Need Not Apply

By Greg Fuller

As a nation, many have accepted as an article of faith that our national election process is relatively accurate and free of corruption; to some extent that faith has always been more hope than fact, today such faith borders on gross myopia. The fact is, at least since the 2000 election, holes in our election system have been created and exploited to a degree as yet unfathomed by the average citizen. As Schopenhauer said, "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self-evident." The most consistent attention to our election problems has come from the disenfranchised themselves, US Civil Rights Commission under Ex-Commissioner Mary Francis Berry, a few Democratic politicians, concerned citizen activist groups and a few courageous news paper columnist.

To date, the most visible actions have been by Democratic Representatives  John Conyers , Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Senator Barbara Boxer ; their public stands against the irregularities in the Ohio election are notable as are the voices of others in their rank. Beyond speaking outing , Rep. Tubbs Jones and Sens. Clinton and Boxer are pushing a legislative effort via the "Count Every Vote Act " ; short of a cable news worthy smoking gun revelation its chances in "GOP World " are slim ; in the bill's present form , I'd sooner bet on the success of a eunuch on VIAGRA.

 Citizens groups like the WE DO NOT CONCEDE COALITION (WDNCC) and Honest Elections Campaign (HEC) and Black Box Voting have documented irregularities and are coalescing citizen support to address our election woes; other similar efforts are listed on HEC's and WDNCC's websites . In a bygone era, the issues already documented by these groups , would have aroused greater main stream media interest .


 In new election reform developments this week, a private study commission headed by Jimmy Carter and James Baker was formed to recommend improvements to the nation's federal election system . When I heard the news I thought the anchor person misspoke , I thought , surely they intended to say , the widely respected former Senator Howard Baker , but no , it really is Bush family consulaire James Baker ; Rod Sterling couldn't top this one . Now, Jimmy Carter is held in high regard as a decent and thoughtful Ex Prez , but not for the sharp elbows one needs for the likes of Jim Baker. And Jimmy is bringing along DLC helpmate Tom Daschle; and that pleases Jim - Baker that is.

 I understand the need to build consensus by having representatives from opposing camps on matters as important as national elections, but it is incredulous that James Baker was selected given his intimate involvement with the contentious 2000 Florida election; what do ya know! A review of Florida's problems is part of the commission's mandate. Jim Baker's presence will surely cast a shadow of doubt on the commission's dedication to meaningful reform in the eyes of those who remember his central role in the 2000 Florida fiasco; and it should.

 Next, the Twilight Zone gives way to abject insult, it is an appalling fact that this commission does not have a single Black Democratic member. The Black community, has suffered a disproportionate share of the voting irregularities and difficulties Both in 2000 and 2004 and throughout US history, that fact alone makes the omission glaring; It's 2005, we are suppose to be better than that at this point in our history. Moreover, are we to believe that in all the country, no qualified Black citizen of sufficient bearing and stature can be found to lend a hand on the issue of voting reform; this commission starts out with a disappointing unmitigated slap against Blacks who still struggle disproportionately against disenfranchisement tactics. But the way things have started, I'm sure we will see a J.C. Watts type trotted out if this issue gets any traction.

 The Center for Democracy and Election Management, which will organize the work of Carter's commission, said the group would hold two public hearings -- the first on April 18 at American University in Washington and the second at Houston's Rice University in June.

 The Commission on Federal Election Reform aims to produce a report to Congress on its findings by September.

Additional Notes from Greg Fuller
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Frankly , I'm troubled by Daschle's  (Patton Boggs) participation as well ; he is a part of the lobbying establishment that moved the Democratic party into the camp of Corporate America.
 
In fact , as ironic as it may seem , the Republican party used his family's lobbying interest to defeat him in 2004 :  Lobbying may now be considered a Daschle family profession  . Moreover ,he was not my idea of a principled fighter when he was in the Senate  and his family is to tapped into the DC money making scene :

• Jill Gimmel Daschle Daughter-in-law of Sen. Daschle (D-S.D.) JD Consulting Through Sullivan & Baldick, represented Northwest Airlines and Freddie Mac .
• Linda Daschle Wife of Sen. Daschle Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell, represents American Airlines, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management. 
• Son Nathan Daschle was a lobbyist for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and  served in the legislative affairs office for the Natural Resources Defense Council  before taking a position at the Washington lobbying firm of Covington and Burling. Covington and Burling represents Microsoft, Merck, and the Washington Post among others.
  

We need principled people whose primary if not only interest is the strengthening and integrity of our voting system and our nation , people who are beyond question.