Worst Voter Error Is Apathy Toward Irregularities - Washington Post

[AmyCrat]

Worst Voter Error Is Apathy Toward Irregularities
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43630-2004Nov11.html
<snip>---
Come on. If Republicans had lost the election, this column would be unnecessary because Karl Rove and company would be contesting every vote. I keep hearing from those who wonder whether Democrats are "too nice," and from others who wonder whether efforts by the mainstream media to be "fair and balanced" sometimes render them "neutered and less effective."

Perhaps. But the much-publicized voting-machine error that gave Bush 4,258 votes in an Ohio precinct where only 638 people cast ballots preceded a flood of disturbing reports, ranging from the Florida voting machine that counted backward to the North Carolina computer that eliminated votes. In Ohio's Warren County, election officials citing "homeland security" concerns locked the doors to the county building where votes were being counted, refusing to allow members of the media and bipartisan observers to watch.
---<snip>

[Lilli]

1. Youre working hard tonite AmyCrat !

Thanks for the link :)

That was a great article.

[Itascapark]

2. wow, thanks for posting this...

Something positive from WP, when as of late they've been more Right than correct.

[ewagner]

3. WaPo is saying this?

Wow! there might be some attention paid to the story...........

[aquart]

4. Who wrote this?

[AmyCrat]

5. Donna Britt for Nov 12, 2004

If you look up at google news (sorted by date)
warren +ohio +vote
It comes up as one of the #1 links and you can read it without subscribing.

Try by clicking here

[Lindsay]

10. It was written by Donna Britt, Metro columnist.

BTW, here's a login for the WAPO:

user name: mailinator
password: mailinator
or email: [e-mail]

(Can't remember whether the WAPO uses password or email. Anyway, this works for a number of registration-only sites.)

[Eric J in MN]

12. Metro columnist Donna Britt, so it's in the B-section

instead of the op-ed page.

it's longer than an op-ed, so that makes sense in a way, but it will get less exposure than an op-ed.

I'm still surprised the Washington Post printed an article which referred to:

"The much-publicized voting-machine error that gave Bush 4,258 votes in an Ohio precinct where only 638 people cast ballots preceded a flood of disturbing reports, ranging from the Florida voting machine that counted backward to the North Carolina computer that eliminated votes. In Ohio's Warren County, election officials citing "homeland security" concerns locked the doors to the county building where votes were being counted, refusing to allow members of the media and bipartisan observers to watch."

[AndyTiedye]

23. Probably Slipped Past Karl's Censors BECAUSE It's In the B Section

[jbfam4]

53. Ms. Britt didn't go far enough....

regarding the shut down in Warren County. She could have mentioned that Warren officials lied about the FBI warning them of a terrorists threat. They used this as an excuse to shut down the counting so no one could observe them. Buy the FBI said they never warned them.


Wednesday, November 10, 2004 http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/11/10/loc_warrenvote10.html
Warren Co. defends lockdown decision


FBI denies warning officials of any special threat

[LisaM]

59. Maybe she's saving some for later

She is pretty smart.

[txindy]

6. Nice article

I swear these newspapers are bipolar. **sigh** They can't decide which way to swing. This is a very nice commentary, though. Now, hopefully, they'll follow-up with a good old-fashioned expose.

[RevCheesehead]

7. KICK for a VERY good read!

[Straight Shooter]

8. Excellent.

But citizens who insist, election after election, that each vote is sacred and then shrug at hundreds of credible reports that honest-to-God votes were suppressed and discouraged aren't just being hypocritical.

They're telling the millions who never vote because "it doesn't matter anyway" that they're the smart ones.

Ms. Britt makes a good point. It seems it's the minority voters who have been disenfranchised again, more than anybody.

And I have to wonder: If America doesn't repair election "irregularities," isn't that sending a message to minorities that, once again, their voice - and their vote - doesn't matter? Do we need a Democrat in the White House to ensure equality for all Americans, or at least an attempt at fairness? Is this election really about suppressing minorities as much as it is any other matter?


edit: you can write Ms. Britt, the author of this article, at [e-mail]

[Left coast liberal]

9. We sure don't sound apathetic here!

The powers that be just want to make us feel that way. Much easier to herd all the sheeple over the cliff.

[Eric J in MN]

18. I don't think Donna Britt meant DUers (nt)

nt

[msongs]

11. Maybe the WP is opening the door for more fraud type articles?

well we can hope caint we?

Msongs
liberal t shirts
www.msongs.com.political-shirts.htm

[Dark Secret]

16. On the surface, that would appear to be likely

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberal_in_GA]

42. That's the spirit!

Not.

[blackspade]

43. They already have...

"They can't play these kind of tricks twice."
This is 'trick' number three!

