Nailing Ken Blackwell: FOLLOW THE MONEY!

[AirAmFan]

Remember the exhibit Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) used in the Senate debate over certifying Ohio electoral votes? It was a big blow-up of a fundraising letter in which Ken Blackwell bragged about bringing "conservatives and evangelicals" out to win an electoral victory for Bush:

"the strong campaign we helped the President run in Ohio--coupled with a similar effort I helped deliver for State Issue One (the Marriage Protection Amendment) --can easily be credited with turning out record numbers of conservatives and evangelicals on Election Day". (from http://rawstory.rawprint.com/105/blackwell_campaign_letter2_105.php )

Lautenberg's exhibit stressed the importance of this self promotional passage with yellow highlight marks. I agree this is important, and a VERY important piece of evidence of Blackwell's partisan use of his office as Secretary of State. As Lautenberg, Tim Harken, and other Democrats pointed out many times, not only was Blackwell Ohio Secretary of State, he also was co-chair of the Ohio campaign for Bush/Cheney.

Much attention has focused on how Blackwell misused his office to suppress Democratic votes, particularly with his directives to county election boards nullifying the fundamental purpose of provisional ballots and rejecting voter registration applications on paper that was "too thin". But much less attention has focused on his successful efforts to bring every fundy out of the woodwork on Election Day. Misusing control over elections to favor one candidate has two parts, suppressing votes for one candidate and pumping up votes for the other. Blackwell (and presumably some of his counterparts in ten other states) adapted the California Proposition approach to pump up the far-right vote with attacks on the civil rights of lesbians and gays.

WHERE DID THE MONEY FOR THAT EFFORT COME FROM? Blackwell criss-crossed the state of Ohio many times in partnership with a far-right preacher, rallying self-righteous scapegoat-seekers. He must have spent hundreds of hours of on-the-clock Secretary of State workdays on partisan right-wing activities, hired many "consultants", printed millions of pages of flyers and documents (using the State's resources?), stayed overnight in many hotels, hired many limos, billed the state for wining and dining many right-wing wackos, etc. Has anyone examined his accounting for his official time and official expenses? Is anyone trying to FOLLOW THE MONEY?

Blackwell does not belong in the Governor's mansion, he belongs in prison for his election crimes. And following the money may be the first step toward putting him (and others who did what he did in Ohio and other anti-gay referendum states) where they belong.

[FreepFryer]

1. Agree wholeheartedly, He'll look great in an orange jumpsuit and cuffs.

Yes, Blackwell is clearly in the crosshairs of a few points of investigation. What exactly comes of it, we'll find out.

<edit: added message text>

[wildeyed]

2. Dog him the way they dogged Clinton.

Look at every receipt, account for every minute. There must be a few missteps in there. When they are found, nail him. Great idea.

Forgive me for my ignorance, but why on earth do we allow someone who is in charge of a political campaign run the election, too? This is clearly a huge conflict of interest and makes the situation ripe for abuse. Why is it even legal?

[Coexist]

3. I'm still waiting for the results of Arnebeck's lawsuit.

Can't wait to see what happens there.

[Amaryllis]

18. Did you see Arnebeck's letter to congress yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=247010&mesg_id=247010

[AirAmFan]

4. Lautenberg promised to focus legislation on this very point--it's just not

defensible to have Katherine Harrises and Ken Blackwells in charge of statewide elections while they lead one candidate's partisan campaign. I was very pleased to hear him announce yesterday (during his Ohio electoral vote presentation) he was going to introduce narrowly-focused legislation to prevent future conflicts of interest like Harris's and Balackwell's. Lautenberg is a former Fortune 500 CEO and knows how to get things done in the Senate.

[AirAmFan]

16. Excerpt from TRANSCRIPT of Lautenberg's Senate presentation

From http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=S51&dbname=2005_record :

"CONGRESSIONAL RECORD „ SENATE S51 January 6, 2005

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New Jersey is recognized.

Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, ... there have been reports of systematic voter disenfranchisement and other problems in Ohio, such that we would be derelict in our duty if we failed to investigate it. ...

Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Republican, deviated from election law by severely restricting voters� access to provisional ballots. He went so far as to reject voter registration applications based on paperweight and texture. Those actions and his complete unwillingness to cooperate with Congressman CONYERS� investigation are deeply troubling. His actions are troubling, particularly because he didn�t just serve as the chief election official of his State; he also cochaired the BushCheney campaign in Ohio.

Allowing a State official to oversee a Federal election and simultaneously serve as a partisan campaign official for a candidate in that election is a blatant conflict of interest and we have to put a stop to it. That is why later this month I am going to introduce the Federal Election Integrity Act, a bill to prohibit State election officials from overseeing Federal elections in which they play a partisan role on behalf of one of the candidates.

Secretary Blackwell is now running for Governor. He recently sent a fundraising letter to potential Republican donors. I think his letter underscores the need for my bill. The first page of his letter tells the story. In part, it says:

I have no doubt that the strong campaign we helped the President run in Ohio . . . can easily be credited with turning out record numbers of conservatives and evangelicals on election day.

It is not surprising that many people have no doubt that Secretary Blackwell also ran a strong campaign against other voters, namely minorities and Democrats.

