State of the Union

More voter fraud uncovered in Ohio

The Dayton Daily News reports at least 70 voters in Miami County called to complain they hadn't received their absentee ballots, but the same ballots were cast without the envelopes signed:

Miami County election officials Friday, Oct. 31, asked prosecutors and the sheriff's office to investigate suspected voter fraud involving at least 70 absentee ballots.

Elections Director Steve Quillen said elections staff began asking questions about absentee ballots previously set aside when several voters complained they had not received their ballots. The ballots were set aside because their envelopes were not signed by the recipients.

Election officials called those sent the absentee ballots in question, and only one voter acknowledged having received the ballot and forgetting to sign the envelope.

Don't show this to Gov. Strickland.  He still thinks there's no voter fraud out there, bless his heart.

Obama's fawning friends in the press

Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Peter Bronson writes today:

Barack Obama is a transformational political savior, a reincarnation of JFK who will bring peace, justice and worldwide respect as he is "fulfilling Martin Luther King's dream," in the words of one Enquirer headline.

Or he's a smooth-talking humbug in a glossy wrapper - a radical socialist, friend of terrorists, another clueless Jimmy Carter who will cause economic ruin as he appeases our enemies.

Both Obamas are possible.

Both views are true and false because more than any candidate in our lifetimes, he is a blank sheet of paper, where critics and supporters can write down anything they want.

The reason for that is as disturbing as the fears of Obama: The Fourth Estate has been AWOL. The media have abandoned their responsibility to check out both candidates. We know next to nothing about Obama except what he and his fawning friends in the press have decided to tell us.

Brunner: Ohioans are racist

Here's Ohio's chief elections officer calling Southeast Ohioans racist and worrying about how it might impact the Democrat candidate. Certainly no bias here. 

Brunner protects her ACORN friends

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's connection to a top ACORN official raises troubling new questions about her refusal to disclose at least 200,000 questionable voter registrations being held by her office.

An investigation into ACORN's alleged fraudulent election activity revealed on Wednesday that one of its national directors, Karyn Gillette, collaborated with the Obama campaign to raise funds for the group's voter registration efforts.

Gillette is identified on Jennifer Brunner's 2006 campaign website as a consultant to Brunner, and a blog entry filed by Brunner's husband Rick adds that "our candidate had gone earlier in the day to have some meetings and work out of Karyn Gillette's office."  Rick Brunner also describes Gillette as "very helpful to the campaign." 

According to campaign finance reports, Gillette, a longtime fundraising consultant to Ohio Democrats, was paid $21,250 by Brunner's campaign.

An ACORN whistleblower testified in a Pennsylvania state court on Wednesday that "in November 2007 Project Vote development director Karyn Gillette told her she had direct contact with the Obama campaign and had obtained their donor lists."  Project Vote is the voter registration arm of ACORN. (Wall Street Journal, 10/29/08)

"Jennifer Brunner's ties to a top ACORN official, who is also accused of collaborating with the Obama campaign, suggest she's orchestrating a cover-up to protect her friends," said Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine.  "This group has publicly testified that it's members engage in fraudulent election activity, and at least one voter said he was persuaded by ACORN to cast a bogus ballot.  It's time for Jennifer Brunner to stop the concealing the evidence and start restoring confidence in the integrity of Ohio's election."

Gillette is not Brunner's only tie to ACORN.  Members of the group's voter registration arm, Project Vote, regularly advise Brunner on election strategy, previously serving on her Voter Rights Institute and even recently issuing a news release claiming credit for Brunner's directive banning challenges to suspected fraudulent voter registrations. 

Brunner rebuked... again

From The Columbus Dispatch:

The increase in the state's voter registrations normally would be hailed as a sign of greater political engagement, but the process is mired in controversy. About 200,000 of Ohio's 660,000 new registrations since Jan. 1 have some data discrepancies. Most are probably unintentional errors on names or identifying data that could have been reconciled if the 88 elections boards had adequate time to do the job.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner erred by refusing to share the names with the bipartisan boards, thus heightening the suspicions of Republicans. She was concerned there would be widespread Republican challenges to new registrations, but she should have trusted the state's bipartisan elections boards not to cancel registrations solely on the basis of mismatched data.

Ohioans had a right to know how many of the mismatches stem from fraud. History suggests it's a small percentage, even though there have been recent examples of questionable registrations, particularly among those gathered by ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

The possibility of voter fraud can't be overlooked just because Ohio has had few documented cases in the past. Out-of-state activists have come to Ohio to register voters, but some of them also registered to vote or cast absentee ballots. That's illegal unless the activists live in Ohio for 30 days and intend to stay here.

Strickland cabinet member involved in 'Joe' scandal

The Columbus Dispatch reported today:

Ohio's inspector general is investigating why a state agency director approved checking the child-support computer system for information on "Joe the Plumber."

Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, confirmed yesterday that she OK'd the check on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher after the Oct. 15 presidential debate, in which he was mentioned repeatedly by Republican Sen. John McCain.

Who's Helen Jones-Kelley?  She's a Democrat appointed by Gov. Ted Strickland.  Oh, and she personally maxed out to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in July 2008. (OpenSecrets.org)  But, don't worry, Gov. Strickland is "satisfied that there are no political overtures to the check on Wurzelbacher."  Of course not.  Ted Strickland's government snoops in your private files every day.  Buzz off.

Update: Strickland administration database scandal heats up

From Gongwer News Service:

Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) asked Gov. Ted Strickland today to provide a copy of the policy – or an explanation of the practice – that let a state agency use a database to check the background of “Joe the Plumber.”
 
Sen. Harris said in a letter to the governor he was “alarmed” to learn the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services logged onto a child-support computer system to determine the status of Joseph Wurzelbacher of Toledo.
 
Sen. Harris found “even more disturbing” a disclosure from ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley that the agency often conducts such probes of persons thrust quickly into the national spotlight.
 
“Further, despite the fact that there is an ongoing investigation, your administration indicated that it was confident that there were no ‘political overtures’ to the check,” Sen. Harris told the governor. “This seems a little premature, and I do not share your confidence.”

Download gov_letterdatabase.pdf

Another disgrace from the courts

What does this do for your confidence in Ohio's election system? 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A federal judge in Ohio has ruled that counties must allow homeless voters to list park benches and other locations that aren't buildings as their addresses.

This ruling was made behind closed doors with Jennifer Brunner's attorneys.  Counsel for the Ohio General Assembly (which is party in the lawsuit) was kept out of the room as Brunner and her Democrat lawyers worked with the Clinton-appointed judge to draft this opinion. 

Strickland administration targets 'Joe'

From The Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio's inspector general is investigating why a state agency director approved checking the child-support computer system for information on "Joe the Plumber."
 
Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, confirmed yesterday that she OK'd the check on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher after the Oct. 15 presidential debate, in which he was mentioned repeatedly by Republican Sen. John McCain. ...

The use of a state computer system to search for information on Wurzelbacher is the fourth uncovered by The Dispatch.

Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, is satisfied that there are no political overtures to the check on Wurzelbacher, a spokesman said.

Of course he is.  Just like he's satisfied that there's "no evidence" of election fraud in Ohio.  Keep those eyes close, governor

Palestra continues to uncover the fraud