Well one public official goes down with election fraud...

[Pacifist Patriot]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-asecmayindict12031205mar12,1,3789719.story?coll=orl-home-specialbreaking

In a day of swift and stunning developments, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer surrendered under indictment Friday to answer charges he violated state absentee-ballot law and was quickly removed from office....

Now why am I not surprised that a democrat is the first to go? If he did do this, than fine. Go after him. But dammit I cannot believe he is the only politician in Florida to violate election law. And certainly not the most egregious. If the Republicans are serious about going after this than they'd better get really good at cover up. Martinez supposedly engaged in the exact same bullshit. Why isn't he being dragged back from Washington? GRrrr!!!!!!!!

[KaliTracy]

1. Yep.... the dems get nabbed for giving stamps to absentee voters...

see this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x342261

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Ezzie Thomas also worked for Mel Martinez and Glenda Hood

if he 'collected' ballots for Dyer, then he also collected ballots for Martinez and Hood. Martinez and Hood know how Ezzie operates. How Ezzie loves to help old black people. Especially the illiterate ones. That's how folks like him 'collect' votes for whoever they happen to be working for at the moment. What most people don't realize is that the Repugs did this all over Florida.

On paper everything looks great. However, a fair number of these votes are from people who can't read and Ezzie and others fill out the ballots for them and get them to sign it.

That's how Bush won the absentee vote in FL, while Kerry won the Early Voting. Election day broke about even between the two.

[KaliTracy]

4. so will he talk? will there be comparisons given? or just Dems on the line

Here's a link

http://forums1.sonymusic.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/628107211/m/9361087211

<snip>
"Mr Thomas and his organisation, the Orlando Voters' League, has not been accused of paying for votes, but they have acknowledged paying the 37 cent postage for some people's absentee ballots. The allegations seem particularly absurd because such practices are par for the course for both political parties.

"Mr Thomas has previously been hired by Republican candidates to perform exactly the same services he provided for Mr Dyer - without falling foul of the law. Among his past clients is a name with particular resonance: Glenda Hood, Jeb Bush's Secretary of State. "
<snip> {emphasis mine}

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Bush won the absentee vote in FL

Kerry won the Early Vote.

The Election Day vote was about even.

I know for a fact, that not only Ezzie, but other Republican operatives 'collected' absentee ballots and whenever possible, voted for the person they were collecting the ballot from.

[berniew1]

3. The company Dyer hired to help with an absentee voter campaign is one used

mostly by Republicans in florida for years. The Repubs in Florida have been engaging in major automated absentee ballot operations like this for years, much of it illegal and much of it known about but none ever prosecuted that I'm aware of. Martinez did use the same company for similar purpose as Dyer, but hasn't been prosecuted.
And others that are known about did also. The difference it seems is that the Repub activist follow up on things like this, publicizing it, contacting authorities about it, etc. and make sure action is taken. But Dem activists don't seem to be into that kind of thing. And it is also true that a lot of law enforcement agencies have some who have a partisan leaning.

Dyer apparently made the mistake of thinking he could do the same thing that the Repubs in Florida have been doing for years. Maybe a better plan would have been to make sure the law is enforced for all and don't allow any to do the kind of automated absentee ballot operation Dyer got in trouble about.

[dzika]

6. It's mostly spin... here are some facts

I have noticed numerous sensational headlines but most of the article don't give all the facts.

The following quotes are from a statement by Buddy Dyer released on 3/11...

One year ago the Orlando Police Department was contacted by Brian Mulvaney, the brother of my political opponent and asked to investigate allegations of voter fraud in the 2004 election. Rather than have a law enforcement department that reports directly to me investigate charges against my campaign I asked Chief McCoy to turn this matter over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further investigation.

I can report that after a year of investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a Grand Jury investigation they have found what I knew to be the case one year ago­ there was no voter fraud in the 2003 and 2004 election. Let me repeat there was no voter fraud. No manipulation of votes. No finding of anything other than each ballot cast was properly done so by an elector of the City of Orlando and those votes were counted on election night last year.

(...)

The bad news is that during the course of their investigation the FDLE switched their focus to a vague Florida statute that has never been applied in this state. They contend that the work of one political consultant and citizen of our city, Ezzie Thomas, constituted a violation of State Statue. Mr. Thomas has worked in this community as a political activist and consultant for years and his clients have included the Chief Elections Officer of this state, former Mayor Glenda Hood, our newest United States Senator Mel Martinez, City Council members, County Commissioner members, the Change for Kids Campaign and the Mobility 20/20 campaign and members of the State Legislature.

(...)

I do not believe any employee of my campaigns intentionally violated any campaign laws while conducting the business of the campaign. At no time was I made aware of or condoned any activity that constituted a violation of any law and I believe the charges leveled against my campaigns and me are without merit and are politically motivated.

(...)

With regard to the management of our City, until this matter is adjudicated. When we are successful in that fight I will return to the office to serve as your Mayor for the remainder of my term.

Florida law does not require the Governor to suspend indicted officials. This is something that Jeb Bush chose to do based on political motivations (in my opinion).

It is interesting to note that it was the brother of the opposing candidate that requested this investigation in the first place. When no allegations of voter fraud, vote manipulation or vote buying could be found, Dyer was charged with "providing pecuniary gain for absentee ballot possession or collection.". A law which has never been used for prosecution since it was passed in 1998.

To put it in Mr. Dyer's words: "my campaign employed a campaign consultant who allegedly violated the law by encouraging older African American voters to participate in the elective process by absentee ballot and I am being held to account for that."

Yet, here are some of the headlines from the last 24 hours:

• Orlando Mayor Suspended
  
• Orlando Mayor indicted and suspended in election case
  
• Florida judge, mayor face charges of election fraud
  
• US: Orlando Mayor Suspended After Surrendering in Election Probe
  
• Orlando Mayor To Face Charges
  
• Judge, mayor face felony charges in election fraud
  
• Mayor, judge are indicted in vote case
  
• Mayor suspended in probe of absentee ballots
  
• Orlando Mayor Dyer is indicted
  
• Orlando mayor suspended in election investigation
  
• Bush suspends Orlando mayor
  
• Judge, mayor surrender after ballot charges in Fla.
  
• Orlando Mayor Suspended; Faces Charges
  
• Orlando mayor, judge, two others surrender in probe of absentee ...
  
• What's Next For Orlando With Mayor Facing Charges?
  
• Orlando mayor, three others surrender in probe of ballots

None of these articles mention the fact that (1) the investigation was requested by the brother of the losing opponent, (2) that the Mayor was cleared of all voter fraud and vote manipulation charges, (3) that this law has never been prosecuted before, (4) that the campaign consultant has done the same type of work for many Republican candidates and (5) that the investigation and resulting charge and suspension could be motivated by partisan politics.