GOP (Pennsylvania) Fuss Over Absentee Ballots for Troops.... A Phony Issue

The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) via mcall.com ^ | November 1, 2004 | Editorial

[Lancey Howard]

GOP fuss over absentee ballots for troops was all politics, a phony issue

As if candidates and issues domestic and foreign weren't enough to debate in this election, Pennsylvania Republicans stirred up a phony issue at the end of last week to add to the tension. The dispute was over absentee ballots filed by members of the military. Protecting the votes of all Americans, at home and abroad, is serious business. In this case however, the problem was fabricated and political sniping was substituted for real voter advocacy.

The whole matter stems from the contested candidacy of Ralph Nader. Some counties had begun to send out absentee ballots with him on them when a series of court rulings finally decided that he had failed to qualify. The U.S. Justice Department filed suit, asking that new, Nader-less ballots be mailed and that additional time be allowed to count them. On Oct. 20, U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane threw out the suit. (Judge Kane, a Republican, served under Gov. Tom Ridge as secretary of state, the head of the department that oversees Pennsylvania's election procedures.) She reasoned that no one had been harmed by the ballot dispute, and it was decided to count any Nader votes submitted as write-ins.

That should have settled it. But Republican Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania's junior senator, went on the Rush Limbaugh show last week and broadly accused Mr. Rendell of disenfranchising Pennsylvania's military people. It was red meat for the ''Ditto heads.'' Gov. Rendell, former head of the Democratic National Committee, makes a big target.

[Lancey Howard]

It is not a "phony issue" at all, of course. If nothing else, the "issue" served notice to the scumbag Democrats that shenanigans like what they pulled in Florida last time will not be allowed to happen again.

There is no more legitimate "issue", in my opinion, than making sure that those who risk their lives get the full and unfettered opportunity to have their votes COUNT.

[Lancey Howard]

Bumping myself.

Go, Pennsylvania! Go, Dubya!

[Grampa Dave]

I noticed that the disease ridden maggot editor didn't have the guts to print his name to this BS.

[Lancey Howard]

Yeah, when I posted the editorial that's the first thing I looked for. Funny how Rendell sounded like a scolded puppy dog on the local radio shows this week. "Phony issue" my behind.

[Grampa Dave]

The maggot infested editor is more concerned about a Republican poll watcher saying no to an inner city voter trying to vote two or three times during the election day.

Sean Hannity ripped the left wing pos governor of PA a new one this week.

This rat was trying to registered felons in prisons to vote while not allowing military absentee votes.

[stylin19a]

As much as I like what there pubs did here (Rendell backed down),
I like Judge Kane's thinking (politically, that is),as it favored the President.
Now, any votes that would have been for Nader will probably go to Kerry.

[Lancey Howard]

Now, any votes that would have been for Nader will probably go to Kerry.

No, I think she said that votes for Nader will be considered "write-in votes".

[djmv]

I agree, these guys are making huge sacrifices, not to mention risking their lives, to provide people with the same freedoms we overlook on a daily basis. And you can't overlook the fact that many Iraqis are standing up, at great personal risk, to insure their own freedoms (though Kerry ignores their contribution to efforts in Iraq).

To the votes, these things go USPS to the east coast then military transport to Europe where they get sorted and sent on a long journey of further sorting and many more stops to get to a guy in a foxhole atop some mountain in Afghanistan. They then cast their vote and the whole process goes in reverse. Take note that many of these ballots may not get a postmark until they are again in USPS custody, and that may be days or weeks after they begin their trek back to the US.

No one deserves to vote more than these heroes of freedom! ANY attempt to suppress, or even the failure to support safeguards against any possible suppression, is a crime against freedom and our military. I believe the Dem Gov finally backed off his opposition to the class action suit to make sure the military votes were given time to return, but not until Sean Hannity and a lot of his fellow statesmen gave him an ear full.

[Cutterjohnmhb]

Bah, if it was such a phony issue why were troops worried?? I Guess you think differently when sitting at home in PENN, rather than Afghan hills or Iraq sands. Also if it was such a phony issue why did the state grant a 10 day extension? Besides we know who they really wanted to have their votes counted,prisoners.

[elizabetty]

The real Phony on PA is Rendell. He needs to go to Iraq and explain to those brave soldiers why he is risking their votes being counted.

[Mister Baredog]

NOW who's gonna get those illegal absentee ballots pouring out of that DUmmie stronghold, the prisons?

[stylin19a]

I see. thanx...it looks like only a small number of absentee ballots went out naderless.

if the vote is close, the rats will sue to claim the Nader vote.

This could get ugly.