Election Reform, Fraud and Related News, Friday, 6/13/08

[EFerrari]

Veterans Affairs Tells Court It Can't Imagine Voter Registration Drives for Its Wounded Veterans and the Homeless

By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet. Posted June 12, 2008.

The VA's attorney tells a federal appeals court that voters registration drives are a partisan distraction.

An attorney for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs hospitals and homeless shelters for veterans, told a federal appeals court Thursday that the VA could not conceive of any circumstance where voter registration drives could occur at its facilities.

"This is an activity that could be seen as harming the appearance of the VA's neutrality," said Owen Martikan, assistant U.S. attorney representing the agency, adding voter registration drives would interfere with patient medical care and also violate the federal Hatch Act, which limits federal employees from participating in political campaign activities.

"If you cure the problem of overt partisanship, you are creating another problem," Martikan said. "Once you let in someone else, you are not being neutral unless you let everyone in."

But Scott Rafferty, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who has spent several years arguing the VA must allow voter registration drives to help wounded former soldiers register and vote, disagreed.

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/88012/?ses=aa2022aeb7213c7a5c9ad54f2d7f85d5



1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web. Here's the link to the News Directory:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

2. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

3. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.

Recommendations are always appreciated!

[EFerrari]

1. National.

[EFerrari]

5. V.A. Ban on Voter Drives Is Criticized

V.A. Ban on Voter Drives Is Criticized

By IAN URBINA
Published: June 13, 2008

Voting rights groups are criticizing the Department of Veterans Affairs for its decision to ban registration drives among the veterans living at federally run nursing homes, shelters for the homeless and rehabilitation centers across the country.
Skip to next paragraph
Steve Frame for The New York Times

The groups say such drives make it easier for veterans to register and participate in the political process, which could be particularly important this year in a presidential election in which the handling of the Iraq war and treatment of veterans will be major campaign issues.

Mary G. Wilson, president of the League of Women Voters, said: “It just seems wrong to the league that the V.A. is erecting barriers to voter registration for our nation’s veterans. They appear to be using technicalities to block many veterans from registering to vote.”

Although veterans are not federal employees, department officials based their decision in part on the Hatch Act, which bans federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/washington/13vote.html?_r=2&ref=us&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

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28. Bike trip planned to boost voter registration

Bike trip planned to boost voter registration

June 13, 2008
By JOHN CURRAN The Associated Press

BURLINGTON — Max MacDonald always wanted to bicycle across America.

Now, he's getting his chance. But he won't be alone, and the ride will be anything but easy.

MacDonald, 22, and six other young Vermont residents are embarking on a 47-day, 1,800-mile bicycle trip aimed at helping register voters and raise awareness about the importance of voting, at a time when Americans are gearing up to elect a new president.

Their initiative, dubbed The Great American Voter Trek, will make stops in Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland, Chicago, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., and Laramie, Wyo., for voter registrations and meet with local officials in 25 other places in between.

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/RH/20080613/NEWS03/806130315/1004/SPORTS

[EFerrari]

30. NBC's Tim Russert dies of apparent heart attack

NBC's Tim Russert dies of apparent heart attack

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 1 minute ago

WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," died Friday of an apparent heart attack. The network's Washington bureau chief was 58.
ADVERTISEMENT

In addition to his weekly program, Russert made periodic appearances on the network's other news shows, was moderator for numerous political debates and wrote two best-selling books.

President Bush, informed while at dinner in Paris, swiftly issued a statement of condolence that praised the NBC newsman as "an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."

NBC interrupted its regular programming and in the ensuing moments, familiar faces such as Tom Brokaw, Andrea Mitchell and Brian Williams took turns mourning his loss.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080613/ap_on_en_tv/obit_russert;_ylt=Asebz2RfssrwO5VEEAPJveys0NUE

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2. By State.

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6. AL: Secretary of State: Voter Fraud Allegations Flooding In

Secretary of State: Voter Fraud Allegations Flooding In

Posted: June 12, 2008 12:31 PM
Updated: June 12, 2008 01:20 PM

Montgomery, Al. (WSFA) -- First, allegations of fraud put the spotlight on Perry County's primary elections and then it was Bullock County.

