Conyers slaps back at Blackwell over questioning motivations of report

[rawstory]

Conyers, Blackwell duel over voting report

By John Byrne | RAW STORY Editor

In response to an attack by Ohio Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell on the motivation of Rep. John Conyers’ (D-Mich.) investigation into Ohio voting irregularities, Conyers expressed his frustration in a brief email to RAW STORY Thursday evening.

“I’m amazed that the chief elections official of the state that faced the most irregularities and the first state wide electoral challenge in history wouldn’t even bother to try to set the record straight on a single irregularity,” Conyers wrote.

“There is no more significant issue facing congress than making sure our democracy works,” the congressman added. ” We saw unprecedented irregularities in Ohio last November, and I think while the Secretary of State may not think he owes any one congressperson an answer, he certainly owes the nation and the state of Ohio a response.”

Details of Conyers'-Blackwell sparring today (quotes & new letter) at http://rawstory.com

[New Earth]

1. god i love that man

i hope he never stops. he will take Blackwell down!

[troubleinwinter]

3. Yes, yes, Faye! Ya know... SPECIAL PROSECUTOR!

[RevCheesehead]

14. I wonder if Kenneth Starr would like an opportunity to redeem himself.

THIS time, he would actually have something to investigate!

[troubleinwinter]

16. Eeeeeewwww??? Ew.

[euler]

29. Wikopedia - Special prosecutor

It's been pointed out several times already that a special prosecutor can prosecute federal officials only. You can't use a special prosecutor on Blackwell.

Special Prosecutor: A special prosecutor is a lawyer from outside the government appointed by the attorney general or Congress to investigate a federal official for misconduct while in office.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_prosecutor

[troubleinwinter]

37. Conyers and three other House Judiciary members request appointment

of a special council to investigate Blackwell. I would suppose that the Minority Leader of the House Judiciary has some clue about what he is doing.

"Four Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee asked the Department of Justice to begin a criminal investigation into Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell today....

Among other matters, the referral is to request an investigation into voter intimidation, improper voter purging, perjury, possible misuse of Help America Vote Act funds, tampering with voting machines during Ohio’s recount and Blackwell’s misuse of the Great Seal of the United States in a campaign letter.

In the matter of misusing the Great Seal in violation of federal law, ....the congressmen and women are seeking a special prosecutor."

http://rawstory.rawprint.com/105/conyers_ashcroft_letter_114.php

[MelissaB]

17. He is my hero!

He deserves :loveya:

[troubleinwinter]

2. Representative John Conyers, American Hero, SIZZLES!

[New Earth]

4. lol whoops

i think i just accidentally left dupe comments on your article. i don't know if either of them went thru, but i only meant to leave one.

[ohtransplant]

5. Blackwell needs smacked hard.

Conyers may be the guy to do it and keep him under the microscope.

In any event, this guy can't be permitted to by governor of Ohio.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Why don't we smack him..Blackwell?

How can we reach Blackwell?

I say we start a letter-writing campaign.

Conyers represents us. He's working on our behalf.

Maybe Blackwell needs to be deluged with letters from all over the country, telling him that HE OWES AMERICA AN EXPLANATION AND THAT WE ARE NOT FOOLED BY HIM--and that we demand answers now.

If he won't answer to Conyers, maybe we can put him in the position of dogging the American people!

Let's see how well that sits with the media, after we issue our press release--detailing how Blackwell treated our concerns.

If you want to play big-boy games and rig an election, Mr. Blackwell, you'd damn well better be prepared to deal with "We the People"!!

[ohtransplant]

8. I know it's a pipe dream

but I'd love this guy to be subpoenaed to testify in front of a Congressional committee.

Lacking that, I'll be going to work for some Dem who runs for Governor

[mikelewis]

9. Here's his contact information - What should we say?

[troubleinwinter]

19. I think the letter-writing should go to

The Congressional Judiciary Committee, not Blackwell. Won't do a bit of good to write Buttwell.

Write to the ENTIRE Judiciary, including the Repubs, asking for investigation. Remember to be polite (don't want to alienate them). I am sure Mr. Conyers would appreciate support from us to the 'other side' of the committee.

[darkworkz]

20. remember one thing...

The way to get Congressional attention is with snail-mail. The federal system is still run by paper. Swamp them with letters not email. And every thing you send should have the CC of all others that received the letter.

Email is great, but hard copy gets it done.

[troubleinwinter]

21. Good reminder! Hafta go buy a packet of stamps tomorrow!

[Helga Scow Stern]

33. Or fax. Snail mail is delayed now for up to 2 weeks, according to the

websites of many congresspeople -- and it gets irradiated. Anthrax scare.

