{"article":{"id":4694,"heading":"COUP WATCH: 13 MYTHS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE 2000 ELECTION --UPDATED","author":"Rich Cowan","created":"2000-11-26 00:24:41","modified":"2013-11-10 23:36:43","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 06:36:43","article":"<p>13 Myths about the Results of the 2000 Election\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n\r\n<b>\r\nCOUP WATCH:  13 MYTHS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE 2000 ELECTION \r\n<\/b><\/p><p>\r\n<b>\r\rby Rich Cowan\r\r\r\n<\/b><\/p><p>  \r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nMillions of dollars are now being raised for a public relations war between\r\r\r\nthe Democrats and the Republicans to determine the next president of the\r\r\r\nUnited States.  Will the outcome of the election be determined by ratings in\r\r\r\nthe polls?  Will the present standoff be resolved by escalation and threats?\r\r\r\nOr will the intention of the voters on election day and the right of the\r\r\r\nstates to choose their own electors actually matter? <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nOur involvement this week is essential in order to uphold the principles of\r\r\r\ndemocracy.  Propaganda is flying left and right.  To combat this barrage, we\r\r\r\npresent a point by point analysis of some key myths in the media today,\r\r\r\nsubstantiated with footnotes.  Please read, copy, and forward to friends,\r\r\r\nrelatives and colleagues! Thanks! <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n1) Myth: Al Gore trails Bush by such a wide margin that a Bush\r\r\r\nvictory is inevitable and Gore should concede.\r\r<\/p><ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: A 330 vote margin out of 6 million votes cast in Florida is incredibly\r\r\r\nclose!  It is roughly equivalent to a 1-vote margin in a city with 40,000\r\r\r\npeople and 18,000 voters. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nIt is extremely rare for an election this close NOT to be contested for\r\r\r\nseveral weeks until a manual recount can take place, with observers from both\r\r\r\nsides taking part and inspecting ballots.  This kind of detailed recount has\r\r\r\nnot yet taken place. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nAccording to the US Constitution and the Laws of Florida, it is the\r\r\r\nresponsibility of officials in Florida to certify the election results.\r\r\r\nNovember 17 is the deadline for absentee ballots sent from overseas to arrive.\r\r\r\nSince the election is close enough in Florida, Oregon, and New Mexico to be\r\r\r\naffected by absentee ballots, the results in those states cannot be certified\r\r\r\nbefore that date. \r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n2) Myth: the number of \"spoiled ballots\" in Palm Beach County was\r\r\r\ntypical.  In a press briefing televised live on all networks on 11\/9\/00, Karl\r\r\r\nRove of the Bush campaign compared the 14,872 invalidated ballots in the 1996\r\r\r\nPresidential race to 19,120 ballots for President that were spoiled in this\r\r\r\nelection. <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: the Bush campaign was comparing apples and oranges.  There were actually\r\r\r\n29,702 invalidated ballots this year in Palm Beach County.  This is almost\r\r\r\ntwice the number in 1996.  The number 19,120 refers to the ballots that were\r\r\r\nthrown out for voting for two Presidential candidates.  The remaining 10,582\r\r\r\nballots had no choice recorded for President. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nAccording to the Palm Beach County elections office (www.pbcelections.org),\r\r\r\nvoters this year were not confused at all by the rest of the ballot.  For\r\r\r\nexample, less than 1% of U.S. Senate votes were invalidated because of\r\r\r\nmultiple punches, compared with over 4% in the Presidential contest. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n3) Myth: The Palm beach ballot is definitely illegal due to the\r\r\r\npresence of punch holes to the left of some of the candidates. \r\r\r\n<ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: According to the Secretary of State's office, there is a loophole in\r\r\r\nFlorida law that may allow ballots used for voting machines to deviate from\r\r\r\nthe rules governing paper ballots.  This view has been contested by hundreds\r\r\r\nof Florida voters.  The final decision on the legality of the ballot is likely\r\r\r\nto be made in court, as long as this issue could have an effect on the\r\r\r\nelection. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nIt is possible that the ballot could be ruled illegal on other grounds, such\r\r\r\nas the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act or the\r\r\r\nAmericans With Disabilities Act. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n4) Myth: \"The more often ballots are recounted, especially by hand,\r\r\r\nthe more likely it is that human errors, like lost ballots and other risks,\r\r\r\nwill be introduced.  This frustrates the very reason why we have moved from\r\r\r\nhand counting to machine counting.