Reply #7: VR's NEWS RELEASE calling for Baker's removal from the commission [View All]

[tommcintyre]

http://velvetrevolution.us/content/electoralreform/BakerCarterComm_PressRelease_033005.php

3/30/05: VR Calls for James Baker to Resign as co-chair from newly formed Blue-Ribbon Election Reform Commission!


NEWS RELEASE: MARCH 30, 2005

ELECTION REFORM COALITION CONDEMNS INCLUSION OF
JAMES A. BAKER III AS CO-CHAIR OF BI-PARTISAN ELECTION
REFORM BLUE-RIBBON COMMISSION

Bush Family friend, loyalist, operative and architect of the
2000 Bush/Cheney strategy to keep American's votes from being
counted has no place as Co-Chair of bi-partisan commission
with esteemed former-President Jimmy Carter

Velvet Revolution calls for Baker's immediate removal from Commission

VelvetRevolution.us ("VR"), a leading Election Reform advocacy group -- comprised of nearly 100 affiliate organizations which represent the vast majority of America's Voting Rights and Electoral Reform movement in America today - today strongly states our opposition and condemnation of the recently announced Baker/Carter Commission that has been formed to study and recommend solutions for the myriad of electoral irregularities documented in the 2004 general election.

The reason we must condemn this otherwise greatly needed blue-ribbon commission is due to the installation of James A. Baker III as the commission's co-chair.

Indeed, we applauded the true bi-partisan spirit of the two fine former statesmen, Presidents Carter and Ford, on a similar blue-ribbon commission convened after the 2000 election to examine election related problems. However, in this case, the selection of a partisan political operative and Bush Family loyalist such as Mr. Baker, in place of the esteemed former-President Ford, will irreconcilably sully the credibility of such a commission and render it's findings completely suspect, wholly useless and, regrettably, without merit. Mr. Baker is no President Ford.

While former President Jimmy Carter is a superb choice for the post - having proven himself to be an honest broker, with a lengthy and esteemed history of supervising and presiding over free and fair elections around the world - Mr. Baker is, in fact, the architect behind the invidious scheme implemented to ensure that the votes of all Americans would not be counted in the unfortunate and un-democratic 2000 Presidential Election fiasco. The regrettable -- and indeed reprehensible -- actions of James Baker on behalf of Bush/Cheney '00 Inc. were antithetical to the free, fair and trustworthy elections process which must be the cornerstone of the world's most important democracy.
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http://velvetrevolution.us/content/electoralreform/BakerCarterComm_PressRelease_033005.php