I just happen to have a handy-dandy list of House Judiciary Committee
contact info:

House Judicary Committee fax

Republicans: 202-225-7682

Democrats: 202-225-4423

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

REPUBLICANS

Chairman:
Congressman James F. Sensenbrenner, Jr.
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4905
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Congressman Henry Hyde
2110 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/hyde/get_address2.htm

Congressman Howard Coble
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3306
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Congressman Lamar Smith
2231 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4321
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/contact.asp

Congressman Elton Gallegly
2427 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0523
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Congressman Bob Goodlatte
2240 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] fax

Congressman Steve Chabot
129 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
[phone]
[phone] (fax)
http://www.house.gov/chabot/email.html

Congressman Bill Jenkins
1207 Longworth Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone [phone]
Fax. [phone]

Congressman Chris Cannon
118 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Congressman Spencer Bachus
442 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202 225-4921 phone
202 225-2082 fax
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Congressman John Hostettler
1214 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
[e-mail]

Congressman Mark Green
1314 Longworth Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
mailto:[e-mail]

Congressman Ric Keller
419 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0908
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


Congresswoman Melissa Hart
1508 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph. 202-225-2565
Fx. 202-226-2274
http://hart.house.gov/contact.asp

Congressman Jeff Flake
424 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0301
[phone] - phone
[phone] - fax
[e-mail]

Congressman Mike Pence
1605 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
[phone] office
[phone] fax
http://www.house.gov/formpence/IMA/contact.htm

Congressman J. Randy Forbes
307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/forbes/zipauth.htm

Congressman Steve King
1432 Longworth Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Congressman John Carter
408 CHOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Congressman Tom Feeney
323 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
phone:[phone]
fax:[phone]
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
509 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-2811
202-225-3004 fax
http://www.house.gov/writerep/


DEMOCRATS

Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] Fax
http://www.house.gov/conyers/letstalk.htm

Congressman Howard Berman
2221 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/berman/contact/

Congressman Rick Boucher
2187 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-3861
202-225-0442(fax)
[e-mail]

Congressman Jerrold Nadler
2334 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel. [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/nadler/emailform.shtml

Congressman Bobby Scott
2464 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
[phone] Phone
[phone] Fax
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Congressman Mel Watt
2236 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515-0001
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
102 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0516
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/lofgren/emailform.shtml

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee
2435 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] Fax
http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/feedback.cfm?campaign=jacksonlee&type=Let%27s%
20Talk

Congresswoman Maxine Waters
2344 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-2201 phone
202-225-7854 fax
http://congress.org/congressorg/mail/?id=658&type=CO&state=CA

Congressman Marty Meehan
U.S. House of Congressmans
2229 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Congressman Bill Delahunt
1317 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Congressman Robert Wexler
213 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] FAX
http://www.house.gov/wexler/contact.htm

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
1022 Longworth Building
Washington DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] Fax
http://www.house.gov/formbaldwin/IMA/get_address.htm

Congressman Anthony Weiner
1122 Longworth HOB
Washington DC 20515
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Congressman Adam Schiff
326 Cannon HOB
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/schiff/as_sub_contact.htm

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
1007 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6676
Fax [phone]
http://www.house.gov/lindasanchez/contact.shtml

On edit: I don't know how those frownies got there. I googled this complete list off the internets.

[Carolab]

22. Yes, yes! LTTEs ALL OVER THE PLACE, especially Ohio!

Anyone got the media blaster links?

[MasonJar]

12. Is Blackwell going to be in charge of the elections when he runs

for governor? That would be interesting. I wonder who will win? Bush will drop him like a piece of flaming do do if it gets too hot. He's had practice. Shall I say Kenny Boy?

[ohtransplant]

24. Well he certainly won't let his conscience get in the way.

That's apparent.

If he could get away with it, I think it would be OK in his mind.

[rumpel]

7. Go Conyers Go

:bounce:

[suffragette]

10. Conyers

:loveya:

[selmo7]

11. I second that emotion

:loveya:

[MelissaB]

18. I'll third it.

I didn't read all the way down before.
:loveya:

[KingoftheJungle]

13. the man is on a roll !!!

I never thought I could ever have this much respect for a politician in my life. Conyers continues to amaze me, and I thank him and the congressmen behind him for restoring my faith in the possibility of a true people's government.

[FogerRox]

15. Big John --Rockin an Rollin

[bleever]

23. What is Blackwell hiding? With Conyers on his case,

how long can he hide it?

I continue to be impressed with how clearly and directly Conyers expresses himself.

I Believe in John Conyers.

:thumbsup:

[Coexist]

25. Blackwell is arrogant

[bleever]

30. That's the polite word for it. :)

[IndyPriest]

26. Conyers as U.S. Attorney General

Can't you just imagine? What a difference THAT'D make!

[frictionlessO]

27. Duh-HAMN! Kudos to rawstory for being all over this today!

Thank you for bringing this inspirational battle of wit (blackwell has none about him so it is singular)!

Conyers is the best kind of politician... a patriot!

Thanks again rawstory!

[IndyOp]

28. Rep. Conyers sent it not just to Blackwell but to all 88 BOE's --

this IS good news. Most people at the local level are honest, will be surprised by what they see, and maybe, maybe will step forward with information when they see the scope of the disenfranchisement. I hope Representative Conyers sticks with the strategy of directly contacting the local folks - interrogating them will get them further faster than interrogating Blackwell (who will pull a 'Gonzalez').

:kick:

[rehema]

31. What happened to Kerry's request for election records?? n/t

[New Earth]

32. from what i've heard

that lawsuit is still 'in the process', not resolved yet. there seems to be a little silence over in the Ohio investigations...i wonder what's going on....

[rehema]

36. Thanks for the info n/t

[corbett]

34. Check Your Webster's

Under the word Patriot, you'll see Conyers' photo.

It's no wonder he's been reelected so many time. The man abides by his oath to represent his constituents and the nation and uphold the constitution.

Bizarre concepts, I know!

[lonestarnot]

35. Most of my heroes are JOHNS! LOL

And I don't mean to be disrespectful. My son is named John, my Grandpa was John, John Conyers...they don't come any better. This man is the man of the century no doubt about it!