144. Still wouldn't work in Penn.

NOBODY is allowed within 20 feet of the doors to the polling place unless they are registered voters or are authorized by the courts or the local election board to be there. (And of course, it was never just Bill - there would have been his Secret Service contingent with him as well.)

Each of our polling places has a constable. If anyone doesn't leave when I (Judge of Elections) order them to, the Constable will escort them the hell out. Although I have never had to resort to that except for one asshole TeaParty member who came to vote and then refused to leave.

Good lord, with all the insanity of race hate and shootings going on in our country right now, I hope we don't have any shootings at the polling places.

Good old Bill - NOT leading by example, yet again!

[Oilwellian]

168. He wasn't doing no stinkin' campaigning

[Mufaddal]

59. Far be it from Bill to do anything that would have the appearance of impropriety.

I mean, if he were someone with a history of improper behavior, then maybe I'd give it a second thought, you know? But luckily he's not.

[stupidicus]

70. arrest the bum

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/1/1494123/-Bill-Clinton-Mayor-Violating-Polling-Station-Rules-Subject-to-Arrest

[senz]

72. The Clintons seem to assume money & power grant entrée

to whatever they want.

[Freaked Out]

76. Electioneering.

The results from that location should be Bernie only, as Clinton is now invalid.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

82. I think we need a new acronym.

IOKIYAC = it's OK if you're a Clinton.

Although, IOKIYAR applies here too, come to think of it.

[xloadiex]

84. Speaking on a megaphone outside a poll

They need to be fined

[nc4bo]

101. Truth trumps bullshit, no pun intended.

There is video and stills of what he did.

If it were anyone else, they would have told to leave or the law would be called.

Laws are for us, not them.

[Divernan]

145. That is an outrageous interference with voting - low, even for a Clinton!

I'll be going to brush up training for poll workers in a few weeks, and will bring this up for discussion. If he gets by with this, the Clinton campaign will be trying it anywhere else they can get by with it.

[Blue State Bandit]

85. Clear breach of Mas Election Law "Obstructing voters".

Mass Election code and video at link---> http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511384459#post66

He made those people stand in line so he could break the first law, campaigning within 150' of a precinct site, a trivial expansion of election law, but OK.The proble is they shut down a precinct in Bedford with hundres if not a thousand+ people waiting to vote.

This is straight from the West Wing. Posse Comitatus, and we all know where Sorkin got that idea.

SAM
There was an incumbent President, who was facing a primary challenge, and
on the day of the
primary, his staff sent his motorcade into a district that was heavily
favored by his
opponent in order to tie up traffic. Now I would like it plain that I would
never do anything
to temper an election, but...

---Toby pats Sam's cheek a few times and squishes his mouth.----

TOBY
I am so... proud of you.

The proble is, sending the motorcade wasn't a violation of election law.

[SoapBox]

87. Ick!

NO MORE CLINTONS!

[Phlem]

100. WTF!!!

The slime just keeps oozing from Hillary.

[FloriTexan]

108. Kick!

[Dont call me Shirley]

110. Shenanigans!

[Mr.Bill]

116. I am a Precinct Inspector in my county in California.

I understand the laws may be different in my state than in Mass. Here any registered voter has the right to stand and observe and examine lists of who has voted. Campaigning or interfering with poll workers or voters is not allowed. But basically the way the law is enforced is it becomes a violation when the offender refuses to leave when ordered to do so.

There can be cases where someone's mere presence can be construed as campaigning, but that is up to the person in charge of the polling place. For instance, if the person is wearing an article of clothing supporting a specific candidate that is campaigning.

One election we had a hotly contested and controversial Sheriff's race. The incumbent was widely supported by the rank and file Deputies. A meeting with the registrar and the two candidates set some ground rules. Certainly it was common for on-duty Deputies to stop and vote during their shift. The challenger was worried they would create a presence at polling places and intimidate the voters in favor of the incumbent. He wanted to prohibit Deputies from entering the polling place in uniform.

