[lit-ideas] Re: Florida OK's Nader's Name on Election Ballot
- From: Andy Amago <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 07:43:47 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
I'm starting to think that Nader cares about himself and nothing else.
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Paul <Robert.Paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sep 13, 2004 9:35 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Florida OK's Nader's Name on Election Ballot
Florida OK's Nader's Name on Election Ballot
By Jim Loney
MIAMI (Reuters) - Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader (news -
web sites)'s name can appear on Florida ballots for the election, despite a
court order to the contrary, Florida's elections chief told officials on
Monday in a move that could help President Bush (news - web sites) in the
key swing state.
The Florida Democratic Party reacted with outrage, calling the move
"blatant partisan maneuvering" by Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's younger
brother, and vowed to fight it.
In a memo to Florida's 67 county supervisors of elections, Division of
Elections director Dawn Roberts said the uncertainty of Hurricane Ivan,
which could hit parts of the state by week's end, forced her to act.
The action came in an ongoing legal battle over whether Nader should be
allowed on the Florida ballot as the Reform Party candidate.
Nader, an independent nominated by the Reform Party, was a presidential
candidate in 2000 when Bush won Florida, and the White House, by 537 votes
over then-Vice President Al Gore (news - web sites). Analysts said most of
the nearly 98,000 votes Nader got in Florida would have gone to Gore had
Nader not been on the ballot.
Florida Circuit Court Judge Kevin Davey issued a temporary injunction last
week preventing the state from putting Nader on the 2004 ballot, siding
with a Democratic challenge that the Reform Party did not qualify as a
national party under state law.
A hearing on a permanent injunction is scheduled for Wednesday. But Roberts
said Hurricane Ivan, which is headed for Florida's Gulf coast, had raised
"a substantial question as to when such a hearing" will be held.
'PARTISAN MANEUVERING'
As a result, she said, Florida's Department of State had filed an appeal
against the temporary injunction. The appeal application automatically
lifts the injunction, allowing the counties to put Nader's name on overseas
absentee ballots, which must be mailed by Saturday.
"I'm in disbelief," said Scott Maddox, chairman of the Florida Democratic
Party. "This is blatant partisan maneuvering on the part of Jeb Bush to
give his brother a leg up on election day."
"They are trying to get ballots printed with Nader's name on them," said
Maddox. "I am astounded that Jeb Bush is willing to defy the judiciary to
help his brother."
Maddox said if Nader drew votes away from any candidate it would be
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites).
Gov. Bush said he agreed with Roberts' decision.
"It's up to the judge to determine, based on the law, whether Nader should
be on the ballot or not," Bush said. "But while that process goes on, we
cannot put ourselves in the position where the ministerial role of the
supervisors cannot be fulfilled."
Maddox noted that Tallahassee, the state capital where Davey sits, is not
expected to be directly hit by the hurricane. He said the circuit court
could hear the case as scheduled on Wednesday and rule immediately.
In addition, the case is before the Florida Supreme Court which could also rule
at any time, he said.
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Forwarded by Robert Paul
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