BBV: Kerry's Remarks In The Black and Brown Debate

[JohnGideon]

Sen. Kerry said that if he was the nominee he would have legal teams all over the country to fight the Diebold machines and to ensure every vote counted the way it was cast. (Not his exact words but his meaning)

Now it's time for the DNC and the rest of the candidates to stand up and be counted or nothing they do will make a difference.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Good for Kerry but Kucinich took a stand on this long before Kerry got in

but good for Kerry, I appreciate and respect this. That is DK took a stand on Diebold but I really appreciate Kerry doing that.

[JI7]

8. yes he does

kucinich deserves credit. but this isn't the first time kerry has mentioned it either, he has spoken of it before.

[SadEagle]

2. In an interview, Dean said that he would address it if nominated.

I believe some other candidates mentioned the issue too --- well, Rep. Kucinich certainly did, but I believe either Sen. Edwards or Sen. Clark (or both) has brought it up, too. I am sure their supporters will remember it better.

At any rate, major kudos to Sen. Kerry.

[SadEagle]

3. Here is the statement

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58372-2003Nov3?language=printer

Melbourne, Australia: Governor Dean,
I am an American living in Australia and am a supporter of your candidacy. I have been very disturbed to read the various stories about the security concerns surrounding the makers of electronic voting machines being used increasingly in our elections. Most alarming have been the allegations surrounding Diebold Election Systems and their attacks on those who have questioned their products and their behavior. Could you please discuss your feelings on this matter, the implications you think it has on our democracy, and what you would propose be done to address it?

Thank you and good luck.


Howard Dean: The chairman of Diebold has sent a letter saying that he will do everything he can to get Bush reelected. This does not engender confidence in the American electoral system. If I become the Democratic nominee we will have teams, particularly in jurisdictions like Florida, who will be conducting poll watching activities to prevent the kind of Republican abuses that took place in the last election. We will do more work on the voting machine issue as the campaign moves along.

-----------------
Not very specific, but encouraging. A few days ago, Trippi was also talking about how the use of these machines would undermine faith in elections, etc., although he was not very clear.

[diamondsoul]

5. That's a good response from Dean,

and thanks for posting it.

For myself, I have to admit being more than just a little pissed off with the members of Congress who are running, Kucinich and now Lieberman excepted. WTF, they can't band together NOW to make sure our votes are safe, they gotta wait until they get nominated? All that says is the corruption is ok if it helps me out.

Kerry, Lieberman and Edwards need to be running full-tilt at the Senate over this right NOW, and so should Kucinich and Gep in the House. I don't just mean the stuff already sidelined, I mean they ought to bring this stuff up every single damned day Congress is in session. Badger the Republicans until they give in just to shut them all up already! I am not pleased with this "after I get the nomination" crap from Democrats in Congress.

[sandnsea]

6. I don't think that's the way he meant it

I think that he would do this regardless. It's just that the nominee is the one with the legal stake in the outcome of a national election and so that's the person who has the clearest legal right to do something in every single state.

[Andy_Stephenson]

4. Diebold isn't the only problem...

No Paper...No WAY!

VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTT.

[JI7]

7. kerry spoke of need for paper trail

Kerry: On Saturday, December 6, at the Florida Democratic Party Meeting
televised on C-SPAN, Senator John Kerry spoke strongly against Diebold and
emphasized the need for voter-verified paper ballots. The tape is not
available at this writing, but check www.c-span.org for a video of the
speech.