A Tale of Political Dirty Tricks Makes the Case for Election Reform

[groovedaddy]

In New Hampshire’s hotly contested 2002 Senate race, Democratic get-out-the-vote phone banks were jammed with incoming calls on Election Day. The Republican John Sununu, won re-election by under 20,000 votes, and Allen Raymond, a Republican Party operative, went to jail for his role in the jamming.

Mr. Raymond has now written a book about his experiences, “How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative.” In it, he paints a picture of the corruption of modern politics that should leave no doubt about the creativity and cynicism of operatives like Mr. Raymond or the need for tough new election-reform legislation.

Mr. Raymond, whose great-grandfather founded the Underwood Typewriter Company, was a privileged kid drawn to politics at a young age. He moved from small campaigns to larger ones, eventually working for the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

It was a world in which, he claims, dirty tricks were the norm. When Mr. Raymond opened a political telemarketing firm, he was hired by a Republican challenging a New Jersey Democratic congressman. Mr. Raymond’s company — in a plan he says he hatched with the challenger’s advisers — called liberal Democrats and urged them to vote for the Green Party candidate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/01/opinion/01tue3.html?th&emc=th

[MethuenProgressive]

1. "Shaheen: The courage to raise taxes." GOP fake signs with her colors, font on election day

Some one from NH probably can remember the details better than I can.

[sam sarrha]

2. yea, im sure he didnt tell the whole story, multiple fellonies.? before the statute of limitations

are up