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

[PghBaldy]

I did it online. . I’m not sure when voting starts each week, I just do it when show is over: http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars

[fatima]

White Powder Sent To Bristol Palin
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/entertainment/112010-white-powder-sent-to-bristol-palin

[Dr. Scarpetta]

We are having too much fun:)

Exactly right!

[DrewsMum]

I did! I got on DWTS Facebook page and said VOTE FOR BRANDY!! Then I put Bristol”s number beside it to call.....

and talk about the hate mail I got.... apparently they are mindless followers, b/c one person told me I owe her a vote....she fell for it....she wanted me to call Brandy’s number to even it out for me fooling her into voting for Bristol.... hahhahahaha I told her “sure thing” hehehhe

[2nd amendment mama]

One change Green is contemplating is extending the voting hours following the Monday, Nov. 22 performance show, the first of season 11's two-night finale. That way, Green says, "given all the fuss, we have a bit more time for people to vote so everyone gets a chance to have their say."

Typical liberals, change the rules mid-stream. Leave the voting hours open longer......grrrr!

[gore_sux]

I didn’t know FR was up to 300,000 members. That is quite impressive in itself.

[KansasGirl]

Great free publicity!

[Friendofgeorge]

I would have to think by this time, that Lib sites are asking people to vote against our girl in the final?

I would be surprised if this is not the case for the final.

[LadyShires]

Why thank you for this. Haven’t watched one episode of DWS, too busy on the ranch. Now that there’s a FR/TP conspiracy, I think I’ll start voting. Like someone else said, I’m using every freaking phone on the farm and voting till my fingertips bleed. By the way, where is a photo of Jim Robinson? I haven’t been weak in the knees for while...

[Mama Shawna]

Just look for the DWTS thread on Monday night, posted by Dr. Scarpetta I believe. The phone number is posted multiple times on this thread. Basically you just call the number, and if you get through, it registers your vote. I think each phone # can vote five times (which means 20 votes for me!).

[savedbygrace]

You know that Palin is Vote for the Worst’s pick, don’t you? All those nutty VFTW airheads have been voting for her for weeks now?

[VeniVidiVici]

I knew the fix was in when Margaret Chow was voted off.

[lonevoice]

By the way, where is a photo of Jim Robinson?

People Magazine missed the boat by not publishing this picture of Jim with their article...

[CaliforniaCon]

RE: “How many people here would really take time to vote on a celebrity dance contest?

On the DBM threads a fair number of us havn’t owned a television in years.”

**********************

Certainly not me! I never watch that show and if I did, I would not be voting — just not something I do — I’ve watched American Idol a time or two but never voted.

Agree there are few on FR who would spend their time trying to vote for Bristol Palin — or anyone else — on this show — nothing wrong with it, but it’s not something most on FR would likely bother with, I’m sure.

[Boardwalk]

Awesome picture! Jim Robinson rocks!

[lonevoice]

If either of you good ladies know how to make photoshop caption-types of things, that picture of Sarah and Jim might make a cool addition to the Bristol finale thread on Monday. Sarah could be saying something like, "Remember to vote for Bristol", and Jim could be saying "You betcha!"

[MinuteGal]

I've never watched DWTS, although I've seen all Bristol's dances via net film clips.

Can someone post how to vote for Bristol from a regular phone, what the number is and when the next night to vote for her will be.

I'm sure many others here want to know, also. Thanks in advance,

Leni

[Nitehawk0325]

“it doesn't make it a conspiracy”
If the Republicans or Conservatives are behind it, it's a conspiracy. If the Democrats or Liberals are behind it, it's just the right thing to do.
I am one of the millions who have voted for Palin to advance in DWTS. But on the final show, the liberal judges will have the final vote and crown Jennifer Gray the winner. I wouldn't be disappointed if Jennifer won, I'm a huge fan of Derek, her pro.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

VOTING — HOW IT WORKS:

During the live shows, judges will give a score based on several factors, including technical execution. But the judges’ scores alone do not decide a couple’s fate.

Phone lines, text votes (AT&T customers only) & online polls will open at the top of each performance show so that viewers can vote for their favorites. Phone & text lines will stay open for 30 minutes after the end of the show. Online voting will remain open until 11am (Eastern Time) the next day.

Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas 800-868-3407

http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/about-voting

[MinuteGal]

Thanks, Doc.

Leni