The disclosure by a Princeton professor and his students that they could
easily hack into Diebold machines is now mixed with news which Attorney General
candidate David Van Os has long emphasized: our current Texas AG Greg Abbott
is is selectively, racially targeting Democratic activists assisting with ballot
activities.
David Van Os has highlighted this issue for a long time, as he has cris-crossed
the state tirelessly working to build the Democratic Party base, and we've
discussed experiences in protect-the-ballot and poll watching activities, as was
brought home when I worked GOTV/poll watching/protect-the-ballot when I was
assigned to Arkansas in the last presidential election.
Van Os, a lawyer from San Antonio, and a passionate, brilliant speaker, has
provided key background and articles, including this from the Houston Chronicle,
which has been circulated by both David and Carl Whitmarsh:
"...of the 13 individuals indicted for voter fraud during Abbott's term,
10 are accused of simply possessing another's absentee ballot for delivery
to election officials or to a mailbox, Democrats say. Such activities had
been legal until the 2003 law turned them into crimes.
Both Democratic and Republican political activists have traditionally
assisted elderly or homebound voters who need help in voting, said attorney
J. Gerald Hebert, executive director of the Washington-based Campaign Legal
Center, who plans to file the lawsuit on behalf of Democrats.
'Now, merely possessing the mail-in ballot of another person is a
misdemeanor. If you do it for several voters, it becomes a felony. It is my
view that this is unconstitutional,' said Hebert, who headed the Justice
Department's voting section of the civil rights division until 1994"
.....
"Democrats also complain that of the 13 indicted individuals, 12 are
minority women and only one is an Anglo male. Moreover, Abbott's voter fraud
indictments include zero Republicans."
The intimidation and abuse of the elderly is offensive in any culture.
The activities described in preventing the infirm or disabled from
receiving assistance in getting their ballot cast and targeting one party
and minorities only should offend all lovers of democracy.
The abuse of power and discretion, and the problems David Van Os has been
highlighting in his travels, deserve considerable attention in Texas. He and
his wife Rachel have watered and cultivated the grass roots of Texas at a
time of drought. I have seen the results. I have benefited from their hard
work. The citizens of Texas deserve an Attorney General who will protect
them and their democracy from those who abuse government power to prevent
ballots from being cast. We need David Van Os as Attorney General. Now that
ballot protection is national news, let's promote the candidacy of a man who
could bring democratic principles to the office of Attorney General. It's an
extraordinary opportunity.
BAR
Radnofsky US Senate '06
www.radnofsky.com
Barbara@Radnofsky.com