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GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 12:44:49 PM EST
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Allen Raymond, President of GOP Marketplace, LLC, has been sentenced to five months in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to jamming Democratic phone lines in New Hampshire during the 2002 election. The lines were in three cities/ They were the designated lines to allow Democrats to call in and get free rides to their polling precincts.

Chuck McGee, former executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, also pleaded guilty. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month. James Tobin, 44, regional chairman of Bush's campaign last year, was indicted in December and pleaded innocent. Tobin, of Bangor, Maine, had stepped down from Bush's New England campaign in October after the allegations against him became public. In 2002, he was northeast political director of the party committee working to elect Republican senators.

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    GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail | 23 comments (23 topical)
    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 01:55:01 PM EST
    YAY! Better late than never. I'd like to see Blackwell led off in cuffs, myself.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#2)
    by wishful on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 02:25:54 PM EST
    I'm waiting for the wingers to start in on how the length of the sentence is appallingly short. I'm sure they'll point out the deterrent effect of a long sentence. Maybe they'll even go a tad overboard as they are sometimes wont to do and call Mr. Raymonds crimes acts of treason. waiting... chirp, chirp, chirp... still waiting...

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 02:30:43 PM EST
    wishful at February 8, 2005 03:25 PM ?sarcasm?

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 02:44:47 PM EST
    Actually I think he should be taken out and tarred and feathered. Any updates on those kids who slased Republican van tires? -C

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 02:45:26 PM EST
    I say lock him up with those fine folks in Milwaukee that slashed the tires on the GOP vehicles and let them have it out. Leave them all in there for as long as it takes to have them tear each other to pieces, a "cage match" if you will. They all are anti-democractic. Although compared to some of the stuff that went on in the 19th century this stuff is petty and childish. Note to both parties: Cut it out!

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 02:48:41 PM EST
    there's a difference between slashing tires, which would make no difference in the outcome of an election, and tampering with phone lines which would.wishful, do yoiu practice being a moron, or is it natural?

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#7)
    by wishful on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 03:00:13 PM EST
    PeaNut, Yep, sarcasm. I didn't really expect to hold my breath waiting for the wingers to protest a short sentence in this case. I think the right's desire for long sentences only applies to those they think are so different that they can't see themselves in that position. This guy, however-- I think they can see themselves in him, even if only in an abstract sort of way, so the compassion (or agreement) bubbles to the top. Just like they would want to be treated with compassion.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 03:04:36 PM EST
    "there's a difference between slashing tires, which would make no difference in the outcome of an election, and tampering with phone lines which would" Oh come on. It's not even worth defending either of them. They were both reprehensible acts. I'm with jimcee on this one (though I'm not sure I'd go as far as tarring and feathering, tempting as it is, Cliff :-) )

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#9)
    by desertswine on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 03:34:57 PM EST
    I say turn Raymond and McGee over to Abu Gonzales for further interrogation. That would be justice.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#10)
    by john horse on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 03:50:54 PM EST
    This is the typical reaction of Republicans when one of their own is caught red handed. Find something that the other side did and make it seem that there is some sort of equivalence. However, in the case of Tobin, we are not talking about a minor official but one of the regional directors of Bush's election campaign. The Republican candidate that won the Senate election, won by a slim margin, so it is probable that Tobin's illegal actions had an effect on the election. What Tobin did was subvert our democratic process. I do agree with one thing that Cliff wrote, he should have been tarred and feathered.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 04:10:30 PM EST
    Ricky, The vehicles on which the tires were slashed had been hired to drive people to the polls so they could vote. So yes, it may have had an effect on the election. I imagine if it had been vehicles hired by the Kerry campaign and potential Kerry voters who may not have made it to the polls, you would agree. With that said, I don't know if this is an unduly short sentence. What is the normal sentence for jamming someone's phone lines (which, Ricky, can hardly be said to have affected an election since no one was voting by phone). Does anyone know? I suppose it depends on where he'll serve his time and what the conditions are like (five months in Allenwood would be very different from five months in San Quentin), but I will say I'm surprised to hear those normally calling for lighter sentences on everything up to an including murder to suddenly screaming for vengeance.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 05:29:30 PM EST
    A POX on both parties for any action that serves to deny people the right to vote. These actions should be severly punished. However, there is a difference between slashing tires that may have effected a few voters getting to the polls and jamming phone lines to provide necessary information and assistance to get hundreds to vote. The Republicans seem to have a habit of obstructing voting. I do not approve of antics by either party. The Republicans do seem to take it to the next level. The Republicans had little qualms about breaking into DNC headquarters, playing dirty tricks and developing its infamous enemies list in Nixon's time. On three occasions the Republicans had to sign agreements to cease voter intimidation. (Democrats have not to my knowledge had to do so.) During the last election we saw Republicans set up phony voter registration drives which filed Republican registrations and trashed those filled out by Democrats. The Republican administration was chastised by the Government Accountability Office for using public funds for propaganda. Oh yes, there were those paid journalists to tout administration policies. Oh yes, there were those little notices with tax publications telling voters that the last election was important to avoid increase in taxes. And who is the Gannon guy who purports to be a journalist? No the right wing of the Republican party seems to trump the Democrats when it comes to dirty politics. Stage managed "political" party meetings with carefully selected audiences instead of public discourse, gerrymandering districts in Texas to an unheard of degree, blacklists of those who may not appear at presidential speeches, and attempts to apprehend congressional members for walking out of a committee hearing all seem to be stock in trade for this values driven party. The Republicans always bring up weak examples of Democratic misdeeds that always seem to pale in comparison.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#13)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 05:36:41 PM EST
    but I will say I'm surprised to hear those normally calling for lighter sentences on everything up to an including murder to suddenly screaming for vengeance. justpaul, maybe you could point out anyone who's doing that. The only person I see is someone wondering why the usual "string 'em up" crowd is so quiet at the moment.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 06:04:56 PM EST
    Good, another felon finally facing justice. Left on the list: 1) Robert Novak 2) Ken Lay 3) Katherine Blackwell 4) 26 other SecStates who allowed the citizens of their state to be mass disenfranchized through paperless 'balloting.' 5) Vote America (name?), the nationwide, GOP funded, 'register and destroy legal Dem. regs' vote fraud artists. 6) Dick Cheney, still more corrupt than any VP in US history. 7) Triad, Diebold, and ES&S felons who have given us five years of stolen elections. 8) Staff of $$R$$ Senators who stole private documents from their opponents. 9) The anthrax letterwriters. It will be easy to catch these people, en masse. Just stake out any of their meetings, under the bizarre title 'Grand Old Party.' They're felons, down to their toenails, one and all.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#15)
    by Richard Aubrey on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 09:05:33 PM EST
    Well, we have the investigations in Milwaukee and Washington state to come in yet. If what seems to be true is so, that would be considerably worse than jamming phone lines. But since the perps are dems.... And there is the East St. Louis case of attempted solicitation of murder to hide voter fraud. Also dems. Whaddya think? Probation?

