DAILY GRINDER: Democrats Raising Cash on Voter ID Challenge
The Voter ID challenge hearing began yesterday. And with it came a horde of Democratic politicians and organizations asking for either a) You make sure you and everyone you know has ID to vote, but who has the time for that? Not you? Then how about b) A donation? Kevin Washo, executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, sent an email yesterday after...
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ACT UP Keeps Pressure on Gov. Corbett Over Cuts to General Assistance Programs
Philadelphians are mad at Gov. Corbett. This morning, that anger was outwardly focused at the Voter ID legislation, the challenge of which was heard by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in City Hall. But ACT UP Philadelphia also held a rally today outside Corbett’s office. Their gripe with the governor: His budget cutting off general assistance funds for the poor,...
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DAILY GRINDER: DN, Inky Owners Demand Union Concessions
The new owners of the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com have demanded immediate concessions from the union that represents the publications’ employees. According to Poynter, “In a letter to employees last month, IGM CEO Bob Hall told employees revenue at the company was down $16 million from the year before. It told the Guild the same day it would seek...
Continue ReadingIs Voter ID the Republicans’ ‘Ground Game’ in Pennsylvania?
Former president Bill Clinton made a point last night to denounce Voter ID laws, like the one still on the books in Pennsylvania. “If you want America — if you want every American to vote and you think it is wrong to change voting procedures just to reduce the turnout of younger, poorer, minority and disabled voters, you should support Barack Obama,” he...
Continue ReadingNew Voter ID Smear Hits DNC Convention
Some right-wingers have taken particular issue with the Democratic National Convention’s website today. Specifically, text that says photo identification is required to attend the private gathering. “All pickup persons must have a state-issued ID that matched the name submitted below,” it reads. Similarly, a photo has been spread around the web showing...
Continue ReadingWill Blocked Texas Voter-ID Law Impact Pennsylvania?
A federal court today blocked Texas’ voter ID law, saying the state failed to prove the law would not negatively impact minorities. The proposed law is similar to that of Pennsylvania’s in that it would have forced all voters to show identification at the polls. Also like the Texas law, the Department of Justice is looking into Pennsylvania’s voter-ID law...
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DAILY GRINDER: Trocadero Bomb Threat Empty
An anonymous email was sent to the Trocadero last night, threatening an attack on the concert hall. That email read, in part: “this is 2 let u know that bomb at the trocadero set for tonight…it is there now. not only is bomb there now i have weapons there that i will use to cause mass destruction tonight. the media knows about this i want as many...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Koch Brothers Group May Pull PA Ads After Low Romney Polling
Chuck Todd of MSNBC—or NBC News?—tweeted yesterday that Americans for Prosperity, a Koch Brothers-funded right-wing group, was pulling out of Pennsylvania after a series of bad polls for Mitt Romney’s campaign. Both an AFL-CIO and Inquirer poll showed Romney down by almost 10 points. Polls have consistently shown Pennsylvanians don’t care much for the...
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Voter Activist Hopes to Stop More ‘New Black Panther’ Incidents With Poll-Watching App
Faye Anderson is convinced that if Philadelphians had a web-based election-monitoring program during the 2008 elections, we could have avoided the New Black Panther controversy involving allegations of voter intimidation in Philly. (The controversy still exists in newsprint and in conservative emails to this day.) With her new web application,...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Nutter to Speak at Democratic National Convention
Mayor Michael Nutter will speak at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina! Good for the mayor! He joins recent speaker picks like Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal and plenty others (Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, President of Planned Parenthood Action...
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