This story is hilarious on a number of levels, and seems to symbolize just what a bizarre carnival beast this election campaign has grown into:

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The Michigan Republican Party is asking four county prosecutors to file charges against filmmaker Michael Moore, charging that he illegally offered underwear, noodles and snacks to college students in exchange for their promise to vote. "We want everyone to participate in this year's election, but not because they were bribed or coerced by the likes of Michael Moore," said Greg McNeilly, executive director of the state Republican Party.

The GOP said it asked prosecutors in Wayne, Ingham, Antrim and Isabella counties to charge Moore with violating Michigan's election law. The law prohibits a person from contracting with another for something of value in exchange for agreeing to vote.

Moore, a native of Flint, is touring the country and imploring "slackers" who usually don't vote to head to the polls this year, saying they could make the difference in the presidential race. [Detroit Free Press]

Thanks to Tim at Freespace for the tip! There's more (with an international perspective) on The Times Online UK. Just playing Devil's Advocate, but how does offering "something of value" like nachos and BVD's for a presumed promise to vote differ substantively from a candidate's promise of, say, lower taxes or more jobs - also "something of value"? Oh, wait, I get it: the lower taxes and more jobs don't really materialize, so the "vote bribery" law doesn't apply. Silly me. ;) Still, it's hard to tell which side will come out looking like the bigger fool here.

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