http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/482Brent Budowksy: Democrats In Congress Should Announce That Any Election Fraud Will Be Investigated By A Democratic Congress
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 10/17/2006 - 2:55am.
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Brent Budowsky
Democrats in Congress today should send a message loud, clear and powerful that this election will be conducted with integrity and fairness, and that if either House of Congress becomes Democratic there will be a full subpoena powered investigation of any form of election abuse this November.
There should be no doubt about it: with the very real prospect that one or both Houses of Congress will be Democratic, anyone who even thinks about election fraud should know they face the possiblity of severe punishment, and anyone who has information from the inside, of possible election fraud, should contact Democrats in Congress now.
By announcing now a formal Congressional investigation after the election, Democrats can initiate a pre-emptive strike against election abuse that begins immediately and continues into the next Congress.
Moreover, I would urge nationally important Democrats such as those who may run for the Democratic nomination for president, Senators not running for reelection, some Congressmen and women from thoroughly safe seats, and nationally prominent lawyers to spend election day in key states, in key precincts, as super-poll watchers in those states and precincts most prone to abuse.
Lets make several things crystal clear:
1. There has been a recent history of voter intimidation, voter suppression, and attacks on voting rights that are in clear violation of law. This has been particularly true in African-American precincts and I predict it will be true this year, because of the immigration issue, in Hispanic precincts as well.
2. In state election after state election this year, there have been repeated problems in many precincts in various states. Many of the machines are new. Many of the formal election officials are untrained in these new machines. There should absolutely be major efforts to secure paper ballots and verification everywhere. There should absolutely be aggressive pre-emptive efforts assuming that there will be problem areas on election day, whatever we do.
3. For Democrats and others seeking an honest election, according to law, where all votes count we can isolate a reasonable number of states, districts and precincts where the danger of fraud or honest but incompetent mistakes are highest. If we target the most vulnerable, and concentrate the maximum resources, in the smartest manner, we can make a major difference that could prevent enough fraud to affect control in both the House and Senate plus possible governorships.
There are huge long term issues surrounding electronic voting, software that remains secret, potential foreign influence, penetration for fraud, the need for paper ballots that provide, at minimum, verification. The issue for me, is, exactly what can we do right now, that is self-executing, meaning Democrats can make it happen, that would deter wrongdoing, prevent wrongdoing, and create maximum fast respond time on election day.
Two specific, actionable and aggressive moves immediately come to mind.
The first is that Congressional Democrats can announce immediately that after the election there will be special congressional committee investigation, with full subpoena power, with testimony under oath, with full public spotlight, and with referral if appropriate for criminal or civil prosecution based on any evidence or proof that is uncovered.
This could be a joint committee of Congress if both Houses become Democratic, or it could be a special or relevant committee of one House if either the House of Representatives or the Senate becomes Democratic.
Keep in mind, that while national Republican leaders would make national plans, whatever they are, if there is any wrongdoing it would be implemented on the ground by local election officials. It would be powerful medicine for local officials to know, before and during election day, that they run the risk of being subpoenaed for testimony under oath and possibly then prosecuted for wrongdoing.
For a local election official, this is a very big deal. And, if local officials are asked ahead of the election to cheat, or if honest local election officials become aware ahead of the election, of efforts to cheat, they would have previously named members of a previously announced post election Committee to contact immediately.
The message is: to those thinking of breaking election and voting rights act, dont do it. To those who spot suspicious activities in the works, call this number in Congress and turn the bums in.
Also, even the most honest local election official will face problems of new machinery and untrained officials in many precincts, and knowing that there would be a subpoena powered Congressional investigation would give one whale of an incentive, to go the extra mile before and throughout election day.
The second actionable proposal is to create super-poll watchers that would be high level Democrats such as Senators not running for re-election, Congressmen and women from safe seats, nationally renowned attorneys and others, to spend election day monitoring key precincts in key states. We should not wait, before the polls open on election day, we should have fleets of well trained lawyers and high level Democrats everywhere that danger might come.
The party and candidates will have their own very good poll watchers, but it would empower them profoundly on the spot, to have major national figures with them. This would serve three important goals.
First, on election day, lower level election officials who might be tempted to cheat, would frankly be intimidated and deterred from cheating with high level figures a few feet away. Second, if there are suspicious activities, such as attempts to prevent African-Americans from voting, high level figures would have major clout to stop it early in the day. Third, high level figures would have immediate high level access to party leaders, election day lawyers and the media to blow up any fraud attempts and rectify problems ASAP.
They would report any irregularities early and immediately; initiate formal legal action within minutes; have information broadcast on Air America and radio and cable television; have the blogosphere spread it instantly; and get polls reopened or action taken almost instantly. By ratcheting this up to highest levels, we will identify the problems faster, and solve them with immediacy.
Considering the historic stakes in the election, and the relatively modest net number of those precincts most vulnerable to fraud, or most likely to have honest mistakes that could be rectified quickly, the prospect of aggressive congressional investigation after the election, coupled with super-poll watchers supporting local poll watchers would have major impact.
There are many good ideas out there, my hope is that Democrats in Congress could quickly move on the prospect of post election hearings and send a powerful, aggressive and clear message.
This election must be honest.
The whole world is watching.
We are watching at the highest level.
We are prepared for early detection and instant reaction.
With a Democratic Congress it will be a new day for honest elections in America.
If you try to cheat you will end up with your hand on a Bible, your testimony under oath, and your butt in prison.
Brent Budowsky
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
Brent Budowsky served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, responsible for commerce and intelligence matters, including one of the core drafters of the CIA Identities Law. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Whip, House of Representatives. Currently a member of the International Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit. Left goverment in 1990 for marketing and public affairs business including major corporate entertainment and talent management. He can be reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.
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