**Action Alert** Email from PDA about Kerry/Edwards recount case

[MelissaB]

Dear Friends,

We have learned that the Kerry/Edwards campaign is preparing to withdraw from the Ohio recount case, which is pending in federal court. This move comes as Federal Judge Carr in Toledo prepares to hold a status conference on August 30 on this case, along with two other pending voting rights cases.

When most others stood aside, PDA stood for voting rights and untainted elections in Ohio and in the halls of Congress. We stood to make sure that every vote counts. We have continued to fight together without slowing down.

Yesterday, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. issued a letter to Senators Kerry and Edwards urging that they not withdraw from this case. Here is a link to the letter:

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/congressman-conyers-urges-kerry-and.html

The National Voting Rights Institute and its general counsel John Bonifaz, a PDA National Advisory Board Member, represent 2004 presidential candidates David Cobb and Michael Badnarik in their request for a meaningful recount of the 2004 Ohio presidential vote. During the recount last December, NVRI and its clients documented extensive irregularities in the way county boards of election conducted the recount. This included evidence that the Triad corporation had tampered with voting machines prior to the start of the recount, as well as evidence the county election officials had directly violated rules and procedures so as to avoid a full hand count of the ballots.

In late December, Cobb and Badnarik filed amended counterclaims in this case alleging the recount was not conducted in accordance with basic equal protection and due process guarantees under the US Constitution. At stake in this case today is whether the court will grant the plaintiffs declaratory judgment, setting forth the constitutional standard for how recounts should be conducted in future federal elections. This is a critical precedent to set for any future presidential or congressional election.

Please call/write/email Kerry today urging that he not withdraw and that he join Cobb and Badnarik's amended counterclaims on the way the recount was conducted. To contact Kerry/Edwards campaign office, go to:

http://www.johnkerry.com/contact/


In light of the upcoming August 30 hearing before Judge Carr, time is of the essence. If the proper precedent - of creating a constitutional standard as to how recounts should be conducted in regard to due process guarantees - is set in this case, it will help assure that future elections can and will be held without taint or improper interference. Kerry and Edwards must not back away from this all-important struggle. If they do, they will not only be abandoning all those who stood for them in the campaign and all those who fought for a fair counting of the votes, but they will also be abandoning the fight to make sure that elections in this country do not become the murky purview of corporations whose machines and managers cannot be trusted. Please contact them today and tell them to keep standing for the vote.

In peace and solidarity,

Tim Carpenter
http://www.pdamerica.org

P.S. Thank you again for all your work this week with the launch of the People's Petition for an IRAQ PEACE PROCESS. If you have not signed the petition please go to:


http://www.pdamerica.org/petition/iraq-withdraw-petition.php#here

The vigils last night were amazing. Thank you again for all your help and support.

Please continue to support this work by visiting https://www.pdamerica.org/donate.php and making a contribution.

Let's do it, guys! Senator Kerry needs to hear from us.

[Independent_Liberal]

1. Kick!

[Why Syzygy]

2. oh yeah

like he's gonna do anything. Sorry to say, it's not about votes any more. It's about taking our country back. We need GOOD PEOPLE. HELLO :hi:

[DemInDistress]

3. I emailed Kerry....

I wasn't nice..if he chooses to abandon the recount then he can go FUCK HIMSELF along with JOHN EDWARDS....These 2 mother fuckers dont realize the time,expense,aggravations and the all out efforts to get them elected.What did we learn after the election was finalized? We learned of MASSIVE FRAUD and now these 2 PUNK MOTHER/FUCKERS want to pull out...SHAME ON THEM......

[TexasLawyer]

4. Here's my e-mail

There is something very, very rotten about the Nov. 2, 2004 vote in Ohio. Many people, including myself, suspect deliberate vote manipulation.

Please DO NOT withdraw from the Ohio recount case. You are in a unique position to explore what happened and to address the problem directly. Election fraud and abuse will keep happening until it is uncovered.

My husband and I contributed several hundred dollars to the Kerry/Edwards campaign. We believe that you actually won the presidency, but that the election was stolen. We also believe that you folded way too quickly on November 3. You can make up for that (in part) by going the distance on the Ohio election investigation.

Democracy will die if the vote is not protected. PLEASE stay in the recount!

[MelissaB]

5. Great letter!

:hi:

[wli]

6. any phone numbers for the Ohio issue? n/t

[FogerRox]

7. Kick--- or be kicked, Kerry

[MelissaB]

8. Link to Edward's One America website:

http://www.oneamericacommittee.com/


Anybody know where this should be posted there? Also, is there anywhere else this should be posted that these two may see?

[Time for change]

9. I've e-mailed them

I told Kerry that if he withdraws from this case it will be the worst mistake he's ever made.

Thanks for the reminder. This should be nominated.