Anyone But Nifong - calling Durham County residents

Raleigh News & Observer - Ruth's Metro blog ^ | 7/31/06 | jmoo

[jmoo]

click on the 'Find it here' .pdf to see the ABN campaign press release.

[jmoo]

This is an appeal to readers here who are residents of Durham County and who are outraged (as I am) at the behavior of Mike Nifong as Durham’s District Attorney. The events of last week turned November’s election from an uncontested election for Nifong into a recall election for Mr. Nifong.

Lewis Cheek, and our own signatures on the petitions which got his name on the ballot, have given us an opportunity to vote for Cheek and Elect Anybody But Nifong. The Cheek campaign committee and doubtless many others in the county are looking to see how the public reacts to the two press conferences last week.

I ask that you join me as Durham residents to seize the day to better our justice system by writing letters to the editors of the HeraldSun and the News & Observer, giving all the good reasons why you are voting for Lewis Cheek to elect Anybody But Nifong. Be sure to identify yourself as a Durham resident. If you would like help composing your letter, please email letgovernordecide@yahoo.com

HeraldSun: Letters are limited to 250 words. You can email or use the form provided at the link below. If you email, be sure to visit the website listed to see what information the H/S requires in an email submission. email: letters@heraldsun.com You can also use the H/S form at: http://www.heraldsun.com/tools/letterstoed...dLetter=letters

News & Observer: Letters are limited to 200 words. A form is provided at: http://www.newsobserver.com/484/story/433256.html

Mr. Nifong has asked for a Durham solution. Please help get this campaign off the ground to ensure a solution that is good for Durham.

Stay tuned for updates, and thanks to all of you for considering my request.

[Ken H]

An ABN victory is not as far fetched as many might think. Here are the results of May 2 primary:

Mike Nifong- 11,168 45%
Freda Black- 10,269 42%
Keith Bishop-- 3,288 13%

--http://abclocal.go.com/three/wtvd/election/race190.htm

Here is a profile of Durham voters from the hnn blog:

According to the latest voter registration figures, Durham County has 27,070 registered Republicans, 24,566 of whom are white. The county has 86,621 registered Democrats, 46,586 of whom are black. So the demographic bloc supportive of Nifong's behavior formed a majority of the Democratic electorate, while those most likely to be alienated by his tactics couldn't vote in the primary.

As the director of the Durham County Board of Elections noted the day after the primary, "We had a lot of irate, irate Republicans who couldn't vote for district attorney."

--http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/25357.html

Factoid-- Nifong spent $66,000 in his primary campaign, and was last repored to have just under $2,000 in remaining campaign funds.

[Ken H]

I think the Cheek/ABN campaign is going to be very interesting. I like to think of it as the Cheek/ABN ticket - as in Bush/Cheney, for example. Here are some things I've been wondering about--

1. Cheek said he would need to raise about $100,000 to run an effective campaign. Is that in line with what the Cheek/ABN people in Durham are thinking for their campaign?

2. Will Cheek's campaign manager be involved?

3. Since it's not a Federal election, I assume McCain-Feingold does not apply. Are there any NC campaign finance laws that might affect fundraising?

4. How much potential do you see in the Duke student body as a source of voters for the Cheek/ABN ticket? They CAN vote in Durham, and I think they have until early October(?) to register - I'm not 100% sure of the deadline.

5. How long before someone comes up with a poster with the slogan "Show your Cheek to Nifong" with the an appropropriate graphic accompanying it?

[jmoo]

Thanks Ken. I also understand that approx 15,000 people signed petitons. Some were received after the deadline.

[Ken H]

Round up the usual suspects!

[jmoo]

1. Cheek said he would need to raise about $100,000 to run an effective campaign. Is that in line with what the Cheek/ABN people in Durham are thinking for their campaign? To properly educate voters about a vote for Cheek and promote ABN, some believe $75K-$100K will be required. 2. Will Cheek's campaign manager be involved? No commitment yet. I believe she may be in a wait and see how the public responds to the recent decisions/press conferences. Letters to the editors would help right now. 3. Since it's not a Federal election, I assume McCain-Feingold does not apply. Are there any NC campaign finance laws that might affect fund raising? I do not know. 4. How much potential do you see in the Duke student body as a source of voters for the Cheek/ABN ticket? They CAN vote in Durham, and I think they have until early October(?) to register - I'm not 100% sure of the deadline. I believe you are correct -- the deadline is somewhere around 10/9. FriendsOfDU has indicated that they will help support a registration drive. At minimum by hooking up folks that indicate an interest. Students return in late August. I expect an effort would begin in early-mid September. 5. How long before someone comes up with a poster with the slogan "Show your Cheek to Nifong" with the an appropropriate graphic accompanying it? I saw some really funny bumper stickers posted somewhere. I'll have to go look for the link. Your suggestion would be a great addition.

