We have a few new links up today…
Remember.. this is still about registration fraud so far… let’s not use terms too loosely.
A Pennsylvania judge says NO to getting ACORN voter reg lists.
Miami County Fraud Probe
Heritage Foundation Study on Voter Fraud
CNN - ACORN pushes back
Well I am keeping an eagle eye on the media coverage of potential manipulation and fraud in the election. Remember the focus is on the Presidential election but there is activity that matters “downstream” from the big races. So far so good. I have seen historically partisan newspapers like the San Diego Union Tribune cover a very emotional gay marriage initiative with balance and fairness: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20081031-9999-1n31field.html
I’ve seen commentary in the Huffington Post strike a neutral point of view on the use of underhanded techniques to manipulate the vote. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/27/better-machinery-and-regi_n_138183.html
However I’ve also seen some pretty amazing claims such as the one by Mayor Bloomberg as reported by the NY Post where he is claiming no early votes were awarded to Barack Obama. This is worth looking into because a republican mayor is the one leveling the charge.
There will be more allegations, counter charges and outlandish editorials, but so far the media is doing an outstanding job of looking into the claims and doing their job which is to report the truth so we can move forward. This certainly gives me some level of confidence that the fourth estate is helping us as we look for a civil discourse and a fair election.
Many people have suspended concern over a potential ugly finish this year by figuring the victory would be a ’slam dunk’ for Obama. Well, this is not the case anymore, so I think the need for this VIGIL is going to become more apparent to many people very quickly as we enter into the weekend.
Here is CNN’s report from yesterdayalready filled up with tons of user comments.
Don’t have too much to say here about it, but everyone should check out this ABC story and make up their own mind whether civility is advancing, or if it is just a word mentioned before the next jab.
I have contacted both campaigns to get a statement from them on their commitment to civility. The response (or lack thereof) was predictable.
From Camp McCain:
Hello Summer -
Thank you for your request. Your email has been forwarded to our staff members, and someone from the campaign will be in touch shortly. Please let us know if we can do anything else to assist you.
Best,
McCain-Palin 2008, Press Office
From Camp Obama:
Nothing yet. I did however, manage to end up on their mailing list unsolicited and have received several pleas for donations and campaign assistance.
We encourage one and all to contact the campaigns directly to solicit a response about civility. Ask them to promote civility and expect the same of their constituents. A top down approach, starting from the candidates will be the quickest to affect change in the way politics as usual is done. Here is the contact information:
Barack Obama
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/contact/
(866) 675-2008
John McCain
Press Office:
703-650-5550
press@mccain08hq.com
It might be working. Yes it is beginning to happen! I believe the sense of civility that we’re trying to convey with this site and our actions is beginning to have an effect. Today the movement for a civil election was covered in a radio trade journal. I was contacted with questions by several friends and colleagues. They report a similar sentiment of fear and apprehension about this election. Callers to just want someone “to take the first step” towards a better way of running an election.
Well anyone committing to and Act of Civility or just reading the posts and telling a friend is taking a step in a long journey to a better election process. Like the old Arlo Guthrie song Alice’s Restaurant said:
“And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. They may think it’s an
organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and
walking out. And friends they may thinks it’s a movement.”
Well we’ve got fifty people singin a bar of Act for Civility so I guess we’ve got a movement.
We just have to wait for it to come around here on the guitar. And sing it when it does.
This may come as a shock to many of you, but believe it or not, there are people out there that doubt our sincerity, and worry out loud that there is another agenda at work here.
My reply to this is simple and comforting. Let’s bring in more authors to blog here. All that is required is that they have a track record of civility and a passion to match in these final days before the election.
This should make the blog more interesting for sure. Go ahead and comment here to be considered. The process, just like the rest of this process is wide open.
Of course we can’t rely on the press alone to push us out of obscurity when we are in one of the biggest news cycles in our time, so look for this new ad on facebook today and this week.
We look forward to getting this and similar ads into as many networks as possible before the weekend, now that the VIGIL has begun. We are looking for volunteers to spread the word here and help with the ad placement. Of course, we’ll only do what we get help with. Please Chip In with a few bones to help our promotion fund reach $1500.
Thanks.
Andrew
Many people think that civility is just another word for being nice.
I can certainly relate to the sense out there that at some level, being nice about all this would take the edge off things. CNN just ran an article about taking a minute to be nice amidst a growing intense debate on who will be the next president. It actually makes many great points about ways to create an atmosphere for civility that we should exercise. Conceding a point or two once in a while is a sign that you are a reasonable person, and it really does put you in a better mood.
It is important to correct a false notion however about civility. Civility in no way means you disarm yourself of any rational arguments on behalf of your convictions. To the contrary, civility is evidenced by seeing an increase in rationality and an increase in decision-making wisdom.
Civility in its best form takes us away from fierce antagonism, and helps us reach conclusions we need not regret over time. It helps us ask honest questions and expect honest answers. It raises the bar. It sets a standard for what kind of rhetoric you are willing to tolerate, and it demands full disclosure in a manner that does not have to come across as prosecutorial.
It is important to people beyond the various campaigns whether or not any vote is legal and or suppressed.
So whenever questions are raised, it is getting more than tiring to we the people to hear one charge retorted by the opposite charge. Like it or not Senators, this election isn’t solely about either of you, it is and will always be about the empowerment of qualified citizens to vote, and to have their vote neither diluted nor suppressed.
So here at the Vigil, with so little time left, we just ask for two things:
1) Follow up any charges of fraud or suppression with specific evidence
2) Spare us of giant stories about ‘charges’ as if they are the same as substance (this one is for the media)
The way things are going with this, voters are losing confidence in the system and are losing their attention span regarding where the needle really sits on who is right on this issue. While campaigns may gain short term victories by obfuscating and equivocating, it is we that lose in the end.
To help get to the facts, please read these two opposing pieces on non-citizens voting, then decide:
http://truthaboutfraud.org/case_studies_by_issue/
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Legalissues/lm28.cfm
Entries Comments.
