Dear Ken
Posted by on April 11, 2006 at 10:53 AM
Does the New Hampshire phone-jamming scandal have tentacles reaching all the way to the White House? Yesterday's AP report seems to indicate that it might. One of the three criminally convicted for his role in the scandal, James Tobin, made about two-dozen calls to the White House in the days before the election. There is certainly reason to wonder if any of those conversations had to do with the "GOP scheme that jammed phone lines to keep state Democrats from being encouraged to vote." The case has already resulted in three federal convictions and millions in legal bills footed by the RNC to defend the architect of the plan and the man mentioned above, James Tobin.
As you might recall, current RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman was the White House Political Director at the time. And since his offices are right down the street, Governor Dean decided to drop him a personal note about 15 minutes ago. The letter along with photos of the delivery by Kate, a fearless DNC staffer, can be found below:
Dear Ken,
Yesterday, the AP ran a story entitled "Phone Jamming Records Point to White House." This story provides new details about the role of the New Hampshire Republican Party in the phone-jamming scandal and raises serious questions as to whether the RNC and the White House were actively involved.
As you know, on Election Day, a telemarketer hired by the New Hampshire GOP jammed telephone lines at five state Democratic and one firefighters union get-out-the-vote phone banks. The AP noted yesterday that the "records show that Bush campaign operative James Tobin, who recently was convicted in the case, made two dozen calls to the White House within a three-day period around Election Day 2002 - as the phone jamming operation was finalized, carried out and then abruptly shut down."
The AP story also stated that virtually all the calls to the White House went to the same number (202-456-6173) which currently rings inside the political affairs office. Although the White House declined today to say which staffer was assigned that phone number in 2002, you may be able to shed some light on the subject, as you were the White House Political Director during that time.
You have often spoken of the importance of making sure that every vote counts. In that spirit, we hope that you will take the necessary steps to clear up the lingering confusion surrounding the RNC and the White House's role in this scandal by answering these questions:
* James Tobin called the White House two dozen times in three days. Whom was he calling? With whom did he speak? Whom did he work with in the office of political affairs?
* Tobin worked directly with Terry Nelson, who was then political director at the RNC. When will Mr. Nelson answer questions about his role in the scandal? Whom else at the RNC did Tobin work with?
* Did the White House authorize this phone jamming scheme and, if so, who specifically did so? Or was the phone jamming authorized by the RNC?
* Was anyone on the White House staff or at the RNC involved in concocting, authorizing, implementing or concealing this scheme?
The overt effort by the New Hampshire Republican Party to suppress the vote on Election Day in 2002 is unconscionable. The people of New Hampshire deserve an apology. And America deserves to know exactly how deeply the White House and the RNC were involved in the planning and execution of this scheme. We hope you will provide the answers we need so we can move forward together.
Sincerely,
Governor Howard Dean, MD
Chairman
Comments (20) «
I love hardball politics. Good job guys.
I hope Kate got some hazard duty pay for the delivery, LOL.
And what about the $2.3 million and counting the RNC has spent defending James Tobin? The RNC admitted in August 2005 that they were indeed paying Tobin's defense team.
You know, it is a shame that Republicans couldn't have ever become the majority, without the lies,dirty tricks and outright stealing the elections in many States?
In a way, you can't help but feel sorry for them!
Just like this policy of the Republicans to give big tax cuts to the people that have and a token cut to the people that have not! No matter how many times the Democrats demonstrate and prove this is the wrong policy? The Republicans continue to argue the contrary.
They just don't have enough confidence in their policies to prevail without some type of cheating or stealing.
Democrats never waver. We continue to have a successful run everytime we get in the majority.
And the Republicans continue to fail and mess everything up in all of their majority ruling times.
May God Be With The People in their choice to vote. Defeat the people in those votes that are wrong and Bless the people in those votes that are pleasing in his sight.
I believe in the Public, just like Clinton said, "the people almost always get it right." It may take an election or two before that Ol' Man of Sin is reveiled, but once they get it, it will
take a lot to deceive them after that.
Did you knock and personally hand it or just leave it at the door?
Otherwise, dear old Ken will simply say "What letter?"
Oh I'm sure Ken is working on his reply right now [/snark].
It appears to no longer be a matter of sleaze from the RNC, but a matter of the degree of sleaze. Who could possibly be the architect of these types of disgusting, criminal, and low-rent acts? The initial K.R. come to mind.
Mehlman is a DeLay goon and fellow roach on the cave floor. They are the pride of the Republican Party.
Way to go Dean!
Let's keep hitting back every time a story like this comes out!
Looking forwardto taking back Congress in November!
Oh Ken special delivery. :-)
LIZZY:
They handed it to someone. They wanted it left at the desk, but Kate demanded that someone come down and pick it up.
Ummm - the Republicans will scoop to low levels to cheat at every level!
Last Saturday as we had our monthly meeting with record overflow crowds, what did we have but two County Commissioners and several County Council, all Republicans of course, sitting right outside our meeting room door, having "breakfast" and listening to and checking everything out. Guess the Republicans are just plain sleazy no matter what level. They probably couldn't win an election the right way even if they tried. They are evil and dishonest and we need to drive that home.
Way to go Howard - I think we here in Elkhart County Indiana need to send our sleazy Republicans a letter telling them that they don't have to sit outside the meeting room, they are welcome anytime but they'd have to stand becasue it's STANDING ROOM ONLY!
Why don't we just ask the NSA who was taking the calls?
They wanted it left at the desk, but Kate demanded that someone come down and pick it up.
KATE:
You are a darling and beautiful person!! And I doubt that Ken has such a sharp person working in his office as there is in you.
Way to go, Howard.
this time around, let us not leave One Single stone unturned on the dirty, smearing, vile acts that they pull!
Mehlman? Has the RNC gone postal?
Dear Governor Dean,
As a New Hampshire resident and elected State Representative, I thank you so very much for your letter to the Chair of the RNC. We also demand answers. Your interest in giving this national attention is much appreciated by all of us New Hampshirites. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Rep. Marcia Moody
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