Randy's Views

On February 5, 2008, Georgians (both Democrats and Republicans) cast their ballot in the Presidential Preference Primary Election. Many will speculate regarding the scope and extent of election fraud in those elections. Yet, not all election fraud is illegal.

In Georgia (among other states), there are two types of election fraud that are legal. Both present real and direct threats to the integrity and veracity of elections that are an integral part of both the Presidential nomination process and Georgia’s primary elections.

But first, what is election fraud? Most commonly, it is the participation in the election process under false pretenses with the specific intent of improperly influencing the outcome of an election. Sometimes it involves a person pretending to be someone else for the purpose of casting more than one vote. Other times, it involves corrupt election officials casting fabricated ballots for the purpose of changing an election outcome. Of course, these types of election fraud are illegal. However, not all participation in the election process under false pretenses for purposes of improperly influencing an election outcome is illegal.

There are two examples of legal election fraud that threaten the integrity of elections around the United States in 2008. The first is cross-over voting.

Georgia is an open primary state. (There are others including Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.) This means that a voter may cast a ballot in either party’s primary election regardless of the voter’s own actual party affiliation.

As a consequence, in Georgia (and in all other open primary states) a voter can pretend to be a member of a political party for purposes of voting in that party’s primary election (including the Presidential Preference Primary), even though the voter is not and has no intention of becoming a member of that political party. Most times, the purpose of the participation is purely political. The practice, sometimes referred to as “raiding,” is an attempt by voters of one party to influence the outcome of the other political party’s primary election. Sometimes the simple purpose is to defeat (or weaken) an opposing political party’s strongest potential nominee. Other times, it is to affirmatively select a weaker candidate to win the opposing political party’s nomination. In either case, the goal is to maximize their own party’s chances in the general election.

Obviously, cross-over voting involves participation in the election process under false (or at least misleading) pretenses for purposes of influencing the outcome of an election and it is legal in open primary states.

But this is not the only form of legal election fraud that potentially infects the 2008 election process. Georgia (along with many other states) permits a candidate to appear on one party’s primary ballot without preventing that same candidate from appearing on the General Election ballot as a candidate of another political party. How could this happen? In 2008, based on a variety of reports, it remains a real and distinct possibility.

So far this election cycle, Congressman Ron Paul has participated as a Republican in the Republican nomination process for purposes of nationally televised debates, media coverage, and Republican primary ballots. In order to qualify as a Republican, he declared himself to be a Republican. However, many speculate that his ultimate goal is to run in the General Election as a third-party candidate. (Some have speculated that Congressman Dennis Kucinich presents a similar risk for Democrats, although there has not been as much open talk among his supporters of a third-party candidacy.)

Voters might think that participating in the election process as a declared candidate of one political party would preclude that candidate from appearing on the General Election ballot for any other political party. That is not the law. In Georgia, Congressman Ron Paul can appear on the Georgia General Election ballot on November 4, 2008 as a third-party candidate even though he appeared on the Georgia Republican Presidential Preference primary ballot on February 5, 2008 as a Republican.

Both of these problems, cross-over voters and cross-over candidates, involve participation in the election process under false or misleading pretenses for the purpose of impacting elections. Yet, both are legal.

It is too late to change the law for the February 5th Presidential Preference Primary. But it is not too late to change the law for the many elections to come. In order to maintain (and in some cases restore) the confidence of all voters in the Presidential election process, real change is needed. Real change would require party registration for voters and candidates. Voters should be bound by their decision through the primary election cycle. And, candidates should be bound by their decision through the entire election cycle.

Anything less perpetuates both the suspicions of some and the realities that exist regarding the systemic barriers to fair and reliable elections that are free from election fraud (both legal and illegal).

Believe it or not, there will be several more elections on the ballot in Georgia in addition to the Presidential race. While the ballot will start with the Presidential candidates, it will include candidates for both federal and state office.

Today - a reflection on just the federal races in Georgia.

In the United States Senate race, incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss will face the winner of the Democratic primary. While Senator Chambliss’ impressive fundraising combined with the backing of both Senator Johnny Isakson and Governor Sonny Perdue make him formidable, there will nonetheless be a Democratic challenger. So far, five Democrats have lined up to challenge Senator Chambliss in 2008.

Many regard DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jordan as the leading contender in the Democratic primary. The combination of his statewide name recognition among Democrats and the influence of DeKalb County in the Democratic primary give him a leg up on his competitors for the Democratic nomination. Of course, Vernon Jones is no stranger to the media or controversy.

Former television investigator Dale Cardwell certainly has to be one of the most entertaining candidates to vie for United States Senate. Already, he has added some flair to the race. He spent a week on a two and one-half foot by six foot platform suspended 320 feet in the air in order to attract attention to his message. Unfortunately, no one noticed until days after he had been there. Undoubtedly, there will be many more media friendly events as he attempts to reach voters in a different kind of way. If nothing else, he should make it fun.

Former staffer to the late Senator Herman Talmadge Josh Lanier has also expressed interest in seeking the Democratic nomination. After Senator Talmadge, he served as a journalist for ten years in Washington, D.C. In 2006, he retired to Statesboro, Georgia from LightStream Technologies, where he had served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Customer Officer. He is currently writing a screenplay while considering a run for United States Senate. Recently, there was a poll that showed if no one knew anything about either Senator Chambliss or him, then he would be even in the race. Senator Chambliss promptly used the poll to raise more money.

Ecologist and technology consultant Dr. Rand Knight is also a Democratic candidate for United States Senate. Quoting from the Democratic Party of Georgia website, he is “following in the footsteps of his hero, Senator Sam Nunn, who he met several times, first in 1984 and then several times in high-school while on week-long scholarships with the Close-Up program in Washington D.C.”

Finally, news reporter Maggie Martinez is in the Democratic contest. She has served as producer and moderator for Women in Power, Women in the Power Spheres, and Women Toward the Year 2000. She is also a news reporter for San Juan Broadcasting station WUNO.

Notably, none of the Democratic political heavyweights (such as former Governor Roy Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor, or former Secretary of State Cathy Cox) have shown any interest in challenging the popular incumbent Republican Senator. Absent some sudden interest, this is the Democratic field.

Meanwhile, Republicans have zeroed in on and targeted Eighth District Congressman Jim Marshall. In 2006, amidst the Democratic national landside, incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall narrowly defeated a challenge from Republican Mac Collins.

In 2008, Rick Goddard, the former Commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, will mount the challenge. Prior to retiring after 34 years of service, General Goddard served as commander for two F-111 Fighter/Bomber wings - the 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh, New York and the 27th Fighter Wing at Clovis, New Mexico.

Interestingly, the debates in these two election contests should be a story in real contrasts. First, there is the Democratic Primary for United States Senate - two television reporters, one journalist, a Ph.D. ecologist and the notable Vernon Jones. This may be more entertainment than Democratic voters can take. Who could moderate such a debate? GPTV should love it.

Then, there is the Congressional race in the Eighth Congressional District - an embattled Democratic Congressman, serving in a Speaker Nancy Pelosi led Congress, facing a decorated Air Force officer from Governor Sonny Perdue’s backyard in Warner Robins. Intimidating, to say the least.

Governor Mitt Romney formally endorsed Senator John McCain. The speculation regarding a McCain/Romney ticket started before the endorsement occurred. Most likely, that is as far as the idea will go.

Everyone agrees that Senator McCain needs (and hence wants) the backing of core conservatives, especially the voting social conservative kind. Between McCain/Feingold (also known as campaign finance reform) and McCain/Kennedy (also known as immigration reform), connecting with core conservatives has been a tough sell for the Republican Senator from Arizona.

Surprisingly given the stakes, conservatives had made no secret of their differences with Senator McCain. Radio talk show heavyweights (like Rush Limbaugh), notable columnists (like Ann Coulter), television personalities (like Sean Hannity), and evangelical leaders (like James Dobson) have not been shy about expressing their concerns over Senator McCain. As result, the pressure has only increased for him to reach out and touch an important segment of the Republican Party.

Importantly, Senator McCain has an important chip to play in courting conservatives. He has pledged to serve only one term. It means that his Vice Presidential selection has real meaning. His pick could be the bridge candidate between this generation and the next. Conservatives certainly have their antennae up regarding this significant possibility.

Many of these opinion leaders designated Governor Romney as the preferred conservative for Republicans in the nomination contests. In fact, conservative media personalities weighed in heavily in favor of Governor Romney. Yet, in contest after contest, conservative Republican primary voters and caucus goers proved repeatedly that they have their own opinions about the candidate they support for President and they largely backed Governor Mike Huckabee, especially in the south. But, the conservative media personalities made clear from early on that they found Governor Huckabee unacceptable.

For Senator McCain, it is quite a pickle. He needs conservatives. Conservative media personalities say “yes” to Governor Romney and “no” to Governor Huckabee. Republican caucus goers and voters say “yes” to Governor Huckabee and “no” to Governor Romney. The only thing for sure is that it probably guarantees that neither Governor Romney nor Governor Huckabee make the ticket.

Senator McCain needs three things from a Vice Presidential candidate. First, he needs them to deliver the conservative base of the Republican Party - both the opinion leaders and the opinion holders (voters). Neither Governor Romney nor Governor Huckabee can deliver both. Worse yet, each is a disqualifier for many leaders and followers in the Party.

Second, Senator McCain needs a running mate who can deliver the south without jeopardizing him in the rest of the country. Every minute and every penny that Senator McCain spends in the south campaigning is prohibitively costly. On the other hand, he cannot pick a Vice President who makes the GOP ticket unacceptable to the rest of the country. Republican Primary results from southern states make clear that Governor Romney could not confidently deliver the South on General Election Day in November. Exit polls raise a real question regarding whether Governor Huckabee as the Vice Presidential nominee would hurt Senator McCain’s chances in the many other areas of the country.

Finally, Senator McCain’s Vice Presidential selection needs to be someone who adds to the Electoral College calculation. The chances that Governor Romney could deliver Massachusetts are pretty slim. (Although Senator McCain abhors the comparison, Senator McCain (Arizona) selecting Governor Romney (Massachusetts) would be like Senator Bob Dole (Kansas) picking Congressman Jack Kemp (New York) in 1996.) If Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, then Arkansas should be a safe bet for Republicans with or without Governor Huckabee on the ticket.

Of course, the population of successful southern conservative public officials who can deliver the base, the south, and their state is very limited. Governor Bobby Jindal, the newly elected governor of Louisiana is sometimes mentioned as a possibility. At thirty-six, he would barely meet the minimum age threshold to be President (thirty-five). With the prospect of succeeding McCain in 2012 (or perhaps earlier), he would become the youngest President in U.S. history. It would be an interesting contrast - kind of like - the oldest (Ronald Reagan was 69 when he was first inaugurated President) and youngest (Teddy Roosevelt was 42 when he assumed the Presidency) on the same ticket.

Governor Mark Sanford, the popular South Carolina Governor, is a real possibility. Governor Sonny Perdue, the reliable and very popular conservative Governor of Georgia has to make the list.

But then Senator McCain could break the mold entirely and really reach out and transform the Republican Party while connecting with the conservative and evangelical base, and have a well known and popular southern political personality. He could pick someone like -- former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts. Now, that would really shake things up.

The 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly nears its halfway point. So far, little has gone according to script.

Heading into the session, political pundits had predicted a political fireworks spectacular never seen before in Georgia. Newspapers and television reporters hyped a showdown between Governor Sonny Perdue and Speaker Glenn Richardson over last year’s post session vetoes. Undoubtedly, the post-veto rhetoric of Georgia politicians had only fueled the speculation leading up to the opening gavel of the session.

The opening week hinted at the possibility that the session would live up to the pre-session hype. The Georgia House of Representatives opened with a flurry of activity overriding some of the Governor’s vetoes. Out of the blocks, the Georgia Senate took up a controversial bill that pitted the powerful Georgia Chamber of Commerce against the National Rife Association. At that moment, it appeared that the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly would be everything that the media could have hoped for, and then some.

With pencils sharpened and television cameras focused, the leadership in Georgia took control and the party was over. Instead of fireworks and fights, there was the steady plodding of disciplined public servants moving steadily forward with the people’s business. Each legislative day, the House and the Senate has taken up a variety of bills and measures. Steadily and laboriously, the business of the legislature moves forward.

Amidst all of this drudgery, real political power is at play. In the Georgia House, there have already been some displays of this power with the political banishment of some GOP members who failed to tow the line in a battle control for the Georgia Department of Transportation Board. And, in the Georgia Senate, discipline and decorum rule the day. So far, amongst the powers that be in the Governor’s office, the Georgia House and the Georgia Senate, no one has blinked. As a result, many of the forty legislative days have quickly slipped away, one-by-one.