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GOTV MOFO: NY Democrats Getting Oddly Threatening Letters From State Democratic Committee
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Oct 30, 2014
Modified Oct 30, 2014
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Oct 30, 2014
Modified Oct 30, 2014
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The New York State Democratic Committee is deploying a unique blend of peer pressure, paranoia, and intimidation to get out the vote next week.
"Who you vote for is your secret," the campaign mailer states, its cigarette ash falling gently to the carpet. "But whether or not you vote is public record."
"Many organizations monitor turnout in your neighborhood and are disappointed by the inconsistent voting of many of your neighbors," the letter continues, as your eyes dart out the window to a bald man at a balcony across the street, binoculars resting on his paunch, mustache shimmering across his blank face.
An Upper West Side resident got this
"I'm a regular voter and loyal Democrat, so I was taken aback by this creepy and almost threatening letter from the NY State Democratic Committee that I got in the mail today," one disturbed reader in Downtown Brooklyn told us.
Another who received the mailer on the Upper West Side added, "I can't believe they think this will actually make anyone more likely to vote, and it certainly doesn't make me want to vote for any of the Democratic establishment candidates. I might end up writing in Teachout/Wu."
We asked a rep from the NYSDC about the letter, but he has not responded. We have not tried calling the pay phone behind the butcher shop that rings three times, pauses, and rings once more before disconnecting.
"We will be reviewing the Kings County official voting records after the upcoming election to determine whether you joined your neighbors who voted in 2014," the letter concludes, as a group of men in khaki dusters help each other up into the bed of a nondescript cargo truck.
"If you do not vote this year, we will be interested to hear why not."
[UPDATE] Peter Kauffmann, an NYSDC spokesman, explains the mailer thusly: "This flyer is part of the nationwide Democratic response to traditional Republican voter suppression efforts - because Democrats believe our democracy works better when more people vote, not less."
The full letter, from a Brooklyn resident
Tagged
ny state
Democrats
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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