Below are links to stories on the election challenge. The Advocate notes that it is people like you -- the readers of this and similar on-line articles -- who made the above news story possible. You did it without substantial media coverage of any kind. You did it without having substantial numbers, substantial institutional inertia, or even substantial support from anyone with a megaphone large enough to stand up and be heard above the national din. Nevertheless, when the challenge came, your efforts saw their fruition heralded across a broad spectrum of worldwide and national media, from news services (e.g., Associated Press, Reuters, Scripps-Howard, Bloomberg) to major newspapers (The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune) to mainstream television and radio (ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, NPR, and even -- albeit kicking and screaming and spinning like a liquored-up baby -- erstwhile Fox News).
According to The New York Times -- the international "paper of record" -- "the debate came about because of the relentless efforts of a small group of third-party activists, liberal lawyers, Internet muckrakers and civil rights groups..."
Indeed! Moreover:
Your efforts led to a recount and a contest of election in Ohio.
Your efforts have led to an ongoing investigation into the November election by the non-partisan Congressional General Accountability Office.
Your efforts led to an ongoing investigation by the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute.
Your efforts led to an ongoing investigation (with a one hundred-page report) by Members of the House Judiciary Committee -- and will lead to future bi-partisan hearings before that same Committee.
Your efforts led Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) to publicly voice support today for a constitutional amendment making voting -- and having one's vote counted -- an enumerated U.S. Constitutional right (which it is not currently, as few are aware).
Your efforts led Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) to promise on the floor of the U.S. Senate that the broken/yet-to-implemented Help America Vote Act will be fixed.
Your efforts led Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to forge an agreement today with Senator Boxer (D-CA) to re-introduce legislation in the Senate requiring a paper-audit for all electronic voting machines currently in service in the United States.
Your efforts have led Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) to sponsor a bill proposing the abolition of the Electoral College -- a bill now supported by at least one Republican Senator, Lincoln Chafee (R-RI).
Your efforts will force Senator Kerry (D-MA) to spend much of the next four years delivering the "election reform" he recently promised his 59 million supporters.
Your efforts, finally, have made history, with the Tubbs-Jones/Boxer election challenge marking only the second time in one-hundred twenty-seven years -- since the inception of the concept in 1877 -- that both houses of Congress have been forced to debate an entire slate of electors. As such, your efforts have convinced the world, and, just as importantly, your fellow U.S. progressives, that grassroots activism is alive and kicking in the nation which currently leads the free world.
And what is most amazing to The Advocate -- it took you only nine weeks to do everything you did.
Imagine what you'll do in the next four years.
See Related Stories:
("The Ohio Objection," The San Francisco Chronicle , 1/7/05)
Editorial
("Keeping Our Democracy Alive: Did Voters Really Count in U.S. Election?", The San Francisco Chronicle, Steve Freeman, 1/7/05)
Article
("First Read," MSNBC.com, Elizabeth Wilner, Mark Murray, and Huma Zaidi, 1/7/05)
Article
("Congress Ratifies Bush Victory After Challenge," The New York Times, Sheryl Gay Stolberg and James Dao, 1/7/05)
Article
("Making Waves Nothing New for Senator Boxer," The Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press, Erica Werner, 1/6/05)
Article
("Democrats Force Debate on Ohio Election Problems," The New York Times, Brian Knowlton, 1/6/05)
Article
("Democrats to Force Debate on Ohio Election," The Washington Post and The Associated Press, Alan Fram, 1/6/05)
4. Thanks! I will forward this to my email group activists!
This this type of information that needs to keep coming in order to affirm everyone who is busting their butts day and night to keep this going. A little encouragement and validation makes all the difference! :toast:
Though I was still in self imposed mourning of the election, I am SO proud of making the decision to come to this site and to get involved with things here.
While I can't take any credit for any of what has happened (as described above), I can only hope that I will be a part of the very next wave that is made by DU, Dems, progressives, civil rights activists, etc.
I would like to offer a hearty Congratulations to those that are members here that worked so tirelessly to see that this came about! Congratulations and many Blessings to you ALL! Thank YOU ALL for this!
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