Shocking Diebold Conflict of Interest

[kpete]

Published on Thursday, April 6, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
Shocking Diebold Conflict of Interest Revelations From Secretary of State Further Taint Ohio's Electoral Credibility
by Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman

Ohio is reeling with a mixture of outrage and hilarity as Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has revealed that he has owned stock in the Diebold voting machine company, to which Blackwell tried to award unbid contracts worth millions while allowing its operators to steal Ohio elections. A top Republican election official also says a Diebold operative told him he made a $50,000 donation to Blackwell's "political interests."

A veritable army of attorneys on all sides of Ohio's political spectrum will soon report whether Blackwell has violated the law. But in any event, the revelations could have a huge impact on the state whose dubiously counted electoral votes gave George W. Bush a second term. Diebold's GEMS election software was used in about half of Ohio counties in the 2004 election. Because of Blackwell's effort, 41 counties used Diebold machines in Ohio's highly dubious 2005 election, and now 47 counties will use Diebold touchscreen voting machines in the May 2006 primary, and in the fall election that will decide who will be the state's new governor.

Blackwell is the frontrunner for Ohio's Republican nomination for governor. The first African-American to hold statewide office, the former mayor of Cincinnati made millions in deals involving extreme right-wing "religious" radio stations.

As part of his campaign filings he has been required to divulge the contents of his various stock portfolios. Blackwell says that in the process he was "surprised" to learn he owned Diebold shares. According to central Ohio's biggest daily, the conservative Republican "Columbus Dispatch," Blackwell claims his multi-million-dollar portfolio has been handled "by a financial manager without his advice or review."

more at:
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0406-27.htm

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you...

[Peanutcat]

2. Oh the horror, the horror . . . .

[DRoseDARs]

3. This is HUGH!!1

Please not: We're not mocking you, it's just that none of this is that "shocking" anymore, just more evidence to try to get criminal prosecutions and convictions with.

[nicknameless]

4. Hey, give the guy a break. His payola is handled by a financial manager.

:eyes:

[Dr.Phool]

5. There's a hell of a coincidence.

Jerry Springer and Kenneth Blackwell are both former mayors of Cincinnatti.

Also

Dennis Kucinich and George Voinovich are both former mayors of Cleveland.

[progressoid]

6. What's the big deal? A guy's got to make a living, right?

[ClintonTyree]

7. What is wrong with Republicans?

I know, we could debate that until the end of time but why do these Republicans never have any knowledge of where their money is? They just give it to people and forget all about I guess. Same thing happened to Frist with his "not so blind trust". These guys have to keep better tabs on their finances or someone could rip them off. :eyes:
And they can never seem to hire good help either. Every "low level staffer" they hire always mucks up their resume or releases classified information or lies to the press etc. It must be really tough to find good help, if you're a Republican. :sarcasm:
Yep, Republicans sure have it tough. Someone close to them is always screwing up, it's a crying shame I tell you! :cry:

[Cobalt Violet]

8. Kick.

[Imagevision]

9. Diebold operative makes $50,000 donation to Blackwell's campaign

This sounds like a really bad Hollywood b-movie

[Monk06]

10. Diebold is a Communist front

Diebold should give Hugo Chavez $50,000 since Hugo used Diebold machines
to 'steal' the last election.

With Jimmy Carter's help of course.

Heh, if those machines are good enough for Jebediah, there good enough for
Hugo.

[The Wizard]

11. Throw Diebold machines into the harbor

Diebold's real conflict is with free and fair elections. They have compromised democracy for cheap partisan gain in the short run. Walden O'Dell is part and parcel of the illegal junta. Diebold has made it impossible to remove corrupt politicians through the electoral process. Is Devils Island still in operation?

[whopis01]

12. kick n/t