We just received an email today stating that a former Hillary delegate to the DNC just provided her email list of El Paso County Hillary supporters to the McCain/Palin campaign.
I understands supporters crossing the divide - in 2006, a Republican precinct chair actively supported Anna. But she never asked him for any internal information from the Republican Party - she felt that was not ethical.
This person obviously felt no such compunction - and the El Paso Republican Party also felt no moral obligation against taking purloined information. I understand there is an anecdote that at least one Colorado Democratic campaign has received internal documents from a Republican opponents campaign and they were returned in the same envelope - unopened.
The response in El Paso County appears to have been a unified scream "get me off that email list and never darken my door again." I sincerely hope that this acts to rebound against the individuals and campaigns that would take advantage of this action.
One point in favor of the Obama campaign has been its willingness to refrain from these very sleazy tactics. Again, the sleaze for the Republican Party here is not that they were approached with this information - it is that they used it. Just one more indication that the "we want the partisan divide to end" translates to "we want to remove all opposition" - it is one way to end the divide.
So, unfortunately, many El Paso County Democrats who supported Hillary Clinton wholly and fervently have been told, in so many words, that at least one person believes they will have no party loyalty. It is one thing to go and ask voters - face to face - to consider a person not from their party as the best choice for an elected office. It is another to assume that targeted mailings and emails - shaped to a specific appeal - is adequate reason.
Update
Ok, here is the email chain I was sent - all names are deleted top avoid a run on individuals:
From:deleted
Subject: RE: Help!
To: about 25 names deleted
Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 2:33 PM
I agree as well please do not use my email or contact me as I do not support the Republican ticket.
Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 11:52:39 -0700
From: deleted
Subject: RE: Help!
To: about 25 names deleted
Hillary supporter name
I would appreciate not having my email utilize for this purpose. Please do not deliver my email or name for use by the McSame campaign. I do not support Sarah or John and find it hard to believe that you, or any other Hillary supporter could, in good conscience, support them either. Personally, I'm disgusted with the idea and effort!
name
--- On Thu, 9/4/08, wrote:
From: Hillary supporter
Subject: RE: Help!
To: McCain campaign name
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 3:34 PM
Here are some Hillary emails. Is this what you needed?
name
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 14:30:10 -0700
From: McCain campaign person
Subject: Help!
To: name deleted
Hi,
I know you're probably not over the hullabaloo yet, but we need names, lists, e-mails from you so we can get on the band wagon for Sarah. You represented all of us and only you know who we can contact. We'd like you to get in on this with us because YOU are our leader. I understand we have secured extra tickets for "deleted", and I sincerely hope you're going to be with us.
If there is some issue you are struggling with and I can help let me know. If there is something else, let me know. If you are still upset about the sexism and Hillary, I want you to put it away for right now -- distance will help gain more perspectice, and let's not let this sexism happen to Sarah.
You know that I am pleading with you to get on board with us and let us go forward in the name of women!
McCain campaign person
Now, this could all be a false flag but the email list had all the names and addresses included - I took it to be real