Dust of your hats. Well, I hadn't read some of this... I'm interested to

[MelissaB]

know what others think about this one. I only posted 4 paragraphs, but it gets a lot more interesting.

Suzan Mazur: Diebold & The Mormon Mason Handshake

Friday, 15 July 2005, 12:29 pm
Opinion: Suzan Mazur

Diebold And The Mormon Mason Handshake

By Suzan Mazur

Diebold, the Ohio computer election systems manufacturer, remains under a cloud regarding irregularities in its tabulation of the 2004 US presidential vote, which led to the reinstalling of George W. Bush. So it may be productive to explore what appears to be a significant Diebold-Mormon link, as well as observe how the Mormons are jockeying for a major political role in America. We already know of the Bush tie-in to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Click here: Scoop: Suzan Mazur: Bush And The Mormons)

First some background on Mormon politics. Historically, Mormons tend to vote Republican, perhaps forever scarred by being driven out of Missouri and elsewhere in the 1830s -- some tarred and feathered -- by Democrats. Mormons subsequently threw their support to the Whig party, forerunners of today's Republicans.

The LDS church has made no fanfare about Diebold CEO Walden O'Dell being a "Saint". And O'Dell's promotion of the serving of alcoholic beverages at political fundraisers would further imply that he is not -- alcohol being a Mormon no-no.

But he was a major contributor to George W. Bush's reelection campaign, organizing a $1,000-a-plate dinner in August 2003 and encouraging supporters to donate $10,000, although Diebold's website now indicates high profile employees of the company should keep a politically neutral public face.

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Suzan Mazur's reports have appeared in the Financial Times, Economist, Forbes, Newsday, Philadelphia Inquirer, among other publications, and on PBS, CBC and MBC. She has been a guest on McLaughlin, Charlie Rose and various Fox television news shows.
Email: mailto:[e-mail])


Much more: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00222.htm

[MelissaB]

1. another snip

As Sally Denton and Roger Morris point out in their book, The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America:


". . . the Mormon organization has a great deal in common with the Mafia . . . Strictly hierarchical. Great rewards for loyalty. Great rewards for keeping your word. They take care of their own."FMR Corporation -- Fidelity Management & Research Corporation -- is Diebold's largest shareholder, with 5.7 million shares worth over $313 million. FMR's former president, Robert Pozen, aside from having served as associate general counsel to the SEC, was secretary of economic affairs for Massachusetts governor/LDS celebrity Mitt Romney. Romney is a frontrunner for US president on the Republican 2008 ticket.

Fidelity is the world's largest mutual funds company. It is in the hands of a major Boston family --father and daughter, Ned and Abby Johnson -- with Steve Jonas running things for the Johnsons. (Click here: DBD: Major Holders for DIEBOLD INC - Yahoo! Finance )

Fidelity, has in the past organized fundraisers for Romney, as has the syndicate's venture capital firm, Bain Capital of Boston, which Romney founded in 1984 and where he served as CEO for 17 years.

And the Boston Mormon money connections don't stop there.