Hillary Clinton's efforts on election reform...

[cynatnite]

Many of you know the problems we've got with the electronic voting machines, and we've got to have better standards and make sure that we're not engaged in buying machines that have owners and companies with conflicts of interest. We've got to have better protection and safety against hacking or any kind of interference with these machines.

There are other problems as well. We, unfortunately, have seen a history of intimidation, people being called and told that they shouldn't vote, or they are being told to vote on a different day than the actual election, or having a flier when they come out of church which says, if you've ever had a parking ticket, you're not eligible to vote. I mean, horrible kinds of interference and destruction of the most important constitutional right that a citizen has, the franchise to exercise his or her voice.

There's a lot that I want to do to improve the voting system, and maybe now that we have a democratic congress, we will tackle this. I know that that is on the minds of a lot of my colleagues, and it is something I hear about everywhere. People are constantly asking me, what can we do to get the voting system to once again have integrity, to earn the confidence of the people?

You know, we're supposed to be the model of democracy to countries around the world. We cannot afford to have a voting system that is a laughingstock and where people, you know, basically don't believe in it anymore. That would be the beginning of the end for the trust that is needed in a democracy like ours. So I'm going to keep that on the very top of my priority list and work with my fellow democrats to try to make some of the changes we need.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=1263

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today unveiled comprehensive voting reform legislation to make sure that every American is able to vote and every vote is counted. Senators Clinton and Boxer announced the legislation today in a press conference joined by Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), who will sponsor the legislation in the House of Representatives, and voting rights advocates.

"Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process," said Senator Clinton. "The smooth functioning of our democracy depends on voters having faith in the fairness and accuracy of our voting system, and the Count Every Vote Act is an important step toward restoring this covenant. We must be able to easily and accurately count every vote so that every vote counts."

snip:
The Count Every Vote Act of 2005 will provide a voter verified paper ballot for every vote cast in electronic voting machines and ensures access to voter verification for all citizens, including language minority voters, illiterate voters and voters with disabilities. The bill mandates that this ballot be the official ballot for purposes of a recount. The bill sets a uniform standard for provisional ballots so that every qualified voter will know their votes are treated equally, and requires the Federal Election Assistance Commission to issue standards that ensure uniform access to voting machines and trained election personnel in every community. The bill also improves security measures for electronic voting machines.

http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005217501.html

[blm]

1. Isn't that the same bill she submitted with Boxer, Kerry and Lautenberg?

Odd that she didn't mention Kerry or Lautenberg.

I also find it odd that if she was so concerned with voting problems and election fraud why she never voiced her concern to Terry McAuliffe her very close friend who was the person in charge of securing the election process for Dem voters and Dem candidates, and whose Office of Voter Integrity was charged with countering the GOP tactics used to suppress votes, purge voter rolls and other measures we learned of during the 2000 election fraud hearings.

He promised the Office of Voter Integrity would secure the election process in 2001, yet the problems worsened in 2002 and 2004. Now, he's Chairman of Hillary's campaign.

Interesting.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. ROFL...

there's no winning with some people.

[journalist3072]

7. I know, right? It's amazing to watch.

Sen. Clinton helped introduce a bill in the Senate which, among other things, would make election day a federal holiday, in order to encourage more people to get to the polls, and so they're not worried about being late for work while they're standing in line to vote, etc.

It would also restore the voting rights of ex-felons.

And yet, apparently the person who just posted above us is still not satisfied?

[blm]

12. No - it doesn't bother you that she leaves out the other sponsors of the bill?

It doesn't bother you that Terry McAuliffe was the person IN CHARGE of securing the election process for 2002 and 2004 and never did that job, the problems worsened, and now he's Chairing her campaign?

I know - more mere coincidence that we are all supposed to accept. Like Carville just 'happened' to tell his wife at the WH that Kerry was contestng Ohio, and the provisional ballot numbers just 'happened' to drop by a 100,000 a short time after she passed the information to Bush and Blackwell.

Just coincidence.

[journalist3072]

15. From what I am seeing, she did not exclude her colleagues that helped sponsor the bill

In fact, if you read that press release from Sen. Clinton, you see she has a quote from Sen. Babara Boxer who also was part of the bill. She mentions Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones who helped sponsor it on the House side, and she also mentions Sen. Bob Graham's support of the bill.

[blm]

17. and left out Kerry and Lautenberg as sponsors.

I remember Kerry's release and he mentioned every sponsor including Conyers.

BTW - I am not a coincidence theorist when so many 'coincidences' happen in politics and in government.

[journalist3072]

19. Really, Hillary just can't win with some folks here on DU

Not every Sentor lists every single sponsor of a bill on a press release. She mentioned some of her colleagues in her press release, and said "and others." Give her a break. A press release is not meant to be a volume thick.

