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All involved in political scheme should be named
11/12/2009 9:35 AM   6 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend

Whether it had an actual impact on the outcome of the June 2008 GOP primary race for S.C. Senate Seat 81 or not, a last-minute scheme by one of the campaigns involved to deploy a phony robo-call to voters was a sad day in local politics.

A year after being charged with setting up the illegal automated calls in an attempt to sway the outcome of an election, former Aiken Republican party board member Virginia “Ginny” Allen has admitted to the activity and writes that she is “deeply sorry” for the offense in a letter published Wednesday.

Allen stands charged with six counts of making unsolicited consumer phone calls and is accused of paying to have political robo-calls made to Aiken County residents in early June without properly disclosing the person behind the calls.

In the recent letter, seemingly sent as part of her pretrial intervention program (PTI), Allen addressed Sen. Greg Ryberg “and the voters of Senate District 24” to apologize for her conduct and repeatedly stated that Ryberg had nothing to do with the incident.

“I regret my participation in the negative campaign tactics surrounding the automated robo-calls during the recent state Senate race, and I want to be very clear that Sen. Ryberg had no knowledge or any involvement,” Allen wrote in the letter carbon copied to Solicitor Strom Thurmond Jr. and her defense attorney Greg Harlow. Investigators said Allen manipulated the caller ID to show the number of “REI Incorporated,” a business owned and operated by Sen. Ryberg but did not have the senator’s permission to do so. The calls endorsed Ryberg for the District 24 Senate seat and Aiken County Councilman Scott Singer for S.C. House District 81 seat, seeming to create a relationship or team effort between the two candidates that did not actually exist. Ryberg handily beat North Augusta City Councilman Jason Whinghter in that race, but Singer later lost in a run-off with Tom Young.

Allen seems to indicate by her language in the letter that she did not act alone in the criminal, politically-motivated act but does not comment on others involved. While we can applaud Allen for taking responsibility for her actions, political dirty tricks like these must be stopped. If she did not act alone as the letter indicates, prosecutors must demand that all names be named before any deal to avoid prosecution is sealed.

“This was a harsh, mean tactic used by political operatives during this very tight race,” she wrote. “My part in this negative ploy has weighed heavily on my heart. ... I furthermore regret any harm it may have caused any candidate as well as voters that may have lost faith in the democratic process.”

Increasingly, politics in South Carolina and our nation have become “mean,” as Allen describes it. These tactics are used to cloud the truth and confuse the electorate. We can ill afford the electoral process to be hijacked by people willing to use the unethical and, in this case, illegal tactics, lies and fraud to short circuit a system that should be focused on the good of all and true public service.

Until the others involved in this case are revealed, justice cannot be done and it is our profound hope that the solicitor will not abdicate his duty to reach that goal.


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  6 comment(s) on this story

:  11/13/2009

Hey, Jet, I think you got yourself a little wound up. I would also like to see where you obtained your information, because, like someone else on here, I have never heard it before. Thanks.

many, many years... :  11/13/2009

allegation? or would the writer provide proof?

:  11/12/2009

The 'poor' that democrats refer to are the single parents that work 2 jobs just to survive. The parents who just lost their job and trying to survive long enough till they find another one. The 'poor' in the country are the people who lost their jobs when they were out-sourced overseas or to Mexico. I would hope you would think these people deserve some help to get back on their feet.

Nell

:  11/12/2009

Hi Jet! Could please provide a link to "For many, many, years democrats have paid people to vote in general elections without anybody concerned, it's a southern tradition that minorities are paid to vote for democrats." I have never heard of that before. Thanks

Fred

Politics :  11/12/2009

Why all the concern about phone calls. For many, many, years democrats have paid people to vote in general elections without anybody concerned, its a southern tradition that minorities are paid to vote for democrats candiates especially in rural precints and even the poll sitters are aware of it. Acorn has now expanded the practice and even our President has not spoken out against it. This paper is good at closing its eyes at opportune times, while sounding off at politically correct opportunity. Shame on you and shame on nasty politics.

Jet Beckum

electoral process to be hijacked by people willing to use the unethica :  11/12/2009

Sounds like you are describing good old ACORN. They were doing worse but where was the outcry.

chas
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