Fitrakis/Wasserman: Blowback from Ohio's 2004 Stolen Election is Escalating

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0320-23.htm

Blowback from Ohio's 2004 Stolen Election is Escalating
by Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman


In a bold move "to restore trust to elections in Ohio," Ohio's newly-elected Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, has requested the resignation of all four members of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. The two Democrats and two Republicans were formally asked to resign by the close of business on March 21. Cuyahoga County includes the heavily Democratic city of Cleveland. Brunner is a Democrat who was elected to be Ohio's Secretary of State in November, 2006.

Felony convictions have also resulted in 18-month prison sentences for two employees of the Cuyahoga BOE as a result of what the county prosecutor in the case calls the "rigging" of the outcome in the recount following the 2004 presidential election. Further problems surfaced in the conduct of Cuyahoga County's May, 2006 primary, in the wake of which Michel Vu, Executive Director of the county's Board of Elections recently resigned.

In tandem, the shake-up in Ohio's biggest county reflects a widening storm surrounding the outcome of the 2004 presidential election and the conduct of elections overall in the nation's most pivotal state.

Among those Brunner has asked to resign is Cuyahoga County BOE Chair Robert Bennett, who chairs Ohio's Republican Party. Voting rights attorney Cliff Arnebeck and others have long charged that Bennett worked closely with White House advisor Karl Rove and Ohio's then-Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell to secure Bush's 2004 victory in Ohio.

Bennett responded to Brunner by saying that he will refuse to resign. He has placed the blame for the May 2006 primary problems on private voting machine vendors, including Diebold. Bennett claims the rigging of the 2004 presidential recount was caused by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

more...

[catgirl]

1. K & R... Personally I'd like to see a public hearing

This story needs to get into MSM. The election was stolen from Kerry.
The criminals involved deserve jail time, but at least they'd be exposed
to the public for their despicable acts.

[robinlynne]

2. right you are. subpoena the f-------.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. I hope Keith, Jon & perhaps Scarborough...

are on top of this. People need to know just how despicable & corrupt the entire republican party really is.

[L. Coyote]

4. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x469386

[Contrite]

5. Oh, the finger-pointing!

"Bennett responded to Brunner by saying that he will refuse to resign. He has placed the blame for the May 2006 primary problems on private voting machine vendors, including Diebold. Bennett claims the rigging of the 2004 presidential recount was caused by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office, according to the Columbus Dispatch."