If the GOP isn't worried about Conyers, why are they attacking him?

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.thenews-messenger.com/news/stories/20041228/opinion/1798276.html

(snip)

If Conyers was so concerned about voting problems, where was he in 1998 when election officials in his hometown of Detroit took a disgraceful two weeks to count ballots due to lost poll books and miscounting of precinct totals?

Where was he in 2001 when the counting of absentee ballots in Detroit had to be halted in midstream by state officials after it was discovered that the city clerk was simply ignoring state requirements for the use of software that would eject ballots that couldn't be read by machine?

And where was he when a memo allegedly drafted by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's aides in 2002 claimed that Detroit's voter rolls were overstated by about 150,000 people -- a strong hint that something may be seriously amiss in the Detroit election process, threatening the value of the ballot for people who are genuinely qualified to vote?

Conyers' outrage appears to be highly selective. The target of his investigative demand -- a demand in which he has been joined by Jesse Jackson and others -- is the Ohio secretary of state, Kenneth Blackwell, who is black and Republican. In other words, he is one of those non-conforming minorities who is threatening to bust up the liberal plantation from which Conyers and others earn a handsome living.

...more...

The flat fact is that Conyers has done a great deal to make Detroit elections cleaner, and has repeatedly called on the Justice Department, along with other state officials, for assistance when there have been problems like the ones described in the hit piece above.

Someone is getting nervous.

[libertypirate]

1. I read that a couple of minutes ago.

Had the exact same thought

There is one about Waters as well..


Report: Congresswoman's Family Profited

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=1278&e=10&u=/ap/20041219/ap_on_go_co/congresswoman_family

[shraby]

2. .....Then they attack you.....

Then you win.

[whistle]

3. They are attacking Conyers because they can...

[mordarlar]

4. I wish i could see it... lol

I wish i were a fly on the wall of the meetings they are frantically holding. Ahh I love fantasies. :D

[Verve]

5. Hey that's great news! They're getting worried! Conyers must be on to

something! :thumbsup:

IMO, they wouldn't want to call attention to something false, something they know will eventually die down. But, if they are starting to attack and defend, then there must be some truth to the issues.

[lonestarnot]

30. Ain't nutt'n gona eventually die down! gona get louder and louder and

LOUDER!!!!!!:wow:

[berniew1]

40. Does anyone know if Conyers was sent documentation of Florida fraud?

I've been away for the holidays and just got back. Anyone know if the documentation of widespread vote machine fraud in Florida was sent to Conyers? How does one contact him?
http://www.flcv.com/fraudpat.html

[lonestarnot]

41. don't know but guess highly probable.

[McCamy Taylor]

6. They will attack Conyers in his next primary...

...will attempt to have some other african-american beat him through a combination of smear and election fraud. Wont work in his case, he is too popular and powerful, same for Waters, but they may take down some other members of Congress this way.

With election fraud, the GOP hopes to control all the elected offfices in America.

[EFerrari]

7. Did you catch Powell yesterday hailing the other election they

messed with, in the Ukraine? He looked like he was having trouble with his gag reflex.

[Vektor]

8. Oh, good god!

..."Ohio secretary of state, Kenneth Blackwell, who is black and Republican. In other words, he is one of those non-conforming minorities who is threatening to bust up the liberal plantation from which Conyers and others earn a handsome living."

Riiiiight. Conyers is discriminating against Blackwell because he is black and Republican.

You heard it here folks!

It's black on black crime!! </sarcasm!>

The liberal plantation? What the hell is that exactly? Wouldn't a liberal like Conyers be more inclined to encourage a fellow minority to achieve success in the cutthroat world of politics?

No, he is not condemning Blackwell for being a "Black Republican!"

He is condemning Blackwell for being a dishonest man who is violating and obstructing the law!

[EFerrari]

14. 'Way to play the race card, trivialize issues of race AND for

extra bonus points, condemn a black man for making a living.