[cynatnite]

22. Hey, it's hard work coming up with excuses like these...

:smoke:

[cynatnite]

20. Well, that's a good reason to toss her out of the senate...

:sarcasm:

[blm]

25. That's not what I meant. The point is that not sharing credit for bills written

with other senators is dishonest, selfish and not honorable.

The Terry McAuliffe issue is a whole other story.

[cynatnite]

27. Was this an issue with other senators?

Does Dick Durbin or other senators name every single person that co-sponsered a bill when they have a press conference? Were those not named upset that she didn't say their names? There are any number of reasons why every name wasn't mentioned none of which we know. People can only assume.

I think you're nitpicking on something that's not a big deal.

[papau]

28. Some bills have 200 sponsors - so a press release by one of them must list all? n/t

n/t

[lancdem]

4. He's her chief fundraiser

Patti Solis-Doyle is heading her campaign. BTW, I didn't realize you were privy to her conversations with Mr. McAuliffe.

[blm]

38. But if Terry was SO COMPETENT at the DNC from 2001-2005 why wouldn't she want

him heading up her campaign? The Clintons put McAuliffe into the top spot at the DNC because they believed in his amazing organizing abilities and campaign work - so why was he chosen by them to lead a crucial job like Party Chair that organizes nationally for the entire Dem party and its candidates, but he's not good enough to organize for Clinton's own campaign?

Was he known to be a very good fundraiser, but, unfortunately, a poor organizer back then?

[The Count]

36. Before hailing Kerry's fight for our votes, he owes me the truth of 2004

Elections, voting for war - two subjects better not associated with kerry (if you want to build him up)

[davidwparker]

3. with a Dem majority in both houses, I'm watching who does what with

election fraud.

So far, it's just been talk. Oh, John Conyers ...

[Stevepol]

5. I don't think the bill makes any provision for AUDITS!

And without audits, a paper ballot print-out or paper trail is totally meaningless.

Maybe I'm wrong about it, but I didn't find any reference to an audit. Maybe if the bill is revived and re-worked for the present Congress, somebody will add a provision for that.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

6. I wish Hillary cared enough prior to the '04 elections to do something about election reform.

..Did you catch Hardball tonight?...Howard Fineman from Newsweek spoke about how Hillary went to her New York "funders" and told them to ONLY give to HER.

Could you imagine if she did that to ALL her corporate connections??? ...We wouldn't even NEED a primary.

No wonder Kerry dropped out today.

[journalist3072]

8. She's been quite outspoken regarding the need for election refore, every since she arrived in the

Senate.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

24. She hasn't been outspoken enough...Now I'm sure we'll all hear her.

During the '04 elections, she could have gone on any one of the 24/7 news talk shows and help unseat Bush. Bill was being called a "Political Rock Star" back then.

All we needed was for them to step up to the plate and tell the truth about the Bush administration. No one could say that these two political power houses didn't know about PNAC.

What do you think would have happened if Hillary said...

'Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are co-founders of an organization that wants to achieve world domination through aggression'...?

[journalist3072]

26. She campaigned aggressively on Sen. Kerry's behalf in '04. What's more, she campaigned for other

congressional candidates as well. She was out there in full force in 2004.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

30. I take it you like Hillary.

[journalist3072]

40. Yes, I do. I think she's really tried to advance causes important to average Americans

Do I agree w/ her on every single issue? No. Have I decided to vote for her? No, I'm not sure who I am voting for yet. But I think some of the criticisms of her here on DU are disengenuous, and I think she's done a lot of good.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

41. What good has Hillary done?? Enlighten me.

She fights for veterans' causes, but we have to remember, she never admitted that she regretted giving Bush the ability to go to war.

I have yet to hear her speak against this surge. If she has words against the war, it’s only that its been run poorly.

As a New Yorker, I know a lot people who are mad that she didn't keep her promise by bringing good paying jobs to upstate New York.

[blm]

39. She refused to back him on SERIOUS MATTERS like Tora Bora and Rumsfeld's firing.

Neither did Bill or most other name Dems. Heck, Bill Clinton made plenty of public appearances and statements in support of Bush's major decisions. His entire book tour, he was hobbled from talking up Kerry's work and credentials because Clinton, himself, never mentioned one word about BCCI in his book. And forget about CIA drugrunning.

Clinton and other bigname Dems never showed up on the network news shows to campaign and counter the bigname GOPs at that point, McCain, Giuliani, Dole who were there almost every night supporting Bush. Cleland and Clark - two little known Democrats - carried the greatest load. They shouldn't have had to.

[cynatnite]

9. I would think she'd want the money to go only to her...

she's running for president and she wants to win. :eyes:

[durrrty libby]

23. She is playing hardball and wants to win

She is tough. Politics is a tough business

[More Than A Feeling]

10. But how does she feel about public financing? nt

[cynatnite]

11. Right here...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_fundraising

She's not accepting public financing.

