Next Show: ...loading...

Dirty Tricks in Election 2005: Focus on Virginia

November 7, 2005

(Archive)
Guests: Ginny Peters, Chair of Fairfax Democratic Committee, and George Burke, Chair of the 11th Congressional District
BEFORE Election Day, Mark gives the INSIDE SCOOP on this year’s dirty election tricks in the State of Virginia!
Even after the State Elections Board ruled such things illegal, the Republicans continue to put out mailers and “robot” telephone calls claiming to be from the Democratic and Independent candidates for Governor.
In a Virginia House race, Repubs are spreading rumors through robot phone calls that the Democrat candidate died.
THESE ARE DIRTY TRICKS STRAIGHT OUT OF KARL ROVE’S PLAYBOOK!
THEY ARE ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, AND WRONG.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

  • Guilty by association November 9, 2005 9:05 am

    When the judge asked me where my ethics and morals were–all I could do was hold my scruples

  • Sean November 9, 2005 1:44 am

    What is the difference between ethics and morals? Ethics are based on rules and logic, while morality comes from tradition. They both deal with right and wrong, but from different perspectives.
    My morals tell me it is wrong to get divorced, while my ethics allow for it. That is because one is based on traditional teachings from a certain historic perspective, the other is based on a set of rules to govern our laws. Why have both?
    Because we all have different morals that’s why. Our laws and our government NEED to be based on our ethics!! Basing a government on morals has a name – it is called the Taliban. Basing a government on morals has a second name – its called North Korea.
    The USA is based solely on ethics. It is, by design, devoid of morals.
    Now take the current administration. Some want to give them a pass because they defend themselves as being moral. I say that is just why we need to nail them to the wall for any crime committed. If they think they are above our ethical laws by claiming another allegiance to a moral code, then I say they need to go down.
    Just because they have a moral tradition of something does not indoctrinate their thinking into law and give them immunization!! If they break the law, they need to suffer the consequences. They need to take some personal and professional responsibility for their actions. They are like high school kids that got busted drinking behind the bleachers at the Friday night football game. We have them cold busted, and they go “we don’t remember who bought the beers for us”. What parent would put up with that? And how can we be expected to put up with that as a nation?
    So how do we put our foot down? How do we send the message to our politicians that ethics is not optional. That personal and professional responsibility is expected of them? How do we send the message that we do not put up with that behavior, and that it will not be tolerated?
    We can start by forcing them to clean up their campaign tactics! Some are in trouble already in court, while others continue to dance a dangerous dance. Any tolerance in these political waters can not exist. We need to take our own personal responsibility and enforce some honest ethics by our votes in elections. Who we vote for needs to pass the smell test if you know what I mean.
    Look, clearly the guys taking ethics 101 in the Whitehouse this week wouldn’t make the cut in any election today. I don’t know how much to continue telling people that. I hate to be told when I’ve made a mistake more than once. If I voted for George and people were jammering at me about how stupid of a decision that was, I would be pretty grumpy over it.
    Maybe it is time to transition the debate by outlining some concrete steps to force some ethics into our government. Special investigations, oversights, and countless other stuff the experts tell us about all the time can be used to send a message to our politicians. And votes speak loudest of all.
    We need to investigate our voting practices. As advanced as we are as a nation, it is unacceptable that our elections are not as clean as they need to be. Why would we have a voting practice where the citizens don’t get a receipt? I get a receipt for a cone from the neighborhood ice-cream-truck!

  • God bless America November 8, 2005 9:12 am

    Dirty election tricks are an American tradition–and form the tainted edge of our government that manifests itself throughout all levels of our society
    And politicians will tell you this is something to kill and die for–why people become poppies
    On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, l9l8–so many more poppies since then testify–war doesn’t end it just waxes and wanes
    And corrupt politics testify to the continuing discontent in men’s hearts–that gives Socrates more than enough reason to pick his poison

  • Rachel` November 7, 2005 7:19 pm

    I just received another robo call from HOnest Leadership for Virginia PAC purporting to be speaking on behalf of Pro Choice NARAL saying that the only pro choice candidate is Russ Potts.
    Despicable – I am so angry over these sleazy dirty tricks — obviously they are worried.

  • Skip November 7, 2005 6:39 pm

    If the democrats were doing this (in King County, WA), the Fox propaganda channel would be bellowing about it 24/7.