TRUTHOUT BLOG: Conyer Coverage Continued from above....
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
12:40PM
And of course the wheels come off as soon as the floor is opened to questions. Everyone wants to make their speech, absent a question, and Conyers has to push people along, and the speechifiers get pissy, and we all look like fools. Progressives are uniquely gifted at this, and it never gets any less frustrating to watch.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
12:35PM
These Democratic congressmen just raised a collective plea to everyone: Please help us push the GOP majority to address these issues officially. The invitation was extended to GOP members to come to this hearing. None came.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
12:20PM
An interesting exchange. Nadler asked how fraud can be proven on electronic machines. Cliff Arnebeck said his lawsuit would employ the best experts in court to make the case. One such expert, Bob Fitrakis, is on the panel, and reeled off a slew of specific problems with specific machines. Nadler's eyes got real big.
Conyers then hinted that he might officially object to seating the Ohio Electors. Wow.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
12:10PM
Rev. Jackson: "We cannot vent and then have Congress not act. If these reports are not investigated, we have all wasted our time. This cannot simply be an academic venting session. Take this struggle to the streets and legitimize it there, as they did in Selma."
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
12:00PM
Jackson demands a constitutional right to vote. "If some can argue that the right to bear arms is explicit in the constitution, how can we tolerate our right to vote being described as 'implicit' in the constitution?"
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
11:50AM
Shawnta Walcott of Zogby International reports that her crew has seen an unprecedented level of suspicion over the results of this election. Zogby Inc wants a blue-ribbon panel to investigate the claims made in this hearing.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
11:40AM
There is such a volume of data being presented here that I am able only to take frantic notes. I will have a more complete report later tonight. This is historic.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
11:35AM
John Bonifaz is on fire. He is not merely waxing poetic about the value of voting. He has Blackwell bracketed and braced. This man has no quit in him, and is bringing yet another lawsuit in Ohio. If I were Blackwell, and I saw Bonifaz coming, I'd run like hell.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
11:25AM
Almost all of these panelists are bringing lawsuits against the election in Ohio. I guess they are correct when they say this election is not over. I think maybe it has just begun.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
11:20AM
Susan Truitt just said, "We have privatized public elections and this must stop. This election is not over. I saw a man come to the polls with an IV in his arm from the hospital because he could not get an absentee ballot in Ohio."
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For Immediate Release
December 8, 2004
Progressive Democrats of America
www.pdamerica.org
CONTACT: Tim Carpenter, National Director, 413-320-2015
Progressive Democrats of Americas Response to Congressional Hearings on Ohio Voting Irregularities:
Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) extends a heartfelt thank you to Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and the other progressive Democrats who are working hard to ensure every Americans vote is counted. An ad-hoc hearing is being held today because he is courageous and intuitive enough to listen to Americans at the grassroots level and respond to their need for answers on this issue. We are pleased that he is taking on this challenge and we pledge to support his efforts.
Our grassroots members and our allies are expressing a great deal of interest in and outrage about voting suppression and potential fraud in Ohio.
Whatever the specific outcome of today's hearing and other investigations into the irregularities, we know major election reform is absolutely necessary to restore democracy to America.
Specifically, PDA calls for the following:
A Constitutional amendment confirming the right to vote, as advocated by Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Required paper record for all electronic and electronically tabulated voting systems.
Same-day registration for all Americans.
The creation of unified federal standards for national elections.
Meaningful equal protection of voting rights by such means as equal voting systems, equal numbers of machines, and equal time to vote.
An end to partisan oversight of the electoral process.
Extended voting periods to allow all voters a meaningful opportunity to vote.
Instant Run-off Voting and Proportional Representation.
Publicly financed elections for federal offices.
The Progressive Democrats of America are prepared to rise to this occasion in support of Rep. Conyers and other Progressive members of Congress, who we urge to offer legislation to codify these reforms. Such legislative leadership would challenge other Democrats and Republicans to state, on the record, if they are for or against Americans' right to vote.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
11:10AM
The first panel has concluded, and the second group has begun. The horror stories continue. Reps. Jackson Jr. and Wexler have been seated at the dias.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
10:55AM
Cliff Arnebeck is laying down a marker. We can talk about the future all we want, but we have to deal with the now. We cannot accept a fraudulent Presidential election. How can we talk about Iraq democracy when we are not capable of preserving our own democracy here. The best precedent to set for the future is to not tolerate fraud now, is to not 'move on' until it is fixed.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
10:46AM
Neas just blew the doors off. There were less voting machines in Cuyahoga County on election day than there were during the primary vote. Neas says Blackwell wins the Katherine Harris Award, and there should be prosecutions for the vote fraud.
David Cobb is giving an advertisement for the Green Party.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
10:45AM
Conyers just told Jackson he will see congressional hearings on this issue, but down in Ohio and not here.
Ralph Neas is speaking now, mocking the mainstream idea that this was a fair and successful election.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
10:40AM
Jackson is giving an impassioned call to arms. I will provide a transcript as soon at it becomes available. He is tossing barbs at Kerry for conceding too early, and reminding the Democrats en masse that they live and die by the minority vote, that it was minority voters who bore the brunt of the 2004 'irregularities,' and that something better be done.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
10:30AM
Nadler: the stability of our democracy is at stake. We do not have the luxury of time to fix these problems.
Scott: the problems were not just in Ohio. 500 complaints in Virginia.
Watt: if we can bring ballots to rural Afghanistan by donkey, we can have fair elections here.
