Coleman Campaign To Ask That All 12,000 Rejected Absentee Ballots Be Reviewed For Potential Counting

ST. PAUL – Fritz Knaak, lead recount attorney for the Coleman for Senate campaign today made the following statement:

“Next week begins an important step in getting to an accurate and valid number, and to determine who really won the 2008 United States Senate election. As we indicated at the end of the canvassing board proceedings, we believe the process was broken. And, one area where it clearly broke and has yet to be fixed is in the area of rejected absentee ballots. The discrepancies, problems and inconsistencies we saw during the recount process led us to file an election contest to protect the integrity of Minnesota’s election system and to ensure that no Minnesotan would be disenfranchised in this process.

“We have consistently believed that every valid vote must count, and that Minnesotans will only be confident in the outcome of this election if every valid vote is indeed counted. Everyone is well aware of the problems of double-counting votes of some Minnesotans. This double-counting of votes truly disenfranchises millions of Minnesotans. As is obvious, we intend to vigorously contest this matter and to ensure that Minnesota voters are all afforded equal protection under the Constitution and the concept of ‘one person, one vote’ is not seen as some quaint statement that holds no weight in law.

“I want to draw your attention to another issue that we intend to vigorously address beginning next week, and that’s this: We intend to request that the 3-judge panel allow for the possibility that the roughly 12,000 rejected absentee ballots be opened. “We expect that Minnesotans will share the same stunned disappointment we do to learn that the Franken campaign may actually oppose this fundamental act of fairness. Particularly when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, stated in a press release on November 26, 2008: ‘Today's decision by the Minnesota Canvassing Board not to count certain absentee ballots is cause for great concern. As the process moves forward, Minnesota authorities must ensure that no voter is disenfranchised. A citizen's right to have his or her vote counted is fundamental in our democracy.’ The principle of every valid vote counting was convenient only when it supported their purposes for the Franken campaign, which is a pattern we’ve seen from them throughout this entire process.

“Obviously, not every one of the 12,000 rejected absentee ballots was wrongfully rejected. However, those that were – those that were rejected through no fault of the voter – and conform to the laws of this state as to voting requirements, voter eligibility and voter intent – we believe those ballots must be opened. “In other words: If the absentee voter was alive on Election Day, was either a registered voter or included a registration card with his or her ballot, and did not otherwise vote, then his or her absentee ballot should be counted -- if the voter’s intent can be determined from the ballot. And I’ll say that again: If the absentee voter was alive on Election Day, was either a registered voter or included a registration card with his or her ballot, and did not otherwise vote, then his or her absentee ballot should be counted -- if the voter’s intent can be determined from the ballot.

“This is about equal protection, so voters in every county throughout the state can trust that their ballot was treated the same as a ballot in another county. This is about fairness in the process and for every Minnesotan who cast a ballot on Election Day. We don’t do so with the expectation that every vote will be a Coleman vote. “Instead, we do so because every Minnesotan deserves the right to vote and when they follow all the rules and cast a valid ballot, they deserve to have their ballot counted, and counted equally as every other ballot filed.

“We are now in a different phase in this process. The three judge panel – as clearly stated by the Supreme Court and the Minnesota Canvassing Board – is the exact right body to review this matter. The fact is, we're here and we’ll be before three judges who are empowered to do what the Canvassing Board could not – and what the Supreme Court in its wisdom directed us to do when we filed our contest in this election. This is the right time to be doing this. “And there are an extraordinary number of ballots to count. More than ever before in a Minnesota election. But, this election is not over just because more people than ever before cast their votes in this election. It will be over when each and every one of those individuals who cast a valid vote in this election has that vote counted – and has that vote make a difference.”

1) Coleman is a Republican. He is the only kind of Republican who can win in somewhat liberal Minnesota, and as a Republican he casts the most important vote of any Senate session for a Republican to be leader (and who thus defines what bills are even voted on). No other vote he casts is as important as that one so no other position he takes can trump it.

2) We are in the minority. The chest beating swaggering yells about “I only support a Conservative (with a capital C)” is a position that advances the opposition’s agenda. It takes numbers to stop their agenda. You can start to worry about your own agenda when and only when you have the numbers to advance it. We don’t. Capital C conservatives would not win in Minnesota. Ronald Reagan did not win Minnesota. A Republican Senate vote from Minnesota is a thing of gold.

3) Support Norm Coleman’s fight.

RJL posted: Norm is moderate rino, exactly what the Republican leadership thinks is the winning ideal.

SirchTruth posted: Personally, I could care less if the rino Coleman wins or looses. We have a bigger problem in the GOP/RNC of getting rid of the moderate/rino's of which Coleman is one!