Now, Secretary of State Beth Chapman says, "Since we first exposed alleged voter fraud in Perry County, reports of voter fraud have come out of the woodwork across our state."

Attorney General Troy Kings' office has seized voting records for Perry and Bullock Counties, but it may not stop there.

Secretary Chapman says Lowndes, Jackson, Hale, Jefferson, Dallas and Wilcox Counties are all included in reports of alleged violations that are streaming into her office.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8482803&nav=0RdEIgIw

[EFerrari]

7. AZ: Voters' advocates blast plan to cut sample ballots

Voters' advocates blast plan to cut sample ballots

June 12th, 2008 @ 6:37am
by Sandra Haros/KTAR

Maricopa County's budget cuts, forced by the struggling economy, interfere with democracy, according to a voters' advocate.

The county's cuts include $640,000 to mail sample ballots to voters.

Linda Brown with the Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation says getting rid of sample ballots could cause problems for voters.

``Surely, we can find the money to make sure that our democracy works as best as it can and that nobody is turned away from the polls in November."

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=864930

[EFerrari]

8. AR: Senate vote allows Crumbly to retain seat

BREAKING NEWS: Senate vote allows Crumbly to retain seat
Thursday, Jun 12, 2008

By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - The Senate voted 19-12 Thursday to allow Sen. Jack Crumbly, D-Widener, to keep his seat.

The vote upheld the decision of a Senate panel, which voted 4-3 in April for Crumbly to keep his seat despite "flagrant voter fraud and irregularities," in a 2006 Democratic primary runoff against former Rep. Arnell Willis of Helena-West Helena.

Willis was not present at Thursday's Senate meeting, which marked only the second time in 34 years that the full Senate has assembled to decide the political fate of a fellow member.

Crumbly attended the meeting but abstained from voting.

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2008/06/12/News/346651.html

[EFerrari]

9. FL: Commissioner Guilty of Voter Fraud

Commissioner Guilty of Voter Fraud

Thursday, Jun 12, 2008 - 01:31 PM
By Deanna Lambert


According to the Walton County Clerk of Courts, on Wednesday a jury found Charles Burke guilty of one count of falsifying documents for election purposes and one count of voter registration fraud.

State law mandates when running for office in one county, you must be registered to vote in that county and claim it as your primary residence.

Burke is scheduled for sentencing on July 10th and could face five years and $5,000 on each count.

Greg Ankers, the Assistant State Attorney with the 1st Judicial Circuit says they will notify the governor's office that Burke has been found guilty. They will then determine whether to remove him from office and fill the position.

http://www.wmbb.com/gulfcoastwest/mbb/news.apx.-content-articles-MBB-2008-06-12-0007.html

[EFerrari]

10. FL: In hot pursuit of Florida’s newest voting bloc

In hot pursuit of Florida’s newest voting bloc: Ex-felons

June 12 2008
BY BILLY HOUSE
Media General News Service

WASHINGTON -- Seeking any edge in the upcoming presidential, state and local elections, Democrats and Republicans are trying to register and motivate a new pool of potential Florida voters: former felons.

"It is something we are pursuing," said state Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski on Thursday.

"The Florida Democratic Party is 100 percent committed to civil rights and the right to vote is a major part of being a full participant in society," he added.

Not to be outdone, a state Republican Party spokeswoman said the GOP is targeting "ALL Florida citizens" eligible to vote in its registration campaigns.

http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/in-hot-pursuit-of-floridas-newest-voting-bloc-ex-felons/1238/

[EFerrari]

11. FL: Activist opens account to run for Volusia elections post

June 13, 2008

Activist opens account to run for Volusia elections post
By M.C. MOEWE
Staff Writer

Local election watchdog Susan Pynchon has opened a campaign account to run for the office of Volusia County Supervisor of Elections.

Current Supervisor Ann McFall is also an active candidate for the office. The primary is Aug. 26. The general election is Nov. 4. The current annual salary for the office is $119,582, with a four-year term.

The 2000 presidential election in Volusia County captured national attention after a tabulation error gave Al Gore negative 16,022 votes and wrongly added votes for George W. Bush. Deanie Lowe, who was then the supervisor of elections, discovered and corrected the error but not before national media outlets used the incorrect information to call the election for Bush.

