Honest and Open Election Committee Launced by McCain-Palin

I've signed up to be a local poll watcher in Georgia simply because we're already hearing rumors that some of the Obama supporters are planning some shenanigans. In the county where I live we've never had a problem but I understand there's talk about coming here just for that reason. It's unexpected. Who knows whether it's hype or true, but either way we're preparing. I'm expecting BIG problems across the country this year and it'll probably be a mess. So far the Republican's aren't getting much of a fair shake from the media so it's doubtful they'll be any different if there are problems at the polls or with the votes. I hope everyone carries a video recorder with them when they go to vote. You can't take pictures IN the voting area, but if there's illegal stuff going on I'm up for breaking the law on that one. I obviously haven't had my training yet, I may find out that even having a camera is a huge no-no.

I can't believe the way the press is going after Sarah Palin. I've been reading some of the other posts in the Read My Lipstick network so others are doing a great job of keeping up with some of the garbage I'm seeing.


MCCAIN-PALIN 2008 LAUNCHES "HONEST AND OPEN ELECTION COMMITTEE"

The McCain-Palin 2008 campaign today announced the formation of the Honest and Open Election Committee, with a mission to ensure that every qualified citizen has the opportunity to vote in a fair and transparent manner. The committee will work with state and local election officials to anticipate, and where possible resolve in advance, problems likely to arise on Election Day.

The advisory committee will be co-chaired by former United States Senators John C. Danforth and Warren B. Rudman. The committee also includes current and former members of Congress and former state secretaries of state, election officials, and state attorneys general, along with prominent academic experts in election law. The diverse composition of the committee reflects the McCain-Palin campaign's desire to put partisan politics aside in the hope of seeing a fair and transparent election in November.

The committee will advise the campaign with respect to policy and actual or potential legal proceedings involving the campaign laws and practices in various states working towards avoiding litigation when possible.

"The purpose of the Honest and Open Election Committee is to resolve potential voting problems in advance of Election Day to bolster voters' confidence in the system," said Rudman. "We believe that elections should be decided by voters, not lawyers."

The Honest and Open Election Committee requested a dialogue between the McCain-Palin campaign and both the Democratic National Committee and the Obama-Biden campaign in letters sent today.

"We stand ready to work with you in a cooperative manner on issues that, if not handled properly, are likely to become adversarial," the letter states. "Let's show the American people that our two parties can together develop a transparent and open process in every voting place in the country. Experience has shown that careful, advance planning that anticipates and addresses problems and creates solutions can substantially reduce issues on Election Day."

In an effort to discuss these issues with the top election officials in each state, the McCain-Palin election committee sent those officials a letter offering assistance. The McCain-Palin election committee also launched a website at www.johnmccain.com/honest.

"Our committee will assist election officials across the country to make sure that federal and state voting regulations are understood and upheld. It is a reflection of the campaign's commitment to tackling tough problems in a bi-partisan manner," Danforth said.

MEMBERS OF THE HONEST AND OPEN ELECTION COMMITTEE

John C. Danforth, Co-Chair--Former U.S. Senator; currently, Partner, Bryan Cave LLP; former Missouri Attorney General; former Ambassador to the United Nations

Warren B. Rudman, Co-Chair--Former U.S. Senator; currently, Co-Chairman, Stonebridge International LLC; Of Counsel, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Co-Chair, Concord Coalition; former New Hampshire Attorney General; former Chair, Senate Ethics Committee

John F. Bibby--Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Brigida Benitez--Partner, WilmerHale; Co-Chair, Leadership Council of the Hispanic Bar Association; Director, Women's Bar Association; Past President, Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia

Lovida H. Coleman, Jr.--Partner, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP; former law clerk, Judge Wilfred Feinberg, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; Election Observer in Pakistan, Haiti, and Chile; former Trustee, Rand Corporation

Tom Davis--U.S. House of Representatives; Ranking Member, House Government Reform and Oversight Committee; former Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County

Rita DiMartino--Former Principal U.S. Delegate, Inter-American Commission of Women; National Commission on Electoral Reform; Board Chairman Emeritus, National Council of La Raza

Charles Fried--Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; former Solicitor General of the U.S.; former Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts

Jack Goldsmith--Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; former Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice

Bill Jones--Board Chairman and Director, Pacific Ethanol, Inc.; former California Secretary of State; former California state legislator