With all respect, these type of statements do not reflect the situation or the position of the “New GOP”. The New GOP’s platform will be disclosed after CPAC 2009. The Papa Bush Cartel destroyed the National GOP, not Norm Coleman or other specific moderate Republicans. We got stuck with John “RINO & Traitor” McCain for President because of the PBC and no other reason. As of today, the PBC’s control of the National GOP is history and it’s a new era for Republicans that truly care about our great Country. Below is a re-post of the Coleman election and related facts in this matter. Hope this is of benefit. Excellent post Owen. ~ TAB

01.07.09 FlAttorney Says: # SNIP # . . . many of the comments bashing both Republican Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Senator Coleman ignore the facts that both are moderate Republicans in a liberal Democrat State. It is important to remember that both Republican’s Governor Pawlenty and Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau have significant combined Minnesota political experience. However, Minnesota has continued to become an increasingly ultra liberal Democrat State this decade. As MN Secretary of State Democrat Mark “former? Communist and Soros Puppet” Ritchie, both MN Attorney General Democrat Lori Swanson and MN’s other U.S. Senator, Democrat Amy Klobuchar, were only elected to office on Nov. 7, 2006. Klobuchar was elected as a freshman Senator to the 110th U.S. Congress and is a major ultra liberal. The facts that Minnesota is a liberal Democrat State is further demonstrated:

Minnesota Presidential Winners
1992: Bill Clinton(D)
1996: Bill Clinton(D)
2000: Al Gore(D)
2004: John Kerry(D)
2008: Barack Obama(D)

Does anyone really believe that an FR approved conservative Republican can get elected as MN Governor or U.S. Senator? Does anyone really believe that if Norm Coleman was more conservative he would have beaten Al Franken, and the National GOP would not be in this mess? It is also important to understand that until Governor Pawlenty certifies the election results, the Coleman-Franken U.S. Senate seat will remain vacant. Pawlenty will not certify the election until the conclusion of the legal process. If Coleman cannot obtain appropriate legal relief in the State Courts, then he will go to the Federal Courts, which is what many “GOP Interests” are gearing up for.

One week after the November 4, 2008 elections, Gov. Pawlenty was here in Miami for the Republican Governors Conference. I assure everyone, the private discussions with him were not about our nice weather, Gov. Palin, or Pawlenty’s ideology for the “New GOP”. To-date, he is doing what is both responsible and necessary in this Coleman-Franken fiasco. Further, Pawlenty is not going to do anything stupid in this matter, nor would he be asked to on Coleman’s account.
Further, Gov. Pawlenty is one of 16 of 22 State Governors who terms expire in 2010. Eight cannot seek reelection due to term limits. While he has not made an official statement, Pawlenty is expected to run for MN Governor in 2010. The Democrats-Soros Shadow Party are already gearing up to drag Pawlenty down and elect a Democrat as Governor. Like many States, Pawlenty is currently dealing with a major MN State budget deficit of $426 million, with even deeper deficit projected for the next two years. Of the 2010 Governor races, Pawlenty’s will be one of the most difficult and very expensive. In short, political capital and strategies must be evaluated on both a macro and micro basis. # SNIP # - FlA

Source: 01.08.09: The Stealing the (Minnesota U.S. Senate) Election Project + Latest Coleman News & FlAttorney's Comments

TAB

With all respect, these type of statements do not reflect the situation or the position of the “New GOP”. The New GOP’s platform will be disclosed after CPAC 2009.

We'll see about the new GOP platform, I hope you're correct, but everything I've read says Republican leaders are more determined than ever to get along and go along with the Democrats.

As for me, if not for Sarah Palin, I would have stayed home on election night for the first time since I became eligible to vote in 1973. McCain is the last rino I will ever vote for.

I understand Pawlenty's problem, I live in Minnesota, but it's one thing to try and find a little middle ground in a liberal state, Pawlenty has embraced, promoted, signed legislation and been baptized into Al Gore's global warming religion. No Thanks! I'd rather fight against a real Democrat than beg a Republican to what's correct.

The chest beating swaggering yells about “I only support a Conservative (with a capital C)” is a position that advances the opposition’s agenda.

Norm's positions advanced the oppositions agenda as well.

About the first thing Norm did after getting elected a Republican Senator was to come out publicly against the Bush tax cuts. Norm did vote for the tax cuts after we lit up his switchboard with calls, but that's not what we should have to do.

Norm is also right on board with Nancy Pelosi's agenda to starve us of abundant cheap energy and force us to scarce expensive energy.

At every turn Norm's first impulse is to side with the opposition, I'm done voting for that.

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