Reply #28: Here's the letter I wrote to my Ohio rep, sen... feel free to crib [View All]

[kk897]

Hi all: I wrote to my (Republican) rep and senator the other day. If you'd like you can rip off or adapt some of my text (if you think it's appropriate and like the way it's written). Note that I say that "conclusive evidence of machine fraud has yet to come to light" in order to sound more moderate... also, according to Will Pitt, that conclusive evidence may in fact come to light seemingly momentarily. So, anyway, FWIW:

Although conclusive evidence for machine tampering of the vote has yet to come to light, there is overwhelming evidence of major civil rights violations and disenfranchisement during the conduct of the Ohio November 2, 2004 election. I urge you to read the letters between U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr. and Ohio's Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell regarding the election.

Then I personally plead with you to examine Mr. Blackwell's actions before, on, and after November 2, which demonstrate a pattern of, yes, I'll say it, purposeful disenfranchisement of African Americans in Ohio. From taking every step possible to block new registrations (from either African American or white Democrats) before the election, to the distribution of voting machines on election day, to the deliberate obstruction of further investigation since November 2, Mr. Blackwell has proven that it is possible for an African American to engage in racist activity.

Mr. Blackwell has seen fit to interpret Ohio law according to his own whims ever since he took office, but the effect has been to undermine America's faith in the electoral system, and, more importantly, put American democracy in jeopardy. At the very least, I would hope that you would help convince Ohio that this man should be removed from office.

But there is a greater question before you than simply one man's misconduct. As an Ohio citizen, I am most familiar with the travails of our state, but Florida, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and North Carolina also show signs of similar misconduct, disenfranchisement, and outright fraud. I ask you, how can you in good conscience NOT contest an election that is so clearly tainted?

Please remember that the eyes of the world are upon us, and please, please, do the right thing.

Sincerely,

XXXXX