Daniel Hays Lowenstein--Professor of Law, UCLA; founding Chair, California Fair Political Practices Commission; former Board Member, Common Cause; former redistricting counsel for California Democratic Congressional Delegation; author of first American textbook on election law; Co-Editor, Election Law Journal

Ronald D. Michaelson--Visiting Professor, University of Illinois at Springfield; Board Member, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform; former Executive Director, Illinois State Board of Elections; former Advisory Committee, Federal Election Commission; former Chair, Council on Governmental Ethics Laws

Susan Molinari--Senior Principal, Bracewell-Guiliani (effective October 6); Co-Chair, We Vote '08; former Member U.S. House of Representatives

Ralph Munro--Director, The Prepared Response Company; former Washington Secretary of State; Member, Carter Baker Commission on Election Reforms; former President, National Association of Secretaries of State

Sandra Schultz Newman--Shareholder and Chair, National Appellate Practice Group, Cozen O'Connor; former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice; former judge on state Commonwealth Court; former Montgomery County (PA) Assistant District Attorney; Chairman, Fair Vote Committee in Pennsylvania

Robert Parker--Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

James Petro--Partner, Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley; former Ohio Attorney General

Cameron P. Quinn--Adjunct Professor, George Mason School of Law; former Secretary, Virginia State Board of Elections

Daniel B. Rodriguez--Professor of Law, University of Texas Law School at Austin; former Dean, University of San Diego School of Law; former Professor, University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law

Larry D. Thompson--Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel, and Secretary, PepsiCo, Inc.; former Deputy Attorney General; former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; former Independent Counsel

Richard Williamson--Partner, Winston & Strawn; former Assistant Secretary of State; former Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations

For more information about the Honest and Open Election Committee, please send request to honestelection@mccain08hq.com, or visit the Web site at www.johnmccain.com/honest.

John McCain On CBS' "Face The Nation"

"Well, Bob, I think we have to show them my record. I think we have to show them that I took on the big spenders, that I did campaign finance reform. I reached across the aisle to Democrats. And obviously I was very unpopular in some parts of my own party, whether it be on the issue of climate change or against Rumsfeld's strategy and the President's strategy in Iraq or whether it be on campaign finance reform or a number of other issues that I fought against the, quote, special interests." -- John McCain

John McCainCBS'
"Face The Nation"
September 7, 2008

CBS' Bob Schieffer: "We're glad to have you. Let's start right in with what you were talking about the other night. You did something really extraordinary at that convention. I've never been at a political convention where I heard a candidate get up and not only go after the other party but go after your own party. You even said at one point your party had lost its way. You said that Washington has to change and you're the one that can change it. But that's going to be a tall order isn't it? I mean because normally it's out in the wilderness. It's the group that's out that says throw the bums out. You're saying it was your party that was part of the problem and that you can be the agent of change. How do you convince people of that?"

John McCain: "Well, Bob, I think we have to show them my record. I think we have to show them that I took on the big spenders, that I did campaign finance reform. I reached across the aisle to Democrats. And obviously I was very unpopular in some parts of my own party, whether it be on the issue of climate change or against Rumsfeld's strategy and the President's strategy in Iraq or whether it be on campaign finance reform or a number of other issues that I fought against the, quote, special interests. And the point is real. We now have former members of Congress residing in federal prison. And I guess I'll say again what I said. We came to Washington to change Washington. We came to power to change Washington, and Washington changed us. And I understand the challenge. But I have to make a strong case that we're going to bring about that change and it's the right kind of change. And I know we're going to be talking about my running mate , but I think I got the right kind of running mate who has that record also."

Schieffer: "We'll get to that in just a minute. But let me ask you just some specifics on how you're going to do it. Are you going to try to form some sort of unity government? Are you going to try to have Democrats within your administration as well as Republicans in?"

McCain: "You have to. You have to. Look at the approval rating of both Republicans and Democrats now. Look at the loss of trust and confidence. When we do all the town hall meetings and people say I've lost all trust and confidence in government, they don't say I've lost confidence in Republicans, Democrats, lost confidence in everybody. And the way you restore it is obviously to have a very bipartisan approach. They're in gridlock now. We all know that. They're going to go into session tomorrow actually and they're going to be gridlocked for a month and then they're going to go out. Whether it be energy or whether it be passing the necessary appropriations bills, whatever it is. And then the American people will frankly who are hurting more are going to be more disillusioned if that's possible."

Watch John McCain