Language Reminiscent of Diebold CEO Letter Promising to 'Deliver Electoral Votes' to Bush!
2004 Recount Still Ongoing When OH's "Unbiased" Election Arbiter Announces run for OH Governor and Credits Self for 'Stopping' Kerry 'Disaster from Happening'!
By Brad Friedman on 1/4/2005, 6:20pm PT  

RAW STORY has just published an explosive and partisan letter from Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell in an EXCLUSIVE which reveals Blackwell's plans to run for Governor, and in which he credits himself for "delivering" Ohio to George W. Bush!

The written plea by Blackwell to supporters asking for funds for his gubernatorial bid --- composed even while the recount of votes in Ohio was still ongoing! --- should continue to rock the vote as Congress gathers on Thursday to determine whether Ohio Electors were legally seated.

Several phrases in particular are reminiscent of the controversial fundraising letter by Walden O'Dell, the CEO of voting machine manufacturer Ohio-based Diebold, Inc., sent to Republicans in the summer of 2003 when he promised his committment "to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year."

Blackwell, proudly crows, on several occasions, about his role as Ohio's Co-Chair of Bush/Cheney '04 and refers to "helping deliver the great Buckeye State for George W. Bush."

In speaking of his personal role in keeping "an unapologetic liberal Democrat named John Kerry" from winning, Blackwell says, "you and I stopped that disaster from happening!"

More excerpts from the letter are now posted below.

The extraordinarily partisan and combative letter overfloweth with enough far-right Christian Republican buzzwords and phrases to make even Karl Rove's brain spin!

The letter even speaks --- presumably without irony --- of Blackwell's role in "preventing" voter-fraud in Ohio's 2004 election!

The following are some key excerpts from Blackwell's shameless five-page letter which RAW STORY now links to in-full in their EXCLUSIVE.

Most of our excerpts here refer to Blackwell's role in Election 2004, though a few are just thrown in for good Liberal-bashin', God-fearin' fun! [All emphasis replicates the original underscoring and footnotes added to appear as though the various items were underlined or checkmarked by hand.]...

As the Co-Chairman of Bush/Cheney '04 in Ohio, I want to say thank you for helping deliver the great Buckeye State for George W. Bush.

Without your enthusiasm, generous support and vote, I'm afraid the President would have lost...

...And an unapologetic liberal Democrat named John Kerry would have won.

Thankfully, you and I stopped that disaster from happening!

[...]

That's why in the late hours of Election Night, I was truly pleased to announce President Bush had won a critical and clinching victory here in Ohio, on the belief that it was statistically improbably for Senatory Kerry to recover.

[...]

I have never shied away from giving the liberals fits. And I'm sure that with all of the potential voter-fraud we prevented during this last election, they will be looking to get even with me in my next political campaign.

...After much thought and prayer, I am asking for your personal support in my campaign to become the next Governor of Ohio.

As Secretary of State, I have been sued almost 30 times since this summer because I stood up for the rights of voters like you and against liberal trial laywers and activist judges who wanted to give this election to Senator Kerry.

I don't compromise for the sake of winning kudos from the media, and I have been accused on more than one occasion of having "rocked the boat" in Columbus against the express wishes of the liberal special interests.

[...]

My Christian parents taught me that if I did what was right, nobody could ever deny me the success I strived for.

When the ACLU and other members of the radical left worked to stop me from cracking down and prohibiting outrageous ways to commit voter fraud, I fought back and won.

** I never bowed to political pressure and stuck to my guns. I was completely vindicated when I prevailed before the Supreme Court and the federal appellate court.

[...]

I can assure you that John Kerry's liberal allies here in Ohio are hoping to throw my campaign under a bus as soon as they can, and I will need every penny I can to fight back.

So sayeth the man responsible for a free, fair, transparent and non-partisan Presidential Election in Ohio.

As of this evening, he is also still ducking all attempts by attorneys to take a deposition from him concerning the Election Fraud case filed with the Ohio Supreme Court.

UPDATE: It has been requested that we post the full text of Blackwell's letter. So here it is, courtesy of a BRAD BLOG reader...

KEN BLACKWELL
OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE

State-Wide Appeal
Urgent Action Requested
Personal Attention Please

Dear Friend,

As the Co-Chairman of Bush/Cheney '04 in Ohio, I want to say thank you for helping deliver the great Buckeye State for George W. Bush.

Without your enthusiasm, generous support and vote, I'm afraid the President would have lost...

...And an unapologetic liberal Democrat named John Kerry would have won.

Thankfully, you and I stopped that disaster from happening!

My friend, not only would a Kerry victory have been a terrible result for Ohio --- it would have been a horrible outcome for the families and taxpayers of America.

That's why in the late hours of Election Night, I was truly pleased to announce President Bush had won a critical and clinching victory here in Ohio, on the belief that it was statistically improbable for Senator Kerry to recover.

I have no doubt the strong campaign we helped the President run in Ohio --- coupled with a similar effort I helped deliver for State Issue One (the Marriage Protection Amendment) --- can easily be credited with turning out record numbers of conservatives and evangelicals on Election Day.

Needless to say, I was proud to have been a leading spokesman for the campaign to pass State Issue One by 62-38%. We were able to constitutionally define marriage as a union between one man and one woman despite the active opposition of Gov. Taft, Jim Petro and other Republican leaders.

