More on the PA Green scandal - Signatures came from JSM inc!!!

[LynneSin]

JSM Inc was hired to gather the 67K signatures needed to get the Green candidate on the ticket and the fees were paid by republican supporters of Rick Santorum. Here's a little history of JSM and their ability to gather signatures:

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/22/loc_nader.html

Six testify to Nader petition fraud

by Jim Siegel
Enquirer Columbus Bureau


COLUMBUS - Six people testified Tuesday - with more to come today - laying out a case of widespread fraud in the collection of Ohio petitions for presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

A 32-year-old Cincinnati resident was among those who said they falsely signed petitions stating they had gathered the names Nader needs to qualify for the ballot in November.

"I was wrong in that. I shouldn't have done that," Gregory Reese Jr. told a hearing officer for the Ohio secretary of state's office.

<<<<snip>>>>

But a team of attorneys fighting the petitions is challenging more than 3,000 of those signatures on the basis that they were collected fraudulently by those paid to come in from outside Ohio.

Columbus attorney Donald McTigue said that, in his more than 20 years in the election-law business, "I have never seen a fraud so pervasive in this state."

Witnesses from Dayton, Kettering and Cincinnati all testified Tuesday that they falsely signed petitions claiming to have collected and witnessed signatures. Some said their signatures were forged.

An entire family from Dayton said Tuesday they had never heard of Ralph Nader, even though they signed as witnesses to signatures on nearly 100 petitions.

<<<<snip>>>>

Reese said he signed off as the official circulator of 10 to 15 petitions at the request of the team's leader, a woman from California reportedly paid by Florida-based JSM Inc. to come to Ohio and get Nader on the ballot.

The Nader campaign hired JSM to collect signatures in a handful of states.

AND in today's news!!!

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/pa_dems_will_ch.html

PA Dems Will Challenge Green Signatures
The chairman of the PA Dem party, T.J. Rooney, said today he'll challenge the signatures that Green Party candidate Carl J. Romanelli submitted to join the Senate ballot. A number of those signatures were collected by JSM, Inc.

Rooney: “This is a questionable and controversial firm that has a history of fraudulent activity where many signatures, and candidates in some instances, have been thrown off the ballot in various states. We will ensure that this doesn’t take place in Pennsylvania and that the integrity of the electoral process is safeguarded.”

Backers of Sen. Rick Santorum donated nearly $60,000 to help Romanelli, who is pro-choice, gather signatures to get on the ballot. The Green Party counts fewer than 20K members in PA; it took 67K signatures to earn a spot, and Romanelli turned in more than 90K.

[enough]

1. Thanks for keeping us up on this story, LynneSin.

[OzarkDem]

2. Its an insult to PA voters

They have the right to make a decision about what candidates are on their ballot. Greens and the GOP have no right forcing candidates onto the ballot if voters don't support it.

[OzarkDem]

3. Kick n/t