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DoBotherMe]

55. You are not very good at

reverse psychology ... go back to school

[kuozzman]

13. Which one do you think people will listen to?

http://81.201.104.136/fast-cgi/bsc?mandant=clear&synd=clear&device=html&portalLanguage=en&userLanguage=us&context=category&ip=24.124.88.14&q=www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a44137-2004nov11.html

[Eric J in MN]

14. If you want to write the Washington Post to say you agree

with this article or to discuss other irregularities, the email address for Letters to the Editor is:
[e-mail].

Include your full-name, full-address, and phone number.

[Hobbes199]

26. email - washington post (kick)

[e-mail]

[newyawker99]

71. Hi Hobbes199!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Eric J in MN]

41. We need more investigation from the press, the public, the

attorneys, and so forth.

[liberal_in_GA]

44. Hmmm.. maybe you're afraid of the press doing its job?

It really IS interesting to people who think their vote may not have been counted.

[crispini]

15. Yay! Good stuff. Every bit counts. n/t

[SmallFatCat]

17. kick

excellent, just excellent. Its 5:49am here, but I can't stop reading tonight, too much good stuff.

[AmyCrat]

19. You and me both...

It's about 1am here and I have to go to bed soon, but I keep saying "15 more minutes... 15 more minutes..."

[Nordic]

20. that is so goddamn right! I am appalled at the timidity of many DUers

in fact. People who say "gosh, we sure wouldn't want to push that weird little fact on anybody". "Gosh, we might get criticized for that". "Well if we're not 10000% sure about that we sure don't want to bring it up because it might make us look bad."

You know what? If you think that way, you'd better get with the goddamn program.

Because it's attitudes like that that will get you your ASS handed to you every time.

There's the old saying -- expecting to be treated nicely because you're nice is like expecting the tiger to not eat you because you're a vegetarian.

If you're not gonna fight, get the hell out of the way.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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[Middle Finger Bush]

51. i dont know why you keep saying that

The democratic party isn't doing JACK

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[we.can.do.better]

60. You're right

Your responses are wildly inappropriate.

Is this how you deal with it when someone doesn't agree with you?
This person may not be completely right, but that is really no reason to threaten this kind of violence.

If you have a wife or loved one, God save them.
I would advise them to seek some sort of anonymous shelter right now.

You are just one of those sicko-s addicted to violence. I personally don't think all these threats of physical violence make us look any better than than the Bushers.

[txindy]

62. Busher?

I don't believe I've heard that word used on this particular forum before.

[we.can.do.better]

64. yeah I just made it up

Does it sound OK,? or do you guys refer to this guy as something else?

[txindy]

47. You got that right

"If you're not gonna fight, get the h*ll out of the way."

:toast:

I'm hoping the NY Times commentary is a prelude to more in-depth articles. Until that happens, though, I'm not about to sit back and watch without doing anything, myself.

[we.can.do.better]

66. I think what I am hearing

Is that we are all fighting different parts of the same battle.

This might not be the best analgy, but I am thinking how you invade an enemy stronghold with your army, your navy, and your air force.

By asking your air force guys to do air force stuff, you aren't weaking the struggle, you are strengthening it. In the same way, the navy guys won't be helped any by having the air force guys come in and do navy stuff.

I for one, suspect the lawyers are probably doing a great job. For them to publicize each move they make would not be the smartest thing to do. So we don't hear so much about their legal manuevering. But I'll bet it's happening. Democrats aren't dumb, and as has been pointed out, there is a lot to investigate.

I think we should let the lawyers do their work. I suspect they are very very good at it. We, however can do things they can't. Lets us people in the grassroots do what we are good at.

[MileHiStealth]

21. Just sent Donna Britt a thank you note ...

Just a short note to thank you for this article.
It's about time someone put this in perspective.
I'm tired of the reports out there referring to
stories about the disenfranchisement of the
poor and the minority voters in this last election
as being a bunch of conspiracy theories. We
fought a long, hard fight for the right to vote.
Now they're trying to turn back the clock.
Keep up the fight !!!

Steve M

[AmyCrat]

25. good idea n/t

[sojourner]

68. Here's my thank-you letter

Your article in the Washington Post is a heartening look at the problem with the recent election. I would certainly submit that the response of the dominant broadcast media outlets has helped to produce the attitude that any reports of problems are either conspiracy theory misinformation fabricated by bloggers on the “Internets” or just the whining of a party that lost its election.

As to the charge that these reports are the result of conspiracy theorists, one way to mute the spinning of such theories is to conduct a thorough investigation and let the evidence stand on its merits. As to whining by the losers, it would be, and is, just as important to also investigate any claims against the Democrats against Republicans as this is an issue that truly transcends partisan concerns.

