BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

Voter Fraud: GOP-Funded "Voter's Outreach of America" is NOT "America Votes"

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Victor Steinbok

Re: "Voter Registration Fraud"

Please correct at least one mischaracterization of the situation in Oregon and Nevada (and, apparently, also in Missouri, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan, and, perhaps, New Hampshire--see the MTV report on the subject). The organization that is responsible for the destruction of registration form is 1) financed by the Republican National Committee (see the CareerBuilder listing for Voter's Outreach of America in Springfield, MO) and 2) is NOT America Votes.

In fact, the reason many have identified the organization as America Votes is PART of the fraud perpetrated by its organizers. The intent was not only to subvert registration by Democrats and independents, but also to discredit the America Votes program should they get caught. So far, they are succeeding. America Votes is a voter registration arm of America Coming Together, chaired by Cecille Richards -- about as far from the Republican National Committee as you can get. The information I have collected so far on the subject paints a clear picture of the deception.

For the issue of voter registration in Florida, consider this: "Pushing to Be Counted in Fla.; Groups Say That Blacks May Not Be Heard at Polls."

KLAS-TV has updated their story on the Nevada voter registration fraud (includes links to the two earlier stories, substantially the same, but with a bit less information).

If you have not covered the Oregon story from today's news, the local papers are running with this story.

The MTV version of the Nevada story includes some clarifying information.

Also note that right-wing pranksters and self-proclaimed columnists are running with the America Votes version of the story.

The GOP ties are clear from the job post.

Curiously, America Coming Together has its own job post in the area--perhaps someone should check with AV if this indeed their post and not another deception.

I hate to see inappropriately discrediting information on a site that has not been a partisan Bush supporter.

Many bloggers have been covering the story, including TalkingPointsMemo.com, but few have complete information. News organizations outside of Nevada and Oregon are just beginning to venture into this issue.

The story is not surprising. The site www.americacomingtogether.org redirects to www.georgebush.com. kerryedwards2004.com is registered to the Federalist Society, as is http://kerry-04.org/, which even sports a Kerry-Edwards banner across the top of the page. This is par for the course.

Thank you,

Victor Steinbok
Brookline, MA

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION