Posted on 06/14/2010 11:27:02 AM PDT by wastedpotential
He lost to a total unknown, and now the former South Carolina lawmaker is calling foul.
Vic Rawl, a former state Representative, filed a formal protest on Monday contesting the shocking primary "win" of Alvin Greene.
"We have filed this protest not for my personal or political gain, but on behalf of the people of South Carolina," the Democratic hopeful said in a statement on his official Web site.
"There is a cloud over South Carolina, that affects all of our people, Democrats and Republicans, white and African-American alike," he said. "At this point, the people of our state do not have the basic confidence that their vote will be counted."
Greene, an unemployed Army veteran who reportedly lives with his dad, surprised everyone by winning the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate last week. That victory was quickly criticized, since the 32-year-old never campaigned and raised little to no funds.
Rawl, on the contrary, spent millions on his campaign and seemed to be the odds-on favorite.
"The strange circumstances surrounding Tuesday's vote require a thorough investigation," the Circuit Court Judge said. "For better or worse, this protest process is the only platform currently available for that investigation."
Rawl cites election irregularities as a possible culprit. Greene won Tuesday with nearly 59 percent of the vote to his 41 percent, but the former candidate suggests voting may have been corrupted.
"Many voters and poll workers... continue to contact us with their stories of extremely unusual incidents while trying to vote and administer this election," Rawl said. "These range from voters who repeatedly pressed the screen for me only to have the other candidate's name appear, to poll workers who had to change program cards multiple times."
Some Democratic pundits and politicians have suggested Greene could be a "plant," funded by a person or group, in an effort to aide the Republicans.
"Some Republican operative saw this as a chance to mess with the Democratic nominating process," Dick Harpootlian, former South Carolina democratic party chairman, recently told Keith Olberman on MSNBC.
Greene has denied he is a plant, but has not explained where he obtained the $10,400 needed to file as a candidate.
"It raises the question, did somebody assist him in filing?" Harpootlian told the Washington Post.
Others have actually questioned Greene's "mental" capacity.
"About two questions into a conversation with [Greene], it would become apparent that he is not probably fit to answer the questions befitting a Senate candidate," State Rep. Todd Rutherford, a Democrat, told Fox News.
On top of the conspiracy theories floating around Greene, there is also his pending criminal case regarding pornography.
Court records show Greene was arrested in November and charged with showing obscene Internet photos to a University of South Carolina co-ed, a felony. He has yet to enter a plea or be indicted.
The GOP has denied any involvement with Greene or his primary win.
"For the people of South Carolina, getting to the bottom of Tuesday’s results will build confidence, either way," Rawl said.
So? A totally unqualified Democrat became president.
Vic Rawl hates black people! (or something like that)
Well, the guy is a Democrat after all, so at least that charge carries the ring of truth...
Sooooo, he thinks he OWNS this seat??? OMG!!
Ah, looks like someone is a sore loser...
Isn't that almost the same words the , I want to be senator forever, ARLEN SPECTER said, when he switched to a demorat from a liberal rino.
Just out of curiousity, if someone (ostensibly not a Democrat) assisted him in filing, would that be illegal?
And what of the people who turned out to vote and supported this guy? Other than outright voter fraud, do we overturn an election because the people chose “the wrong person”?
Apparently, we have another sighting of Soreloserman in SC.
Rawl’s protest seems to consist of ‘I lost so there must be some foul play to blame.’
It appears the plantation owners have their dander up.
Hey ViKKK, the black dude beat you by a hundred thousand votes.
That’s a lot of chads to recount, buddy.
(this is going to be GOOD...)
Yes! Victor Rawl is white. By all means, the GOP should stick up for truth and justice for all. A good ole boy thinks he should have won by virtue of being white. The people have spoken, and they’ve elected a black man to be their Democratic candidate. The GOP should take the high road on this one.
If Rawl is smart, which he obviously isn’t, he’ll shut his mouth and start collecting contributions for his next run in 18 short months.
Greene was able to get a college degree, get into the Army, and be assigned to Army Intelligence. He must have SOMETHING going for him.
This is entertainment at its best.
It's not that hard to do when you're also an unknown.
Outside of his personal friends, work aquantances and family, I doubt 300 people in SC ever heard of Vic Rawl.
The dopes looked at the ballot and saw Al Green vs. Lou Rawls, and Al Green is a way better singer and a reverend, so they voted for him.
I think this is sloppy, erroneous journalism. The figure I've seen repeatedly for Rawl's primary fundraising is $183,000.
I’d rather listen to Lou Rawls. Is he still alive?
False. Greene has repeatedly stated that he saved money from his military pay for two years and then used this money for the filing fee.
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