Huffington Post via Progreso Weekly - Apr 13, 2006 http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?progreso=Arianna_Huffington&otherweek=1144990800
The tragic irony of John McCain's Faustian bargain By Arianna Huffington A lot of people are angry at John McCain - and with good reason. His contemptible performance on this week's "Meet the Press" was enough to make any sentient person's blood boil. But I come here not to condemn John McCain but to weep for him. Watching a true American hero hang a For Sale sign on his principles is a profoundly sad thing. Especially for me. I've long admired, respected - indeed loved - John McCain. I've written many columns about him citing his courage and integrity, traveled with him on the Straight Talk Express, been to his home and met his wonderful family, and introduced him as the keynote speaker at the 2000 Shadow Convention I helped organize by calling him "the most prominent voice for reform within the political system." In fact, I am still on the advisory committee of his Reform Institute. Even though we've frequently disagreed on issues, I have always been impressed with the unfailingly above-board way he has navigated the often choppy waters of political leadership. Until now. Back in December, following another dispiriting McCain appearance on "Meet the Press," in which he repeatedly provided cover for Bush's woeful mishandling of Iraq, I wrote: "The big question now - a question left unanswered on today's show - is: which is the real McCain? The captain of the Straight Talk Express, or the one who showed up today trying to have it both ways - expressing just enough gentle criticism to keep his 'maverick' bona fides, while at the same time assuring Bush's right wing supporters they have nothing to worry about?" Sadly, that big question is unanswered no more. McCain has clearly convinced himself that the only way he can become president is to sell his soul - making a pact with the devils of the religious right and turning into what Jim Pinkerton dubbed "a born-again Bushophile." There he was on Sunday, disavowing his 2000 claim that Jerry Falwell is "an agent of intolerance," offering the very telling insight that "the Christian right has a major role to play in the Republican Party" because "they're so active, and their followers are." In other words: There are votes in them thar pews, so principles be damned. Liberty University commencement, here I come! McCain was equally transparent in his repeated efforts to carry water for Bush. He backed the president's handling of Iraq - and even went so far as to call Bush's recent speeches on the war "fairly eloquent" (is this the first time Bush and eloquence have been linked, other than by Harriet Miers-types?). He told us he "applauds" the president's efforts in Iran. And he shamelessly turned his back on his powerful explanation for being one of only two Republican senators to vote against Bush's 2001 tax cuts. Here's what he said then: "I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief." Now, when asked to defend his recent vote to extend these same cuts, McCain offered the GOP boilerplate: "I do not believe in tax increases." There can be no doubt: McCain's blatant desire for the White House has caused him to abandon the Straight Talk Express and hop on board the B.S. Express. Talk about "pimping your ride." I find it deeply ironic that, at a time when voters are desperately longing for a political leader with authenticity, a man who defined the authenticity brand has now decided to screw with the formula. The New McCain is the political equivalent of New Coke - and will meet with the same disastrous results. It's worse than a Faustian bargain. At least Faust got what he desired in exchange for his soul. McCain, in giving up the core of who he is - as a man and as a leader - may actually be destroying his chances of getting what he so desires. The saddest thing is not how McCain has betrayed us - it's how he has betrayed himself. © 2006 Arianna Huffington. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc. *** ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Dawson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 12:52 PM Subject: Please act to protect California election integrity. I hate to be a pest about this, but time is running out! Tuesday, April 18, the California State Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee will hear arguments for/against Jackie Goldberg's AB2097, a bill that would require public disclosure of the software used to run voting machines. We need to let the committee know that we are paying attention, that, if we are to have electronic voting, we want honest, secure software running the machines, and that we understand that public disclosure of the software is crucial to keeping it honest and accurate. Diebold and friends are out to kill AB 2097. The bill is particularly critical , since Schwarzanegger's-appointed Secretary of State has chosen to approve Diebold voting mahines despite continuing questions as to their accuracy and their vulnerability to fraud. Two years ago the Information Technology Association of America) lobbied against Jackie's resolution ACR 242, a measure that merely asked Secretary of State to investigate using open source software for elections. We won that time. They're taking the challenge of open-source software even more seriously this time. It's going to be a tough battle. PLEASE HELP. Phone, email, and/or fax the members of the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee. If you haven't the time or inclination to contact them all, at least be sure to contact the Chair of the committee, Tom Umberg. Addresses follow. Beyond those addresses is a copy of the letter that I sent. Please feel free to copy as much as you want, but I'm sure you can all improve upon it. Please share your responses with me. Thanks Rich Tom Umberg, Chair Dem-69 (916) 319-2069 Contact his staff, Larry Sokol and Ethan Jones. Phone: 916 319 2069 Fax: 1 916 319 2169 Mark Wyland, Vice Chair Rep-74 (916) 319-2074 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 916 319 2074 Fax: 1 916 319 2174 Betty Karnette Dem-54 (916) 319-2054 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 916 319 Phone: 916 319 2054 Fax: 1 916 319 2154 Johan Klehs Dem-18 (916) 319-2018 Phone: 916 319 2018 Fax: 1 916 319 2118 Mark Leno Dem-13 (916) 319-2013 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 916 319 2013 Fax: 1 916 319 2113 Lloyd E. Levine Dem-40 (916) 319-2040 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 916 319 2040 Fax: 1 916 319 2140 Michael N. Villines Rep-29 (916) 319-2029 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 916 319 2029 Fax: 1 916 319 2129 My letter: Return Address Date Honorable XXXX YYYY Elections and Redistricting Committee California State Assembly Sacramento, CA 94249-0053 Dear Representative YYYY: I urge you to support AB 2097, a bill to help ensure the integrity of California's elections and to bolster public confidence in the honesty of those elections. AB 2097, scheduled for an April 18 hearing in the elections and redistricting committee, would make California's use of a particular electronic voting system contingent upon the public disclosure of the details of that system's hardware and software. All of the currently available electronic voting systems use proprietary software. As a result, the software and the algorithms that it implements remain secret, known only to the manufacturer. The public, and for that matter the Secretary of State, have no way of independently verifying that the software will faithfully record and accurately tally the vote. Impartial evaluations, including those upon which California's Secretary of State relied to approve Diebold machines, have found the available systems to be vulnerable to manipulation. In other states where the equipment has been used, election results, for which there was no independent verification, were wildly inconsistent with exit polls. None-the-less, California's Secretary of State approved Diebold machines, and all of the manufacturer's continue to assert that their equipment will perform properly. Public disclosure would allow completely independent evaluations with the opportunity for debate and correction of the problems. Such debate would quickly resolve unfounded criticisms and help build public confidence. Furthermore, depending upon the licensing agreements in place, having the source code available would enable the state to correct software problems without having to wait for a response from the manufacturer. At the same time, the software owner's interest in the software would be protected by copyright and by any patents that applied. California cannot afford to take for granted the integrity of our elections, nor can we depend entirely upon government officials to protect election integrity. Recently, a whistle-blower who disclosed information about deficiencies in Diebold equipment, information suggesting possible criminal behavior, was himself charged with a criminal breach of confidence. Rather than go after the criminal behavior of Diebold and defend against election fraud, the state is going after the messenger. Requiring public disclosure of voting machine operational details will give the public the opportunity to evaluate voting equipment without facing criminal charges. Please support AB 2097 when it comes before the Elections and Redistricting Committee. Sincerely, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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