Late last year, The BRAD BLOG covered the incredibly close results of the state Attorney General’s race in Virginia in great detail. The Democrat Mark Herring was eventually declared to be the winner in that razor-thin race after what suffices for a “recount” process in the Old Dominion.
An announcement this week by the state’s brand-new Attorney General offers a stark reminder, once again, of the importance of elections and of the work that The BRAD BLOG has done here for the past 10 years…
As has been the case for the last ten years here, when we cover the electoral integrity issues of such post-election contests, we endeavor to set aside any particular personal or partisan preferences in the race in favor of our far greater interests in ensuring the voice of the citizenry is heard as accurately and (even more importantly) in the most independently verifiable way possible.
That, of course, has led to many cases over the years where we have gone to the mat in hopes of fighting to ensure that the votes for candidates who we might otherwise never support on a political basis — (Hello, Joe Miller! Hello, Allen West! By way of just two examples.) — were tabulated accurately, and in a way that supporters of all candidates in those races could know that their votes were tabulated as per every voters’ actual intent.
While we have long argued that it’s up to you if you wish to vote or not in any particular election (yes, a choice to not vote is also a “vote” in that race), we have also argued that every legal voter who wishes to cast a vote should be able to do so. As importantly, they should be able to have their vote not only counted, but counted accurately and in a way that all voters can know that votes have been counted accurately.
Yes, elections do matter, even as shamefully and disastrously run and tabulated as the U.S. election system now is.
We were reminded of the importance of elections once again last night in the following segment of The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC. O’Donnell interviewed Virginia’s new Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring — who ultimately was declared the victor in the AG’s race by just over 800 votes out of more than 2.2 million cast — about his decision to not defend the state’s most-likely unconstitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
“As Attorney General,” says Herring, in regard to a legal challenge now pending against the state’s ban on marriage equality (which he once supported), “it was my responsibility to present the state’s legal position and that required me to do a thorough and careful analysis of the law. And, after the independent review, if I conclude that the law’s unconstitutional, then I have an equal duty to not defend a law that is unconstitutional”…
Yes, if you watch the segment, you will be reminded exactly why elections really do matter and that they really do have consequences — no matter what your political beliefs may be. Herring’s interview above should make that point crystal clear once again.
Relatedly, there remains a 9-vote(!) margin in the January 7th special election for the state Senate seat in VA’s Senate District 6. The ultimate results of that election will determine whether Democrats take control of the upper chamber of the state legislature for the first time in years, after their party also swept last November’s statewide elections for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. We covered the absurdly close results of the SD6 special election earlier this month and, this morning, posted an UPDATE to that story offering the latest details on the upcoming “recount” in that race.
Once again, elections matter — no matter which part of the electoral spectrum you may find yourself on. If you agree, please consider making a donation to help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of The BRAD BLOG.
Thank you, BRAD!!! In VA right now – fwded and circulated this to EVERY VA voter I know and love. They made all the difference, even where they don’t know the in’s and out’s of what they’re up against with VA’s botched, mostly DRE voting systems. (Maybe that’s the secret to gaining ground?)
Also fwded this along to my (remaining) OCCUPY pals…hope they take note of the slim margin of victory – our best hope: VOTER TURN OUT. Made all the difference in this race, and now – could make all the difference to the civil rights of my gay and lesbian pals in VA who have suffered greatly over the years.
Way to go, Brad – Des – Ernie.
So very very grateful for the work you do.
“If I had a million dollars…”
I’d buy you a lifetime of comfort so you might continue this work.
xoxo
-jd
Brad,
Thanks for capturing this interview. It shows how a person can change his position on an very important issue when given the opportunity to learn much more about the legal and ethical aspects of that issue. And as Lawrence O’Donnell commented, it was a very BRAVE action to take on the part of the new Attorney General.
Just as your reporting on SO many issues is very BRAVE(and well researched) in reporting the truth when so many just don’t want to hear it (and REFUSE to hear it). You’re my hero brother, you’re my hero!
I’m overjoyed that Brad Blog fights for election integrity. Keep up the good work.
However, when the final choice we are given is between Tweedle Dee (D) and Tweedle Dum (R), then it is hard to get excited about the outcome. To quote one commenter at FDL on the leaning of young voters toward the Dem party, “So our evolving police state will be run by pols who say nice things about gay marriage?”.