John Kerry Revives 2004 Election Allegations

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Revives 2004 Election Allegations
August 29th, 2006 @ 2:31 am

John Kerry is turning up the heat with some allegations of election improprieties by the Ohio Republican who oversaw the deciding vote in 2004 — Ken Blackwell.

In his latest fundraising effort for fellow Democrats, an e-mail will be sent on Tuesday to 100,000 Democratic donors asking them to support U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland for governor of Ohio.

The bulk of the e-mail criticizes Strickland’s opponent, GOP Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, for his dual role in 2004 as President Bush’s honorary Ohio campaign co-chairman and the state’s top election official.

“He used the power of his state office to try to intimidate Ohioans and suppress the Democratic vote,” said Kerry’s e-mail.

Kerry’s e-mail says Ken Blackwell “used his office to abuse our democracy and threaten basic voting rights.”

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4021

[karynnj]

1. The article as written on CNN is awful

Their view is that Kerry lost by a large amount and didn't contest it, and is now saying that there was fraud. They ignore that Kerry has always said there was voter suppression. They have no quotes from Kerry or any Democrat just Republicans who belittle it. It bothers me that Kerry has repeatedly said such things and he is ridiculed each time - then the media forgets about it (as do some on DU.)

[kerrygoddess]

2. I've seen it a few places

all the same snark from some reporter named David Hammer.

[karynnj]

3. He sure doesn't have any balance in the article

The amazing thing is that this attention likely says they are scared. This was NOT a major John Kerry speech, his detailed Senate speech given on July 20th, or a statement to the press. This story is based on a Kerry fund raising letter - that is likely to be successful in raising money for Strickland. Every candidate, politician and past politicians in the country seems to be sending out fund raising letters - this is the only one to make the news.

The media itself reported on the 4 hour (plus) lines in Ohio - Kerry's comments are 100% defendable and he's said it often before. There is nothing particularly incendiary in the letter. So, why is it getting this media response?

My quess is that voter's remorse on Bush in Ohio will backfire on Blackwell. If the Democrats win the governship in Ohio, do they appoint the SOS or is that an elected position? (Also, could it lead to knowledge of what happened in places like Warren County?)

[kerrygoddess]

14. Strickland has a huge lead in the polls

That's why. http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4012

[wisteria]

4. Maybe some defense of Kerry is warranted to CNN, by us or even

his office. This article begs to be answered with some accuracy.

[ProSense]

5. Here is a fact:

In 2004, Bush won a smaller share of Electoral College votes than any reelected president except Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-outlook7may07,1,3221992.column?coll=la-headlines-nation

[wisteria]

6. That is good, unfortunately, I have already written them to complain

about this biased one sided article they decided to use without as much as a comment from Kerry's office. I provided a couple of links and even found his discussion with Imus in June that referenced, the Rolling Stone article.

[karynnj]

7. Here's what I sent

Your story, "Kerry alleges misconduct in 2004 Ohio vote" grossly distorts Senator Kerry's email. The article ridicules Kerry for speaking of "misconduct in Ohio" after he did not challange the results, where he lost by 118,000 votes.

Kerry has spoken about the voter suppression that UNDENIABLY OCCURRED in Ohio. You carried stories on election day of waits longer than 4 hours in Democratic strongholds, while there were short lines in Republican suburbs. The distribution of machines was used to suppress the Democratic vote - and it was done by SOS Blackwell. This was essentially cheating legally - but not ethically or morally.

To my knowledge, Senator Kerry has never claimed that without suppression he would have won. The Robert Kennedy jr Rolling Stone article estimates the number of votes lost to various types of suppression and the result was a number of votes that would have given Senator Kerry Ohio and the Presidency.

Whether this estimate is accurate or not, it is absolutely fair and reasonable for Senator Kerry to back Strickland, who supported him in 2004 and to include Blackwell's atrocious actions in 2004 as a reason to ask people who get his email to give money to Strickland to help defeat him.

Here is Kerry's email. It is absolutely not as you described.
Dear Karen,

Almost two years ago today, Ted Strickland and I stood together on a stage in Steubenville, Ohio and I heard Ted tell the crowd about the damage the Bush presidency and the Taft governorship had done to the state -- the unemployment, the jobs shipped overseas, and corruption at the top.

As I write to you today, Ted Strickland is offering Ohio a better choice in a campaign that our entire country is watching.

The choice couldn't be clearer.

On one side is Ted Strickland -- a good man admired by Democrats and Republicans alike. On the other side is his Republican opponent, Ken Blackwell, who has used his office to abuse our democracy and threaten basic voting rights.

Support Strickland. Beat Blackwell. Donate Now.

This isn't just rhetoric. In 2004, while serving as a co-chair of George W. Bush's 2004 Presidential campaign in Ohio, Secretary of State Blackwell oversaw the state's 2004 election. He used the power of his state office to try to intimidate Ohioans and suppress the Democratic vote. Is he ashamed of what he did? No -- he's emboldened by it.

Since 2004, he has twisted the election process even more, adding new voting regulations that have created confusion and controversy. His legacy as Secretary of State? Putting partisanship ahead of the electorate's fundamental right to vote. That's not just a reason not to promote him as Governor; it demands a grassroots mission to stop Ken Blackwell from getting a further grip on power in Ohio.

That is why I am asking you to act right now to help Ted Strickland wage an all-out effort in this tough race. It is a contest in which every member of the johnkerry.com community has a stake.

Support Strickland. Beat Blackwell. Donate Now.

In Congress, Ted has been an outstanding advocate for working men and women, children's health care, and veterans' rights. He has worked to bring good jobs to Ohio by fostering investments in technology, energy production, and economic development. And, while fighting to give our troops the equipment they need, Ted has been a steadfast opponent of the war in Iraq.

Ted knows the world beyond Washington -- he was a minister, a professor and a psychologist before he went to Congress.

Support Strickland. Beat Blackwell. Donate Now.

The Republicans who run Washington, DC know Ted is serious and have called in all their big guns to campaign against him. They know how important this race is for their future -- they think they need to win it to remain in power. Let's not let them have their way.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

[wisteria]

8. Very, very nice.It puts mine to shame. Take that CNN!!! n/t

[karynnj]

10. Thanks,

I wanted them to see the email - I really don't blame CNN because they just used the AP story. I do blame the AP writer - who quoted the email, so he likely saw it. I thought of sending it to our places that used the AP story - but it's way too long with the email.

[ProSense]

9. Very cool! n/t

[TayTay]

11. Excellent Job!

That was a wonderful letter to CNN.

[ProSense]

12. News about Ohio!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2803333&mesg_id=2803333

[kerrygoddess]

13. Well fancy that!

Shhh... don't anyone say they are destroying the evidence. Thanks Prosense!