\" -- Former Sec. of State James Baker,\r\r\r\nspeaking on behalf of the Bush campaign at a press briefing televised by all\r\r\r\nnetworks on 11\/10\/00. <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: In 1997, George W. Bush signed into law a bill stating that hand\r\r\r\nrecounts were the preferred method in a close election in Texas.  The bill,\r\r\r\n\"HB 330\", mandated that representatives of all parties be present to prevent\r\r\r\nfraud. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nLaws establishing rights and procedures for hand recounts also exist in\r\r\r\nFlorida (see Title IX, Chapter 102).  In fact, the Orlando Sentinel,\r\r\r\n(orlandosentinel.com) reported that a partial hand count of Presidential\r\r\r\nballots this year was ordered by Republicans in Seminole County, where Bush\r\r\r\nled Gore.  This count took place on 11\/9 and 11\/10, widening Bush's lead by 98\r\r\r\nvotes.  The Bush campaign did not complain about this hand count; nor did it\r\r\r\ncomplain about the hand count on 11\/11\/00 which put Bush slightly ahead of\r\r\r\nGore in New Mexico. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nThere do exist machine voting systems which are fairly accurate, but\r\r\r\nantiquated punch card systems are notoriously inaccurate.  They were outlawed\r\r\r\nin Massachusetts in 1997 by Secretary of State William Galvin after a\r\r\r\nCongressional primary that was also \"too close to call.\" The problem is that\r\r\r\nif the punched-out pieces of cardboard are not completely removed from the\r\r\r\npunch card, they can obstruct the card reader and the votes will not be\r\r\r\ncounted.  A manual recount of such cards can clearly reveal the voter's\r\r\r\nintentions. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n5) Myth: The process is unfair because hand recounts were held only\r\r\r\nin liberal areas of Florida, where Gore stands to pick up the most votes.\r\r\r\n<ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: It is true that a statewide recount would be more fair, and the Bush\r\r\r\ncampaign has every right to request one.  According to Florida law, hand\r\r\r\nrecount requests must come from the campaigns, not from the state.  To fail to\r\r\r\nrequest what is commonly referred to as a \"defensive recount\" in conservative\r\r\r\nareas of Florida, they may be making a tactical blunder that will cost them\r\r\r\nthe election. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nIt is also true that there were voting irregularities in the counties where\r\r\r\nthe Gore campaign requested recounts. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n6) Myth: \"Palm Beach County is a Pat Buchanan stronghold and\r\r\r\nthat's why Pat Buchanan received 3407 votes there.  According to the Florida\r\r\r\nDepartment of State, 16,695 voters in Palm Beach County are registered to the\r\r\r\nIndependent Party, the Reform Party, or the American Reform Party, an increase\r\r\r\nof 110% since the 1996 presidential election\" -- Ari Fleischer of the Bush\r\r\r\nCampaign, 11\/9\/00.  The 2,000 votes received by the Reform party candidate for\r\r\r\nCongress indicate that party's strength in Palm Beach County (James Baker on\r\r\r\nMeet the Press, 11\/12\/00). <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: Of those 16,695 voters, only 337 (2 percent) are in the Reform Party\r\r\r\naccording to Florida state records.  The Reform party candidate for Congress,\r\r\r\nJohn McGuire, is connected to a more centrist wing of the Reform Party,\r\r\r\npredating Buchanan's involvement.  An analysis of his support indicates that\r\r\r\nit came largely from reform-minded Ralph Nader voters. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nRegarding Buchanan's vote total, the Washington Post reported that his vote\r\r\r\npercentage in Palm Beach county was four times as high at the polls as in\r\r\r\nabsentee voting.  Even Buchanan himself admitted on 11\/8\/00 on the Today Show\r\r\r\nthat many of his votes actually \"belonged to Al Gore.\" So did his campaign\r\r\r\nmanager, Bay Buchanan. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n7) Myth: If Gore (or Bush) ends up winning the popular vote, he\r\r\r\nreally should win the election even if he loses Florida and other states.\r\r\r\n<ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: This is not the way the U.S. Constitution is written.  The Electoral\r\r\r\nCollege decision, imperfect as it may be, is the only one that matters.  It\r\r\r\nmay be possible to reform or eliminate the electoral college in the future, so\r\r\r\nthat small states would no longer receive extra electoral votes out of\r\r\r\nproportion to their population.  But until this change is made by\r\r\r\nConstitutional amendment, the Electoral College is still the law of the land.\r\r\r\n<br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n8) Myth: The Cook County, Illinois ballot from the home district of\r\r\r\nGore campaign chair Bill Daley is just like the \"butterfly\" ballot used in\r\r\r\nPalm Beach County (reported by Don Evans, 11\/8\/00) <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: According to the Chicago Daily Herald on 11\/10\/00, the ballots in\r\r\r\nChicago which had \"facing pages\" were judicial retention questions which only\r\r\r\nhad two punch holes, Yes and No. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n9) Myth: The election process in Florida outside of Palm Beach County\r\r\r\nwas fair. <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: Actually, thousands of irregularities in over a half-dozen categories\r\r\r\nhave already been reported: <br><br><ul>\r\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<li>Ballots ran out in certain precincts according to the LA Times on 11\/10\/00.\r\r\r\n<br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>Carpools of African-American voters were stopped by police, according to the\r\r\r\nLos Angeles Times (11\/10\/00).  In some cases, officers demanded to see a \"taxi\r\r\r\nlicense\". <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>Polls closed with people still in line in Tampa, according to the Associated\r\r\r\nPress. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>In Osceola County, ballots did not line up properly, possibly causing Gore\r\r\r\nvoters to have their ballots cast for Harry Browne.  Also, Hispanic voters\r\r\r\nwere required to produce two forms of ID when only one is required.  (source:\r\r\r\nAssociated Press) <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>Dozens, and possibly hundreds, of voters in Broward County were unable to\r\r\r\nvote because the Supervisor of Elections did not have enough staff to verify\r\r\r\nchanges of address. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>Voters were mistakenly removed from voter rolls because their names were\r\r\r\nsimilar to those of ex-cons, according to Mother Jones magazine. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>According to Reuters news service (11\/8\/00), many voters received pencils\r\r\r\nrather than pens when they voted, in violation of state law. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>According to the Miami Herald, many Haitian-American voters were turned away\r\r\r\nfrom precincts where they were voting for the first time (11\/10\/00) <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>According to Feed Magazine (www.feedmag.com), the mayoral candidate whose\r\r\r\nelection in Miami was overturned due to voter fraud, Xavier Suarez, said he\r\r\r\nwas involved in preparing absentee ballots for George W. Bush.  (11\/9\/00) <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>According to tompaine.com, CBS's Dan Rather reported a possible computer\r\r\r\nerror in Volusia County, Florida, where James Harris, a Socialist Workers\r\r\r\nParty candidate, won 9,888 votes.  He won 583 in the rest of the state.\r\r\r\n[11\/9\/00] County-level results for Florida are available at cnn.com. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/li><li>Many African-American first-time voters who registered at motor vehicles\r\r\r\noffices or in campus voter registration drives did not appear on the voting\r\r\r\nrolls, according to a hearing conducted by the NAACP and televised on C-SPAN\r\r\r\non 11\/12\/00. \r\r<\/li><\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n10) Myth: \"No evidence of vote fraud, either in the original vote\r\r\r\nor in the recount, has been presented.\" -- James Baker, representing the Bush\r\r\r\ncampaign on 11\/10\/00, in a Florida briefing. <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: The election was held just last week, so of course many instances of\r\r\r\nfraud have not yet been substantiated.  Even so, authorities have already\r\r\r\nuncovered clear evidence of voter fraud involving absentee ballots. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nIn Pensacola, Florida, Bush supporter Todd Vinson never received the absentee\r\r\r\nballot he requested.  According to the Associated Press on 11\/9\/00, it was\r\r\r\ndetermined after an investigation that this ballot was received by a third\r\r\r\nparty, filled out with a forged signature, and then sent in.  Assistant State\r\r\r\nAttorney Russell Edgar, when asked if other absentee ballots might had been\r\r\r\nintercepted, said, \"I agree there may well be many more than just this one.\"\r\r\r\n<br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nMuch media attention on the issue of voter fraud has been focused on Wisconsin\r\r\r\nwhere cigarettes were offered to homeless people who were casting absentee\r\r\r\nballots, presumably for Gore.  The Gore campaign claims the cigarettes were\r\r\r\nnot used to \"buy\" votes.  The London Times has reported a suspected pro-Bush\r\r\r\nvote fraud operation in Miami involving over thousands of ballots (11\/13\/00).\r\r\r\n<br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n11) Myth: It is highly unusual for judges to intervene after an\r\r\r\nelection.  Since the designer of a disputed ballot in Florida is a member\r\r\r\nof the party contesting the election, a legal challenge is impossible.\r\r\r\n<ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: The most fundamental right of a democratic society is the the right to\r\r\r\nvote, and to have one's vote correctly counted.  The legal system exists to\r\r\r\nensure that people's rights are not violated.  Whether the person committing a\r\r\r\nviolation is a Democrat or a Republican does not affect how that violation\r\r\r\nshould be treated. