Diebold Lobbyist Donates $10,000 to Blackwell Campaign

[LiberalHeart]

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Forty-nine of the 85 people who this year have given Ohio secretary of state Kenneth Blackwell the maximum $10,000 allowed an individual donor have done so since May 2. Members of Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner's family led the way by combining for $90,000. The maximum-donor list also includes Mitch Given, who is a registered lobbyist for Diebold Election Systems, one of the vendors of voting machines for election boards in Ohio.

Much more:
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5012724

[Champion Jack]

1. Heh, there's a marriage made in Fucking heaven

[Patsy Stone]

2. Oy.

K&R.

[bleever]

4. Vey.

K&R.

[liberal N proud]

3. That is why they call the race too close to call

Last I heard, Strickland was leading in the polls by 16% but FAUX news was calling the race Neck-n-Neck.

When you are part owner in the voting machine company and they partly own you... Then add the little fact that you run the elections in the state, What does that all buy you?

If you are Kenny Blackwell, a Governors seat.

[maseman]

17. OK friends

Let's recap here.

Ken Blackwell oversees all elections in the state of Ohio.

Ken Blackwell is now running for the highest race in the state, Governor.

Ken Blackwell negotiated the deal with Diebold, an Ohio based company, to put their voting machines throughout the state.

Ken Blackwell owns stock in Diebold.

Ken Blackwell received a maximum gift of $10,000 for his campaign from Diebold.

And now for the big question....ready?

Why is that that an ordinary human being living in Ohio cannot figure out that this is fucking ridiculous? BTW, I live in Ohio. Matter of fact I live about 3 miles from Diebold. Scary looking place with lots of cameras, tinted glass, gates, etc. I flick off the building every time I drive by. I know it is childish, but it somehow makes me feel better. This is so frustrating.

[unpossibles]

19. technically he sold his stock

"as soon as he found out" (GASP!), but it still stinks like a pig in church. Or a pig in the Secretary of State seat.

[OneTwentyoNine]

34. LOL...Just like Senator Sam Brownback sold off Hollywood studio stock

After his unending preaching and bitching about how evil the movie industry is and then it was discovered that he owned stock in several studios through his mutual fund. Of course he said the same shit--"I didn't know that stock was part of the portfolio".

BULLSHIT!! If your that much a flaming RW religious zealot then you'd make DAMN sure any stock you owned wasn't the very companies that your preaching against. Fact is he was making big ASS $$$ and loved it until he got caught.

ROFLOL....and that asswipe has thought about running for President. Bawhahahahah......

[Blutodog]

26. Diebold rules Demos Drool

Blackwell and his Rethug buddies that own Diebold and extenstion an increasing amount of the voting system in this country could care less what anyone thinks. They are stealing our birthright from us and they're doing right out in the open in plain view. Hell, they're laughing in our faces about it like the schoolyard bullies and fascists they really are. Why doesn't Blackwell just say openly to the voters, Go ahead vote for whom ever you like cause it doesn't really meaning a fucking thing in the end I'll win anyway! SUCKERS!"

[mikelewis]

29. People know...

they just don't care or won't believe it's possible to steal an election. They close their eyes to the truth and pretend the fantasy of thier life is more substantial than everyone elses reality. I know this election here in Ohio is already over, except for the counting (and Diebold will take care of the counting). But what gives me hope is that this time the theft will have to be so blatant that even the blind will see it. Blackwell is going to win but by winning, the Republican party is doomed in Ohio. Set your hopes on '08 because '06 is lost.

On edit: Flip them off for me next time you pass.

[maseman]

32. You got it brotha...

http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/152551/

[LiberalHeart]

41. WARNING: That site attempts to plant spyware.

[Pierre.Suave]

49. you could...

get a mac, then, no worries when browsing.

[LiberalHeart]

50. Tried that; hated it.

[Jack Rabbit]

30. . . . you also forgot . . .

Ken Blackwell, as the cheif elections officer in Ohio, is making it very difficult for volunteer organizations to register voters.

What's wrong with that picture?

[Hubert Flottz]

33. Ken Blackwell is a member of the social club...

Mission statement

http://www.cfr.org/about/mission.html

[LiberalFighter]

46. Ohio Diebold lobbyist biz partners w. organized crime convicts

Ohio Diebold lobbyist biz partners w. organized crime convicts Link

Who is Diebold’s Ohio lobbyist, Pasquale A. Gallina? (a.k.a. Patrick A. Gallina, Pat Gallina)

<snip>

Pat Gallina has been operating behind the scenes in Ohio to promote the leading voting system vendor.

Gallina was the personnel director for the Ohio Lottery Commission during 1977 and 1978, when he resigned after being named in a lawsuit that prompted federal, state and local officials to investigate alleged contract kickback schemes at the commission. Gallina was granted immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony before a Cuyahoga County grand jury investigating Republican Chairman Robert E. Hughes over a lottery procurement issue. (3)

[Pierre.Suave]

48. HAHAHAHA

"I flick off the building every time I drive by. I know it is childish, but it somehow makes me feel better. This is so frustrating."

