Comments on: Teen arrested after offering to sell his vote on eBay

By: Mickey Blue Eyes

Mickey Blue Eyes — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:56:50 +0000

People sell their votes all the time. A politician says “vote for me and I’ll take money from the evil rich Peter and give [some of it] to you, Paul.” If Paul decides to vote for the politician in return for being paid for his vote from Paul, then that’s selling his vote.

By: Delio Rossi

Delio Rossi — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:10:28 +0000

This is bullshit and here is why:

“There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, ‘I can be bought.’”

That, in and of itself is a joke.
Maybe that was true THEN…but now, we fight to get whatever the f* we want from other countries. America is a joke and this kid was trying to send a message.

George Bush can be bought. So why not someones vote?
I very much doubt this kid would have gone through with it.
This is stupid. Worry about real problems, like the oil and food crisis.

F* hypocritical society we live in. Yeah go give the 18 year old kid shit while meanwhile we’re dropping bombs on civilians. Awesome. THATS a joke.

By: Mackenzie

Mackenzie — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:27:05 +0000

At the fund-raising dinner, you way-overpay for your food and then hear a speech. The candidate doesn’t pay you. The amount of food the candidate gives you certainly does *not* cover the amount you pay them for “honour” of hearing their speech.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:01:07 +0000

he knew what he was doing. he knew he was breaking the law. he’s going to jail, just because you say it’s a joke it doesn’t mean it is, i don’t see any free speech in putting your cote for sale, when obviously a lot of people are going to be upset, excluding law enforcement.

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:32:28 +0000

yes, it was a perfectly sensible law back then. But times are not like that anymore and the law should be updated to reflect the changing times.

As Pidgin says, what’s the difference between what Sanders did and a politican holding a fund raising dinner to get your vote?

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:31:49 +0000

OMG - this is OTT. At least he was honest and upfront about what he was doing - which is more than can be said for some.

By: Mackenzie

Mackenzie — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:37:12 +0000

The law is a holdover from the days of early capitalism (back when it was bad), where votes weren’t anonymous, and you could be fired if you didn’t vote for the candidate to whom your boss had ~~sold~~ promised your vote. Perfectly sensible law.

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:34:58 +0000

Yeah, many comparisons have already been made with politicians and fund raising dinners. If I was Mr Sanders’ lawyer, that’s the line I would be taking in court.

I would also say it’s time that 115 year old law was updated!

By: Pidgin

Pidgin — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:57:48 +0000

So does this mean that attending a formal dinner hosted by candidate X and subsequently voting for said candidate invalidates ones vote, on the basis that one has sold it for a dinner?