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nElections are ultimately struggles for political power so it should not be\r\r\r\nsurprising that disputes are often resolved in court.  Of course judges can be\r\r\r\nbiased.  That is why they must explain their decisions and why bad arguments\r\r\r\ncan be overturned on appeal. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nThe Florida Supreme Court ruled in 1998, in connection with a disputed Volusia\r\r\r\nCounty election, that if there is \"substantial noncompliance\" with election\r\r\r\nlaws and a \"reasonable doubt\" about whether election results \"expressed the\r\r\r\nwill of the voters\" then a judge must \"void the contested election, even in\r\r\r\nthe absence of fraud or intentional wrongdoing.\"  (source: Wall St. Journal,\r\r\r\n10\/10\/00).  The Journal indicated that there was little legal precedent for a\r\r\r\nrevote in just one area where an election occurred.  It would be more likely\r\r\r\nfor a court to order a new election or to overturn the result. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nThese issues have arisen in other states as well.  In a Massachusetts\r\r\r\nDemocratic primary in 1996 for the US House, the election was so close after\r\r\r\nrecounts that a judge had to make the final decision after examining some of\r\r\r\nthe ballots that were incompletely punched, to determine the intention of the\r\r\r\nvoter.  The law clearly dictated that it was the will of the voter that\r\r\r\nmattered, and the candidate who was behind, William Delahunt, went on to win\r\r\r\nthe final election.  Call the Capitol Switchboard if you have any doubts at\r\r\r\n202-225-3121. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n12) Myth: Richard Nixon's party in 1960 did the honorable thing in\r\r\r\nnot contesting the results of the election. <ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFact: According to a column in the Los Angeles Times, 11\/10\/00, \"on Nov. 11,\r\r\r\nthree days after the election, Thurston B. Morton, a Kentucky senator and the\r\r\r\nRepublican Party's national chairman, launched bids for recounts or\r\r\r\ninvestigations in not just Illinois and Texas but also Delaware, Michigan,\r\r\r\nMinnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and South\r\r\r\nCarolina.  A few days later, Robert H.  Finch and Leonard W. Hall, two Nixon\r\r\r\nintimates, sent agents to conduct what they called \"field checks\" in eight of\r\r\r\nthose 11 battlegrounds.  In New Jersey, local Republicans obtained court\r\r\r\norders for recounts; Texans brought suit in federal court.  Illinois witnessed\r\r\r\nthe most vigorous crusade.  Nixon aide Peter Flanigan encouraged the creation\r\r\r\nof a Chicago-area Nixon Recount Committee.  As late as Nov. 23, Republican\r\r\r\nNational Committee general counsel H.  Meade Alcorn Jr. was still predicting\r\r\r\nNixon would take Illinois.\" Recounts continued into December, but did not\r\r\r\nsucceed in overturning the result of the election. <br><br>\r\r\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<strong>13) Myth: \"Tens of thousands of U.S. Military personnel around the world\r\nwere unable to cast ballots for the first time in US History because\r\ntheir Military Absentee ballots 'got lost in the mail.' In past\r\nelections, the military voted 9:1 in favor of Republicans.\" -- Hal\r\nTurner Radio Show, 11\/12\/00. <ul>\r\r\nFact: It is true that some overseas military ballots may not have\r\nbeen delivered, but no evidence has been presented to indicate that\r\nthe situation is any different from past elections. With respect to\r\noverseas military ballots arriving on time but after election day,\r\nthe total number in 1996 in Florida was actually only about 1,500,\r\nbased on 2,300 overseas absentee ballots overall, with\r\nroughly 60% of them coming from people enlisted in the military. <br><br>\r\n\r\nFinally, Republican presidential candidates only received about 55%\r\nof military absentee ballots in the 1992 and 1996 presidential\r\nelections. Gore is likely to do better than Clinton, a draft evader\r\nwho was running in 1996 against Dole, a decorated military veteran. <br><br>\r\n\r\nIn 2000 George W. Bush -- who avoided service in Vietnam and actually\r\nlost flying privileges in the Texas Air National Guard -- is running\r\nagainst Al Gore, a Vietnam veteran.<br>\r\r<br>\r\n\r\r<\/ul>\r\r\r\n\r\r<hr>\r\n\r\nPLEASE HELP DISTRIBUTE THIS FLYER! We plan to make it easy\r\r\r\nfor you to obtain a paper copy for distribution at your workplace, church or\r\r\r\ncampus.  If you post this on the web, please let us know! HTML and printable\r\r\r\n(Word, PDF) versions will be available at: <p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dlis.gseis.ucla.edu\/people\/pagre\/13-myths.html<\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nInternet references sometimes change, so they will be updated at: <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  http:\/\/dlis.gseis.ucla.edu\/people\/pagre\/myth-references.html<\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nTo participate in a discussion on responding to conservative attacks on\r\r\r\ndemocracy and social justice, please send a blank email\r\r\r\nto: rwwatch-subscribe@topica.com <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nTips on E-Organizing: www.organizenow.net <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <\/p><hr>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n- Additional Footnotes, References (the web links may change; please report\r\r\r\nerrors) <p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 1: Time to Concede the Election <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n330 votes out of 6 million is 0.00550% of the vote.  1 vote out of 18 thousand\r\r\r\nis 0.00555% of the vote.  