Pynchon, 57, from DeLeon Springs, was in HBO's movie "Hacking Democracy," which discussed the error. In 2004, Pynchon founded and is the current executive director of the DeLand-based Florida Fair Elections Coalition.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/WestVolusia/wvlWEST04POL061308.htm

[EFerrari]

12. FL: Nokomis man arrested for voting twi

Nokomis man arrested for voting twice

Posted: June 12, 2008 12:48 PM
Updated: June 12, 2008 12:48 PM

NOKOMIS - A Nokomis man is arrested for voting twice in the same election.

Sarasota County Sheriff's Deputies say 74-year-old William Murray went to the polls on November 5, 2002 and cast his ballot.

The only problem, according to Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, Murray had already sent in an absentee ballot.

Dent contacted the voter in case there had been a mistake and Murray admitted to the offense saying that it was, "her job to prevent such an occurence".

http://www.wwsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8482924

[EFerrari]

13. IN: Grand jury won't indict poll workers

Grand jury won't indict poll workers

By THOMAS B. LANGHORNE
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7432 or [e-mail]
Originally published 11:00 p.m., June 12, 2008
Updated 11:00 p.m., June 12, 2008

A Vanderburgh County grand jury decided Thursday not to return indictments against two poll workers who made political statements in front of a television crew during the May 6 primary election.

Prosecutor Stan Levco said grand jurors indicated afterward that Democrat Kim Minor and Republican Leon "Big Man" Collins may have violated the law, but their offenses were not serious enough to warrant indictments.

The grand jury convened for more than seven hours.

In view of a WTVW-FOX7 television crew, Minor called a polling place at Zion Missionary Baptist Church "Obama's house." Collins was heard calling it "McCain's house." Minor could be seen chanting presidential candidate Barack Obama's name and asking who in the polling place supported the Illinois Democrat.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jun/12/election/

[EFerrari]

14. NM: Election officials order too many ballots

Election officials order too many ballots

State election officials spent more than $2.5 million on ballots for last week's primary election. And the vast majority of them wound up being wasted.

Only about 265,000 voters cast ballots in the primary.

But Secretary of State Mary Herrera ordered nearly 3 million ballots for the election, more than ten times the actual turnout.

To a great extent, her hands were tied. Each early voting site in Bernalillo County had to be supplied with more than 800 variations of the ballot to cover all of the local and district races in every precinct.

http://kob.com/article/stories/S475848.shtml?cat=504

[EFerrari]

15. NY: Kingston's recount (Results reversed)

Kingston's recount
06/12/2008

The Kingston school district has done nothing to enhance its administrative reputation - no great shakes on the street to begin with - by botching the reporting and certification of the results of the recent school board election.


State education law requires that election inspectors in each voting district make a signed, written report of the results, which must then be conveyed within 24 hours to the district clerk. The school board has 24 hours to tabulate the results it receives and declare the results.

It took until June 4 for the district to get a handle on the results of the May 20 election.

The Board of Education actually certified results on May 21 that put Richard Amato on the board by three votes over the Rev. James Childs.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19758596&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=82701&rfi=6

[EFerrari]

16. OH: Cuyahoga County Election Board deliberating on voting machines

Cuyahoga County Election Board deliberating on voting machines
Posted by Joe Guillen June 12, 2008 21:08PM
Categories: Breaking News


A meeting tonight to pick Cuyahoga County's voting equipment for the Nov. 4 election is continuing without a decision.

The four members of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections were choosing between two companies that make ballot scanners that would be placed at the polls.

Hart InterCivic of Texas was selling scanners for $9.7 million.

The other company, Election Systems & Software of Nebraska, which rented scanners to the county in March, offered two choices: its older model equipment for $12 million or its newer, uncertified machines for $13.4 million.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/06/cuyahoga_county_election_board.html

[EFerrari]

17. PA: Schuylkill officials trade accusations

Schuylkill officials trade accusations
Executives point fingers over grant that was imperiled.

By Ashley Kosciolek | Special to The Morning Call
June 12, 2008

Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday voted to accept more than $215,000 in additional federal election funds, with the chairwoman blaming the county controller for compliance problems that endangered the grants.

