Did Ted Cruz go too far with his mailer as reported by most news media?

Peter King · Feb 2, 2016

A controversial campaign mailer from Ted Cruz’s campaign is raising eyebrows across Iowa in the final hours before the caucuses.

The campaign literature, paid for by the Texas senator’s campaign, is labeled "Voter Violation" in bold red letters, with the words "official public record" across the top.

The letter lists the name of the resident -- as well as the specific names of their neighbors -- along with a grade for how often they’ve voted.

"Their scores are published below and many of them will see your score as well." the mailer says.

The Cruz campaign came under fire from Iowa election officials, who blasted the mailer as misleading.

Ted Cruz Facing Controversy Over Iowa 'Voter Violation' Mailers - ABC News

Don't get me wrong, there are dubious tactics around, there have always been there, democrats have certainly done dubious stuff too to increase their vote, but this is happening now in a manner that is very icky IMHO.

This is the notice some Iowans received in which the Cruz campaign tried to imply that voting records where being kept by the government in Iowa and that they needed to go to the caucus or else......

This is what was written in the mailer (picture will follow)

VOTING VIOLATION

You are receiving this election notice because of low expected voter turnout in your area. Your individual voting history as well as your neighbors' are public record. Their scores are published below, and many of them will see your score as well. CAUCUS ON MONDAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE and please encourage your neighbors to caucus as well. A follow up notice may be issued following Monday's caucusus.

The names of the other people have been blocked out (nobody's business really).

But what do you think, do cheap tricks and deceits like this go too far?

Henrin · Feb 2, 2016

Politicians should be arrested for that bull****.

Bucky · Feb 2, 2016

The liberal media strikes again...

Funny how the media barely reported this when the Obama campaign was doing the same thing:

DA60 · Feb 2, 2016

Cruz is like a twelve year old.

This kind of nonsense is what America wants from their next POTUS?

If so, heaven help America.

Moot · Feb 2, 2016

Bucky said:
The liberal media strikes again...

Funny how the media barely reported this when the Obama campaign was doing the same thing:

View attachment 67196524

Obama's mailer didn't list the neighbor's personal voting records on it like Ted's does. Ted's mailer looks a lot more threatening, too. That's probably because it is.

Cisero · Feb 2, 2016

Peter King said:
Ted Cruz Facing Controversy Over Iowa 'Voter Violation' Mailers - ABC News

Don't get me wrong, there are dubious tactics around, there have always been there, democrats have certainly done dubious stuff too to increase their vote, but this is happening now in a manner that is very icky IMHO.

This is the notice some Iowans received in which the Cruz campaign tried to imply that voting records where being kept by the government in Iowa and that they needed to go to the caucus or else......

This is what was written in the mailer (picture will follow)

VOTING VIOLATION

You are receiving this election notice because of low expected voter turnout in your area. Your individual voting history as well as your neighbors' are public record. Their scores are published below, and many of them will see your score as well. CAUCUS ON MONDAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE and please encourage your neighbors to caucus as well. A follow up notice may be issued following Monday's caucusus.

View attachment 67196522

The names of the other people have been blocked out (nobody's business really).

But what do you think, do cheap tricks and deceits like this go too far?

What a bull**** way to pressure people into voting

Bucky · Feb 2, 2016

Moot said:
Obama's mailer didn't list the neighbor's personal voting records on it like Ted's does. Ted's mailer looks a lot more threatening, too. That's probably because it is.

I personally don't see anything wrong with it.

Some professors will post grades of all their students, obviously "shaming" those that did poorly on the exam. You see car dealerships posting the employees that have sold the least amount of cars causing great embarrassment.

This actually does not compare imo because if you are receiving a "F" voting grade, you probably don't care much about politics or local elections. I doubt David Peterson cares if his neighbors know he doesn't vote.

Every person I know that doesn't vote wouldn't care if their neighbor knew. They are actually proud of it.

Bucky · Feb 2, 2016

As George Carlin said:

tres borrachos · Feb 2, 2016

This has been done in the past. It's no big deal.

EMNofSeattle · Feb 2, 2016

Moot said:
Obama's mailer didn't list the neighbor's personal voting records on it like Ted's does. Ted's mailer looks a lot more threatening, too. That's probably because it is.

It doesn't matter your voting history is public record, in fact your entire voter profile is public record, your data birth date registered how often you vote when you vote and voting address and mailing address are all publicly searchable.

Actually there's a federal law called the HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT that requires states to maintain central databases of voter rolls and to provide this information to the public

EMNofSeattle · Feb 2, 2016

Peter King said:
Ted Cruz Facing Controversy Over Iowa 'Voter Violation' Mailers - ABC News

Don't get me wrong, there are dubious tactics around, there have always been there, democrats have certainly done dubious stuff too to increase their vote, but this is happening now in a manner that is very icky IMHO.

This is the notice some Iowans received in which the Cruz campaign tried to imply that voting records where being kept by the government in Iowa and that they needed to go to the caucus or else......

This is what was written in the mailer (picture will follow)

VOTING VIOLATION

You are receiving this election notice because of low expected voter turnout in your area. Your individual voting history as well as your neighbors' are public record. Their scores are published below, and many of them will see your score as well. CAUCUS ON MONDAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE and please encourage your neighbors to caucus as well. A follow up notice may be issued following Monday's caucusus.

View attachment 67196522

The names of the other people have been blocked out (nobody's business really).

But what do you think, do cheap tricks and deceits like this go too far?

I don't like how it's made to look like an official citation, but really the content doesn't offend me, I've been using public voter rolls to get friends who I know agree with me into voting for years.