A margin of 0.500000% of the vote is the Florida\r\r\r\nrecount threshold. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 2: Number of Spoiled Ballots. <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nArticle giving counts for invalidated ballots in 2000: <br>\r&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/ap\/20001110\/el\/eln_florida_recount_63.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nOdd ballot prompts allegations of widespread mistaken voting by MITCH LIPKA,\r\r\r\nOrlando Sun-Sentinel, 11\/9\/00. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nSee Also: <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.herald.com\/thispage.htm?content\/archive\/news\/yahoo\/digdocs\/058333 <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 3: Ballot Definitely Illegal <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nThose Florida Ballots Were Clearly Illegal <br>\r&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/news\/comment\/20001110\/t000107677.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nSome Florida Ballots Illegal, Dems Say <br>\r&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.salon.com\/politics\/feature\/2000\/11\/07\/results\/ <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nPalm Beach Ballot Illegal, Demo Lawyers Say <br>\r&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/content\/archive\/news\/elect2000\/digdocs\/095052.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nUnited Press International Story: Eye doctors say palm beach ballot confused\r\r\r\nvoters, 11\/9\/00, filed from Ft.  Lauderdale at 4:11:44 PM EDT. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nAccess to Voting for Disabled and Elderly Citizens <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.bazelon.org\/expandvote.html#ADA <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 4: Hand Recounts Introduce Errors <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nSeminole County delivers edge to Bush in recount <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/orlandosentinel.com\/elections\/1110sem.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nElection Workers' Nightmare <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/print\/asection\/20001110\/t000107857.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nWilliam Galvin, interviewed on CNN, 11\/8\/00. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nTexas State Law, HB 331 (also 212.005(d), Texas Election Code) <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.capitol.state.tx.us\/tlo\/75R\/billtext\/HB00331F.HTM <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nHand recounts used in New Mexico, overturn Gore lead <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2000\/11\/12\/politics\/12RESU.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nBush Signed Recount Rule in Texas <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/aponline\/politics\/AP-ELN-Bush-Texas-Recounts.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 5: Selective Recounts are Unfair <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nBush Team Prepares 'Scorched-Earth Plan' <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/articles\/A2830-2000Nov11.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nVolusia Elections Votes for Manual Recount <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/orlandosentinel.com\/news\/1109vol.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nVotes may be missed in Broward County <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/news\/daily\/detail\/0,1136,36000000000124832,00.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 6: Palm Beach a Pat Buchanan <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nStronghold Numbers Add Up to More Dispute <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/articles\/A64175-2000Nov10.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nState of Florida Party Registration <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/election.dos.state.fl.us\/pdf\/2000voterreg\/2000genparty.pdf <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nBuchanan Says Disputed Florida Votes Are Gore's <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/nm\/20001109\/pl\/election_buchanan_dc_1.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nBay Buchanan strongly denounced the Republican spin: <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/print\/asection\/20001110\/t000107856.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nPrecinct-level Correlations Between Reform Party Candidate for Congress John\r\r\r\nMcGuire and all presidential candidates, analysis by Paul H. Rosenberg\" based\r\r\r\non Palm Beach County data. