What's New in Michigan Politics February 2012

Letters, Detroit Free Press, February 20, 2011

No roadblocks to voting

Voting fraud -- in contrast to other types of fraud that are quite common, especially in the banking and securities industry -- is not a significant problem for one simple reason: There is no financial incentive for anyone to vote fraudulently. A bigger problem is the fact that a large number of citizens who are eligible to vote don't bother to do so. Legislating more stringent requirements to register and vote, thus, is exactly what is not needed in our democracy.

Ralph Deeds

Birmingham

Voting fraud is not a significant problem for one simple reason--in contrast to other types of fraud which are quite common, especially in the banking and securities industry--there is no financial incentive for anyone to vote fraudulently. A bigger problem is the fact that a large number of citizens who are eligible to vote don't bother to do so. Legislating more stringent requirements to register and vote, thus, is the exactly what is not needed in our democracy.

A much greater problem, exemplified in the 2000 presidential election in Florida and in the recent irregularities in the GOP caucuses in Iowa and Maine, is dishonesty on the part of election officials in purging voter rolls, and counting ballots.

Dear Ralph
In 2004, Chris LaCivita -- a Virginia political operative and close ally of George Allen -- organized the most destructive and personal attack in political history. The deceitful "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth” ads had nothing to do with the truth, and everything to do with the Republican politics of smear and fear.

Guess what? He's back. This year, LaCivita has set his sights on Governor Tim Kaine, telling the Associated Press that he has a strategy that “gives the dark attack ads that are now a staple of American politics the venom that makes them work.” Then LaCivita went even further -- boasting that his ads will be Kaine’s “Willie Horton.”

I know firsthand how important it is to have the financial resources to take on LaCivita’s venomous attacks -- and respond to them immediately and forcefully.

It's too late to respond when the damage has already been done.

That’s why I’m asking you to make a contribution now and ensure that Tim Kaine has the support to shut down LaCivita before he even gets started. Can you help him today?

The first public poll of 2012 shows Tim Kaine and George Allen tied at 46%. We know that this one is going to be tight until the very end.

George Allen has The Cavalry -- led by his friends Karl Rove and Chris LaCivita -- and they’re getting desperate. We know they’re going to spend millions distorting the truth and attacking Tim Kaine. But with your help, we can stop them in their tracks.

Virginia has always valued Tim Kaine’s character -- he doesn't seek to perfect the politics of "Swiftboating," he seeks to end it. But first, he needs to beat back everything that LaCivita is prepared to throw at him.

Join me in supporting Tim Kaine. He needs our support to have the resources to communicate his positive message and crush the attacks that George’s Cavalry is lining up. Please make a gift now.

Look -- forewarned is forearmed -- we know what LaCivita is capable of, we know his playbook, and in this race, we can all help Tim Kaine put an end to that kind of politics in Virginia.


Sincerely,

John Kerry