I've sometimes called people and asked why they haven't voted yet

WCH · Feb 2, 2016

Didn't stop Cruz [of Trump] from getting the most Republican votes in Iowa ever.

It was nothing but, something for the Leftist media anti-Cruz people to jump on.

WCH · Feb 2, 2016

Speaking of irregularities;

Clinton Caucus Caught on Camera Committing Voter Fraud in Iowa? | Conservative Outfitters

Skeptic Bob · Feb 2, 2016

Both parties have done this in the past and yes, it goes too far.

jamesrage · Feb 2, 2016

Peter King said:
Ted Cruz Facing Controversy Over Iowa 'Voter Violation' Mailers - ABC News

Don't get me wrong, there are dubious tactics around, there have always been there, democrats have certainly done dubious stuff too to increase their vote, but this is happening now in a manner that is very icky IMHO.

This is the notice some Iowans received in which the Cruz campaign tried to imply that voting records where being kept by the government in Iowa and that they needed to go to the caucus or else......

This is what was written in the mailer (picture will follow)

VOTING VIOLATION

You are receiving this election notice because of low expected voter turnout in your area. Your individual voting history as well as your neighbors' are public record. Their scores are published below, and many of them will see your score as well. CAUCUS ON MONDAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE and please encourage your neighbors to caucus as well. A follow up notice may be issued following Monday's caucusus.

View attachment 67196522

The names of the other people have been blocked out (nobody's business really).

But what do you think, do cheap tricks and deceits like this go too far?

I want to say yes and this is similar to thuggish union tactics and why they want card check,so that they know who voted for them and not. But ballots in regular elections are anonymous. So the Cruz campaign would have no way of knowing if those are Rubio voters, Trump-tards, Bush voters or any other voters.So it seems like a wasted effort on the part of the Cruz campaign.

jonny5 · Feb 2, 2016

Peter King said:
Ted Cruz Facing Controversy Over Iowa 'Voter Violation' Mailers - ABC News

Don't get me wrong, there are dubious tactics around, there have always been there, democrats have certainly done dubious stuff too to increase their vote, but this is happening now in a manner that is very icky IMHO.

This is the notice some Iowans received in which the Cruz campaign tried to imply that voting records where being kept by the government in Iowa and that they needed to go to the caucus or else......

This is what was written in the mailer (picture will follow)

VOTING VIOLATION

You are receiving this election notice because of low expected voter turnout in your area. Your individual voting history as well as your neighbors' are public record. Their scores are published below, and many of them will see your score as well. CAUCUS ON MONDAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE and please encourage your neighbors to caucus as well. A follow up notice may be issued following Monday's caucusus.

View attachment 67196522

The names of the other people have been blocked out (nobody's business really).

But what do you think, do cheap tricks and deceits like this go too far?

Yes, but its also par for the course.

Real Korimyr #9 · Feb 6, 2016

Candidates should not have access to this kind of information in the first place. The voting booth is private for a reason.

Soho gator · Feb 6, 2016

Another reason to punch Cruz in the face.

rocket88 · Feb 6, 2016

tres borrachos said:
This has been done in the past. It's no big deal.

It is the norm. Usually dredged up for faux outrage.

tres borrachos · Feb 8, 2016

Korimyr the Rat said:
Candidates should not have access to this kind of information in the first place. The voting booth is private for a reason.

It's a matter of public record if you show up to vote or not. It has nothing to do with privacy in the voting booth.

EMNofSeattle · Feb 8, 2016

Korimyr the Rat said:
Candidates should not have access to this kind of information in the first place. The voting booth is private for a reason.

No one is tracking how you vote, only that you have voted. This is public information along with all of the information you gave the register to vote.

By checking voter rolls, you can find the registered voters residential address, their mailing address how many times they voted when they last voted and when they registered. This is public

In fact there is a federal law called the help America vote act which requires that states make this information public

Peter King · Feb 8, 2016

EMNofSeattle said:
No one is tracking how you vote, only that you have voted. This is public information along with all of the information you gave the register to vote.

By checking voter rolls, you can find the registered voters residential address, their mailing address how many times they voted when they last voted and when they registered. This is public

In fact there is a federal law called the help America vote act which requires that states make this information public

Personally I think that is wrong for that kind of information to be public, in the Netherlands there is a privacy watchdog group who would seriously think giving out such information is an invasion of privacy. Here that kind of information would never be released.

matchlight · Feb 8, 2016

Peter King said:
This is the notice some Iowans received in which the Cruz campaign tried to imply that voting records where being kept by the government in Iowa

Are you trying to imply that voting records were not being kept by the government in Iowa? The "important notice" on the mailer states that these are public records.

Mason66 · Feb 8, 2016

Korimyr the Rat said:
Candidates should not have access to this kind of information in the first place. The voting booth is private for a reason.

Does it show who was voted for or just the fact that they voted or not?

EMNofSeattle · Feb 8, 2016

Peter King said:
Personally I think that is wrong for that kind of information to be public, in the Netherlands there is a privacy watchdog group who would seriously think giving out such information is an invasion of privacy. Here that kind of information would never be released.

I think it's right. I use the voter rolls all the time.

Did Ted Cruz go too far with his mailer as reported by most news media?

Does sending these kinds of noticies go too far in your opinion?

I am a republican and this goes too far

I am a democrat and this goes too far

I am an independent and this goes too far

I am a republican and I do not have an issue with it

I am a democrat and I do not have an issue with it

I am an independent and I do not have an issue with it

Who cares, all politicans are untrustworthy crooks

I don't vote anyway so why would I care?

Other, ..................... (please explain)

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