by Kathleen Hennessey
In South Carolina, the election drama rolls on. In the wake of his loss to a first-time candidate who is charged with a felony sex crime, Democratic Senate hopeful Vic Rawl has filed a protest against last Tuesday's primary results.
Rawl's campaign says there are too many irregularities in the results to let the election stand uncontested.
"At this point, the people of our state do not have the basic confidence that their vote will be counted," the Democrats' preferred candidate said in a statement issued Monday. "The strange circumstances surrounding Tuesday's vote require a thorough investigation."
The strangest circumstance is the very presence of the newly anointed Democratic nominee, Alvin Greene. Greene is an unemployed veteran, who lives with his father, didn't campaign and didn't file papers with the Federal Election Commission. Greene also is fighting a felony obscenity charge for allegedly showing pornography to a college student last fall. At the time he claimed to have no assets. A few months later, he paid the $10,400 candidate filing fee.
Greene won by nearly 20 percentage points, leaving the state party embarrassed and some making allegations of political chicanery.
Rawl's campaign says experts have found the voting pattern highly unusual. It also says it has received reports of voting machine malfunction.
Under South Carolina law, Rawl's protest will be reviewed by his party's executive committee. If the committee finds sufficient evidence that the election was invalid, it can decide to hold a new primary.
If that happens, Rawl said he's not yet certain he would run again. His full statement is after the jump.
Good afternoon, and thank you all for coming.Earlier today, our campaign filed a protest of last Tuesday's election results with the South
Carolina Democratic Party.We have filed this protest not for my personal or political gain, but on behalf of the people of South Carolina.
There is a cloud over Tuesday's election. There is a cloud over South Carolina, that affects all of our people, Democrats and Republicans, white and African-American alike.
At this point, the people of our state do not have the basic confidence that their vote will be counted.
The strange circumstances surrounding Tuesday's vote require a thorough investigation. For better or worse, this protest process is the only platform currently available for that investigation.
And let me be clear: regardless of the outcome of this protest, a full and unblinking investigation of this election and the overall integrity of South Carolina's election system must go forward. Whether our protest is upheld or not, I intend to bring my full energies to electoral reform well into the future.I want to speak briefly about the bases for our protest.
First is ongoing analyses of the election returns themselves, which indicate irregularities.
Second are the many voters and poll workers who continue to contact us with their stories of extremely unusual incidents while trying to vote and administer this election.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, to at least one voter in the Republican primary who had the Democratic U.S. Senate race appear on her ballot.
For those who experienced problems voting, I urge you to go to our website, www.vicrawl.com and use the form there to report them. You can also call our Election Integrity Hotline at 843-278-0510.
Third is the well-documented unreliability and unverifiability of the voting machines used in South Carolina.
It is worth noting that these machines were purchased surplus from Louisiana after that state outlawed them.
The full details of our protest will be presented on Thursday.
For the people of South Carolina, getting to the bottom of Tuesday's results will build confidence, either way.
I also hope that a full and frank discussion of our voting system will result in substantial reform.
At the risk of repetition, this protest is not about me, or my personal political fortunes. Indeed, if the protest is upheld and a new election ordered, I have not decided whether to run in it.
But, either way, I am not done with the issue of fixing our elections.
Lastly, let me make something clear. Like all of you, I am aware of the controversies surrounding Mr. Greene. This protest is not about him either.
I would like to speak directly to Mr. Greene and say: "Sir, this is not about you, and it's not about me. I wish you and your family nothing but the best in the weeks and months ahead."
Comments
Pffft, this is no big surprise.
It's the South Carolina GOP, their middle name is "Corruption".
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http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/jon-stewart-thanks-south-carolina.php
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Posted by: Robin Zander | June 14, 2010 2:23 PM
Seems the public has had enough of the lying, deceitful democrats. This guy didn't even campaign.
Now the democrats will try to demonize this poor veteran.
Why are the democrats against democracy? I guess
they still feel they know what's best for the public, even when the public has thrown them out. Great stuff.
November is coming.
What really scares this democrats is that they realize that obama could lose to a nobody. But then - isn't that why obama is here? People voting against Bush, it's a shame they didn't look to see who they were getting.
Posted by: worsethanbefore | June 14, 2010 3:08 PM
Everybody knows why Alvin Greene won.
Because the majority of SC Dem primary voters are Black, and those voters voted for the name that (to them) sounded "Black." In the words of a prominent SC politician:
"Shortly after the election, Robert Ford, an African-American South Carolina state senator who ran for governor, offered the theory that voters could tell Greene was black by his last name: “No white folks have an ‘e’ on the end of Green. The blacks after they left the plantation couldn’t spell, and they threw an ‘e’ on the end.”