Americans need to believe their election officials are beyond reproach. Allowing such officials to serve simultaneously in a partisan campaign capacity seriously undermines that confidence. That is why, regardless of what happens today, I will introduce the Federal Election Integrity Act. It is a step we can and should take to restore confidence that our elections are fair and the results are accurate.

I don�t believe the objection the junior Senator from California has raised will be sustained this afternoon, but that doesn�t mean we should not discuss the problems that precipitated the objection and do something about them in the future to assure that when the votes are counted, we know everybody has had a fair chance to cast their ballots and that there hasn�t been any tinkering with them.

I yield the floor."

[me b zola]

5. Exactly.

Isn't it amazing how in the wake of how they perverted our democracy by hounding Clinton, these criminals arrogantly walk free bragging about their deeds? I cannot begin to tell you how ill this makes me feel. I believe it should be our priority to see to it that they don't get away with it.

[iconoclastNYC]

6. Where can we follow developments? Who is investigating?

[AirAmFan]

9. One person we know will be pursuing this is Frank Lautenberg

I don't see anything on his webpage ( http://lautenberg.senate.gov ) about his proposed legislation yet. But I do see a convenient way to ask his staff about it (at http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html ).

Another place I'd check is Bob Fitrakis's Columbus Ohio political blog at http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1065. This was the place to which Michael Moore directed Senators' attention for reasons why they should have stood with Barbara Boxer.

[AirAmFan]

11. Here's Lautenberg's new fact sheet on his proposed legislation

From http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005106933.html :

"FEDERAL ELECTION INTEGRITY ACT OF 2005 To be introduced by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg

Senator Lautenberg's Federal Election Integrity Act (FEIA) of 2005 would prohibit Secretaries of State and other state election officials with supervisory authority over the administration of Federal elections from participating in the political campaign or management of a candidate running for Federal office in their state. The FEIA creates a direct prohibition on State election officials from taking part in political campaigns by amending the Federal Campaign Act of 1971. ...

Conflict of Interest

There is an inherent conflict of interest when an election official charged with supervising the administration of an election, and ensuring the fairness and accuracy of the results has a direct role in the campaign of one of the candidates running for Federal office. In the 2004 Presidential election, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell was co-chairman of Bush/Cheney '04 in Ohio. On December 6th, 2004, Blackwell certified President Bush as the winner in Ohio.

This is the second presidential election that presented such a conflict of interest in a critical state. In the 2000 election, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris served as co-chair of President Bush's Florida campaign. President Bush's narrow victory in Florida gave President Bush the state's 25 electoral votes necessary to win the presidency...."

[mod mom]

7. Count me in to help. Mc tigue said at a post election meeting

that issue 1 was written in such a way that it could be thrown out and re-introduced again (perhaps in 2 years when Blackwell is running for gov)

please note: Blackwell is speaking on Weds Jan 12 in Upper Arlington
Ethics in Leadership (can you believe the irony)
sponsor: UA Chamber of Commerce
Scioto Country Club
Weds Jan 13
11:30-1:00
Cost non members $ 30
614/481-5710

[AirAmFan]

10. Blackwell is speaking on 'Ethics in Leadership'?! What chutzpah!

[lonestarnot]

8. There must be a relentless pursuit of the money in this case!

[Wilms]

12. Great thread. n/t

[AirAmFan]

13. Thanks. I think Blackwell is VERY ripe for a slap-down

[pixelthief]

14. Nail Blackwell!

We should funnel considerable resources into nailing Blackwell. Katherine Harris got a seat in the house for her role in 2000. It's clear that the intent is to reward Blackwell w/ a governorship. We cannot let that heppen!

If we smear him beyond repair and end his career, it will send a message to other secretary of states next time around.

We've got plenty to work with.

[goclark]

15. Let's do it! He needs to be held responsible

We need to use all our energy to find whistle blowers and dig up compelling information.

There is nothing unkind about this, it was done on Clinton for days and he didn't try to stop anybody from voting.

Is Blackwell married?

[spooked911]

17. Yes-- great point!

Undoubtedly he is just as corrupt as Bush

[McCamy Taylor]

19. This is the kind of thing Special Prosecutors are For

Start writing letters to editors and politicians about how GOP controlled Congress and GOP State and Fed AG can not investigate a GOP Sec of State, therefore we need a Special Prosecutor. Everytime a new piece of dirt is uncovered about Blackwell, use it as an excuse to call for a Special Prosecutor.


"Special Prosecutor" and "Election Reform" should go hand in hand.

[AirAmFan]

21. Excellent point. Lautenberg's legislation could create a permanent

Special Prosecutor to police states' and counties' administration of Federal elections. That may be the best way to get rid of partisan bias on the part of the people who are supposed to play referees and scorekeepers.

[corbett]

20. Ohio Oreo Alert

He betrayed his constituents and he betrayed his race. For that alone, he deserves a political crucifixion. However, we can't stop there. He needs to be arrested right away, on federal charges. That'll put the fear of God into him and loosen his lips so that we can prove the shrub's involvement.

Kerry still can win but we have to act immediately.