Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Why is Gore Trying to Steal the Presidency? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Carolyn who wrote (1665)	11/20/2000 10:23:57 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 3887

Miami-Dade Hand Recount Contentious 11/20/2000 17:46:37 PST MIAMI (AP) -- Republicans accused the Miami-Dade County canvassing board of ``manufacturing'' votes for Democrat Al Gore as the hand recount of 654,000 presidential ballots began Monday. Democrats dismissed the claims as desperate spin. Going beyond earlier allegations that the hand-counting process was unfair or subject to tampering, Republicans said Monday the operation was ``rigged.'' ``Unfortunately Miami-Dade has become ground zero for producing a manufactured vote,'' said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., who called the elections officials roaming the counting room ``pit bosses.'' Miami-Dade County used machines Sunday to begin sorting punch-card ballots, separating those with clear punch holes from the ballots in question. The so-called ``undervotes,'' ballots on which no vote was registered by the machines, were being reviewed by the board because members didn't want the regular teams of counters to use their discretion to determine whether a vote was a vote. There were about 10,750 undervotes. Gore had gained 34 votes after 62 of 614 precincts were counted. Republicans claimed board members were twisting and turning ballots to determine voter intent, looking for votes that weren't there. ``This thing is rigged,'' said Rep. David Hobson, R-Ohio. ``It is a joke on our democracy.'' Kendall Coffey, a Democratic attorney, responded: ``I think any attempt to raise fraud or any other type of innuendo is nothing short of outrageous.'' Lawrence King, chairman of the Miami-Dade board, said he did not hear the comments from Hobson or Sweeney. ``I'm sure it was very entertaining, but this is not point-counterpoint,'' he said. Tensions flared almost immediately after the counting began when King warned the partisan observers in the room to stop talking to the counters. He repeated his warnings at least twice more, threatening to throw out the observers. ``I do not expect observers to be arguing or putting into this process their personal opinion,'' he said. Meanwhile, a hearing was scheduled in circuit court Tuesday where Republicans will argue the canvassing board erred in reversing its decision against a hand recount. On Sunday, a judge rejected a request by backers of George W. Bush to stop the recount. Fourteen groups began counting the clearly punched ballots Monday morning. Workers were sorting ballots onto 12 8 1/2-by-11 sheets of paper, which had been taped to the table to separate the ballots cast for the 10 presidential candidates, ballots with no vote for president and ballots with more than one vote for president. The stacks take up the entire width of each table, like a giant game board in front of each elections worker. Outside, about 150 demonstrators gathered in downtown Miami near the building where the counting was being done. Many chanted ``No more Gore,'' and ``We want Bush.'' One demonstrator carried a sign that was a takeoff on the Gore-Lieberman campaign banner, ``Sore Loserman'' in red, white and blue. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., said Monday he was disturbed by criticism aimed at the counters. ``They ought to be praised, not disparaged,'' Graham said. Copyright © 2000 Associated Press Information Services, all rights reserved. You may now print or save this document. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------