Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 15 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE OVER BUSH'S ELECTION FRAUD?

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   4 comments
Message Randolph Holhut
DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Ever since the somewhat murky outcome of 2004 presidential election in Ohio, there have been numerous reports of how Republicans engaged in widespread and intentional cheating and fraud to ensure that George W. Bush would win.

Unfortunately, the story has never gained traction in the mainstream press. Just like it is considered impolite to say that the Bush administration repeatedly lied to gin up a war with Iraq, it is considered equally impolite to say that Bush stole both the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Maybe that might change with the publication of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s story in latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine. Kennedy put together a lengthy and well documented summation of the extent of the vote manipulation in Ohio. There was very little new in the Rolling Stone piece, but it is the most complete examination of voting fraud to appear so far in a major American publication.

The mainstream press, particularly in Ohio, pooh-poohed Kennedy's story.

"I read it and there really was nothing new," Carl Weiser, government and public affairs editor at the Cincinnati Enquirer, told Editor & Publisher magazine last week.

"They were things we already reported on and issues we did not see to have much substance," Eva Parziale, Ohio bureau chief for the Associated Press, told E & P.

"In the end, there were problems, but they were not of the magnitude that would have made any difference," Doug Clifton, editor of The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, told E & P.

In other words, it's old news and not really a story worth talking about.

Except that it is. Kennedy's story is this summer's Downing Street Memos.

Remember them? The documents leaked in the British press last year that confirmed that the Bush administration settled upon an invasion of Iraq early in 2002 and was manipulating intelligence data to support that desire?

The Washington press corps pretty much ignored them. It took nearly a month before the AP ran a story acknowledging their existence, and it consisted mostly of official denials.

Few in the press have the courage to say the Bush administration intentionally lied to the American people on Iraq. Likewise, few have the courage to say that Bush supporters in Ohio, and other states, did everything they could to ensure a Bush victory.

Here's some of what the Ohio press corps believes is old news that's totally irrelevant and not worth further investigation:

" Nearly 240,000 votes went uncounted in Ohio, enough to give Bush the margin of victory he needed to win the state, and ultimately the election.

" In all, about 3.6 million votes nationwide were uncounted. If you were a black voter, you were nine times more like to see your vote discarded than if you were a white voter.

" There were about 1.4 million "spoiled" votes nationwide -- punch cards with too few or too many punches, paper ballots that were improperly scanned or touch screens that never registered a result.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Randolph Holhut Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Randolph T. Holhut has been a journalist in New England for more than 25 years. He edited "The George Seldes Reader" (Barricade Books). He can be reached at randyholhut@yahoo.com.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION

THE 27-9-3 RULE AND HONING THE MESSAGE FOR 2006

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE OVER BUSH'S ELECTION FRAUD?

Making a List: Who Are The Most Influential People in American History?

World War III: The GOP's Ultimate Trump Card?

RELIGIOUS TYRANNY AND THE WAR AGAINST REASON

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend