Congressional support for VR’s “Divestiture for Democracy” campaign continues to build strength as TWENTY-THREE U.S. House Members signed on to a letter sent late Friday to the nine major American Voting Machine companies!
The letter, authored by Rep. Maxine Waters and Rep. John Conyers (reported here late last week), demands transparency and accountability from the private companies which now run the public function of America’s electoral system. The Congressional members outline — in no uncertain terms — their position that all government funding should be withheld from companies that do not comply with the standards originally set forth in VR’s February 21 letter to the companies.
From the recent Congressional letter:
It is our very strong position and belief that only firms that abide by these principles deserve funding under the Help America Vote Act. We will do everything in our power to see that non-complying firms do not receive such funding.
The letter was signed by the following U.S. House members: John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Sam Farr (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), William D. Delahunt (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Robert Wexler (D-FL), James Oberstar (D-MN), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), Barney Frank (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), George Miller (D-CA), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).
The members have asked for a reply from the companies no later than April 15, 2005. A copy of the complete signed letter is posted here.
As well, Conyers, sent another letter to me (as co-founder of Velvet Revolution) to inform us of this latest Congressional effort and his continuing commitment to the fight which VR began with our DV4D campaign. That letter is also posted at VR.
Twenty-three signers, we are told, is rather impressive for such a letter. As one congressional aide mentioned on that point via email, twenty-three signatures is “really good for a letter that kicks around a few weeks, let alone one that has circulated in just the last several days. Congrats! Wow!”
We suppose that must be attributed to the notion that supporting democracy in America really shouldn’t be all that controversial an issue!
VR’s “Divestiture for Democracy” Campaign, allows 60 days for the companies to announce their intentions of adopting the standards or face a massive divestiture effort to be launched against those companies (and their affiliates and clients) who choose to ignore the steps which so many Americans find necessary to restore confidence in America’s electoral process. If you have not already done so, please click here to send an email to the companies yourself! It’ll take you less than a minute yet means a lot!
Conyers had previously endorsed VR’s “DV4D” campaign on March 2nd. And last week, Green Party Presidential Candidate, David Cobb, sent his own letter to America’s Voting Machine Company strongly endorsing VR’s campaign.
For more information on Velvet Revolution’s “Divestiture for Democracy” campaign, please write to DV4D@VelvetRevolution.us.
Absolutely wonderful news! This could be the one boycott that is really worth it. Keep it simple. I have always loved the focus of this blog.
*grins* Is it just me or are we turning a corner in this country?
Maybe folks have finally had enough.
This is a good thing.
Yes! This is a good thing. Just wonderful. I’ve been watching the congressional circus this evening and chatting with friends about the whole mess: needless to say, folks are feeling quite grim tonight. This event should pick up their spirits and I can’t wait to pass on the link!
Brad, thanks for your drive and your patriotism. Makes me proud.
I just sent an e-mail to my Democratic congressman, who had NOT signed on, informing him that we were watching. Something’s gotta give…
Well done Brad and all involved. 😀
Peg C #4 Good idea Peg. 🙂 Hit the congressmen everyone! Even Republicans! Make them all know this is the line in the sand! I am doing it too. 🙂
We want fair elections! And the message *is* a simple one that even the Bush lovers can understand! 🙂
Good stuff! 😀
One man, one vote.
It’s the law.
Too bad all the participants are D’s. I would have hoped for partisan energy here and for a few R’s to show up.
Especially when the D’s rolled over and played dead in the T. Schiavo matter.
Dredd,
I think we have all seen, time and time again, that Americans can no longer depend on the Democratic Party for much. Sure, there are true patriots in the Party but, as a whole, they are part of the problem. I’m still a registered Democrat and until 2002 had always been very active supporting Democratic candidates but after so many disappointments, I stopped my support. Its a ‘wait and see’ for me.
Peg, I’d be really interested in knowing what kind of response you get from the two Democratic congressmen you wrote. I happen to know both personally: the two contributed to my current feelings about Democrats.
Great job Brad. My only worry is how much ‘teeth’ this letter has. It is a purely Democrat push with no bi-partisan support. I know most republicans are not interested in have fair elections but I think it would help if we could get at least one or two of the moderates to sign this letter too.
