Following from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Delahunt
1996 Congressional election
Delahunt was first elected after a primary battle against Phil Johnston of Marshfield and Ian Bowles of Woods Hole. Johnston was initially declared the winner. A recount conducted in a handful of contested towns preserved Johnston’s victory though by a narrower margin. Following the recount, Delahunt sought judicial review in the Massachusetts Superior Court and Judge Elizabeth Donvan conducted a de novo review of the contested ballots and declared Delahunt the victor by a 108-vote margin. The case appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which upheld the lower court ruling. The case is also noteworthy for the issue of “hanging chads” in punch-card voting machines.
In November 2005, he met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and engineered a deal in which Venezuela would supply winter home heating oil at a 40 percent price reduction to thousands of low-income Massachusetts residents. The deal was carried out via the Venezuelan owned Citgo, and brought accusations that Delahunt was assisting an anti-American leader.
He has been a consistent opponent of the war in Iraq.
During a June 26, 2008 hearing, Delahunt pressed David Addington, chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, regarding harsh interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. Addington commented that he could not give specifics, speculating that al Qaeda might watch C-SPAN. Delahunt sparked outrage when he said, “Well, I’m sure they are watching, and I’m glad they finally have the chance to see you, Mr. Addington,” to which Addington replied “Yeah, I’m sure you’re pleased.” The remarks were quickly condemned by Cheney’s office as well as Representative Steve King as inappropriate and as an incitement of violence by al Qaeda against Addington.
In February 2010, questions were raised about how Delahunt and the Norfolk County D.A.’s office had handled the case of Amy Bishop. Bishop was arrested in Huntsville, Alabama, after shooting six co-workers at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Reports linked Bishop to the shooting death of her brother in Braintree in 1986. At the time no criminal charges were brought against Ms. Bishop.
While Congress is in session, Delahunt lives in a rented house with fellow Democratic politicians George Miller, Chuck Schumer, and Richard Durbin. (Isn’t that a delightful quartet; perhaps Delahunt can influence their departure as well)
Interesting. I had no idea that the Bush/Gore recount of 2000 and WA governor (Gregoire/Rossi) recount of 2004, and Frankin/Coleman recount of 2008 had its historical roots traced back to MA in 1996.
Was the Delahunt race the first (or one of the first) of the Dems’ recount practices?
Wow - they’re been doing this for over 14 years. Probably longer, right? No wonder they’re getting so good at stealing elections.