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A loss for Democracy

Submitted by Blue South on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 8:16pm

Well. Tonight Democracy in North Carolina took a big hit. In a 4-1 decision the State Board of Elections decided that Art Pope was "within" the law.

I am not sure what went through the minds of the board members when they decided that "call out Richard Morgan" with "he voted with the Democrats and not Republicans" was not electioneering, but they have decided.

The one good man who voted against the dismissing of charges, Mr. Bob Cordle, said that Pope should have had to pay $18,000 in penalties. Lets stop and think. 300,000 mailers were sent out, but they should only have to pay 18,000 for the "cost of the ads".

Think of this as a call to action. Write your legislators, write the people who made the decision, and explain to them why this ruling is a loss for democracy. Explain to them why they must shut down such blatant violations. The law must be clarified.
Board Members Contact info

http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents...

UPDATE:
N & O story here is "interesting". Note the complete lie of:

The complaint placed two values in conflict: the state's right to limit the influence of corporations in the political process versus the free-speech right of individuals to criticize their elected leaders.

Im sorry, but when did corporations become people?

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Submitted by Blue South on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 8:18pm.

Contact Rob C at robc@newsobserver.com and make sure that he knows this is not an internal dispute between Republicans. This is a fight to ensure that democracy is not sold to the highest bidder.

Lyndon Helton for NC Senate

"Keep the Faith"

The N&O is

Submitted by James on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 8:29pm.

part of the problem . . . and Christensen is part of the N&O.

Blue South, the fight you're talking about is over. Democracy has already be sold to the highest bidder, thanks to the SBOE.

The good news is that we can say anything and do anything we want with absolute impunity. All we have to do is lie and say "to my knowledge" when anyone asks us anything.

To my knowledge, Art Pope is a lying piece of elephant dung.
To my knowledge, the State Board of Elections is a spineless bunch of cowards.

Our job now is to make sure people understand that Pope's money is fueling an ideological agenda that is poison for North Carolina.

ill give you the n&o

Submitted by Blue South on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 8:37pm.

I will give you that the N&O is part of the problem. But so long as Democrats have a majority in the legislature the people of this site have an ability to change the legislation. We need to make sure that OUR legislators go into work in January willing to destroy these groups before the 08 elections.

Lyndon Helton for NC Senate

"Keep the Faith"

Okay.

Submitted by James on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 8:52pm.

We have two fights on our hands.

First, we have to get the law changed - again. The truth is, the law was already changed and the SBOE decided to punt and pretend like it hadn't.

And second, we have to push back on this insane ruling. I don't know that that will take, but I personally would give money to a Richard Morgan legal fund to take Mr. Pope into a real court where real rules of discovery and contempt and evidence would apply.

This hearing was a sham.

Within the law my ass.

Submitted by James on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 8:22pm.

Looks like it's Katie bar the door now. It's big money against big money and full fledged ideological warfare.

Thanks for nothing, SBOE.

My letter to SBOE members:

Submitted by James on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 9:38pm.

Dear State Board Members.

I know you are all volunteers and are doing your best to serve, but I must take strong exception to your misguided decision today about Mr. Pope and the RLM electioneering challenge. Your performance was frustrating and sad on so many fronts, it’s hard to know where to begin.

I personally have seen all the mailers in question and anyone would have to be blind to not conclude that they were nearly identical. Furthermore, your judgment that they did not involve express advocacy was simply ludicrous on its face.

Please do North Carolina a favor and stop volunteering.

You can email the staff here:

elections.sboe@ncmail.net

And the floodgates of the Pope attack machine roll on?

Submitted by MaxTheDog2 (not verified) on Thu, 08/31/2006 - 9:11am.

Thanks for nothing, SBOE.*A

" To the winner goes all! Forget the board! They have no
real power nor the time nor the enforcement powers to
control a Pope direct mail voting machine.

Right now A. They have form a new front call " Get rid
of that Communist Blogger at Blue NC"

Don't worry A! Their PR department is a little behind the
times in the Blogging world. In fact, I am still trying to
fiqure out how that dude who is running for Gove name Bill
something how he got 75 thousand non-exsisted people to a anti-tax
gas rally in Raleigh a few months ago.