That made me laugh, thanks.

[spotbird]

47. Strickland should be up 25%

to win. It will have to be so obvious that a fudged outcome would cause rioting, even then they'll still fake it.

Remember the votes have already been counted, so to speak.

[mod mom]

5. Spokesman LoParo says it's important to note that he did not contribute

DURING the bidding process. YEAH... SO WHAT, DID THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT THE $ WOULD BE GIVEN AT A LATER DATE.

[ray of light]

20. sounds a little bit like money laudering...

[troubleinwinter]

6. Putrid filth.

[MelissaB]

7. Does this company know nothing about PR or they just don't give a sh*t?

:grr:

Yeah, it looks bad because it IS bad!

[LeahD]

8. They assume no one's looking,

or the only people paying attention will be Dems.
And who listens to them? MSM won't pick up on it.

[LiberalHeart]

9. Maybe this story should be sent to all our favorite bloggers.

[Vidar]

10. Nice when the bastards don't even hide it--or just too late?

[mod mom]

11. Lobbyist Given Used to work for OH AG Petro:

Look what we have here: Mitch Given used to work for former Blackwell rival Jim Petro (current OH AG who threatened sanctions on the attorneys who contested the '04 election):

"The three finalists for Ohio’s 2003 voting-machine recommenda-
tions happened to be the companies that hired the most lobbyists.
Diebold lobbyists Mitchell Given and Jonathan Hughes formerly worked
for Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, and six ES&S lobbyists showered
Ohio county elections officials with gifts. "

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/bbv_chapter-6.pdf

hmmh...what does this mean? Is given possibly setting Blackwell up? or has he switched sides (from Petro to Blackwell)?

[LiberalHeart]

12. My goodness, that's interesting.

Just looks like the guy likes Republicans. Maybe when he saw Petro was out, he decided he suddenly loves Blackwell. You know -- anything to keep a Democrat out of office. This whole thing just has such a thick ick factor.

[mod mom]

13. It's all about the almighty $ to these guys. Willing to sell out their

country for a couple of greenbacks.

:mad:

[xchrom]

14. the corporate branch of government flexing it's mu$cle.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. What other branch is there?

:shrug:

[xchrom]

16. lol -- nominally the executive, judicial, and legislative.

nominally.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. Also known as

The CEO
The General Counsel
The CFO

[Tsiyu]

21. I'm sure he or she did

Isn't it called payola?

In another world, where there is right and wrong, and ethics, and a moral, responsible government, this would be roundly condemned and punishable by incarceration.

Blackwell and the diebold prostitute should both be in prison. They've conspired to destroy freedom, to hinder the rights of their fellow humans.

Just another day in the Republican War on Democracy.



edit to give DUer ariellyn props for the "War on Democracy" comment

[Child_Of_Isis]

22. If our elected officials

(emphasis on the elected) are able to buy stock...then we are paying them too much. Who pays their employees more than themselves besides the taxpayers?

[starroute]

23. Don't ignore Lindner -- he's a dubious item too

Carl Lindner's family runs the American Financial Group, which controls large amounts of insurance and real estate. Junk bond king Michael Milkin and Charles Keating of the S&L scandal -- sometimes described as Lindner's proteges -- both worked for AFG in the 70's, before they got into trouble over stock fraud.

Linder was formerly head of United Fruit/Chiquita Banana, which was then a subsidiary of AFG, and there are claims that he was directly involved in Iran-Contra through his Central American holdings.

One thing that's beyond dispute is that Lindner single-handedly got the US into a nasty trade war with Europe in the late 90's over European banana quotas. (He departed from his usual habit of supporting Republicans to donate $500,000 to the Democratic Party the day before Bill Clinton raised the issue with the World Trade Organization.)

In 2004, Lindner contributed $300,000 to the SwiftBoaters. He donated even more heavily to Progress for America -- a group that was behind much of the anti-Kerry advertising.

I haven't kept up with his recent activities, but anything he's involved in seems to have a certain smell about it.

[mod mom]

25. I've been told that So. Ohio/Cinci is swarming w ties to CIA.

[mod mom]

27. Blackwell receives $130,000 from Lindner family

Cols Dispatch reports today:

Blackwell raised cash in large chunks since mid-April, including $130,000 from Cincinnati financier Carl H. Lindner and members of the Lindner family from Cincinnati.

[Eurobabe]

31. God I am SO glad I am OUT OF THERE!!!

Corrupt mofos.

[PegDAC]

58. He's also

on the Board of Trustees of a certain tiny Baptist college that I was unfortunate enough to attend.

[mtnester]

24. Blackwell need to step down IMMEDIATELY as SOS

NOW.

And if he does not, Strickland and his strategists need to POUNCE by the beginning of the week.

[ladym55]

59. Ohio Dems have already demanded Blackwell step down

They started when it was released this week that Ken issued his new "rules" on voter registration. He has made it nearly impossible to register new voters. The slightest violation of the new rules will result in criminal charges.

Of course, the powerful Ohio repugs immediately began bleating about partisan politics. I am an Ohio resident, too-- nice to know that the election is already been settled for me.