I firmly believe however, that if the media were to give the appropriate attention to election irregularities occurring in what has been billed “the single most important election of our time”, then perhaps people would perceive things like voter intimidation and voter disenfranchisement as problems in a free democratic society. Which raises the question: “How free and democratic IS society in the USA?”

I am grateful for your serious reporting on the issue. Thank-you for the service you have done for all Americans.

[nofurylike]

22. thank you for posting this excellent, important article, AmyCrat!

folks, i suggest email it to yourself or someone. it will get on the "most emailed" list, then more will see it.


peace!

[prairierose]

24. Thanks for posting this

it gives me a bit of hope to see a major newspaper with a story on this subject. That young woman has a way with words.

[spooky3]

33. Actually, I think she's middle aged; she writes human interest

columns and is a very gifted writer, and is African American. Her column is always on the front page of the Metro section, and it will likely be read by people who often do not think about politics and so may have even more impact. I think she writes about one per week.

[Robert Oak]

27. kick n/t

[sympa]

28. How refreshing

how refreshing to see someone in the media get fired up about something and express passion for their citizenship.

as i watched the coverage of the debates, i was amazed when they did a special (2 minutes long maybe) 'fact check' session. what is their job if not to report on facts!!! their emotions run high only when it comes to their reputation with the right wing because they fear being labeled liberal. by crippling themselves this way, not only do they (still) not receive any respect from the right wing hate machine, they have no respect from people who expect them to do their jobs. it's disgusting.

i really wish that the media people would realize that if they would passionately pursue the truth, that the public would back them and they would have more popularity than they can ever imagine under the watchful eye of the murdoch crew.

:shrug:

[newyawker99]

72. Hi sympa!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kristndem]

29. This From The Washington Post??

When the NYT's is saying inet bloggers being disproven on voter fraud theories?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[a new day]

30. A welcome rejoinder to the 11/11 hit piece by Roig-Franzia and Keating

The statistical arguments are valid and needed, but this is really an easy to understand accounting issue. It isn't proper procedure to dump all the absentee ballots into a precinct, another reporting category for absentee ballots should be used. Vote counts should not vary between precinct and tabulating center, variances should be accounted for in seperate line items.

Once reporters stop obsessing on what they derisively call the "conspiracy theories" and just ask why standards that we all expect when we go to the bank aren't uniformly applied to voting nationwide as well, there might be fairer stories.

[Cheswick2.0]

31. I just sent this to several people on my e-mail list

please spread it around. The author deserves praise for exposing the racist nature of what is happening at the polls.

[aprillcm]

32. They Love to Run News

On the Back pages if you notice they did this with the run up to Iraq and later apologized. Well it seems they did not mean it. I tell my kids if you say your sorry about something then do it again you lied.

Hey Washington Post Your Lying you weren't sorry at all. UGHH I hate the press in this country right now.

[tngledwebb]

45. Hate and fear the press now,

and retro-actively for at least 25 years.

[StephanieMarie]

37. Here's one from the NYT today:

Vote Fraud Theories, Spread by Blogs, Are Quickly Buried
By TOM ZELLER Jr.
Some Web logs were swift to provide dark theories about the
presidential election, but others were just as quick to
debunk them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/politics/12theory.html?th



Shall we write to respectfully disagree with his rolling over?

[Habibi]

40. Thanks for pointing this out

I just sent a pissed-off letter to the WP expressing my disgust at the tone of the Roig-Franza and Keating article, and now I've sent a note of thanks to Ms. Britt. Next up: thanks to my local ABC outlet for showing Saving Private Ryan last night.

Man, I've been a letter-writin' fool this last week.

[txindy]

48. Glad to hear they didn't wimp out of showing 'Saving Private Ryan'

I'm right with you on sending emails and letters. If I had a nickel for each one sent, I'd be getting a big tax break this year! ;)

[we.can.do.better]

67. I don't understand

Why wouldn't they want to show Private Ryan.

It was a great movie

[StephanieMarie]

46. Here's the letter I just wrote to the WAPO :

Your article, “Worst Voter Error Is Apathy Toward Irregularities” is the best thing I’ve seen written in a week. Please continue with this type of reporting. It’s a travesty that in the 21st century we’re still even writing about the issue of voter disenfranchisement, but we cannot sweep it under the rug. I want to scream every time I hear some TV reporter commenting on what a great election we just had, and how smoothly everything went. Not! Until EVERY American has the ability to cast their vote in a timely manner without interference or intimidation, and until EVERY vote is fairly counted, we can never call an election “good”.

[pauldp]

58. proof

This was on another forum. It's from a prof at the University of Pennsylvania. It's well researched and documented.