I really, really find these people disgusting.

[Vektor]

19. As do I...

Leave it to the neo-cons to make race an issue at all in this. Why does it always have to be about that? I know they TRY to make it look as if they are so open-minded, (like, hi, focusing the camera all night on the FOUR people of color who were at the RNC) but clearly those writing this article could not see past the color of a person's skin, even though this is not an issue about race at all! It is about Blackwell screwing up, and Conyers calling him on it.

[EFerrari]

20. The strategy does two things: tries to divide the black community

and, marginalizes the whole debate.

Never thought about this before, but this is the upshot of Bush's "minority inclusive" Cabinet. The message is, "there's nothing to see here, move along" and it's a Neocon perversion of the inclusiveness we value.

Maybe not saying this well, & am Latina myself. But, in some way, they thought that by putting credentialled tokens into the Cabinet, they would deflect scrutiny. And, it looks like it's worked.

Special hell for these people, please.

[Vektor]

21. Exactly...

That is so totally what they are doing.

"Sure we'll put a few minorities in the cabinet, and we'll suppress the rest on election day, and you'll never suspect it because look, I have minority friends!!"

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. *'s cabinet

http://tinypic.com/1444dh

[Vektor]

27. Tee-hee! Precisely! n/t

[EFerrari]

28. Stop making me think so hard. lol. What we need to do is

call them on their accusations. It's really SO easy.

East Coast Liberal Elites ("Damn right, sort of like the Founders.")

I don't do interviews, I'm a HIGH public official (Damn right you are, and responsible to the PUBLIC.)

Really, the answer is in the charge. It ALWAYS is. This is not rocket science.

Anyone have a number or addy for the strategy guys <g>?

[me b zola]

33. Clinton is the master of this

He loved it when some knucklehead pundit would spew some stupid question/accusation at him. Then he could attack them and come away smelling like a rose.

[EFerrari]

34. Yes, he was. Zipper or no zipper, I MISS BILL CLINTON, who would

never have fallen for this facile BS.

LOL, even when he fell, he was on his feet.

[DrDebug]

9. So what's next a slander campaign against Conyers

It sounds like they are trying to use an ad-hominem against Conyers...

[merh]

10. What are they scared of?

What are they trying to hide? :shrug:

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[Gothmog]

11. The closer Conyers gets to the truth, the more vicious the attacks

It looks like Conyers is scoring some points. If he gets too close, the attacks will really escalate.

[berniew1]

39. They are finding fraud everywhere; and in races other than president

As investigation continues and more look at the huge amount of election fraud and irregularities at the EIRS election incident report web page www.voteprotect.org
people are finding more and more evidence of fraud and irregularities and suppression and official malfeasance in many states and many races; even lower level races like the following:
http://www.counterpunch.org/moses12272004.html

[Deb]

12. Oh no!

How is the GOP ever going to get these talking pts out to the flock?
The MSM will need to cover the Ohio problems first.
:-)

Time for me to send Sen.Conyers another letter of support.

[fooj]

13. Typical BS...

those cowardly bandits are soooo predictable!!!! BRING 'EM ON!!!!!!!!!!

[ClassWarrior]

15. WHAT

[ClassWarrior]

16. ARE

[ClassWarrior]

17. THEY

[ClassWarrior]

18. HIDING??

NGU.

[Turn CO Blue]

46. What ARE they hiding?

[ChicanoPwr]

22. Attack dogs closing in

....and it's proliferating. This is not a local editorial, it is from the corporate headquarters - Gannett - http://www.gannett.com/


http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/news/...on/1797728.html
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Opinion

Congressman's election concerns appear selective

http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/custo.../contactus.html
________________________________________
Gannett - http://www.gannett.com/

Company Profile --

Gannett Co., Inc. is a large diversified news and information company. Here is a brief rundown of its operations in the USA and abroad:

OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE: Gannett is an international company with headquarters in McLean, Va., and operations in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong.