And, I drew great satisfaction in hearing liberal members of the media credit the Marriage Protection Amendment as single most important factor that drove President Bush over the top in Ohio.

I have never shied away from giving the liberals fits. And I'm sure that with all the potential voter-fraud we prevented during this last election, they will be looking to get even with me in my next political campaign.

That's why today, I'm writing to ask for your help...

You see, after much thought and prayer, I am asking for your personal support in my campaign to become the next Governor of Ohio.

If elected, there is no doubt in my mind that I would be the most pro-taxpayer, pro-family, conservative Republican Governor in the history of the Buckeye State.

After the last few years of skyrocketing state spending and, in my opinion, unconscionable tax increases, I'm excited to offer the voters of Ohio a clear choice.

We can either change course in this state by cutting taxes, reigning in government spending, and reaffirming a culture of life and traditional moral values...

...Or, Ohio can choose to elect another member of the "insider club" who will do nothing to stop the bleeding of jobs, hemorrhaging of industry, and decline in moral values hitting rust belt states like ours.

My friend, clearly I am hoping you will join with me today and elect to change course by supporting my campaign for Governor of Ohio.

Leadership and courage like President Bush displayed in the aftermath of 9-11 are far too rare in American politics today.

And it's something I promise I will give you from day one of my campaign for Governor.

In my opinion, President Bush handily defeated Senator Kerry because the American public discerned which candidate had a better track record of leadership on the issues most important to them.

That's why I'm confident when the hard-working people of Ohio look for a leader to put in the Governor's office next election, they will choose a leader with a proven record like mine.

In 1998, I personally led the opposition to the sales tax increase that was defeated by Ohio voters 80% to 20%.

In 2003 I led the campaign to repeal the massive 20% sales tax increase rammed down our throats by the legislature.

In 2004 I stood along among state-wide elected officials in actively campaigning for the adoption of State Issue One to protect marriage.

And in 2005 I promise you right now I will lead the effort to put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot to limit the out-of-control growth of state government.!

My friend, you can see that I am a man of action and principle.

As Secretary of State, I have been sued almost 30 times since this summer because I stood up for the rights of voters like you and against liberal trial lawyers and activist judges who wanted to give this election to Senator Kerry.

I don't compromise for the sake of winning kudos from the media, and I have been accused on more than one occasion of having "rocked the boat" in Columbus against the express wishes of the liberal special interests.

Well. I'll promise you this much...

...Elect me to the Governorship of Ohio and I will no longer just rock the boat hen it comes to protecting your interests --- I will literally DRIVE THE BOAT to reform Ohio from top to bottom.

I didn't get where I am today by following the crowd.

My Christian parents taught me that if I did what was right, nobody could ever deny me the success I strived for.

When the ACLU and other members of the radical left worked to stop me from cracking down and prohibiting outrageous ways to commit voter fraud, I fought back and won.

I never bowed to political pressure and stuck to my guns. I was completely vindicated when I prevailed before the Supreme Court and the federal appellate court.

By now I trust you can see that I am not intimidated by the challenge of running a successful race for Governor.

My friends and family know that I am a determined man when it comes to getting things done --- and getting them done right.

That's why I hope you will lend me a hand today.

I know that to be elected Governor and put an end to Ohio's economic and cultural slide, I need to earn the support of dedicated activists like you.

I don't particularly like asking people for money, yet I realize that the bible states for a reason "Ask, and you shall receive."

Today, I am asking you for your support in my race for Governor.

And, I'm asking you to show your support by making the most generous financial donation you can make to my campaign today.

The most I can receive in this campaign is $2,500. If you can send this amount today, I would surely appreciate it. But if $1,000, $500 or $250 is the most you can send, I ask that you send it right away.

I can assure you that John Kerry's liberal allies here in Ohio are hoping to throw my campaign under a bus as soon as they can, and I will need every penny I can to fight back.

So if $2,500, $2,000, $500 or $250 is more than you can send, I hope you'll send at least $100, $75, $50 or even $35 today.

Whatever the amount, please send it today. Your check should be payable to Ohioans for Ken Blackwell.

I am proud to be a conservative Republican known for rocking the boat.

And with your help, I intend to provide fresh, new leadership and bold reforms to Ohio as your next Republican Governor. But I know I will not get there alone...

...Like President Bush, I will need a strong campaign with the finances I need to define any liberal opponent that challenges me in this race.

As Co-Chairman of Bush/Cheney '04 in Ohio, I counted on you to help us win the Buckeye State in 2004.

Now I'm counting on your support to help me win the Governor's office in our next statewide elections.

Please lend me a hand today. Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

[signed]  J Kenneth Blackwell
Ken Blackwell
Ohio Secretary of State

P.S. I will be checking my mailbox daily, so please rush your contribution of $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or even $50, $35 or $20 back to me today.

It's time we stopped losing jobs and industry and changed course here in Ohio. That's my mission, and I hope you will join me today. I ask for your support, and pray you will be as generous as your means allow. God bless you for your support.

P.P.S. My friend, I've enclosed a PLEDGE OF SUPPORT and a self-addressed return envelope so you can send your gift back to me. Please respond in the next 14 days! Thank you once again.

UPDATE: 1/8/05 "Blackwell Letter Asks for Illegal Donations!"

UPDATE: 1/12/05 "Blackwell Ignores Rule of Law! Twice in Same Letter!"

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