Blogged by JC on 08.22.05 @ 04:19 PM ET

Fighting for Every Voter

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me.

As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes. After the election, whether won or lost, many candidates leave the irregularities of the election behind. But we owe the voters more than that. When voters are disenfrachised, we owe it to them to seek justice and expose the truth. That is why I have been so proud of the Kerry-Edwards campaign's ongoing involvement in the investigation and litigation of what went wrong in Ohio. I wrote to the candidates recently to ask that they continue to be involved in this important endeavor.

This is not about the past. It is about figuring out what went wrong and why -- and then getting the next election right, not for the Democratic Party, but for all of the voters.

link

Jane Fonda among top Gore givers:

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Actress Jane Fonda was among nine supporters of Vice President Al Gore who made six-figure donations to his recount committee, newly released records show.

Stephen Bing, a California screenwriter who wrote a $1 million check to the Democratic National Convention's host committee last summer, gave $200,000 to Gore's recount committee. Bing was an executive producer of Sylvester Stallone's recent movie ``Get Carter.'' Houston trial lawyer John O'Quinn also gave $200,000, records show.

Fonda, top Democratic donor S. Daniel Abraham and Tennessee developer Franklin Haney were among the $100,000 donors.

Steven Kirsch, founder of the Internet company InfoSeek.com, donated $500,000.

The committee provided the names of 1,258 donors who gave a total of $3.2 million as of Nov. 27, according to financial disclosure records released Thursday. Since then, the committee has raised another $300,000.

While more than 80 percent of the donors, or 1,018 individuals, gave $200 or less, the recount committee also took in dozens of larger donations, including at least three six-figure contributions. Under federal law, recount committees can accept unlimited donations, although George W. Bush is limiting his contributions to a maximum of $5,000. Bush has raised $7.4 million to pay for his Florida recount expenses.

At least 368 people have given $5,000 to Bush, while Gore had 36 $5,000 donors and 79 supporters who gave more than that.

In September, Fonda contributed $11.7 million to an abortion-rights organization, Pro Choice Vote.

Haney, a longtime supporter of Gore, was the developer of the Portals complex in Washington, D.C., the new home of the Federal Communications Commission. House Republicans accused him of buying political influence to get the FCC to move.

In July, he was acquitted of charges that he used straw donors to mask $100,000 in political donations and lied about it in filings to federal regulators.

Abraham, the founder of the Slim-Fast diet program, was one of several big Democratic donors who reached into their pockets one more time to help finance Gore's recount operations.

Gore also received $25,000 from Sen.-elect Jon Corzine of New Jersey; $5,000 from Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's political action committee; and $1,000 from Democratic consultant James Carville, who ran President Clinton's 1992 campaign.

The recount committee was incorporated under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Service code. It reported its contributions and expenditures to the IRS.

While Gore and Bush are raising money to finance their recount operations, the Democratic and Republican parties reported spending millions in the closing weeks of the yet-to-be-concluded 2000 elections.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent $17.3 million during the last three weeks of the fall campaign, slightly more than the $15.8 million reported by its Republican counterpart.

Senate Democrats gained four seats Nov. 7 and are tied with the GOP at 50 seats apiece.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee said it spent $57 million after Oct. 18, most of it by Nov. 7. The RNC is continuing to raise money, taking in $13.2 million last month. Between Oct. 18 and Nov. 27, the RNC raised $48 million.

``Republicans, independents and open-minded Democrats are excited about Governor Bush and the Republican Party's positive plans for smaller, smarter government and increased opportunity for all Americans,'' RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson said. ``And their enthusiasm has been showing in their generous contributions to the RNC.''

The Democratic National Committee said it raised $42.7 million between Oct. 18 and Nov. 27.

``Our fund-raising success reaffirms the American people's belief that Democrats are right on the issues and their abiding faith in Al Gore and Joe Lieberman's ability to lead this nation with civility and honor,'' DNC National Chairman Joe Andrew said.

Blogged by JC on 08.22.05 @ 04:19 PM ET

Fighting for Every Voter

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me.

As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes. After the election, whether won or lost, many candidates leave the irregularities of the election behind. But we owe the voters more than that. When voters are disenfrachised, we owe it to them to seek justice and expose the truth. That is why I have been so proud of the Kerry-Edwards campaign's ongoing involvement in the investigation and litigation of what went wrong in Ohio. I wrote to the candidates recently to ask that they continue to be involved in this important endeavor.

This is not about the past. It is about figuring out what went wrong and why -- and then getting the next election right, not for the Democratic Party, but for all of the voters.

link

Blogged by JC on 08.22.05 @ 04:19 PM ET

Fighting for Every Voter

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me.

As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes. After the election, whether won or lost, many candidates leave the irregularities of the election behind. But we owe the voters more than that. When voters are disenfrachised, we owe it to them to seek justice and expose the truth. That is why I have been so proud of the Kerry-Edwards campaign's ongoing involvement in the investigation and litigation of what went wrong in Ohio. I wrote to the candidates recently to ask that they continue to be involved in this important endeavor.

This is not about the past. It is about figuring out what went wrong and why -- and then getting the next election right, not for the Democratic Party, but for all of the voters.

link

Election Day, 10 p.m.
Networks retract projection that Gore wins Florida; state reverts to too close to call.

Nov. 8, 2:20 a.m.

Gore calls Bush to concede after networks report the governor leads by 50,000 votes in Florida. Networks project Bush to be the winner in Florida.

Nov. 8, 3:30 a.m.
Gore calls Bush back to retract his concession, after receiving reports that the vote difference in Florida is less than 1,000. Networks retract projection that Bush wins Florida; state reverts to too close to call.

link

Blogged by JC on 08.22.05 @ 04:19 PM ET

Fighting for Every Voter

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me.

As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes. After the election, whether won or lost, many candidates leave the irregularities of the election behind. But we owe the voters more than that. When voters are disenfrachised, we owe it to them to seek justice and expose the truth. That is why I have been so proud of the Kerry-Edwards campaign's ongoing involvement in the investigation and litigation of what went wrong in Ohio. I wrote to the candidates recently to ask that they continue to be involved in this important endeavor.

This is not about the past. It is about figuring out what went wrong and why -- and then getting the next election right, not for the Democratic Party, but for all of the voters.

link

Election Day, 10 p.m.
Networks retract projection that Gore wins Florida; state reverts to too close to call.

Nov. 8, 2:20 a.m.

Gore calls Bush to concede after networks report the governor leads by 50,000 votes in Florida. Networks project Bush to be the winner in Florida.

Nov. 8, 3:30 a.m.
Gore calls Bush back to retract his concession, after receiving reports that the vote difference in Florida is less than 1,000. Networks retract projection that Bush wins Florida; state reverts to too close to call.

link