NEWSPAPERS: Gannett is the USA's largest newspaper group in terms of circulation. The company's 101 daily newspapers in the USA have a combined daily paid circulation of 7.6 million. They include USA TODAY, the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper, with a circulation of approximately 2.3 million. USA TODAY is available in 60 countries worldwide.

Gannett also owns a variety of non-daily publications and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine of 22.7 million circulation delivered in more than 600 Gannett and non-Gannett newspapers.

Newsquest plc, a wholly owned Gannett subsidiary acquired in mid-1999, is the second largest regional newspaper publisher in the United Kingdom with a portfolio of more than 300 titles. Its publications include 17 daily newspapers with a combined circulation of approximately 725,000. Newsquest’s non-daily publications include Berrow's Worcester Journal, the oldest continuously published newspaper in the world.

BROADCASTING:The company owns and operates 21 television stations covering 17.9 percent of the USA.

ON THE INTERNET: Gannett has more than 130 web sites in the United States including USATODAY.com, one of the top newspaper sites on the Internet. Newsquest’s award-winning Web network has more than 80 sites in the United Kingdom.

OTHER VENTURES: Other company operations include Gannett News Service; Clipper, a direct-mail advertising magazine company; Captivate, a network that delivers programming and advertising to television screens in elevators in premier office towers in North America; Gannett Retail Advertising Group; Gannett New Business and Product Development; Gannett Direct Marketing Services; Gannett Offset, a commercial printing operation; Gannett Media Technologies International; and Telematch, a database marketing company.

HISTORY AND FINANCIAL: Founded by Frank E. Gannett and associates in 1906, Gannett was incorporated in 1923, went public in 1967 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1969. The company has approximately 53,000 employees. Its more than 272 million shares of common stock are held by approximately 12,800 shareholders of record in all 50 states and abroad.

Gannett recorded $6.7 billion in operating revenue in 2003.

Board of Directors

Douglas H. McCorkindale
Chairman, president and chief executive officer, Gannett Co., Inc.
Formerly: President, chief executive officer and vice chairman, Gannett Co., Inc. (2000-2001), Vice chairman and president, Gannett Co., Inc. (1997-2000), Vice chairman and chief financial and administrative officer, Gannett Co., Inc. (1985-1997).
Board committee: Executive (Chair).
Other directorships: The Associated Press; Continental Airlines, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; and funds that are part of the Prudential group of mutual funds. Age 64.


Louis D. Boccardi
Retired president and chief executive officer of The Associated Press; former executive editor, The Associated Press; former member and chairman of the Pulitzer Prize Board; and member of the Board of Visitors, the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University. Age 66.
Board committees: Nominating and Public Responsibility; Executive Compensation.

Meredith A. Brokaw
Founder, Penny Whistle Toys, Inc., New York City, and author of children’s books.
Board committee: Nominating and Public Responsibility (Chair).
Other directorships: Conservation International, Washington, D.C.
Age 63.

James A. Johnson
Vice chairman, Perseus LLC.
Board committees: Executive; Executive Compensation (Chair).
Other directorships: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; Target Corporation; Temple-Inland Corporation; United Health Group; KB Home Corporation; Chairman Emeritus of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and former Chairman and Honorary Trustee of the Board of Trustees of The Brookings Institution. Age 60.

Duncan M. McFarland
Retired chairman and chief executive officer of Wellington Management Company, LLP
Board committee: Audit.
Other directorships: Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation. Age 60.

Stephen P. Munn
Chairman, Carlisle Companies, Inc. Age 61.
Board committees: Executive Compensation; Audit.

Donna E. Shalala
President, University of Miami.
Board committee: Nominating and Public Responsibility.
Other directorships: UnitedHealth Group; and Lennar Corporation. Age 63.

Solomon D. Trujillo
Retired chairman and chief executive officer of US West and Orange S.A. Board committee: Audit.
Other directorships: PepsiCo, Inc. and Target Corporation. Age 52.