The Registrar's decision was that they would be allowed to appear and vote in uniform, but if they loitered after voting, it would be considered campaigning. All the precinct inspectors were informed of this ruling as well as the two candidates and there were no problems.

The challenger won, by the way.

Long story, I know, I just wanted to give an example of how these laws can be interpreted. In my opinion, as long as Bill Clinton did not remain after being asked to leave by someone in charge, and was not actively handing out literature or otherwise campaigning, no foul.

I would fully expect this issue will be discussed at the poll worker training session before the next election. Myself, as a precinct inspector, I would have asked Mr. Clinton to leave, but he would not be charged with violating the law if he left when asked. If anyone was at fault here, it was whoever was in charge of the polling place.

[INdemo]

157. And if the person in charge was a Hillary

Supporter then he/she allows it right?

[Mr.Bill]

165. Well. in theory, the person in charge

is supposed to enforce the rules regardless of their political preference. I believe I could. I can't speak for others.

[INdemo]

166. Yes you would but dont think that was the case with Bill's obstruction.

[Mr.Bill]

167. Well, every election, temporary poll workers are hired.

Some experienced, some not. There is usually a training session, and as I mentioned in my other post, I'm sure this issue will be discussed there.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

121. A Clinton showing a disregard for rules. Shocking! /s

Clinton apologists defending broken rules. Shocking! /s

I will never understand the thought process behind clinging to Clinton. She's a terrific politician, but that's about the best thing I can say about her.

Who can remember saying, 'I love this politician for their political acumen.'?

[Wednesdays]

130. Aiyaiyai...just fine him the 50 bucks and be done with it.

If he was disenfranchising voters, there might be an issue here...but otherwise this is just petty.

[redwitch]

134. It's election fraud.

What kind of Democrat thinks that is just fine?

[fun n serious]

133. He did NOT violate any laws.

He can go in, he just can't approach voters. They approached HIM. He allowed a picture. He was not Campaigning.

[arcane1]

140. It's nere coincidence that his wife is running for president, and he randomly stopped by

You need to look into the phrase "otherwise promoting".

[fun n serious]

141. It's common

Candidates themselves sometimes greet voters.

[Divernan]

146. NEVER inside the polling place.

I've had one jerk running for local office who came in to vote and then turned to the man behind him, waiting to sign the voter register, and asked him to vote for him.

Before I could even say a word, that other voter immediately chewed him out and told him he was not allowed to campaign within the voting place. The local candidate, being a supreme egomaniac, got a face like a storm cloud but shut the fuck up.

And the really insane thing about the incident? The local jerk was running unopposed!

[ms liberty]

137. This is ugly and wrong

And of course is being lauded by the Clinton supporters here, because anything to win.

[slipslidingaway]

138. Areas being roped off near a polling place and added traffic congestion by his SS detail ...

that delayed people in voting is not the direction our country should be heading.

[arcane1]

142. And it's not the way a "guaranteed winner" would behave, either n/t

[slipslidingaway]

147. Yes! And not the way to behave towards people trying to vote :( nt

[Octafish]

143. Massachusetts as a silver spike through the heart.

If the First Lady Senator Secretary Candidate can pull an upset in ol' Mass, it might not be oh-vah but The Shoveler's minions would come out.

[madfloridian]

148. IOKIYRC Here's the video of Bill with the megaphone.

The entry door was just to his left. Read the comments after the video at You Tube.

[madfloridian]

149. He was holding up voting. Where's the outrage?

[noiretextatique]

150. It's in another thread

One implying that Bernie is racist. That's where you can fibd the outrage brigade. Only a few came here.

[Octafish]

153. The tape don't lie.

People, though...

[baran]

155. Boston Globe Article

Did Bill Clinton violate election rules in Mass.?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/01/did-bill-clinton-violate-election-rules-mass/5octlX1d28GwmN3kitiECK/story.html