:banghead:

[Eric J in MN]

28. Why is the maximum $10,000?

Campaign donations should have a maximum of $100, to avoid favoring the rich.

[mod mom]

36. because we have a GOP controlled legislature (it's actually 20,000-10 in

primary and 10 after) they also pushed for over age 7 (GOT THAT age 7) so that wealthy family with children can make contributions. UFB-isn't it?

[eppur_se_muova]

35. I see an opportunity for an editorial cartoon here...Blackwell as pitcher,

catcher, batter, and umpire, each making his own call on the play. (And each holding a ball, for good measure.)

[mod mom]

37. Diebold Contact extends for years (Section X "Conflict of Interest"):

From an Ohio list serv:

Even though the donation came after the selection, the Diebold contract extends for several years, and with it, decisions to purchase additional machines, supplies, consultation services, or not. There will be ongoing business transactions between the state and Diebold.

Mr. LoParo also chose to ignore Section X “Conflict of Interest” of the Diebold contract which states (in part):

"No personnel of Vendor or member of the governing body of any locality or other public official or employee of any such locality in which, or relating to which the work under this Contract is being carried out, and who exercises any responsibilities in connection with the review or approval of the understanding or carrying out of any such work, shall, prior to the completion of said work, voluntarily acquire any personal interest direct or indirect, which is incompatible or in conflict with the discharge and fulfillment of his or her functions and responsibilities with respect to the carrying out of such work" (Section 10.01).

Both Blackwell’s past Diebold stock ownership and the recent campaign contribution appear to be germane here.

[Just Me]

38. DAYUM!!!! Ohio needs to change their campaign finance limits!!!

And track corp, back-door donors.

Of course, that's true across the nation!!!

Freakin' Diebold is gonna' be bled dry by lawsuits.

[LaPera]

39. I hate the fucking AP not once does it mention Blackwell is a republican.

AP always does this shit...if its a Democrat its always mentioned in the first line or paragraph along with their name in the story...

AP skirted all around saying the GOP gave money to, the republicans this or that...but NEVER referring to Blackwell as being a republican.

This kind of shit occurs constantally on AP, it's done by design.

Man, doo I hate the fucking AP!!!

[LiberalHeart]

40. First sentence says he's Republican.

It must have been edited later because it wasn't there originally.

[LaPera]

51. No, IT WASN'T THERE ORIGINALLY.. Just look at this DU thread posted!!

As you know.

I went over the article three times...And you could tell I was pissed...I emailed them, I wonder if it helped?

[LiberalHeart]

52. It may very well have helped.

Even though it didn't originally say he was republican, I don't think there was an attempt to hide it; more likely it was just careless editing of wire copy. I think someone slipped up and you alerted them to it. Good job.

[LaPera]

55. Your so sweet, kind & understanding...

Tisk. Tisk...........and perhaps...maybe, just perhaps, a bit naive...This is indeed the usual AP bullshit and constant deceptive ploy... They really do make these intentional mistakes, don't you know -- (manipulations)...If they get their goal its simply mostly to misinform, (YES, it does happens) they do, do it... they always have, (always will)..one must look beyond...

Breeze it right on by us, (the masses) - You still really do believe they have scruples?

No?

Don't you?

come on!

They truly don't...............................

Now check out the truth about Diebold machines.

[LiberalHeart]

57. I'm not arguing your point in general, just...

...in this case, the article was so unflattering to Blackwell, it didn't seem they were trying to hide anything.

[eleny]

42. One hand washing another

[DFW]

43. If Ohio were Belarus

We would be making plans to urge the UN for sanctions,
Rumsfeld would be contemplating an invasion, and Rice would be
defending statements by Bush Lite as to why military intevention
is a justifiable option to bring democracy to the region.

[Tunkamerica]

44. it's so sad

that the people that harp the loudest about patriotism are the first in line to sell off everything that makes/made this country great. I'm genuinely convinced that they rationalize it to themselves, but for the life of me I can't imagine how.

To me they are traitors and treasonists and deserve nothing in the way of leniency from even the most loyal of followers. Country then party. Or is that an antiquated concept?

[Rex]

45. Sorry, Repukes don't 'do' conflict of interest.

It simply ain't in their vocabulary (unless it is a Dem, then it becomes a feeding frenzy).

[OCDDAVID]

53. No Way!

C'mon... They just couldn't be that transparent... Could they!?!? Could it be that they don't think people possess enough intelligence to connect the dots or do they just not care and think they can skate on anything at this point? :shrug:

[OG Yankee Patriot]

54. We HAVE TO Get This Pr*ck

let's not forget he is Katherine Harris 2004.

[DFW]

56. Oh yes, they COULD be that transparent

If you have a criminal activity that is so blatant you can't hide it, then
the best cover is to put it out there where everybody can see it, and declare
it to be legitimate.

If you have a criminal conspiracy that can't be concealed, just let everyone see
it, and then yell "paranoid conspiracy theorists!" when someone points out the obvious.

If that seems too simple, I have two words for you: "Harris" and "Blackwell."

It has worked for them so far.