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 10:39:59 PM EST
    While you're weeping your crocodile tears, Rich, how about figuring out what we got for $300 Billion dollars in Iraq -- other than the Royal Shaft. 1,450 dead GIs, tens of thousands permanently injured, and not one WMD. Just fine with you, I know, but all of us Dems who had to listen to your attacks on our patriotism for the last four years, still looking at you and seeing the FOOLS who bought the hype (or the cowards who knew they were being lied to, but were too greedy for power, and too racist, to be honest).

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#17)
    by bad Jim on Tue Feb 08, 2005 at 11:32:48 PM EST
    It's so much fun to watch the the folks on the right embrace moral relativism whenever one of their own is caught out.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#18)
    by Richard Aubrey on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:30:33 AM EST
    Paul in LA. Nice to see lefties feigning concern for the soldiers. For once. You guys aren't even any good at faking it.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#19)
    by Richard Aubrey on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:32:09 AM EST
    Oh, yeah, Paul. Show evidence of racism. Anyway, shall we agree to meet once the investigations of the St. Louis situation are completed and complain about overly harsh sentencing? Presuming there's any kind of election fraud a dem can do and be punished, I mean.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#20)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:47:55 AM EST
    Both major parties are so corrupt they have lost all meaning of democracy. Both parties have officials who would throw their mother under a bus to win an election. Justice, freedom, etc...that's all secondary to winning.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#21)
    by wishful on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 08:11:30 AM EST
    Paul, if you are interested (I'll talk around Mr. Aubrey) please see Juan Cole's latest response to the bet issued by Jonah Goldberg. The thoughts and worldview necessary to even issue such a bet betray Goldberg's extreme racism. If anyone wants to argue whether racism is the proper word, go ahead and put your own word on it, the sick worldview is the same. Maybe it can be argued that the ism in play only applies to dehumanizing Iraqis and not an entire race. Fine, I will concede for the sake of the bigger point, but I would find that argument disingenuous. What would the new word be? Pick one we can agree on and let's be done with the obfuscation of the actual issue. In any case, Prof. Cole is a must read on this. I never even hope to hold a candle to his portrayal therein. Go to www.juancole.com and look up the Feb 8 post.

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:23:45 PM EST
    Paul, are you wearing a clown suit when you post?

    Re: GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 11, 2005 at 11:03:34 PM EST
    Good one Paul in L.A. gee your "where are the WMD's" is real kryptonite. Ask Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, Graham, Daschle, Hillary, the French, Russian, Israeli and U.S. Intellegence agencies that same question - since they all said they had 'em. On the vote: If Dem's robot voters (uneducated minorities & Union sheep) had to name their U.S. Senators and district Representative to vote there would be no Democrats in office. While it's not illegal, ginning up the vote with a bunch of ignorant, easily persuaded "warm bodies" promising free government giveaways and welfare is worse than jamming a phone line or two and has a whole lot more impact on the vote totals. And with regard to Diebold and paper ballots and computer hacking - got some proof??? Leftist morons jump on the conspiracy bandwagon but forget to bring any facts or proof to support their fantasies. Why are Democrats and Lefties allways so negative - they are real downers. Criticize, complain, drum up conspiracies, make allegations, point out the negative - people it gets old after a while. The world is a wonderful place appreciate what you have and try to see the glass half full.

    GOP Operative Gets 5 Months in Jail | 23 comments (23 topical)