FNC: Schweitzer Election-Tampering Claim
Electric City Weblog found a video clip on YouTube that Montanans should see. In the clip, Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson and former U.S. Senator Conrad Burns appear on Fox News to discuss the controversy over Governor Brian Schweitzer’s “election tampering” comments at a trial lawyers’ meeting.
The consensus seems to be that either Governor Schweitzer really did unfairly influence the election, or that he bragged about doing such in a joking manner (or joked about doing such in a bragging manner). The first is illegal & unethical; the second is just bone-headed and stupid. IF it’s the former, then Schweitzer needs to be held accountable; if it’s the latter, then…well, there’s no law against being bone-headed and stupid.
But how will Montanans know if it’s true or not unless Attorney General Mike McGrath actually, you know…investigates?
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Last year I attended a charitable event where Mike McGrath was in attendance. After the event all the attendees received a letter from McGrath asking for campaign contributions. I consider this to be highly unethical behavior both by the charity and McGrath.
So it is no surprise to me to learn that McGrath is part of a conspiracy to cover up voter fraud.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
If I were Roy Brown and the GOP I wouldn’t want McGrath to investigate these allegations. More damage can be done to Schweitzer’s re-election bid with a GOP whisper campaign and using righteous indignation to portray Conrad as a victim than any investigation results.
Maybe I’m giving the GOP machine too much credit?
September 27th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
As both a Butte voter and someone who has spent past election nights in the Clerk & Recorder’s office in the capacity as a reporter, I took it as tongue in cheek kidding.
There’s no way in hell Mary McMahon (our Clerk & Recorder) would participate in something like that in the first place. In the second place, seriously, if someone actually had done something like that WHY would they tell a roomful of people about it while being recorded?
I find tons of humor in exaggerated, far-fetched stories with no grounds in reality. This one is not my favorite and I didn’t find it very funny but I tend to reference things that never happened just to be funny and I completely assumed it was hands down a fabricated joke.
The man wants to be reelected. If he’d known some uptight people were going to take him seriously, he wouldn’t have even joked. And he shouldn’t have, obviously. But if he actually had DONE this or something like it, he wouldn’t have mentioned it in a speech. He’s not an imbecile.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:41 am
“The Governor claimed he arranged for police to intimidate poll watchers and voters, pressured an elections official to delay reporting the results, and basically used his powers to influence the outcome.”
First of all, I don’t hear Schweitzer even saying in the clip. All he says is “we turned some dials…” If FOX had a better sound byte they would use it.
Secondly, where are the actual claims from those intimidated poll watchers and election officials? Sounds like FOX just making shit up.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:37 am
Can anyone believe anything from the FOX News Network? Isn’t it basicly the Disney Channel for brainless adults. Come on anyone who has watched this network in the past two years would know this is the best fantasy channel we have.