Vote Fraud at State Care Facility

Could there be anything more despicable than taking advantage of someone in your care to commit fraud? Probably not.

Just days before the Tennessee’s February 5th presidential primary News Channel 5 learned employees at the Clover Bottom Developmental Center in Nashville had been registering patients to vote. Often without their knowledge or the knowledge of their court appointed conservators.

Such was the case with Kelly Harper. News Channel 5 reports:
Kelly Harper, 24, never recovered from a childhood accident. A head injury caused a stroke and, in essence, froze her brain in time.

“Mentally, she’s at the 1-year-old stage,” said her mother Becky Moss. “She cannot drive. She cannot read. She cannot write. She can’t make decision for herself,” Moss said. “Somebody, if she has voted, has done it for her,” she said. “They’re taking advantage of her.” Still, under the law, Kelly has the right to vote. Her family only wishes she could.

Kelly’s family was shocked to learn that she had been registered to vote. They were even more surprised to learn that Kelly had voted three times; casting ballots for governor, U.S. Senate, House of Representative and local races.

Constitutional attorney David Raybin is concerned:
“Her rights have been violated.” After watching her on tape, he said, ‘I don’t think she’s capable of exercising independent judgment.
And, if she can’t make her own choice, someone else apparently did.
“Of course, it’s dangerous,” he said.
A group of people who want to get votes for a particular candidate could go to an institution and take advantage of people not able to make free choices.

Kelly’s mother told News Channel 5 that she fears someone voted twice using her daughter’s vote.

Fifty-five residents are registered to vote at Clover Bottom. They do have every right to vote.
Tennessee officials promised to investigate the matter after the report was first aired

(REALLY) "Absentee" Voting

H/T to Election Journal for this little gem from memory lane (2004). Kudos to Congressman Weldon for confronting corrections officials for permitting students to solicit absentee ballots from prinsoners, which is prohobited by Pennsylvania law.

Vote or Die

In 2004 Sean "P Diddy" Combs publicly advocated for participation among young voters by founding the "landmark" Vote or Die campaign. Ironically, some of the campaign's most notable spokespersons, Democratic philosophers Paris Hilton, Christopher Brian Bridges (Ludacris) and Curtis "my friends call me 50 Cent" Jackson failed to vote.

Hmmm....That sounds strangely familiar.

While P Diddy has redubbed his grassroots campaign as Citizens for Change', the spirit of vote or die remains alive and well in Cleveland.


On April 22nd voters in Cleveland's Sixth Ward will have the option of casting their ballot for Council candidate John Boyd. Mr. Boyd has campaigned aggressively on a platform of progress and reform for his community....and that he hasn't been convicted of murder' in more than 30 years.

But not only has it been 30 years since council candidate Boyd was convicted of murder...he was fully rehabilitated....until he was convicted of heroin trafficking, forgery, theft and receiving stolen property some 20 years later.

Of course Ohio law says that a convicted felon may not serve in an office of honor, trust or profit (Councilman pays an annual salary of $70,000). But why sweat the details

Scholarly Thoughts

With primary turnout breaking records, an energized youth movement, and a national media keyed on the presidential election; 2008 should be a lot of fun for you politicos.

In 1792 Thomas Jefferson founded the Party of the Commmon Man

As a framer of our nation, Jefferson and his party fought against a tyranical British Empire, for the adoption of the Bill of Rights, and for a free Republic whereby a lasting deomcratic process would always gaurantee a peaceful transition of power.

Fast forward a few centuries and despite the lack of oppressive foreign monarchs and taxation without representation (though taxation remains healthy) the Party of Jefferson is beginning to struggle with the peaceful transition.

The epic battle of "policy" and "ideas" between Senators Clinton and Obama continues to captivate national media and primary voters alike. Less so for the dirty reality of this contest.

But commercials, allegations and press releases aren't neccesarily enough in this battle. As the Obama campaign has shown, sometimes it takes some good old fashioned muscle. During the March 4th Texas Primary the Obama Campaign's Southwest Region Director redefined GOTV when she assaulted a Val Verde County poll worker.

Fortunately for democracy, after being charged with a third degree felony Morales was released on $1,000 bond.

Hello World. Jackie Chiles Esq. - At Your Service

Some things are predictable and some things aren't.

Still weeks removed from the April 22nd primary and we've already seen a thing or two.

But hey...primary day will probably be smooth.