Dancing Producer Responds to Voting Controversy (Free Republic, Jim Robinson in People Magazine!)

People ^ | Friday, November 19, 2010 | Monica Rizzo and Sandra Sobieraj Westfall

[kristinn]

The million-dollar question among Dancing with the Stars fans these days? How did Bristol Palin make it into the season 11 finals?

"She deserves it," DWTS executive producer Conrad Green tells PEOPLE. "And a significant portion of our viewing audience believes that, too."

SNIP

Speculation has arisen about whether members of the Tea Party, many of whom strongly support Bristol's mom Sarah Palin, are involved in an organized effort to promote Bristol.

On one conservative Web site, Freerepublic.com, some of the site's 300,000 registered users have recently used discussion threads to encourage votes for Bristol. One asked users to "make liberal heads explode and vote for Bristol" on Nov. 8 to advance her to the semi-finals.

But Jim Robinson, who founded the site, says there is no larger plan at work. "An organized conspiracy? I sincerely doubt that," he told PEOPLE. "The Tea Party's not that organized!"

And Green agrees that there's no stuffing of the virtual ballot-box, saying that the entire process – text votes, call-in votes and email votes – "is all overseen by the Broadcast Standards team, independent of us and the network to make sure that everything is absolutely done scrupulously."

SNIP

[tarheelswamprat]

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape...

You don’t spit into the wind...

You don’t pull the mask off the ole Lone Ranger

And you don’t mess around with Jim!

[mojitojoe]

He borrowed them from Kal Penn.

[Hoodat]

Nice. (Bigtime Croce fan)

[Clint N. Suhks]

Kind of sad I don’t get attribution for the article around here.

[Clint N. Suhks]

You’re only, but TANKS!

[Political Junkie Too]

They still can't bring themselves to acknowledge that it is simply a matter of the sleeping bear having been awakened.

-PJ

[Tax-chick]

I’ve never seen it, myself, but I think it’s amusing that so many people are in such a fuss.

[Jean S]

"Jim was also runner up for their Sexiext Man Alive cover!" LOL, Jim may be very intelligent but I don't see this happening. I have met his son Chris, he does have a shot ;-).
Chris is the same age as my sons but I'm not some kind of old lady perv. He is really cute though...

[Conservative_Rob]

First Donnie Osmond, now Bristol Palin, the liberal’s world is falling down around them.

[onyx]

You betcha and you’re right, penelopesire!

[Huck]

Great job.

[McGruff]

You know you deserve alot of the credit for this Right Wing Conspiracy.

[onyx]

She sounds very sweet and very bright, too!
I’m really happy I posted it now. Thanks very much for telling me!

[PghBaldy]

WOW. I am impressed. It's one thing to be mentioned in a political magazine, but... People! my mom and I have been watching it repigiously and enjoying it a lot. I feel guilty when I forget to vote for Bristol.

[Valin]

I'm trying to understand why some many people (on both sides0 are getting their panties in a bunch over this?

People! It's only a TV show.

I mean really...who cares one way or the other

[onyx]

Hear! Hear!!
and WOO-HOO!
I almost feel like this a wonderful, fabulous and smokin’ hot FReep-A-Thon thread filled with FRiends!

[MsLady]

No problem :) she’s a good girl. At least today she was a good girl anyway...lol

[onyx]

Ah, Kal Penn’s high heels...LOL.

[STARWISE]

LOL ..

[GVnana]

Woo hoo! Jim was also runner up for their Sexiext Man Alive cover!?

Truly Hugh and Series!

(But honestly, FreeRepublic and PEOPLE magazine?!?! Is this a "good thing"?)