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DEAN WRITES MEHLMAN - PLEDGE YOU WON'T SUPPRESS VOTE

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kpete Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 11:49 AM
Original message
DEAN WRITES MEHLMAN - PLEDGE YOU WON'T SUPPRESS VOTE
Dean writes RNC chair: Pledge you won't suppress vote

October 30, 2006

Honorable Ken Mehlman Chairman Republican National Committee 310 First St., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003

Dear Mr. Chairman:

As the chairmen of the two major national parties, we have a responsibility to encourage people to participate in the political process and aggressively guard their constitutionally protected right to vote. As you know, the modified consent decree in the case of Democratic National Committee v. Republican Committee, C.A. No. 86-3972, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, entered on July 29, 1987, remains in effect. That decree, as you know, resulted from the RNC engaging in so-called "ballot security" programs targeted at challenging minority voters in African American and Hispanic communities.

That consent decree prohibits the RNC from engaging in, assisting in or participating in any "ballot security program," other than "normal poll watch functions," "unless the program (including the method and timing of any challenges resulting from the program) has been determined by this Court to comply with the provisions of the Consent Order and applicable law." Applications by the RNC "for determination of ballot security programs by the Court shall be made following 20 days notice to the DNC which notice shall include a description of the program to be undertaken, the purpose(s) to be served and the reasons why the program complies with the Consent Order and applicable law."

At this point, it is too late for the RNC to comply with the 20 day deadline for notifying the DNC of any intended application to the Court for approval of any ballot security program. We assume, therefore, that the RNC does not intend to apply to the Court for approval of any such program, and that you intend to respect both the letter and the spirit of the law. For that reason, we also assume that the RNC will refrain from engaging in, assisting in or participating in any "ballot security program" carried out by anyone, including the RNC itself, its state or local parties, Republican candidates or allied organizations such as the Republican National Lawyers Association or National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Please confirm to me as soon as possible that our assumption and understanding in regard to the consent decree are correct, so that all eligible registered voters can be assured of a fair election and of having the opportunity to vote free from harassment, intimidation or other efforts to deny them the right to cast their vote and have it counted.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter and I look forward to hearing from you promptly.

Sincerely yours,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D. National Chair

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Dean_writes_RNC_chair_Pledge_you_1030.html
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helderheid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 11:52 AM
Response to Original message
1. Dean, I hope you're prepared to fight for and with us!
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #1
14. He already strengthened party infrastructure more in 2yrs than McAuliffe did in 4
And THAT is the level where the votes get stolen and suppressed.
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helderheid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 02:18 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. I couldn't agree more. He's an amazing man. I have no doubt he's on
the front lines with us and will continue to be so.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 05:27 PM
Response to Reply #15
19. Big difference when party chair is BUILDING infrastructure not collapsing it
in so many states all over the country.
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Atman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 11:52 AM
Response to Original message
2. Why wouldn't Mealy Mouth just LIE like he always does?
I don't understand why democrats think any GOP pledge is worth the alcohol and teenaged-boy laden breath on which it floats from their pie-holes.

.
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NewJeffCT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. That was my thought
"Sure, Chairman Dean. I promise." (wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more)
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mom cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 12:30 PM
Response to Reply #4
9. Just a way of setting him up. I like it.
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Cocoa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 01:40 PM
Response to Reply #2
13. maybe he can't
it appears to me that Dean knows that the RNC is in fact preparing these tactics. And it's interesting that Dean waited until it was outside of the ten-day period.
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Pale Blue Dot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 09:37 AM
Response to Reply #2
31. That's not the point of the letter.
The point is to be on record.
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Turbineguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 11:53 AM
Response to Original message
3. Asking for a fair election?
Ouch, for a Republican, that's below the belt.
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TheCowsCameHome Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 12:00 PM
Response to Original message
5. To hell with Mehlman - Time to beat his GOP's sorry ass to a pulp
I wouldn't waste the ink to write to him.
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formercia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 12:16 PM
Response to Original message
6. Putting him on notice.
there goes the claim of Ignorance.
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Imagevision Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 06:53 AM
Response to Reply #6
29. Dean seems obvious with many of us the election/votes will be compromised
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formercia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 08:09 AM
Response to Reply #29
30. The question is:
Have they falsely registered enough shadow republicans to offset the stolen margin of victory?
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in_cog_ni_to Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 12:19 PM
Response to Original message
7. Mehlman would make his "pledge" and do it anyway.
They have no honor anymore. They HAVE to steal this election to win the House.
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robinlynne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 12:26 PM
Response to Original message
8. right on Howard Dean!
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phiddle Donating Member (749 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 12:36 PM
Response to Original message
10. Great Move, Gov. Dean!
It establishes presumption in a legal sense, making any subsequent legal challenges by the Dems easier and defense by Repubs more difficult. No matter how Mehlman responds and what he does, he's in a worse position as a result of this letter.
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greeneyedboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 01:17 PM
Response to Original message
11. excellent move. it's the "when did you stop suppressing the vote?" question.
Mehlman can't win, however he answers (or doesn't).

