By now we've all seen the
big news about the resignation of electronic voting machine maker Diebold's CEO.
Walden O'Dell, who infamously boasted that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president," steps down as the company is rumored to be facing insider trading charges, according to media reports.
"The board of directors and Wally mutually agreed that his decision to resign at this time for personal reasons was in the best interest of all parties," said company board of director member John N. Lauer in a press release.
So now Diebold's chief operating officer Thomas Swidarski takes the helm as CEO.
So who is Swidarski? Should we be afraid?
Unfortunately, yes.
For starters, he's
donated the maximum to you-know-who:
SWIDARSKI, THOMAS W MR
HUDSON,OH 44236
DIEBOLD INC./VICE PRESIDENT
7/9/2003
$2,000
Bush, George W
Swidarski also gave a very dishonest response to a debate about the cost of optical scan machines vs. touchscreens. "...Optical-scan machines are not "far cheaper than touch-screens." Per unit, the cost of optical scanners is about $1,000 more than a typical touch-screen machine," he said in a letter to the New York Times.
Which might be true, except you only need ONE optical scan machine and would need MANY touchscreen machines per location. For more information and a picture of Swidarski go here.
What's more, his fellow executives are also big fans of war-mongering neocons. From the New York Times:
Other Diebold executives have contributed to President Bush's re-election campaign. According to data reported to the Federal Election Commission, 11 executives have added a total of $22,000 to the president's campaign coffers this year. No money from Diebold or its executives has gone to Democratic presidential candidates this year.
And the board of directors? Let's take a look-see:
Source: opensecrets.org
BOCKIUS, LOUIS V MR III
JACKSON,WY 83001
$2,000
Bush, George W
$23,000
Republican National Cmte
CONNOR, CHRISTOPHER M MR
CHAGRIN FALLS,OH 44022
THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY/CEO
$2,000
Bush, George W
LAUER, JOHN N
CLEVELAND,OH 44120
$1,000
National Republican Senatorial Cmte
$250
Republican National Cmte
WEBER, ALAN J MR
GREENWICH,CT 06830
$2,000
Bush, George W
It's really not a pretty picture. More info on executives here:
BUCCI, DAVID
6/29/2003 $1,000.00
HUDSON, OH 44236
DIEBOLD -[Contribution]
VOINOVICH FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
Bucci, David Mr.
6/26/2003 $2,000.00
Hudson, OH 44236
Diebold Inc./Senior Vice President -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Crowther, John Michael Mr.
8/27/2003 $2,000.00
Canton, OH 44708
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
D' Amico, Thomas R. Mr.
9/3/2003 $2,000.00
Canton, OH 44718
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
D'AMICO, THOMAS R
6/21/2003 $500.00
CANTON, OH 44718
DIEBOLD INC -[Contribution]
VOINOVICH FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
DETTINGER, WARREN W
6/25/2003 $500.00
CANTON, OH 44708
DIEBOLD INC -[Contribution]
VOINOVICH FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
DIMMITT, WILLIAM R. MR.
4/2/2003 $200.00
SAN ANGELO, TX 76901
DIEBOLD INC./SERVICE TECHNICIAN -[Contribution]
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
Frazzitta, Bart Mr.
6/26/2003 $1,000.00
Akron, OH 44333
Diebold Inc./Vice President -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Frazzitta, Bart Mr.
9/29/2003 $1,000.00
Akron, OH 44333
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Geswein, Gregory T. Mr.
6/26/2003 $2,000.00
Bentleyville, OH 44022
Diebold Inc./Chief Financial Office -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Hillock, Jennifer L Mrs.
8/27/2003 $2,000.00
Massillon, OH 44646
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Hillock, Michael James Mr.
6/26/2003 $2,000.00
Massillon, OH 44646
Diebold International Inc./Presiden -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Ingram, Larry Dean Mr.
9/15/2003 $1,000.00
Massillon, OH 44646
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Ingram, Larry Dean Mr.
6/26/2003 $1,000.00
Massillon, OH 44646
Diebold Inc./Vice President Of Glob -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Mahoney, Robert
11/30/2003 $250.00
Canton, OH 44718
Diebold/Chairman Emeritus -[Contribution]
CARE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CARE PAC)
O' Dell, Walden W. Mr.
8/8/2003 -$2,000.00
Canton, OH 44708
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
O' Dell, Walden W. Mr.
6/12/2003 $4,000.00
Canton, OH 44708
Diebold Inc./Chairman -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
O'DELL, WALDEN W
6/25/2003 $500.00
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720
DIEBOLD INC -[Contribution]
VOINOVICH FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
O'DELL, WALDEN W
6/25/2003 $1,500.00
NORTH CANTON, OH 44720
DIEBOLD INC -[Contribution]
VOINOVICH FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
Scheurer, Charles B. Mr.
8/27/2003 $2,000.00
Canton, OH 44708
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Swidarski, Thomas W Mr.
7/9/2003 $2,000.00
Hudson, OH 44236
Diebold Inc. -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Van Cleve, Jeffrey J. Mr.
6/26/2003 $500.00
North Canton, OH 44720
Diebold Credit Corporation/Vice Pre -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Van Cleve, Jeffrey J. Mr.
9/3/2003 $1,000.00
North Canton, OH 44720
Diebold Credit Corporation -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC
Van Cleve, Jeffrey J. Mr.
10/10/2003 $225.00
North Canton, OH 44720
DIEBOLD CREDIT CORPORATION/VP & Gen -[Contribution]
EQUIPMENT LEASING ASSOCIATION LEASEPAC COMMITTEE
Van Cleve, Jeffrey J. Mr.
4/11/2003 $250.00
North Canton, OH 44720
DIEBOLD CREDIT CORPORATION/VP & Gen -[Contribution]
EQUIPMENT LEASING ASSOCIATION LEASEPAC COMMITTEE
WARF, ALBEN W
6/29/2003 $1,000.00
MASSILLON, OH 44646
DIEBOLD -[Contribution]
VOINOVICH FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
As of June 2004, Diebold restricted all political activities for its employees, since it obviously made the whole company look crass, political and corrupt.
So when you stop hearing stories about Diebold executives donating to neocons, don't be fooled into believing the company has changed. Not until they happily open their code to the world and fully support transparent voting technology.
Be sure to check BradBlog for more...