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• Saturday, June 3, 2006 11:15 PM

  Context: Republican 2002 phone jamming scandal--GOP operatives in prison

  Petr's letter is spot-on, as are several others.

  I'd like to add that there's an important point of context that's been overlooked (I apologize if an earlier letter writer has brought it up already): The Republican New Hampshire phone-jamming scandal in 2002. Interested parties can get lots of good information at

  http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/cats/new_hampshire_phone_jamming/

  There's a timeline a http://talkingpointsmemo.com/phonejamming.php

  and an overview at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_New_Hampshire_Senate_election_phone_jamming_scandal

  Three Republicans--including an operative, James Tobin, who was important enough that the RNC spent *three million dollars* on his legal bills--have been sentenced to prison for breaking election laws; two have already served time. Thanks to their work, Democratic turnout was suppressed. However, the "winner" of the 2002 Senate race, Republican John E. Sununu, is still in office.

  Republicans break laws to win elections. This is documented fact. They almost certainly broke several laws in Ohio in 2004 and successfully suppressed votes. While Manjoo does make the case that it can't be proven they suppressed 118,000 votes, this is kind of a technicality--it's like Charles Manson's attorney saying "Your honor, my client didn't kill *one hundred* people--he only killed 26!" The number of votes suppressed has got to be in the tens of thousands.

  Manjoo's a good writer, but his article would be better served by context and a look at the bigger picture, including the various frauds which were committed in 2000 (Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" is a good starting point.)

  Greg M.

  —Greg M.
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