PARTISANS DISCUSS 'REFORM' Questions surface regarding legitimacy of Baker

[MelissaB]

PARTISANS DISCUSS 'REFORM'
Questions surface regarding legitimacy of Baker-Carter election reform commission

By Larisa Alexandrovna | RAW STORY Staff

Serious questions of conservative partisanship have surfaced surrounding an electoral reform commission co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and erstwhile Secretary of State James Baker, RAW STORY has learned.

Election reform? Republicans and Democrats embark on election reform with help from voting companies, front groups, pundits and a few genuine election reform groups peppered in.
The Carter Center denies any involvement with the Baker-Cater Commission on Federal Election Reform even though they are on much of its literature. Carter stepped down from the center in March.

>>>snip



The mysteries surrounding ACVR as well as its various connections to highly partisan groups, to some of the members of the commission and to some of the witnesses and speakers are so complex that RAW STORY had to create a visual representation of entanglements in order to better clarify on how this group may have developed.

After seeing the full map (which will be published this evening), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), who held Congressional hearings on Ohio’s election irregularities and fueled the effort for the Ohio electoral challenge, issued the following statement Thursday.
“These connections truly are astounding,” Conyers said. “It apparently wasn't enough that Republican officials helped sway the election in favor of Bush—now they've even created a phony voting rights group to combat the real work that progressives are doing to make sure that every vote is counted.”

More: http://rawstory.com/exclusives/alexandrovna/carter_bake...

[MelissaB]

1. Kerry quote and more

A spokesman and senior adviser to Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), who conceded the election over Ohio, said the Commission's attempt at electoral reform was "deceptive."

"It's as deceptive as it is dishonest,” David Wade, the senator’s communications director, said.

“Talk about a window into the Republicans' sincerity on electoral reform,” he added. “This is the height of cynicism. First they cook the intelligence on Iraq, now they create a shadowy operation to hide the truth on electoral reform…With news like this, it's pretty clear the Republicans have other plans."

[Robbien]

2. It is scary to think what kind of 'reform' these guys are going to come

up with. With Diebold in place and a stranglehold on the media it is near impossible to get a fair election. Now it appears all avenues of complaint will be eliminated.

[torque]

3. Spread the news loud and clear

Emailed, printed, and carrying it to the street!