Keating Law Firm files Suit for GOP Against Ohio SOS Brunner for GOP's Mistake in Ballot Dispute

[mod mom]

Political lines drawn in ballot dispute

Posted by joncraig at 9/17/2008 7:34 PM EDT
This year's election challenges could rival those leading up to the 2004 presidential election, in which the nation looked to Ohio for the final outcome.

For a second time in a week, Republicans filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court against Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Today's suit challenged Brunner's recommendation that county Boards of Election reject certain absentee-ballot applications produced by Sen. John McCain's campaign if a box was not marked. Here is Brunner's Sept. 5 memorandum to county Boards of Elections and a related directive.

The lawsuit was filed by two Hamilton County voters who requested absentee ballots using McCain's form but had their applications rejected: Betty R. Smith, 77, of Anderson Township and William Myles of Bridgetown.

Smith thinks the county Board of Elections should have approved her original application: "They're trying to mess things up someplace,'' Smith said in an interview. "It doesn't make sense."

-snip

The voters are represented by Cincinnati attorneys James E. Burke and Charles M. Miller of the Keating, Muething & Klekamp law firm who filed and will argue the case.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=blog02&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aec38bb2b-982e-46ba-819a-da01a547e8eaPost%3a3f56ff50-383d-4a57-99dd-9848ec403508&plckCommentSortOrder=TimeStampAscending&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com


Did you catch the name of the law firm representing the GOP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Keating

[hobbit709]

1. Funny how the repukes want the letter of the law followed when it BENEFITS them.

But not when it goes against them.

[mod mom]

2. Even funnier that they would bring the name KEATING back into the spotlight.

Couldn't they have found another Republican Law Firm?

[mod mom]

5. CBS: "Bank Tied To John McCain's Son Goes Under" Me: Like father, like son

Now to straight out of today's headlines:

Bank Tied To John McCain's Son Goes Under
Andrew McCain Served On Silver State Bank's Board Until July Before Leaving; Bank's Failure Marks 11th Of The Year
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2008

-snip
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/06/business/main4422652.shtml

[spotbird]

3. I'm so confused

I thought the Republicans placed the box on the applications in an effort to challenge otherwise valid absentee ballots. So they are now suing to have the ballots issued, if they're successful, then what? The article said that the elected Ohio Supreme court is 100% Republican, so the outcome of the suit is clear, but what's their game?

[mod mom]

4. GOP sent out millions bad absentee ballots, now straight out of rove's playbook, they are trying

to spin their mistake to make it sound as if Brunner (a Dem) is disenfranchising voters.

[mod mom]

7. Good explanation here:

For those of you not following the details of this story, here is some background. The McCain campaign printed and sent to likely supporters an absentee ballot application. That is perfectly legal. Ohio does NOT require a specific form, only the required information. The mailer in question put at the top a checkbox next to the required information like so:

[] I am a qualified elector and would like to receive an Absentee Ballot for the November 4, 2008 General Election.

The information in the statement above is required by Ohio law. You must state you are a “qualified elector” (legal language for registered voter) and request an absentee ballot for a particular election. The statement does that, BUT an unchecked box means no or not applicable, does it not? Think about these examples in common usage.

[] I agree to the terms of service.
[] I am over 13 years of age.
[] I want to sign up for this newsletter.

Not checking the box means what? It means, NO.

Ohio law also requires boards of election to contact voters with problems on their absentee application. Not only were boards doing that but Secretary of State Brunner went above and beyond by directing BOEs to mail a new application to voters and has a link at her website on applying for an absentee ballot. Now she gets slammed for partisan politics?! Hogwash.

The hypocrisy should be evident to even the most ardent or clueless of partisans. Last week the GOP sued to prevent early voting during the overlapping window of registration and availability of absentee ballots (the period September 30 – October 6). http://snipurl.com/3pxi1

[liam_laddie]

6. Other than being a republiklan,

Bill Keating is considered a mostly decent person, in stark contrast to his brother Charles, of
the Keating 5/McLame fame. YMMV.