Last week, county grant writer Gary Bender told commissioners that state officials told the county it was supposed to have created a separate checking account for the funds, which are provided for voting improvements under the federal Help America Vote Act.

The county's allocation for 2008 now totals about $350,000.

Bender said the county controller's office under both former Controller Gary Hornberger and current Controller Melinda Kantner has refused several times to create the account.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_1schuylkill.6455749jun12,0,4356542.story

[EFerrari]

18. PA: Indiana county set to receive election money

Indiana county set to receive election money

By Jared Stout
BLAIRSVILLE DISPATCH
Friday, June 13, 2008

INDIANA--Officials in Indiana County will receive about $100,000 in grant money to cover future election costs.

The county already has received grant money for election upgrades, under the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, but additional amounts were accepted at Wednesday's meeting of the county commissioners.

An initial $6,251.35 installment the county received will be used to help make polling places more accessible for handicapped people.

Most of the second installment of $93,857.71 will be used to help offset any maintenance costs related to the 2008 and 2010 elections and to purchase additional voting machines and programming software for election needs. A smaller $2,683.42 portion will be used to help train election officials and poll workers.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/blairsvilledispatch/s_572458.html

[EFerrari]

19. SC: Cobb-Hunter calls for election investigation

Cobb-Hunter calls for election investigation
By DIONNE GLEATON, T&D Staff WriterThursday, June 12, 2008

The Orangeburg County Board of Canvassers sorted through discussions of voting machine malfunctions and voters casting ballots in the wrong precincts as they certified Tuesday’s primary election results.

They also fielded their share of concerns from the public, including from one veteran lawmaker who has called for an investigation into allegations of voting abuses.

District 66 Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, who garnered 61 percent of the vote to beat a political newcomer in the Democratic primary, presented a letter to the board during the certification hearing held Thursday morning in the Orangeburg County Council Chambers.

She said several of her constituents contacted her with their concerns regarding, “irregularities related to the issuance, collection and casting of absentee ballots.”

http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2008/06/12/news/doc4851c425012bf122046295.txt

[EFerrari]

20. SC: Kershaw County to recount District 1

Kershaw County to recount District 1

The Kershaw County Voter Registration and Election office will tentatively hold a recount for County Council District 1 on Monday.

Political newcomer Robert “Bobby” Gary led John Lee, a 12-year-incumbent, by eight votes after results were certified Thursday.

Gary and Lee are both Democrats and are cousins. The official winner after the recount faces no opposition in November since no Republicans have filed to run.

The recount is tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at the County Government Center, 515 Walnut St., Camden.

http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/432210.html

(How are they planning to recount this district? Aren't those all touchscreens?!)

[EFerrari]

21. SC: Voter becomes center of Florence ballot battle

Voter becomes center of Florence ballot battle

By Charles Tomlinson
Morning News Reporter
Published: June 12, 2008

FLORENCE — Candidates and elections officials have said the Florence mayoral race shows that every vote counts, but Fanika George had no idea her ballot would spark the battle that took place Thursday.

Steve Wukela’s campaign argued that George and poll workers didn’t follow proper procedure by allowing Florence County Councilman Al Bradley to help George in the voting booth.

Bradley has endorsed incumbent Frank Willis, and George said she also supports Willis.

In the end, the Florence County/Municipal Election Commission unanimously decided to count her challenged ballot.

http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/voter_becomes_center_of_ballot_battle/7852/

[EFerrari]

22. TX: Hidalgo County could fire elections head

Hidalgo County could fire elections head; dissolve the position

June 12, 2008 - 11:48PM

EDINBURG - Hidalgo County's top elections official could lose her job Tuesday now that she faces several felony charges stemming from red flags raised within her department.


An Hidalgo County grand jury indicted Teresa Navarro last week on five felony counts, including theft by a public servant, engaging in organized criminal activity and tampering with government records, in connection with an investigation into bookkeeping irregularities at the Hidalgo County Elections Department.


Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said the Commissioners Court will have the option to fire her during its next meeting Tuesday but added in a voice-mail message to The Monitor that he didn't know what action, if any, the panel would take.