Rev. Jackson: the 2004 election is not past-tense. Amend the constitution to secure the right to vote.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
10:05AM
The hearing has been gaveled to order, and opening statements have begun. I am taking notes, will be back with more in a few minutes.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
9:50AM
Rev. Jackson just came into the room and thanked all the people here for coming and caring. The hearing room has filled quickly, and there are 13 news cameras.
I was standing on the steps of the building this morning when Rep. Conyers showed up. He bounded out of his cab and up the stairs like a teenager, looking for all the world like a man who woke this morning ready for a throwdown.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Wednesday 08 December 2004
9:20AM
I have secured a great seat inside the hearing room here in the Rayburn building. If you are in the neighborhood, it is in room 2237. Better hurry, though. The staffers are talking about overflow rooms. They are expecting a big crowd.
There are a lot of cameras here. Pacifica Radio is already set up. The whole world is watching.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Tuesday 07 December 2004
10:45PM
Amid all the amateur sleuths and bloggers connecting the dots on this vote fraud story, it is nice to see an organization whose credentials are impeccable weighing in.
The organization Common Cause has issued a detailed report of their own on the vote fraud issue. The preamble to their report reads:
"Activists from around the country are taking an in-depth look today at what really happened on Election Day, as Common Cause co-sponsors "Voting in 2004: Report to the Nation on America's Election Process." Common Cause is teaming with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and The Century Foundation to conduct a day-long non-partisan presentation today that will feature members of Congress, state officials, electronic voting machine experts and organizations that had workers on the ground on Election Day, observing and collecting information.
"This is a great opportunity for Common Cause members, supporters, and citizens who are concerned about our nation's voting process to come to the Hill, and hear from leading national experts about our election systems.
"In addition, Common Cause releases a preliminary report based on extensive election monitoring activities: Report from the Voters: A First Look at the 2004 Election Data/Common Cause Agenda for Reform, which includes participation running a national voter alert line (1-866-MYVOTE1) that received nearly 210,000 phone calls from 50 states, more than 1,000 election monitors nationwide and the collection of more than 1,700 voters' stories on our website. Using this unprecedented amount of non-partisan data, Common Cause and other participants will help reveal the most accurate picture of what actually happened on Election Day."
Be sure to give this report a long, close look.
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t r u t h o u t | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage
By William Rivers Pitt
Tuesday 07 December 2004
8:15PM
So here I am again, on Embassy Row in Washington DC. It is a murky night in the capitol city, but is thankfully about 15 degrees warmer than the city I left to get here.
There is a lot to talk about, and I do not want to take up an enormous amount of space doing it, so here goes:
The Conyers hearing begins tomorrow at 10:00am. C-SPAN coverage has been confirmed, along with a Pacifica Radio broadcast of the events. I have also been told that NBC and MSNBC will have cameras there, but I will believe that when I see it. Between all those folks and little ol' me, we should be able to achieve total coverage of the whole thing.
Why are we here? The answer to that can be found in the letter written by Rep. Conyers to Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell about voting irregularities and potential fraud in the November election a month ago. The letter was meant to be part notification, part description, and part invitation, though at this point I have not heard anything about Blackwell's intention to attend. If you have not read his letter yet, do so now.
The hearing will involve:
Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Robert Scott, Rep. Melvin Watt, Rep. Linda Sanchez, and Robert Wexler. Witnesses will include Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder Rainbow Push Coalition; Ralph Neas, President, People For the American Way; Prof. Robert Fitrakis, Editor, The Free Press; Cliff Arnebeck, Arnebeck Associates; Steve Rosenfeld, Senior Producer, Air America Radio; David Cobb, Green Party Nominee 2004 Presidential Candidate; Jon Greenbaum, Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Under Law; Ellie Smeal, Executive Director, The Feminist Majority; John Bonifaz, General Counsel, National Voting Institute; Prof. Steve Freeman, University of Pennsylvania; and Shawnta Walcott, Communications Director, Zogby International.
Perhaps most importantly, Conyers is looking for you to send his office questions about this issue. If you have any questions for his hearing, submit them using this form. The folks at DemocraticUnderground.com have already gotten a head start.
A series of revelations have come out in the last few days, none more interesting than the affidavit sworn by a man named Clint Curtis. According to BradBlog, which first broke the story:
Curtis, in his affidavit, says that as technical advisor and programmer at Yang Enterprises, Inc. (YEI) he was present at company meetings where Feeney was present "on at least a dozen occasions". Feeney, who had run in 1994 as Jeb Bush's running-mate in his initial unsuccessful bid for Florida Governor, was serving as both corporate counsel and registered lobbyist for YEI during the period that Curtis worked at the company. Feeney was also concurrently serving as a Florida state congressman while performing those services for YEI. Feeney would eventually become Speaker of the Florida House before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He is now a member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
At an October 2000 meeting with Feeney, according to the affidavit and BRAD BLOG interviews with Curtis over the past three days, Feeney inquired whether the company could build a "vote fraud software prototype". At least three YEI employees are said to have been present at that meeting; Curtis, company owner, Mrs. Li Woan Yang, and her executive secretary, Mike Cohen. Two other YEI employees may have come in and out at different points of the meeting according to Curtis.
Curtis says that Feeney "was very specific in the design and specifications required for this program. "He detailed, in his own words, that; (a) the program needed to be touch-screen capable (b) the user should be able to trigger the program without any additional equipment (c) the programming to accomplish this needed to stay hidden even if the source code was inspected.""
There are a number of people, including Bev Harris of BlackBoxVoting.org, who smell a rat with this story. I spoke to Mr. Curtis on the phone yesterday, and he seemed a normal human. I will be meeting him tomorrow at the hearing, and will then decide the matter for myself. When I know more, so will you.
ENDS |
