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Romney Smears Obama, Falsely Claims He Filed Lawsuit to Restrict Military Voting in Ohio
Think Progress / News Analysis
Published: Sunday 5 August 2012
“This year, however, the Republican legislature in Ohio eliminated early voting during this period, except for members of the military.”
Today on Facebook, Mitt Romney claims that the Obama campaign is trying to “undermine” the ability of members of the military to vote in Ohio:
President Obama’s lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional for Ohio to allow servicemen and women extended early voting privileges during the state’s early voting period is an outrage. The brave men and women of our military make tremendous sacrifices to protect and defend our freedoms, and we should do everything we can to protect their fundamental right to vote. I stand with the fifteen military groups that are defending the rights of military voters, and if I’m entrusted to be the commander-in-chief, I’ll work to protect the voting rights of our military, not undermine them.
This certainly sounds outrageous, but it is not true. Since 2005, Ohio has had in person early-voting in the three days prior to the election. This year, however, the Republican legislature in Ohio eliminated early voting during this period, except for members of the military. The Obama lawsuit is attempting to restore voting rights for all Ohioans, not restrict them for the military or any other group. From the Obama lawsuit, filed in federal court:
Plaintiffs bring this lawsuit to restore in-person early voting for all Ohioans during the three days prior to Election Day – a right exercised by an estimated 93,000 Ohioans in the last presidential election. Ohio election law, as currently enacted by the State of Ohio and administered by Defendant Ohio Secretary of State, arbitrarily eliminates early voting during the three days prior to Election Day for most Ohio voters, a right previously available to all Ohio voters.
The Obama campaign’s request for a preliminary injunction does not seek to restrict military voting. Rather, it simply is asking that the full early voting period be open to all citizens, as it was under the law before this year.
Even Fox News acknowledges the purpose of the suit, noting “the lawsuit does not restrict the ability of military personnel to cast their ballots early.”
9 comments on "Romney Smears Obama, Falsely Claims He Filed Lawsuit to Restrict Military Voting in Ohio"
August 06, 2012 3:31pm
"When the" candidate "made the statement it was not intended to be factual."
A slight twist on the Republican Senator's explanation for his remark on Planed Parenthood.
August 06, 2012 8:50am
This is the essence of Mitt Romney's campaign....twist the facts and transform them into a 'new reality' with which to coerce voters into siding with his candidacy. In addition to this reprehensible practice by Romney's campaign, the media seems to revel in adding their support of these distortions and falsehoods by dedicating generous coverage to the propagation of out-and-out lies. One can only hope that some miracle would happen to awaken Americans to becoming more informed about the facts surrounding these distortions and decide on the basis of their individual assessment. Apathy is not an acceptable option nor defense.
August 05, 2012 4:05pm
figures that Rmoney would "get it backwards" (on purpose?).
August 05, 2012 2:28pm
judd [the spin meister] legum who does he think controls dnc axelrod said military should not get special treatment
August 05, 2012 10:52am
I posted earlier that Mr. Romney is a pathalogical liar. He lies even when there is no need or reason to do so. This is just another piece of evidence to verify that fact. I suggest that each of us email this article to every rightward leaning voter on our mailing list.
August 05, 2012 10:49am
oh, Gee, Golly the republicans are starting their back slide for an excuse to lose another election.......flip=flop....flip=flop...McCain flip=flopped on ever issue in his "bid" for the presidency...ok ok wink-wink wasn't much of a help ( unless you planned on the outcome in advance )
..another headline says Romney calls for drastic action for the economy
ok...ok... he forgot to say what -.- but hell it was a good soundbite
. . . . . . it isn't that he forgot - he's following the lead of the Bush administration...IT IS A SECRET.....shhh....don't tell anyone and I mean anyone.......not even yourself
August 05, 2012 10:35am
If only politicians, of all parties, had to tell the truth under law and threat of prison time for perjury. To quote Satchmo 'What a wonderful world it would be."
August 05, 2012 9:58am
We need to restrict republicans to fast food jobs. It is all they are qualified for anymore. They are destroying America with every antiAmeican move they make. Are they even from this country? You'd never know the way they act.
August 05, 2012 9:48am
Americans need to wake up - Romney is a bald-faced liar.