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Raster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 01:31 PM
Response to Original message
12. "Honorable Ken Mehman..."??? Cut to the chase: Look, Closet-case Ken,
Edited on Mon Oct-30-06 01:34 PM by Raster
It's abhorrent that the g.o.p.'s election strategy is based on keeping qualified citizens from voting. How sad and tragic that the g.o.p. no longer cares--or can even afford--to debate the issues and encourage throughtful political repartee. No, the g.o.p. message is so lame and hollow they have to keep people away from the polls to realize any hope of winning. In your hearts and minds you know you are liars, cheats and thieves. And the rest of us know it too.
:kick:20!
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Divine Discontent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 08:26 PM
Response to Reply #12
25. LOL
that's about right, your subject says it all. I wouldn't touch his self-hating ass with a 20000 ft poll!


www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts
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The Count Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 02:34 PM
Response to Original message
16. Smart. Creating a paper trail that will be meaningful somehow
Hopefully, just a piece of history, rather than proof of a crime.
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Blackhatjack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
17. Expect cries of "Voter Fraud" if vote goes against Repubs.....
.... you can expect that they are already planning lawsuits to challenge the outcomes in numerous districts where their candidate comes up short.

This is going to be one ugly election.

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greeneyedboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 03:54 PM
Response to Reply #17
18. and which polls will they use to support that claim? they are toast
and just trying to dig in for '08.
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cui bono Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #18
20. the ones Rove told NPR he had that using his math puts them ahead
in both houses. :eyes:

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greeneyedboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 05:49 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. the ones he's too afraid to publish? he is desperately trying to boost morale.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/10/30/71417/418 - paragraph 2

Let me just first of all state that Karl Rove is on crack. For all his talk of a 72 hour program (the basis of advantage which seems to be leafletting super-church parking lots the Sunday previous the election) and having THE polls, he's merely befuddling the reporters of the simple fact that remains the core of this election: The independents are aligned with Democrats. It was that way last week, and it's been that way all the time, since last summer.



http://www.pollster.com/mystery_pollster/karl_roves_math.php

We cannot see that data, unfortunately, but we might be able to judge Rove's spin by the number of partisan polls that have been publicly released by the campaigns and party committees. Of the polls in our House database, 43 of the partisan polls released since Labor Day came from Democrats, only 11 from Republicans.

I am not giving away any trade secrets in pointing out that campaigns and party committees release internal polls only when they show good news for their candidates. Bad news rarely sees the light of day. If Rove's internal polls really add up to a "Republican House," it is hard to imagine we would not see more Republican polls showing it.
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Joanne98 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 06:45 PM
Response to Original message
22. Voter suppression is not the problem! E-voting is!
I will save my DLC rant till after the election. BUT, I'm pissed as Hell!
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w4rma Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 07:43 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. Voter suppression is a problem also.
The Republicans have been using a slew of tactics.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #22
32. They do it BOTH ways - what's horrifying is what they get away with LEGALLY.
Legal election fraud is as real as it gets. Purged voter rolls falls into this category.
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Jax Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 07:47 PM
Response to Original message
24. Dean is THE BEST thing to happen to the Democratic Party
in my lifetime.
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greeneyedboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-30-06 10:05 PM
Response to Original message
26. did you see Mehlman's smarmy reply?
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DeeDeeNY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 12:08 PM
Response to Reply #26
33. What planet is Mehlman living on?
That "reply" is ridiculous.
The self-delusion of these people is beyond belief.
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LTR Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 02:26 AM
Response to Original message
27. kick
:kick:
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Vidar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-31-06 06:39 AM
Response to Original message
28. Go, Howard, go!
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