The evidence is mounting. Soon the burden of proof will be on the people trying to debunk the coup theory.

http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/04/11/The_unexplained_exit_poll_discrepancy_v00k.pdf

[we.can.do.better]

70. Well, not a bad try.

But I have more faith in the our lawyers than the Main Stream Media.

I think so many of the editors have sold out to Bush, that you are better off creating a trully objective alternative media.

I think the Republicans have done this with webpages like the Drudge Report and talk shows like Limbah

We should be able to do the same thing. I feel better about going to Air American than WAPO, and I would feel better still if we had a trully objective webpage

[Vidar]

49. Thank you for helping keep hope alive-nt

[Dora]

50. Excellent Find!

Thanks for posting it!

[grasswire]

52. here ya go

[e-mail]

[bullimiami]

54. exactly. what the hell is wrong with our dog? it has no fight in it.

we can never win anything if we dont fight. rove pulls out every dirty and illegal trick in the book and we just sit there and take it.

im sorry democratic party but if you dont fight im out.



great article by the way.

[we.can.do.better]

61. Here is what some people are saying that we can do:

1. Make damned sure that you got good voting machines in your neigborhood for 2006. These machines come from somewhere. Find out who approves them, and who appoints these people. It varies from state to state ( It is not a Federal thing, it happens at the state level).

If they try to start this Diebold crap in 2006, nip it in the bud.
They may have the bucks, but we have the people. If each one of one us keeps an eye on what happens in his neighborhood, We have the problem half-way licked.

2. Give whatever money you can to the Democratic party.
They got the smarts and the know-how to hire the kind of lawyers who can uncover any monkey business. We got some pretty people on our side, but this sort of thing takes a lot of money.
If you got it, give it to the people who know how to use it. Don't waste their time with your ranting, give them power with your donations.

3. Find out which neighbor/friend/lover/co-worker/acqaintance voted for Bush, and find out why.
Then kindly and calmly tell him how it was really him who lost the election.

4. Give up on the MSM (Main Stream Media). They don't care about any voter fraud. They just want to add to their corporate coffers. Instead concentrate on building up a credible alternative media.
The DU is a start, but we need the kind of objective media that Americans used to take for granted. Work towards setting up some kind of alternative to the Drudge Reports and the Free Republics.
If you find a viable site, subscribe to it and give them money. I enjoy free stuff on the internet as much as anyone, but if we want a quality alternative to the whorehounds of the MSM, its going to take a little money.Your (paid) supscriptions are what make that happen


not that voter fraud shouldn't be investigated. But these sound like some good ideas that a concerned individual could look into

[txindy]

63. "Some people are saying" these things? Actually, you proposed them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=84814#84840

"Some people say" is a memorable catch-phrase, though. I wonder where I've heard it before?

"They don't care about voter fraud?" Okay, then. :eyes:

[alank]

65. Investigate the vote, but are all the reported frauds true?

Deliberate and fraudulent vote manipulation is a despicable crime against democracy, and must be thoroughly investigated. This is why organizing a public groundswell such as this http://www.moveon.org/investigatethevote to ensure a proper congressional investigation takes place is so very important.

However, in reading Donna Britt's article http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43630-2004Nov11_2.html , this statement by her caught my attention:

"Some were from voters who said they repeatedly pressed the "Kerry" button on their electronic voting screens, only to have "Bush" keep lighting up. Others said that though they pushed "Kerry," they were asked to confirm their "Bush" vote."

Her example is so strikingly similar to this humorous but cynical little video, which was posted in advance of the election, http://www.boomchicago.nl/Section/Latest-News/BoomChicagoVotingMachine that I wonder if Ms. Britt was duped on these particular incidents. It would certainly have helped buttress the credibility of her report had she cited specifics about the precinct where the frauds allegedly occurred.

[newyawker99]

73. Hi alank!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[alank]

77. Hi newyawker99!

Thanks for the greeting!

It is nice to be here amongst the True Blue!

Cheers back atcha!:toast:

[The Brethren]

69. No apathy here...

I just came across this in a link from The Political Strategy:

From BuzzFlash
"The Unexplained Exit Poll Discrepancy", Nov. 11th
http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/04/11/ale04090.html

"250,000,000 to one." ...very interesting odds.

[newyawker99]

74. Hi The Brethren!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Truthbeknown]

75. e-voting machines

Does anyone know if these machines have been secured from tampering since the election?

[TangledThorns]

76. MSM

If it dosn't make the n00z then no one will care.

[GuardingVirginia]

78. Worst Media Error Is Apathy Toward Irregularities

Worst Media Error Is Apathy Toward Irregularities