Governor Taft seems to put onus back on Blackwell....

[KaliTracy]

I just had to share this --

I sent several letters in the last couple of weeks, and this one I sent to Governor Taft (Ohio) after Ney's "partisan" comment regarding Conyers' hearing. I am posting the original letter, and then, the letter I received today from Taft. It is partially a form letter (doesn't fully address what I wrote about), but I was struck that he "forwarded" the concerns to Blackwell for his action. Your take?

Original Letter:

"Dear Governor Taft:

The purpose I have in writing is about the absence of Republicans at the Judiciary Hearing held yesteday, December 8th by Representative Conyers. While this doesn't have much to do with you, it has everything to do with Ohio.

I had the opportunity to watch the House Judiciary Hearing that Representative Conyers invited all of the Republican members to, and which all Republican members declined to attend. Kenneth Blackwell, who also was invited, and was asked to answer 38 questions pertaining to the election was also absent.

In an Associated Press article, another Representative, Bob Ney is quoted as saying "Election reform is a serious issue that requires serious, bipartisan examination and debate. It does not deserve what we are seeing today - partisan attacks and unsubstantiated claims disguised as fact in a faux hearing." I assume this sentiment is held by the other Republican members since none of you showed up to the hearing.

My question, sir, is this: Isn't this the time to become bipartisan? If indeed nothing improper happened in Ohio except long lines and machine breakdowns, (which just happened to occur unfortunately mainly in Democratic neighborhoods, but also occurred in some Republican neighborhoods), then why are all of the Republican Members so afraid of appearing in a public forum? Why did not one of the people who *represent* Ohio come to listen/participate before calling all of the information false? How can anyone possibly make that claim without hearing the evidence?

The issues that Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of State/Co-Chair of the Bush/Cheney Re-election Committee, has refused to answer in the Letter the House Judiciary Committee (Dem) sent ( http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/ohblackwellltr12204.pdf ) are not merely "faux" incidents. They deserve careful scrutiny, and they deserve to be answered for the people -- for, lest you and the rest of the Ohio Republican Members and Representatives forget, it is we, the people, that elect you all.

The number of people that were disenfranchised during this election were not just a few, not just a hundred, but numbered in the thousands, and that is just in Ohio. This is not something that is to be "expected" in an election. This is *not* democracy, and it appalls me that the Republicans who are declaring the vote in Ohio a success believe it to be true. I would be just as upset if the same circumstances occurred, yet the other candidate was deemed to be elected. Would you be upset then? Would that change circumstances, and your intensity on this matter, or is this truly about free, fair and equitable elections, which you all profess to want?

I respectively ask that this matter be addressed now -- jointly with the Democratic Judiciary Committee -- that all House Members review the claims, and yesterday's transcript, and that Kenneth Blackwell answer the Letter sent to him to the best of his ability by December 10th. Election reform cannot occur if the issues surrounding this election are not considered and addressed.

You are expected to represent your constituents. Do not let them down.

Kind Regards.
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX"


***********************

Taft's Response, dated December 13th:


"Dear Ms. XXXXX:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding your request for a recount of Ohio's votes for President. I appreciate your taking the time to contact me about this matter.

I have forwarded your letter to the Secretary of State and I hae asked that your concern be reviewed and addressed as promptly and thoroughly as possible.

Thank you again for taking the time to write, and please feel free to contact my office in the future.

Sincerely,
Bob Taft
Govenor

CC:SOS
BT/adr"