The voters voted their skin color. No wonder Democrats in the media and in DC wish to avoid that fact.
Posted by: Reality | June 14, 2010 3:10 PM
One important thing that is left out of this article is that the Democratic voters of South Carolina not very bright or maybe just plain dumb and did not know who they voted for? Greene won by a fairly large margin of nearly 20 Percentage points. Remember the Democratic voters of Illinois in 1986 elected two followers of Lyndon LaRouche, Mark Fairchild and Janice Hart, to be the nominees for state wide office in Illinois. It seems that the voters sometimes seem to not know who they are voting for. Instead of the issues they vote for the last names, Greene in South Carolina, and Fairchild and Hart in Illinois. Or is the average Democratic voter just plain dumb?
Posted by: depot jim | June 14, 2010 3:19 PM
Results like these are all the more reason for subjecting every potential voter to an IQ Test. If their Current Events IQ is below 60 on a 1 to 100 scale they will not be allowed to vote. Sorry Democrats, but that means you will have to learn to read and listen
Posted by: Libs are Fools | June 14, 2010 3:46 PM
It is just the racists in the dem party that can't tolerate a black man they didn't officially annoint. Of course they had no problem with a half white do nothing senator from the country's most corrupt political machine.
A 20 point blowout and all the losers can think of is it must be a repug trick. It couldn't possibly be the backlash from Obama running this country into a ground with the help of lib socialists in congress.
Posted by: Hans | June 14, 2010 3:48 PM
The GOP in South Carolina is still stuck in the 1850's. This is the place that gave America Karl Rove's hero and noted right wing racist and dirty trickster, Lee Atwater.
SC Senate Nominee Alvin Greene Received More Votes Than Were Actually Cast
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/curiouser-and-curiouser-sc-senate-nom
Posted by: Kendel | June 14, 2010 3:58 PM
I hope if there is a new election called for that Alvin wins just to aggravate the crap out of that old fart James Clyburn.
Posted by: vla | June 14, 2010 4:45 PM
Why are the Dumbocrats always trying to change the outcomes of elections? They forced out Scott Lee Cohen after he legitimately won in Illinois. And now they are trying the same in SC. Of course, the Demoncrats have a history of playing with election results. The Demoncrat party could care less about elections, the constitution, integrity, and the difference between right and wrong.
Posted by: John D | June 14, 2010 4:48 PM
It just goes to show you, the Dems will vote for anybody.
Posted by: Paul | June 14, 2010 4:54 PM
The Democratic Party in Illinois provided Scott Cohen.
The Democratic Party provided the voters with Alvin Greene.
Why can't the Democratic Party properly vet their candidiates prior to an election?
I guess it George W. Bush's fault, everything else is!!
Posted by: Pat H | June 14, 2010 5:08 PM
I see the racist are out today. If they cannot find anything and this guy loses then it's South Carolina's Democratic leadership's fault. But then again talking about voters not really knowing who they are voting for all you need to do is look at who is in the White House. Right after the child president won the election 7 out of 10 voters who voted for him could not answer simple questions about his history. Like how he won his state Senate seat or the federal one. The slimy worm like moves he made.
Posted by: The_Crooks_In_DC | June 14, 2010 5:40 PM
This article does not fairly describe the situation.
First, this was an "open" primary, so Republicants could vote on the Dem ballot. Let's call it a safe assumption that a "crossover" vote would not select the other party's strongest candidate. Can we?
Second, Greene did not campaign. At all. He spent no money on advertising of any sort. None. His name recognition was zero.
The same cannot be said for his primary opponents.
The same, moreover, cannot be said of Scott Lee Cohen, or Mark Fairchild (thanks for that blast from the past, Depot Jim). Not even close. Cohen spent millions.
Try an argument that gets past the laugh test. At least once.
This situation is rife with anomalies, and anyone approaching it honestly would have questions. Then again, no one in their right mind expects a Republicant to tell the truth unless it's one of those rare instances where it's not in their interest to lie.
Posted by: a blinkin | June 14, 2010 6:05 PM
The vote for Greene apparently was a vote against Rawl, a well known state politician.
Put "none of the above" on the ballot and you'd see that the electorate really hates what politicians (in general) have done in recent months and years.
Would the Democrats still be angry if Greene wins the general election as a place holder for "anyone but a politician"?
Posted by: Karl Quick | June 14, 2010 6:08 PM
It's nice to see that SC Republicans are still doing what they do best: voter fraud.
This time they really screwed up because they left a paper trial leading right back to this Alvin Greene goofball.