[More Than A Feeling]

13. No, no, would she support fixing it and instituting it for congress?

[cynatnite]

16. Oh, sorry...my bad... n/t

[cynatnite]

18. I found this...

Vote on passage of H.R. 2356; Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (Shays-Meehan bill, House equivalent of McCain-Feingoldf bill). Vote to ban “soft money” contributions to national political parties but permit up to $10,000 in soft money contributions to state and local parties to help with voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives. The bill would stop issue ads from targeting specific candidates within 30 days of the primary or 60 days of the general election. Additionally, the bill would raise the individual contribution limit from $1,000 to $2,000 per election for House and Senate candidates, both of which would be indexed for inflation.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Hillary_Clinton_Government_Reform.htm

[blm]

21. She is not FOR public financing which means no corporate money or large donors.

The campaigns are paid for by public funds and the candidates adhere to those limits.

[More Than A Feeling]

29. Thank you for that.

Public Financing and getting out of Iraq are my number one long-term and short-term goals. If any candidate has both, they will go a long way towards earning my support.

[oasis]

14. Kudos to Hillary and the co-sponsors on the Hill.eom

[Senator]

31. Boxer Walked the Walk ... Hillary Just Squawked

She failed in her duty to judge the unlawful Ohio electors on January 6th, 2005.

Just as she failed to object to the unlawful Florida electors on January 6th, 2001.

She knowingly rubber-stamped racist, antidemocratic election results. Thus securing her place among the DC/Euphemedia Analstocracy. Those who think only in terms of manipulating the public. Manipulation accomplished via deception, denial and dishonesty.

Their current form of denial is that torture, illegal spying, and war shouldn't/can't be stopped with Impeachment. This is madness.

Hillary Clinton asks us to go forward with her in the same dishonesty. The same madness.

We can do better. Far better.

Just keep demanding the truth.

---

[oasis]

32. "Just keep demanding the truth". Let's start with "Boxer walked the walk

..... Hillary just squawked."

In what way did the two senators differ in their handling of the 2000 and 2004 election? :shrug:

[cynatnite]

33. A good question n/t

[Senator]

34. It's Where We Start ... And End

The Boxer Rebellion, January 6th, 2005

Democrats challenge Ohio electoral vote count

Objection to Ohio Vote Count and Debate (video)

The Ohio objection

CREDIT Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., for standing up for the principle that "every vote counts." ... Boxer cast the lone Senate vote to invalidate the Ohio vote. But, at least for two hours, lawmakers were forced to pause to confront the nagging deficiencies in our electoral process.

Keep Objecting

The decision of US Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, to sign on to the objection raised Thursday by US Rep. John Conyers Jr. and other House Democrats to the counting of Ohio's electoral votes from the 2004 presidential election sent a powerful signal that at least some -- though certainly not most -- Washington Democrats are listening to the grassroots of the party.

The Arc of History Bends Toward Justice: A Triumph of Grassroots Activism Against Dire and Unspeakable Odds

Democratic Senators did little to aid Boxer and Tubbs-Jones's historic challenge. While ten Senators spoke in favor of the written challenge, not one of them were convinced enough by their own words to actually vote for it.

Among the timid ten is where Hillary was found -- squawking. Tower of Jello.

As for 2001, Senator Boxer had the courage to come clean -- to acknowledge the truth.

(from the Boston Globe, linked above) -- A similar objection by Democratic House members after the 2000 election failed to move forward because no members of the Senate joined them, in an episode depicted in the movie ''Fahrenheit 9/11."

Several members of Congress -- including Boxer, whose objection to the Ohio tally allowed yesterday's debate to begin -- said that scene in the Michael Moore film played a role in persuading them to speak out on the vote this year, after election irregularities emerged in Ohio.

Boxer said that watching the movie reminded her of her belief that she made a mistake in not joining the House members in demanding an inquiry into the vote in Florida. She said she did not object four years ago because then-Vice President Al Gore -- who ran against Bush in 2000 -- asked her not to, but said she realizes she should have risen to protect voting rights.

''Frankly, looking back on it, I wish I had," Boxer said. ''It really wasn't about Al Gore. It was about the voters. I made a mistake."

That's all we ask of Hillary -- and of Gore, and Kerry, and others who would "lead" us. Don't ask us to go forward in dishonesty.

Just join us in the truth of "Our Narrative." That we've endured 2 Stolen Elections. That this regime was never elected and never legitimate. That their overt acts, and the Euphemedia-induced, DC-Dems passive complicity, have rendered us a War Criminal Nation. That we can't even begin to redeem ourselves, let alone stop a war, until we admit to these realities.

This is what Howard Dean did. This is what the next honest, non-elite leader will do. That's the power vacuum waiting to be filled by anyone willing to walk the walk. (Heck, now that they've chewed up and spit out John Kerry, maybe we can recycle him back into the man who turned the swiftboat into the enemy.)

But Hillary Clinton?!? ... Get real (it's good for the soul).

--

[oasis]

35. Thanks for the informative links.(eom)

[The Count]

37. True that!