The Commissioners Court could decide to discuss the matter but take no action - just as it did in April before Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño's three-month investigation was completed.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/county_87612___article.html/elections_hidalgo.html

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/county_87612___article.html/elections_hidalgo.html

[EFerrari]

23. VA: Amherst seeks Voting Act ‘bailout’

Amherst seeks Voting Act ‘bailout’

Published: June 12, 2008

Amherst County officials are trying to get an exemption to a section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that requires reporting each instance of a voting change to the Department of Justice.

County Administrator Rodney Taylor said the county is seeking the exemption, also called a “bailout,” because submitting changes to the department is a “cumbersome process.”

“You have to go through a lot of legal hoops whenever there is a change,” said Ray Vandall, an Amherst County supervisor.

County officials insist having the exemption would never hurt individuals’ voting rights.

http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/amherst_seeks_voting_act_bailout/5734/

[EFerrari]

26. AR: Local election-integrity activist: toss electronic machines

Local election-integrity activist: toss electronic machines

By JOE LAMB
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER

Faulkner County's Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) electronic voting machines would better serve the voters if they were tossed "into the nearest body of water," Lisa Burks, founder and national coordinator of the National Coalition for Verified Voting, said at a "town hall" style meeting Thursday night at the Faulkner County Library.

Citing numerous cases of electronic voting machine problems in Arkansas and nationwide, including the error that caused a result flip-flop in May 20's state District 45 House of Representatives Democratic preferential primary, Burks, a Conway resident, said the county would be better off going back to paper ballots and lever style voting machines.

Several in attendance, including former District 45 Rep. Betty Pickett, argued that paper ballots are no longer an option, as the lever style machines are now redundant and parts are no longer available.

Several others also recounted tales of paper ballot elections being decided by unscrupulous characters in courthouse basements, saying paper ballots were no more reliable or tamper-proof than modern touch-screen machines when commonly used and would remain so if used again.

http://thecabin.net/stories/061308/loc_0613080002.shtml

[EFerrari]

3. International.

[EFerrari]

24. Philippines: Sulu abduction won't deter Armm polls: PPCRV

Saturday, June 14, 2008
Sulu abduction won't deter Armm polls: PPCRV

MANILA -- The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said Friday that the abduction of TV journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon would not deter the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) elections.

PPCRV national chairperson Henrietta de Villa said the abduction of Drilon and her crew only encouraged them to promote a democratic and meaningful election in the region on August 11.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

"Their abduction won't deter us. We will still continue to volunteer in the Armm," she said.

De Villa said her group is organizing a summit workshop to be held at the Pope Pius XII in Paco, Manila from June 21 to 23. The workshop is intended for the 16 Muslim civil society organizations and different Ulama's in the Armm to prepare them for the automated elections.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/06/14/sulu.abduction.won.t.deter.armm.polls.ppcrv.html

[EFerrari]

25. Irish Turnout Low At 40% For Lisbon Treaty Vote -RTE

UPDATE: Irish Turnout Low At 40% For Lisbon Treaty Vote -RTE

Thu, Jun 12 2008, 20:56 GMT
http://www.djnewswires.com/eu

DUBLIN -(Dow Jones)- The turnout of Irish voters is still running low -- at about 40% -- in the European Union's only public referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, according to polling-station surveys taken Thursday by state broadcaster RTE.

Low turnouts traditionally tend to include more dogmatic "No" voters, as when Irish voters rejected the 2001 Nice Treaty referendum to approve the E.U.'s expansion in part, a treaty that was later approved with a higher voter turnout.

Turnout rose to about 40% in most constituencies from 20% earlier Thursday, though RTE's regional reporters say a lower turnout in some rural areas may bring down the average rate. Polling stations are open from 0600 GMT to 2100 GMT.

The referendum has E.U. leaders on edge, raising concerns in Brussels that Irish rejection of the treaty could throw the whole E.U. reform process into chaos and damage Ireland's reputation in Europe.

Unique among the E.U.'s 27 member nations, Ireland is holding a public referendum on the treaty forged in Lisbon to replace the failed E.U. constitution, but two polls earlier this week indicated the result was too close to call.

http://www.fxstreet.com/news/forex-news/article.aspx?StoryId=3d8205ff-61b9-4b36-bcdb-0d87c012a4a4

[EFerrari]

27. Kenya: By- elections exercise free and fair,' says Kivuitu

By- elections exercise free and fair,' says Kivuitu
Written By:Emmanuel Kola , Posted: Fri, Jun 13, 2008

The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) says the by-elections in five constituencies and fifty civic wards Thursday were concluded smoothly, with isolated reports of voter bribery and violence in Embakasi, Kilgoris and Emuhaya Constituencies.