Karen Hastie Williams
Partner of Washington, D.C., law firm of Crowell & Moring.
Board committees: Executive; Executive Compensation; Audit (Chair).
Other directorships: The Chubb Corporation; Continental Airlines, Inc.; WGL Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Washington Gas Light Company; and trustee of the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Enterprise Foundation. Age 59.

[ChicanoPwr]

26. Here is more

Gannett has publications that target the 20-30 something age groups. Watch for their spew in these "Young Reader Publications at http://www.gannett.com/yrp/default.htm

Kevin Poortinga
Editor & General Manager
[e-mail]

James Burnes
Assistant Editor, Operations
[e-mail]

Kasey Jackson
Assistant Editor, Content
[e-mail]

Arnel Reynon
Creative Manager
[e-mail]

[EFerrari]

29. Thanks, hermanito. Let's talk to these nice people n/t

[Wiley50]

38. Did You Say Maclean, Va?

Sorta convenient place for a cover op.
Don't you Think?

[ChicanoPwr]

44. I do agree

[dogindia]

45. me too.

[mod mom]

24. I wrote Rep Conyers a nice letter urging him to stand firm

against the mean spirited robber barons-everyone knows they lie!

[lonestarnot]

25. They are just shitting in their drawers dude!

And just wait a few days until the ramifications of our actions the last couple of days gets out. I've been brite stick blogging my car and about caused several accident from gawking bushitler supporters sporting W on their bumpers. Hit a tree biatch is all I have to say about that matter.

[me b zola]

31. Nervous, indeed!

I bet we see more of this in the near future. Yes, things are warming up.:smoke:

[Lefty48197]

32. That sounded familiar....

so I looked this up:

http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/0412/28/A08-42340.htm

"If Conyers really wants to get to the bottom of problematic balloting, he ought to come back home. Few places in America have as inept an election system as Detroit. "

"Detroit would be fertile ground for congressional investigators.

Conyers should turn his attention homeward..."


Hmmm, It appears the Detroit News "got the memo". Anything to distract from what John Conyers is up to today!

I was waiting to see Al Gore at a campaign rally in Detroit in late October 2000. I saw John Conyers standing nearby and jumped out of line to go introduce myself and thank him for all the good work he had done over the years on behalf of working people and families. He's always been a hero of mine.

[EFerrari]

35. So right, Lefty. After a while, you just recogtnize the WH template. n/t

[notadmblnd]

36. This is the little note I sent to the Detroit News

It seems to me that if the media was playing the role of government watchdog, Conyers wouldn't need to look into the issue of election fraud.

Instead, printed media has become nothing but a bunch GOP lackeys once again smearing the messenger instead of
investigating what happened in Ohio.

[witchhazl]

43. And here's the letter I just sent them.

What is wrong with this picture? All the leading news organizations of the U.S.-- ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, Fox News -- own the data. Fine and good. But you state they "have no obligation to share it." And here I always thought that it was the purpose and responsibility of the press to *release* information, not hide it.

What are they all so intent on hiding? Since when is "futility" an excuse for hiding the truth? If it is so futile to examine these polls, why not just release them?

The news organizations' flimsy "excuse" that they haven't finished analyzing the data is purely transparent. The data specifically being requested is the *raw* data, ie. data that has not been analyzed, massaged, and adjusted to fit the official election results.

As Bill Moyers has been trying to point out, the mass media in this country is no longer free, and your editorial is just another example of it.

[berniew1]

37. They have good reason to be concerned; more and more fraud documented

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2004/1046

and
http://northnet.org/minstrel/alpage.htm

and more affidavits of irregularities and fraud

in addition to the massive voter suppression of minorities and
more fraud being found in Florida and New Mexico and ...
http://www.flcv.com/fraudpat.html

[helderheid]

42. I love it when they twitch

I smell victory.