-Caveat Lector-
DEM IN SCHEME TO 'FLIP' ELECTORS
Friday,November 17,2000
BY BRIAN BLOMQUIST AND DEBORAH ORIN
A top Democratic operative yesterday admitted
"information-gathering" on Republican Electoral College members
to try to flip them to Al Gore - prompting GOP charges of
"tampering."
Gore campaign chief Bill Daley said it's news to him - but added
that veteran operative Bob Beckel is free to keep digging into
the backgrounds of Republicans pledged to Bush.
That raises the question of whether Gore means to fight all the
way until the Electoral College votes Dec. 18, particularly
since two South Carolina GOP electors say they've already gotten
anonymous calls asking them to flip.
"It is information-gathering on my part, using my own network,"
Beckel told the Wall Street Journal, which reported he
acknowledged his goal is to be ready to try to flip a few
electors.
Beckel, one of the Democratic party's most senior operatives, was
campaign manager for 1984 Democratic nominee Walter Mondale and
has close ties to Gore point man Warren Christopher.
"I call on mostly Democrats, but some Republicans, too, and ask,
'Who are these electors and what do you know about them?' I just
wanted to know who these electors are," Beckel was quoted as
saying.
He told the Journal that he hasn't contacted any electors
directly yet - "I wouldn't do that without first informing the
Gore campaign."
If Bush wins Florida, he'd have 271 electoral votes - just one
over the 270 needed to win - and flipping three would be shift
victory to Gore. In some states, electors must vote for the
candidate they're pledged to; in others, there's no such legal
requirement.
Beckel is one of the party's most senior operatives and heads a
self-named political consulting firm based in Arlington, Va. He
didn't return phone messages left at his home yesterday.
Gore campaign chairman Daley pooh-poohed Beckel's effort but said
he's free to go ahead with it: "I think it's a meaningless
effort. If he wants to do meaningless efforts, he can."
Gore spokesman Doug Hattaway would not comment on whether
Beckel's tactics are appropriate.
Republican circles buzzed over whether Beckel is trying to dig
dirt - as Clinton allies did during impeachment - and a House
Republican leadership lawyer warned that Congress can step in if
electors flip.
"It has a feel of tampering as opposed to people exercising their
own judgment," the GOP lawyer said. "We'd have to look at that
very closely."
Electors can be challenged when their votes are read
state-by-state on Jan. 6. It takes just one House member and
one senator to challenge - and majority votes in the House and
Senate to sustain a challenge.
Bush spokesman Ray Sullivan said: "It's additional proof that the
Democrats appear to be willing to pursue every option in delay
tactics and every maneuver to try to change the results. But we
believe Republican electors will vote for Gov. Bush."
The revelation that Beckel is digging into GOP electors'
backgrounds came as one of South Carolina's best-known political
journalists reported that two pro-Bush GOP electors say they'd
been asked to flip to Gore.
One said "I'd cut my arm off first before voting for Al Gore,"
and the other said "no way," reported Lee Bandy of The State
newspaper.
Both South Carolina electors said they'd gotten multiple calls
and assumed the unidentified callers were linked to the Gore
campaign, which denied making such overtures.
Meanwhile, House Republicans yesterday accused the TV networks of
calling states on a biased basis on election night to make it
look as if Gore was doing well and Bush badly.
Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) pointed to CNN's calls and said nine
states that Bush won by at least 6 points - and as many as 15
points - had delayed calls while every state Gore won by 6 points
was called quickly.
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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