Snark mode on.
I’m disappointed that the BradBlog doesn’t have 24/7/365 coverage of every nuance of Terry Chaivo and steroid use in baseball.
Snark mode off.
In response to Bejammin075 (#10), I must make a comment about the Schiavo case. What Congress has done affects us all in a very real way, and we should be very concerned about the implications. Read THIS and see if you don’t agree.
Now on to the subject at hand… Rep. Conyers, et al, must be commended for their commitment to democracy. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a response from these companies. Like Ohio’s Mr. Blackwell, they will probably either ignore this letter completely, or answer in some smarmy letter that basically tells them to pound sand.
WE must continue to remind our reps that they work for US, and we demand fair and REAL elections!
Mixter
i will not used a machine that doesn’t provide me with a confirmation of my veto. i rather not vote if i cann’t be given prove that i have voted for my party
Dredd # 7 said, "The D’s rolled over and played dead in the T. Schiavo matter."
I guess I don’t really blame them on that one, Dredd. Who wants to stand up on the side of allowing a human being to starve to death?
I may be a little out of step on this one, but I am a mother, and as long as I thought there was even a tiny sliver of hope that my daughter might someday get better, I would petition the very devil himself to allow her to live. (that being Delay, of course)
The family is willing to shoulder all of the burden concerning Terri. Why doesn’t this husband just get out of the way? His alleged love for her, can’t even begin to compare to a mother’s unconditional love for her child. If he wants to let her go, why doesn’t he let her go into the arms of her mother?
Something really stinks here, but I don’t know what it is. Maybe life insurance? I’ve heard there is only about 50,000 left in Terri’s trust fund, thanks to Judge Greer allowing the husband to pay his expensive attorneys with it. One attorney alone received several hundred thousand of it.
That said, I am as alarmed as anyone on the precedent being set by Delay and his depraved followers. What a perfect opportunity for them to enslave us even more, while effectively taking the heat off of Delay’s ethics scandal. I read Mixter’s excellent article and I agree.
I am just torn on this one, because my heart can’t help but bleed for that desperate mother!
My sincerest apologies to Bejammin075 # 10. 🙂
Sherry,
I have to strongly disagree. I’m a mother too, and a daughter and a granddaughter. The issue is not standing up on the side of allowing a human being to starve to death. The issue is that many doctors and at least 20 judges have agreed that the only reason the poor woman is not dead already, is because of the feeding tube. There is no chance that she will ever be alive (in the true sense of the word).
The other issue is that she told her husband, who was the closest person in the world to her, that she wouldn’t have wanted to be kept alive like this. Haven’t you said something similar to your spouse? I know I have, and he to me.
The issue is that her husband is the closest person to her; her parents haven’t really known their daughter since she grew up and started her own family. We’re not talking about deliberately starving a helpless child here. They just don’t want to let go, and that’s very sad, because until they do they will not be able to grieve and carry on with their lives.
And finally, the issue is that the government has absolutely no business sticking their noses into this sad situation. The Florida medical system and courts are more than capable of handling it. Would you want them interfering in your family business?
They don’t care about the poor woman. This is political grandstanding at its worst and it is absolutely disgusting!
Further, check out the poll at CNN (sorry everyone).
I agree with you on this Cheryl. I have been through a similar experience several years ago.
I went to CNN and checked out the Poll. 70% out of over 85,000 voted with the Husband! And any competent statistician will tell you that THAT is statistically significant! Interesting that a measily 1% voted with the politicians!
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/...avo/index.html
And it *IS* totally disgusting! 🙁
Rick #8 –
The precise response to my letter to Rep. Michaud is (drum roll) "We can’t respond, for security reasons," unless you included your street address, phone number, blood type and Social Security number. Never mind that I was a campaign contributor, am on his permanent mailing list, and COULD NOT be more familiar unless I submitted to a DNA test.
Peg,
Shameful, isn’t it? Can’t say I’m surprised though. My bet is you will receive a somewhat more thoughful response from Allen’s office but with about the same amount of commitment. Just because they’re Democrats does not mean they’re interested in anything cutting edge or progressive. So much for northeast blue state representation.