Social media erupts: false conspiracy against Sanders in Chicago

A campaign pamphlet showing endorsements by the Cook County Democrats designed like a sample ballot led Sanders supporters to go nuts on social media with the claim that Sanders was left off the Chicago sample ballot.

The persecution conspiracy of Sanders by election officials spread rampantly. Unlike the actual facts.

Snopes has a detailed report: "Chicago is Berning"

Quote:

A piece of campaign literature was mistaken for a proper ballot, propelling a rumor that Bernie Sanders was not listed as a presidential candidate in Chicago.... Many were confused by the use of the term "sample ballot," believing that they were literal samples of the actual documents. Further complicating matters was the fact that the Chicago Board of Elections did make available sample ballots viewable by voters ahead of primary elections; some people seemed to be confusing actual sample ballots with party-issued endorsements.... ... the "sample ballot" existed, it announced 2016 endorsements made by Cook County Democrats and wasn't a Board of Elections sample ballot.

Different Democratic Party groups and members are allowed to say who they endorse. Of course that hasn't stopped anyone from further falsely accusing Clinton of dishonesty.

Quote:

Since Cook County Democrats endorsed Hillary Clinton, their "sample ballot" simply advised voters of the group's preferred voting slate. However, Sanders was not omitted from any official ballots, nor did supporters in Cook County need to write-in a primary ballot vote for Sanders. Whether or not voters in Chicago and elsewhere approved of Cook County Democrats' endorsements, the sample ballot had no bearing on actual official ballots where Sanders appeared alongside Clinton as a candidate. Localized political parties regularly can and do endorse their own preferred candidates, an activity that is both common and accepted in the course of elections.

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1RXyain