Obama: Direct Response Not Allowed

Barack Obama endorsed 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore for re-election last fall. (How many U.S. Senators endorse city councilmen?) Obama recently responded to a letter from Rogers Park resident Margot Hackett (below). In part, Obama wrote, "Although the recent election was close and hard fought, I trust that all in the 49th ward can look forward to effective service by Alderman Joe Moore." He thinks Joe Moore is a swell guy. Obama also has amnesia bouts when it comes to Tony Rezko. Obama wants to be President of the United States. Dear Mr. Obama, My communication to you did say I was disappointed in your choice to endorse Mr. Moore. However the bulk of my communication was to inform you of organizations, such as the Edgewater Rogers Park DFA, who are opposing Don Gordon's right to file this suit and clearly don't support the right for fair and honest elections. As a U.S. Senator, you have no jurisdiction over the state court system. But as a Chicago native and a United States Senator, you could clearly take an active stand in allowing this case to proceed. You could take a stand on everyone's right to a fair and ethical election process You could take a stand on organizations, such as the SEIU and Acorn, that spread very slanderous literature, accusing Don of being a Republican, a racist and a homophobe. You could take a stand on mail fraud, postcards with the return address of an active Rogers Park citizen, from a nonexistent group "Republicans for Gordon", mailed to lower income citizens as a scare tactic. You could take this stand regardless of political ties or endorsements, because it is the right thing to do. As a prominent lawyer, United States Senator and Presidential Candidate, your word carries a great deal of clout. As to Mr. Moore's successes in his ward, I ask you Mr. Obama, when was the last time you took a stroll down Howard Street or Morse Avenue? For that fact have you ever been within the boundaries of the 49th ward outside of Loyola University? Joe Moore grandstands on issues that will get him press, Big Box, CTA reform and the like. But an alderman's first and foremost responsibility is his ward. I invite you sir to a guided tour of our ward any time you like. Sincerely, Margot Hackett Rogers Park, Chicago, IL -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov To: dog-tired@comcast.net Subject: Message from Senator Barack Obama Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 20:07:10 +0000 Dear Margot: Thank you for your recent communication expressing your disappointment in my support for Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward) in the recent City Council elections. Over the years Alderman Moore has made a significant contribution to Chicago City Council and his ward. My support for Joe has been based on his commitment to public service and his hard work on behalf of the residents of the 49th ward. Although the recent election was close and hard fought, I trust that all in the 49th ward can look forward to effective service by Alderman Joe Moore. Some constituents have called for an investigation into the procedures of the local election boards because of the narrow margin in the run-off election. In late April, the challenger, Don Gordon, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court alleging that he should be declared the winner because of "fraudulent votes" in 22 precincts. As a United States Senator, I have no jurisdiction over the state court system. I do share your view of the importance of election reform. I have introduced S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007, which I am pleased to report has gained significant momentum since the November 2006 mid-term elections. The bill criminalizes deceptive misinformation campaigns and other types of efforts to misinform and intimidate voters. Specifically, S. 453 prohibits anyone from knowingly distributing false information regarding the time, place, manner, qualifications, restrictions and requirements for voting. It also outlaws false statements regarding an individual's endorsement of any candidate running for federal office. This provision is targeted specifically at an incident in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in which the Republican candidates for Governor and U.S. Senator distributed flyers [sic] in predominantly African-American neighborhoods claiming falsely that the two nominees had received the endorsements of several prominent local African-American political figures. The bill imposes stiff penalties of up to $100,000 or five years imprisonment, or both, for those found guilty of violating the law. It also provides voters with a private right of action to seek relief from deceptive practices, and requires the DOJ to conduct immediate investigations into allegations of this type of fraud. Finally, the Act extends its purpose beyond mere deterrents and punishments by establishing a process for reaching out to misinformed and intimidated voters with correct information so they can cast their votes. While the various types of voter suppression targeted in S. 453 would either be prosecuted by attorneys at the Civil Rights or Criminal Divisions of the DOJ, the bill also provides optional authority for the Attorney General to create a "Voter Integrity Task Force." I am pleased to report some significant developments in the effort to get this legislation passed. The House version of the bill, introduced by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (R-IL), was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in mid-April. It is my understanding that the bill will be taken up for debate by the full House, and a vote will be held on final passage, in early June. Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to hold a hearing on S. 453 on June 7, 2007, which brings us one step closer to passage on the Senate side. I am becoming increasingly optimistic that we can get this bill signed into law by the end of the year. Protecting the right to vote has been a career-long focus of mine. Before joining the Senate, this issue was a central aspect of my work as a community organizer in Chicago, as a civil rights attorney ensuring compliance with voter registration law, and as a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago. My commitment to protecting the rights of all voters in this country has only been strengthened by the new opportunities for involvement afforded by my position as a United States Senator. I assure you I will take full advantage of that privilege. I am optimistic that progress can be made toward ensuring that in American elections all eligible voters are able to cast their ballots free of any interference or intimidation, and have confidence that their vote will count. That is why I am also supporting legislation that includes requirements for "verifiable paper audit trails," also known as VPAT or "paper trails." Paper trail systems provide voters with a paper receipt of their electronic vote, and that receipt becomes the primary record of that person's vote. The receipt is deposited at the polling sites and is then used in the case of an audit. Thank you again for writing. I value the informed comments of my fellow Illinoisans. Sincerely, Barack Obama United States Senator P.S. Our system does not allow direct response to this email. However, if you would like t o contact me again, please use the form on the website: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/ Stay up to date with Barack's work in the Senate and on issues of importance to Illinois. Subscribe to the weekly podcast here: http://obama.senate.gov/podcast/ RELATED: Rogers Park to Obama - Tea Gets Bitter when it Seaps too Long. (at Rogers Park Inconsistent)