IMPT -- RECOUNT Contributions going to wrong place - write Randi

[Eloriel]

Hi, folks. It's come to my attention that Randi Rhodes continues to ask her listeners to contribute to Alliance for Democracy. May be a great organization, but it is a 501(c)(3) which CANNOT get involved in helping FUND the recounts. Please help out by writing Randi Rhodes with the facts. Just got off the phone with hedda_foil, co-founder of the 527 formed specifically to help fund the recounts AND help coordinate the recount efforts, and thought ya'll would want to know the scoop.

On the Alliance's website (http://www.thealliancefordemocracy), they have the following:

Your tax-deductible contributions to the Ohio Honest Election Campaign will go toward

* Documenting voting problems in a form usable in litigation
* Expert investigation of how votes were tallied
* Publicly reporting and acting to uphold the rule of law in the 2004 Ohio election.


This is a change from earlier, where they said they were going to help FUND the recounts. They can't; they're a 501(c)(3) and are prevented from being involved with that per IRS rules. Hedda had written to them about it, they wrote back saying, "Oh, yeah, our counsel says it's fine," but in the meantime have changed that. Good for them. Now they should be okay with the IRS.

However, there has been NO coordination with the Cobb folks, Help America Recount, or any other involved group by the Alliance. If they're gathering info for litigation purposes, why are they not coordinating with these groups? It's not like we have an endless or lengthy deadline to get together any "litigation" information, so why are they not coordinating with the folks on the ground who are doing the work?

The Cobb Campaign Manager is doing all the foot work -- and Help America Recount is heavily involved with helping, getting volunteers, getting them trained, getting observers, getting lawyers, COMPUTER EXPERT TEAMS, etc., etc., etc. -- all the stuff the Kerry campaign would do if it had it's act together on this stuff. NO HELP WHATSOEVER from the Alliance has been forthcoming. They COULD be getting volunteers and observers, but -- nothing.

By all means, if you want to help this recount effort, donate to whoever you want. At this point, the Cobb campaign and Help America Recount are the surest bets, but in our opinion, the Alliance for Democracy bears further checking out. You KNOW your money will go for recounts quite directly with donations to both/either the Cobb campaign and/or the Help America Recount 527 organization formed by DUer hedda_foil, while the stated goals of the Alliance for Democracy offers no such certainty.

Just wanted to let everyone know the score.

It would be helpful if DUers would help Randi get the message. She's raising tons of money for the Alliance, under the (mistaken) impression that it's for the recount. It's NOT. (Can't be, per IRS.)

Thanks.

Oh, and if you're not familiar with it, I try to keep track of all the news and developments as possible here:

VOTE FRAUD Links - a DU Compendium
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=201&topic_id=1984#

VOTE FRAUD Links Compendium - Thread #2
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=201x3223

LOTS of good info, great resources, places to put your activism, etc., and speaking of which, also see ways to get very directly involved here at DU over in the Voting Issues forum.

Thanks, everyone.

[merh]

1. Email Bev Harris and ask her to call Randi

Bev will get Randi's attention. That will be so much quicker and less complicated than an email barrage. imho

[Eloriel]

4. Bev has her hands quite full at the moment too

Might get Randi's attention better, but it's the weekend anyway. A few dozen emails might be just as effective, and a lot less of a pain for people who are getting things DONE, with precious little time for mop up work.

[LittleApple81]

2. So what happens with the money we already contributed? That was my budget

for this effort. Sorry that it went to the wrong place.

[Eloriel]

3. Unfortunately, I have no idea

Again, they may be a great organization, I just don't understand why there's been no coordination AT ALL with the folks on the ground in OH doing the work.

I have tried, in my limited way, to correct or clarify any time I've seen some "donate" threads or posts, but I'm only one person.

[Nickster]

5. Thanks for the heads up.

This pisses me of though. I put money in the Kerry GELAC fund for this and I donated to the Alliance for Democracy because of Randi and all she said about this group. Yet again, I've spent my precious few dollars that I could afford to fund something that won't help us at all.

[Eloriel]

6. FINALLY, a clue as to what they're up to

Posted elsewhere on DU:

Link: Lawyers documenting voting problems say they'll challenge election
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x64425

(I'm not taking time to register at the paper with the story) -- here's the post from DU:

Posted on Fri, Nov. 19, 2004

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lawyers who have been documenting voting day problems in Ohio say they'll challenge the results of the presidential election as soon as the vote is official.

The lawyers say documented cases of long lines, a shortage of machines and a pattern of problems in predominantly black neighborhoods are enough evidence to bring such a challenge.

"The objective is to get to the truth," said Cliff Arnebeck, a lawyer who said he'll represent voters who cast ballots Nov. 2. Arnebeck said the effort is bipartisan.

"What's critically important, whether it's President Bush or Sen. Kerry, whoever's been actually elected, is to know you won by an honest election," he said. "So it's in the interest of both sides as American citizens to know the truth and to have this answered."

More than 200 people in Columbus voiced their complaints Nov. 13 about voting problems on Election Day, some accusing the state of voter suppression. Many were Kerry supporters.

The hearing was organized by Robert Fitrakis, a lawyer and political science professor at Columbus State Community College, who is also involved in filing the challenge.

Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell will certify the election results by Dec. 6, spokesman Carlo LoParo said Friday.

-------------------

However, it still puzzles me why they're not coordinating with the other folks VERY directly involved. And read the other posts in the DU thread as well for additional commentary/analysis/and QUESTIONS.

ALSO -- their web address is dot ORG, not dot COM as I posted it. Sorry. (I also think they've VERY recently, like this afternoon/evening, changed their front page to move the donations and other info to a back page, linked to from the front page.)

[KoKo]

7. I don't think Randi would steer folks wrong or Eloriel...whatever we've

given to is probably getting "SOMETHING" done on the ground somewhere to help get the Corrupt/Fraudulent voting exposed.

I know we are all stretched thin after this campaign and the fact that many of us supported different candidates before we coalesced around Kerry.

Whatever we give to...if we see it here on DU is probably worthwhile..and it will help. Didn't want to see DU'ers feeling they threw their money away... Many groups vying for funds but if they are all opposing Bush...we have to hope it's for a great cause. :shrug:

[floridadem30]

8. kick

[GreenInNC]

9. the only two groups that are/can directly challange the count

are the Green Party's David Cobb and the Libertarian's Michael Badnareck. Only candidates can directly ask for a re-count and these are the only two that are. Not sure of the LP's site but Cobb's is: www.votecobb.org

[madrigal]

10. kick