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 7: Candidate Should Win Without Electoral Majority <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nsee the US Constitution. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 8: Butterfly Ballots in Chicago <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nToo Cook ballot designer says his ballots are not like Florida's <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/cdh\/20001110\/lo\/orr_cook_s_ballots_not_like_florida_s_1.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 9: Florida Respects Voting Rights <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nJesse Jackson Questions Florida Voting <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.salon.com\/politics\/feature\/2000\/11\/08\/jackson\/ <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nOn Pencils Vs. Pens\r\r\r\nNAACP Alleges Voter Suppression in Florida, Reuters, Wednesday November 8 <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/nm\/20001108\/pl\/election_naacp_dc_2.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nBroward County Problems at Polls Prevent Hundreds from Casting Votes\r\r\r\n(Miami Herald) <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.herald.com\/content\/today\/docs\/067127.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nBallots Ran Out According to St. Petersburg Times <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.sptimes.com\/News\/110900\/Election2000\/Voters_statewide_say_.shtml <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nMore Irregularities Alleged <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/sections\/politics\/DailyNews\/ELECTION_WatchdogPart5001108.html.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nVoting Scrutinized All Over Florida <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/news\/politics\/elect2000\/pres\/wire2\/20001110\/tCB00V0495.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFlorida Ballot Quirks Scrutinized <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/cbsnews.com\/now\/story\/0,1597,247897-412,00.shtml <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFlorida Cops Accused of Harassing Black Voters <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.apbnews.com\/newscenter\/breakingnews\/2000\/11\/08\/vote1108_01.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nElection Day Allegations Could Form Basis for Legal Challenges, Experts Say <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2000\/LAW\/11\/08\/recount.challenges.pol\/index.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nMoving Toward a Lawsuit <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.abcnews.go.com\/sections\/politics\/DailyNews\/ELECTION_WatchdogPart6001108.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nMany Mistakenly Removed from Voter Rolls <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.motherjones.com\/news_wire\/floridavote.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nXavier Suarez Involvement in Absentee Drive <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.feedmag.com\/templates\/daily.php3?a_id=1389 <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nFlorida Recount Continues As Lawsuit Threats Rise <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/nm\/20001109\/pl\/election_florida_dc_15.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nNAACP Says Fraudulent Calls Surface in Florida (before election) <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/nm\/20001106\/pl\/election_naacp_dc_1.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nNAACP Alleges Voter Suppression in Florida <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/dailynews.yahoo.com\/h\/nm\/20001108\/pl\/election_naacp_dc_2.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nVoting Irregularities, Chaos Reported in Florida <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/cnews.tribune.com\/news\/story\/0,1162,oso-nation-82375,00.html <br> <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/cnews.tribune.com\/news\/story\/0,1162,sunsentinel-elections2000-82375,00.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nVoters Statewide Say They Had Poll Troubles <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.sptimes.com\/News\/110900\/Election2000\/Voters_statewide_say_.shtml <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nWidespread Voting Irregularities Marred Presidential Results in S. Florida <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/news\/daily\/detail\/0,1136,36000000000124144,00.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nAfter Bizarre Vote, Experts Question Whether Election Process Is Fair <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/news\/daily\/detail\/0,1136,36000000000123968,00.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nDade's Ballot System Delays Tally <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.herald.com\/content\/today\/docs\/098048.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nNew York Times, \"African Americans Demand Revote\" <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2000\/11\/11\/politics\/11BLAC.