In a press statement, ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu says incidents of bribery and violence were immediately reported to the police, who assured the Commission that all perpetrators would be arrested.

He says names of some aspirants were also struck out of the voters' registers because they had been registered more than once.

While giving its assessment on the by elections in Embakasi, Ainamoi, Kilgoris, Emuhaya and Wajir North constituencies including 50 civic wards, Kivuitu said it noted pockets of violence and voter bribery in Embakasi, Kilgoris and Emuhaya.

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=50659

[EFerrari]

4. OpEd.

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29. Catholics debate Obama vote

Catholics debate Obama vote

Published:
Friday, June 13, 2008 11:19 AM CDT

Can a Catholic be for Barack Obama? The question has been raised by a law professor at Pepperdine University, who went from being a Mitt Romney adviser to an Obama supporter. The question is further raised by the appearance of the angry Rev. Michael Pfleger, a longtime friend of the Democratic nominee who recently preached at Obama's former Trinity church.

Since this topic was recently a matter of talking heads' concerns, I was asked, in all seriousness, if Catholics can even vote. After all, war is bad. The death penalty is bad. Abortion is bad. John McCain supports the war on terror and capital punishment, but he is against abortion. Obama is antiwar and anti-death penalty but pro-abortion. So neither wins. Or does Obama win? "Can Catholics vote for anyone?" readers asked.

The answer is not up to me. The individual Catholic derives an answer through reflection on the demands of his or her conscience, informed by the teaching of the Church. Neither of those steps can be glossed over. And there can be no mistaking what responsibilities the Catholic voter faces.

E-mailers have also asked, as the following did: "You are, of course, aware that the Catholic Church also sees contraception as a sin as well. Since means never justify the ends, voting for a candidate that promotes contraception as an alternative to abortion is also wrong. Without researching, I assume all major candidates have no problem with contraception, therefore, no candidate should get Catholic votes by your line of reasoning. I'm sorry for this rant, but I do not like people playing politics with my religion."

http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/articles/2008/06/13/opinion/editorials/996lopez.txt

[EFerrari]

31. Tim Russert. (Bio from his home town paper.)

Tim Russert, host of 'Meet the Press,' dies of a heart attack at age 58
Updated: 06/13/08 4:26 PM

Buffalo native Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press" and author of books about his family and experience growing up in Buffalo, has died from a heart attack.

Longtime NBC anchor Tom Brokaw confirmed his death in a special report on NBC. Brokaw says Russert's death came during a political campaign that he loved. Russert, 58, was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams described Russert's style as "aggressively unfancy."

Russert, who once served as press secretary for former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and as chief of staff to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, went on to become a force of his own in Washington politics through his position as moderator on "Meet the Press" and as NBC's Washington bureau chief. He was also a vice president of NBC News.

"Meet the Press" was securely at the top of the Sunday morning news shows, and Russert also made frequent appearances as a commentator on other NBC News programs. His use of hand-drawn charts to clarify points he made while covering elections was praised by media analysts at a time when networks were otherwise exploding with flashy graphics.

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=61757

[flashl]

32. K/R nt

[juno jones]

33. K&R!

Bookmarked for later...:)

[JDPriestly]

34. SO -- Let's organize teams that include representatives of all

parties to go to VA facilities. That's not that difficult.

Or how about the League of Women Voters or some other nonpartisan outfit doing this.

Some states used to not permit people who are registering voters to discuss their political opinions or to register as a representative of a party.

How can they make this claim.

I register voters -- all voters regardless of party.

So do most people who register voters.

[truedelphi]

38. I second that motion. n/t

[EFerrari]

35. Thank you for the recs!

:)

[formercia]

36. You always do good work, Elizabeth.

I enjoyed your piece "Why I became a Vegetarian" Everyone should read it. :hi:

[chill_wind]

37. And here is one more: K & R!

;-)