Republicans need to get out of the voter fraud business, it's too easy to detect nowadays. They should stick to doing what they do best: hating gays, telling women to stay in the kitchen, having bizarre hangups about sex, not believing in evolution, thinking education is for chumps, thinking religion should be inserted into government, fetishizing guns, and being quick to call for violence to solve their problems.
Posted by: Michael Van Kampen | June 14, 2010 6:18 PM
I believe the state of Illinois has a former Lt. Governor canidate that might be available to fill-in. I thought onlyt Illinois democrats were this stupid.
Posted by: Terry | June 14, 2010 6:36 PM
I love the guy, He is smarter than many others on tv. Unlike your typical college educated line backer or NBA forward he went through a 12 minute interview and never said " you know " even once. He looks good in a coat and tie and can`t be any worse than Larry Craig, Ensign, or Vetter.
Charles B. Tiffany
Kissimmee, Florida
Posted by: Charles B.Tiffany | June 14, 2010 6:46 PM
"Why are the Dumbocrats always trying to change the outcomes of elections? They forced out Scott Lee Cohen after he legitimately won in Illinois. And now they are trying the same in SC. Of course, the Demoncrats have a history of playing with election results. The Demoncrat party could care less about elections, the constitution, integrity, and the difference between right and wrong."
Once again John D. takes republican attributes and applies them to the other party. As far as changing the outcome of elections one only needs to look back at Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004 to see that republicans don't play small ball like Scott Lee Cohen, they hit for the fences when it comes to manipulating elections. comes to
Posted by: Big Gene | June 14, 2010 11:06 PM
Senator DeMint must be desperate, hiring an African-American to pretend to be a Democrat. I just hope DeMint doesn't raise that confederate flag, again. Once, was enough !!
Ah, you have to love these Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers. The don't get any more ridiculous than this stunt !! FoxNoise Machine must have helped to finance this vaudeville act !!
This is proof-positive that the Republican-Libertarian-T.Bagger agenda is as bankrupt as any of the multitude of Banks, Investment Firms or Auto Corps, which got in line for welfare from the tax payers of America. Republicans, all !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | June 15, 2010 7:12 AM
Hey Donnie Boy
Every post of yours has hate for someone or something in it. You hate auto companies. You hate banks. You hate investment firms. You hate oil companies. So based on your comments you must not drive or if you do you drive a foreign car. You must use a big battery to propel that foreign car since you hate oil companies and would by no means support them by buying their product. And since you hate oil companies you must not have any plastic items since that would be supporting them also. I know you don't use banking or investment services since you live off the government. It is apparent though that you must love FOX news since you seem to know so much about them.
SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY AND GET RID OF THE TAX CHEATS AND TREASONISTS IN OUR GOVERNMENT
Posted by: Libs are Fools | June 15, 2010 8:56 AM
Robin Zander wrote...
"It's the South Carolina GOP, their middle name is "Corruption"."
Ummm, Robin... this was a Dem primary. I realize you're programmed to kneejerk everything anti-GOP, but c'mon, learn to read already.
Posted by: Hooked on Phonics worked for me! | June 15, 2010 11:26 AM
Dem Cross-over Produced Haley, Greene, and "Republicans for Obamacare"
If you believe as I do that 14% of the “Republicans” voting in the SC GOP Primary were Democrats, it answers three questions: 1) Why did 14% of the “Republicans” in a right-wing orgy like the SC GOP Primary vote FOR Obamacare? 2) How did Alvin Greene become the Democrat Senate nominee? 3) How did Haley go from a pre-scandal mid-May Rasmussen 30% (with 22% undecided) to a 49% Primary share? A June 2 poll still had her at 31%.
Assuming that the 22% undecided divided their votes in proportion to the four candidates’ standings in mid-May, 31 plus 14 is 45, or close to what Haley pulled. Shrewd Dems (with the emotional intelligence that GOP Asperger cases lack) realize that if numerous lengthy late night calls and Marchant's semi-credible polygraph are “on the table” along with Bauer’s suggestion that Haley clear herself with a polygraph but Haley’s chosen not to do so, the candidate most likely to implode before November is Haley. The theory that Haley’s jump from 31 to 49 is all due to most of the 22 undecided going for Haley is not only contrived, but only answers the third question, not the other two. My theory answers all three. The shrewd cross-over Dems voted for Obamacare, left no one minding the store to stop unemployed felon Greene, and successfully gave it to Haley.
Hey, Republicans did this in the Wisconsin 1972 Primary and put McGovern on the path over Scoop Jackson, Muskie, and HHH. Turnabout is fair play to produce a Sanford-with-ovaries – or a Sheheen victory when further evidence arises.
Robert Edward Johnson
Greenville
Posted by: Robert Edward Johnson | June 16, 2010 4:15 PM