Yesterday, I discussed the purpose of the ACLU's appeal to the UN for election observers. Today, via Weasel Zippers, Michelle Obama seems to confirm my suspicions, when, citing the Emancipation Proclamation, she not only appeals for voters to turn out to vote for her husband, but also states that every vote must be counted.
Make no mistake, here in our time, it’s more important than ever that we show up to vote, not just this year, but every year and in every election. Every voice must be heard and every vote must be counted.
We've heard this rhetoric before, back in 2000, when Al Gore tried to litigate his way into the White House by recounting in a variety of ways in a number of Florida counties. Certainly, it's important that every legitimately cast vote be counted. It's also important that no illegitimately cast votes be counted. Every time that happens, it neutralizes the "voice" of someone who is legitimately enfranchised.
Today, I've mentioned in passing that according to an election observer in Milwaukee, none of the election officials at at least one polling place tried to cross reference first-day early votes with the list of ineligibles, which they are required by law to do. The Governmental Accountability Board, which behaved appallingly in the run-up to the Scott Walker recall, is now at this late moment trying to find a way to prevent Republican election observers from getting close enough to the action to keep an eye on things.
Meanwhile, Malik Shabazz, whose New Black Panthers were let off the hook for voter intimidation in Philadelphia last time around, is saying that he may dispatch members of his racist organization to make sure that there's no 'voter suppression.'
It is pre-emptive delegitimization.
UPDATE: More, via Ace, about litigation.