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nRegistered Voters' Names Failed to Appear on Voting Rolls <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/cnews.tribune.com\/news\/story\/0,1162,oso-nation-82375,00.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 10: No Vote Fraud in Florida <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nTranscript: James A. Baker III on Fla. Recount, Nov. 10, 2000 <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/articles\/A61032-2000Nov10.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nAssociated Press story was available as of 11\/9 at: <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/news\/vote2000\/pensacola.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nWall St. Journal Article <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/interactive.wsj.com\/articles\/SB973813954697912953.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nNAACP hears testimony of Florida voting irregularities Breed, Allen G,\r\r\r\nAssociated Press Wire, 11\/11\/00.  (Hearings Televised on CSPAN, 11\/12\/00) <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nPensacola Ballot Prompts Fraud Investigation <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.pensacolanewsjournal.com\/news\/110900\/Local\/ST001.shtml <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nCigarettes Distributed for Gore Vote <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.themilwaukeechannel.com\/mil\/election2000\/itsyourvote\/stories\/-20001105-134550.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nGore camp demands FBI inquiry <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/0,,34812,00.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 11: Judges Stay Out of Elections <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nPHIL KUNTZ and DAVID S. CLOUD, \"Neverending Election Draws Questions About\r\r\r\nElectoral Process, Constitution,\" WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10\/11\/00 <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/interactive.wsj.com\/articles\/SB97386780919735330.htm <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nYale Law Students CAMPAIGN FOR A LEGAL ELECTION <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/commons.somewhere.com\/rre\/2000\/RRE.Florida.Common.Law.a.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 12: Nixon Didn't Fight in 1960 <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nIt's a Myth That Nixon Acquiesced in 1960 <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/news\/comment\/20001110\/t000107675.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nThe Fallacy of Nixon's Graceful Exit <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.salon.com\/politics\/feature\/2000\/11\/10\/nixon\/ <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nWas Nixon Robbed? (October 16 article) <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/slate.msn.com\/HistoryLesson\/00-10-16\/HistoryLesson.asp <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nSenate History Interview (1987): The \"Good Old Days\" Were Not <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.senate.gov\/learning\/learn_history_oralhist_shuman4.html <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n\"Illinois Republicans Lose\", New York Times, Dec. 13, 1960, p. 23. <br>\r\r\r\n\"Texas Recount Denied\", New York Times, Dec.  13, 1960, p. 23. <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <br>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<u> Myth 13: Republican Absentee Advantage <\/u> <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nTexas Air National Guard <br>\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.democrats.com\/display.cfm?id=172 <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nSee also: London Sunday Times, June 18, 2000, \"Bush flies into an air force\r\r\r\ncocaine cloud,\" online at\r\r\r\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http:\/\/www.sunday-times.co.uk\/ <\/p><p>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n&nbsp; <\/p><hr>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\nRich Cowan (rcowan@lesley.edu) with\r\r\r\nhelp from Paul Rosenberg, Dan Kohn, Jonathan Prince, Marc Sobel, subscribers\r\r\r\nto the Red Rock Eater News Service and the electronic mail discussion\r\r\r\nflorida-recount-discuss@egroups.com, and the Yale Law School Student Campaign\r\r\r\nfor a Legal Election, 127 Wall Street New Haven, CT 06511 -- spin@pantheon.yale.edu\r\r\r\n\r<hr>\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n\r\r\r\n<\/strong>\n","contact":"rich@organizenow.net","link":"http:\/\/home1.gte.net\/rad\/13myths\/index.htm","address":"Organizers' Collaborative, PO Box 400897, Cambridge MA 02140","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"(UPDATED 11\/24)  Nixon\u2019s party accepted the 1960 elections, judicail intervention is highly unusually and uncalled for, no evidence of fraud has beeen presented, the Florida election outside of Palm Beach County was fair-- these are but a few of the 13 Myths refuted in this compact, heavily documented factsheet.","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2000\/11\/13mytrxbivq.htm","filesize":"34.0 kibibytes","article_url":"\/news\/2000\/11\/4694.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}