« SHAME: “NON-PARTISAN†SECRETARY OF STATE MARK RITCHIE’S OFFICE PARTNERS WITH HYPER-PARTISAN LIBERAL VIDEO-BLOG | Home | MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “OFFICIAL COMMUNICATOR OF MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE: PARTISAN LIBERAL BLOG” »
COLEMAN RECOUNT UPDATE
By Ryan Flynn | December 30, 2008
I received this memo earlier today:
To: Interested Parties
From: Mark Drake, Communications Director
Date: December 30, 2008
Re: Coleman for Senate Recount Update
Over the weekend Franken campaign “let go of the rope†in working with us to reach an agreement on wrongly rejected absentee ballots. The Franken campaign’s “take it or leave it†approach left no room for negotiation. Their actions, which resulted in no credible proposal from their campaign, or even a list that could be sent to local election officials, has ensured that there is no agreement that governs which rejected absentee ballots should be reviewed for counting by the Canvassing Board.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary of State inserted himself in this process and blocked our campaign from sending our list to local election officials yesterday. He then claimed that the reason that counties had no list was because neither campaign had complied with a deadline for getting lists to those counties.
Our campaign proposed a good faith agreement that would ensure that more than 1,400 rejected absentee ballots would be reviewed for counting by the Canvassing Board, but, as a result of the Franken campaign’s refusal to put forward a specific proposal and a list — and the Deputy Secretary of State’s intervention in this process — there is no agreement and until there is an agreement no sorting of rejected absentee ballots can take place.
It’s important to understand that the reason we wanted more ballots included, on average less than ten per county, is that some counties were not consistent in the application of rejected absentee ballots. Some counties continue to not operate on a uniform standard in how they rejected absentee ballots. This lack of uniformity compelled us to ensure that additional rejected wrongly rejected absentee ballots be included in review for possible counting by the canvassing board.
Tags: Uncategorized
Topics: Uncategorized | 10 Comments »
December 30th, 2008 at 10:32 AM
So, basically, the Coleman campaign’s position is because it can’t get it’s additional ballots counted, ballots independent election officials determined were not improperly rejected, Coleman will stonewall and ensure that NONE of the ballots are counted?
Notably, the Coleman campaign agreed that ballots should be added to the list generated by the election officials IF BOTH CAMPAIGNS AGREED TO THEM BEING ADDED. God forbid Coleman be subject to the rule it came up with.
Despite the fact that it’s clear that Coleman is willing to disenfranchise some 1400 voters to get his way, how does this make sense in light of the fact COLEMAN IS BEHIND?
December 30th, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I think it is totally improper for either the Franken or Coleman campaign to negotiate over votes. Those votes belong to the voters, not the campaigns, and neither campaign has the right to negotiate that which does not belong to them.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Plymouth Dem seems to forget that the Franken campaign was the one who demanded that “incorrectly rejected” absentee ballots be counted and the ACORN endorsed Secretary of State who demanded counties put those ballots in a special pile!
December 30th, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Post up: 10:31
PlyDim response: 10:32
You’ve slid right into the driver’s seat, Ryan….you’ve got the Democrat buttboy brigade dancing on a string already!
December 30th, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Swiftee:
Are you kidding me, we love this site. Comedy Gold!
December 30th, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Yeah Ryan! Way to post a verbatim talking point! You’re such a good reporter! Just like Mike!
December 30th, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Hey Swiftee, do you think Senator Coleman will try to win his seat back in 2020?
December 30th, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Just look at ‘em dance! HAHAHA!!!
Dance buttboys…dance!!
December 30th, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Say, Ryan?
Can they do any tricks? Jerk the string a bit and let’s see what they do.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Swiftee, thanks for letting us in on the real purpose of this web site! It is good to know that you right wingers could not be as stupid as the arguments that you put forward.