[Ken H]

Thanks. Your response bears repeating. (and formatting!)

1. Cheek said he would need to raise about $100,000 to run an effective campaign. Is that in line with what the Cheek/ABN people in Durham are thinking for their campaign?

To properly educate voters about a vote for Cheek and promote ABN, some believe $75K-$100K will be required.

2. Will Cheek's campaign manager be involved?

No commitment yet. I believe she may be in a wait and see how the public responds to the recent decisions/press conferences. Letters to the editors would help right now.

3. Since it's not a Federal election, I assume McCain-Feingold does not apply. Are there any NC campaign finance laws that might affect fund raising?

I do not know.

4. How much potential do you see in the Duke student body as a source of voters for the Cheek/ABN ticket? They CAN vote in Durham, and I think they have until early October(?) to register - I'm not 100% sure of the deadline.

I believe you are correct -- the deadline is somewhere around 10/9. FriendsOfDU has indicated that they will help support a registration drive. At minimum by hooking up folks that indicate an interest. Students return in late August. I expect an effort would begin in early-mid September.

5. How long before someone comes up with a poster with the slogan "Show your Cheek to Nifong" with the an appropropriate graphic accompanying it?

I saw some really funny bumper stickers posted somewhere. I'll have to go look for the link. Your suggestion would be a great addition.

[Mike Nifong]

. . . .... . . . . NEW ARTICLE on DNA:


http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-757334.html

[old and cranky]

Let me see if I have this correct, they completely cleaned up the bathroom, well except for the rug, fingernails and a towel they know will have one of guys DNA on it. They also were seen taking trash out to clean up, but they skipped the trash in the bathroom where three players gang raped a "single mother of two, working her way through college and trying to provide for her kids", and her purse and cell phone...

[Ken H]

Herald Sun reports Nifong has $1,945 left over from his primary campaign--

http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-756397.html

[pepperhead]

The sources said that, in addition to the Evans connection, semen from an unindicted lacrosse player was discovered on the bathroom floor -- the same bathroom where the exotic dancer claimed she was raped.

So the only semen on the floor is from one of the players that live there and a unindicted player. Still no DNA from the other two. And what is with them mentioning DNA from a unindicted player and not mentioning if he is one of the other 2 that lived there with Evans? And also I don't see how Nifong could go to court with this case with semen on the floor as his evidence and not try one more player. Wait a minute this is Nifong were talking about I take that back.

[pepperhead]

Herald Sun reports Nifong has $1,945 left over from his primary campaign--

Nifong can buy alot of cigarettes with that........

It is going to be interesting to see if he can get any more campaign contributions at this point in time.

[Jezebelle]

One wonders who leaked the information in this article to the Herald-Sun? http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-757334.html

It looks to me as though Nifong is already getting some "help" with the election. If evidence against the boys is released, it makes things look as though Nifong could be on the right track and the case isn't as painfully laughable as it appears, thus vindicating him to some extent.

And isn't it interesting that a law prof at Nifong's Alma Mater and a NCCU law prof thinks this evidence is potentially valuable?

[pepperhead]

Yes I wonder who leaked this and the timing does seem a bit odd doesn't it? As for the professor it might be a good thing that he doesn't go out and practice in the real world if he thinks this is valuable to Nifong. It might have been valuable before, but Nifong is now locked into the 3 he picked. He can't just add another player at this point in time.

[abb]

IIRC, this isn't new news. It's always been know that DNA from Lax players was found in the bathroom. Hellfire, they lived there...

BTW, do we want to move over to this new thread or keep the old one?

[Jezebelle]

The point is the publishing of the article that benefits Nodong. Why now? And why seek opinions and commentary from off-the-wall law professors who aren't intimately involved in the case but happened to be professors at Nodong's alma mater and a local, predominantly black university?

[abb]

Oh, no doubt. But seems I remember this information being discussed before. Maybe it was some of the talking heads...

[abb]

This morning's news articles.

Lawyers haggle over DNA matches
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-757334.html

District attorney breaks the silence
http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsedits/56-757239.html

Nifong's experience hasn't helped Durham
http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsletters/index.html#757232

Durham DA may quit animal control panel
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/466495.html

[abb]

Pinging DukeLax List. New thread.

[abb]

From the CourtTV boards...

Wendy Murphy and Nancy Grace have been harping on this DNA-ridden towel for weeks so no, this is not the first you would have heard of it. They reported that there were two sources of DNA on the towel. But even they conceded, to a point, that if the DNA belonged to someone who lived there, it still wouldn't prove a rape occurred, especially if the AV's DNA was not found.