Election 2002: FBI looks into misleading voter calls (Fla. Dems/Poe -prelude to fraud, pt.2)

Associated Press - Naples Daily News ^ | Oct. 31, 2002

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Election 2002: FBI looks into misleading voter calls

Thursday, October 31, 2002

Associated Press

ORLANDO - An FBI agent has interviewed Florida Democratic chairman Bob Poe about a phone call he received urging him to cast his absentee ballot days after the Nov. 5 election.

Poe said Wednesday that an agent from the FBI's Orlando office interviewed him by phone for about 15 minutes on Tuesday about the call he received late last week from a man purporting to be with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride's campaign.

Unaware of Poe's position, the man asked the state Democratic chairman to cast his absentee ballot Nov. 10 - five days after Election Day, Poe said.

FBI spokesman Sara Oates in Tampa said Wednesday she couldn't confirm that an investigation into the call has been initiated. The FBI generally does not discuss ongoing investigations.

Poe said Wednesday that he was under the impression that there was an investigation.

"The Justice Department, through the FBI, is looking into it," Poe said. "My understanding is that they're cooperating with ... other law enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of this."

U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the ranking Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee, wrote U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft on Tuesday asking for an investigation.

Poe had written Ashcroft over the weekend also asking him to investigate.

Both the Republican Party of Florida and the campaign of Republican Gov. Jeb Bush have denied involvement and support an investigation.

   

 

[Stultis]

Bump

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I think that Terry's on the ropes with his own party. The "concerned" act doesn't work when your leader keeps making meanspirited threats against our President and his entire family during wartime.

Let's help toss him into the balcony. (^:

[cake_crumb]

"There are rumors floating about that Wellstone's plane crash was no accident."

I've been about 95 percent sure Wellstone was murdered ever since Hillary implied that the REPUBLICANS probably had him killed. I think she jumped the gun with the old projection tactic, 'cause the Republicans thought it was an accident.

[Erasmus]

It can be imagined that the caller was actually a Rat activist who was slightly "out of the loop" regarding the polling date.

[rintense]

If anything, the Dems assassinated Wellstone. He was a loose cannon, did his own thing, and rebuked a lot of the party ways. To the party, he was expendible. In a tight race (a la Torch), the Dems had more to gain with Wellstone out of the way- not the Republicans. If I were a Dem in a tight race, I'd be scared out of my mind that Terry McAwful might be planning my death.

[annieokie]

After re reading the article, I believe you are correct. As it is no clear who the HE is, I think it does mean that the FBI agent received the call. Thanks for clearing that up. Still don't know what to make of it.

[Rome2000]

I wonder if Poe is willing to take a LIE DETECTOR TEST about the facts surrounding this alledged "call".

Maybe somebody should ask him.

[Elkiejg]

I wonder if Poe is willing to take a LIE DETECTOR TEST about the facts surrounding this alledged "call".

Isn't is possible to check his phone records for incoming calls? At least they do that on "Law & Order"!!!

[floriduh voter]

Somebody's playing phone pranks in Pinellas County too. I was at local pubbie headquarters this morning and someone filled up their answering machine in the middle of the night. They put the messages on speaker phone. The caller was complaining about getting a taped call in the middle of the night, blah, blah, blah. By about the fifth message the guy was crying in his beer. It kind of sounded like Bill McBride imo.

Although it was amusing, the guy may have been trying to tie up their answering machine.

Regarding Poe's mystery call, who doesn't get annoying phone calls? I guess Poe doesn't have star 70 or caller ID either.

[floriduh voter]

Just check out a picture with Daschle in the background. I think he's afraid that he's next. One thing I am comfortable about is that it was foul play.

Whether it was the co-pilot or other methods, Wellstone was probably going to lose to Coleman and he wouldn't drop out like the Torch did so they had to eliminate him.

And re: Fritz Mondale, some seniors are young for their age but he is not. He's very slow and Lautenberg, the other senior running, he's not quite as slow but he rambles in circles. What does that say that the dems don't have any boomers of quality to run?

[rintense]

Dime to donuts they BOTH retire withing two years, and have a younger more liberal Dem appointed in their place. Look for one of the Wellstone boys to be appointed in MN.

[floriduh voter]

Well, I'll tell you one thing. The Wellstone with the wild hair looks better suited for the cast of That Seventies Show. Every family has a black sheep and I guess he's the Wellstone's. Older brother is attractive but shame on him for dishonoring his family the other night. NO CLASS.

[Henchman]

With all the PRONOUNS, the writer appears illiterate and the story is confusing. Who called whom should have been stated up front. I have to assume it was D'rat calling another rat and said you don 't know me but.....

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I have to assume it was D'rat calling another rat and said you don 't know me but.....

That was my take, too. Do you think it's possible that Poe was shocked at the dirty tricks from his own party members? Poe's phone records would surely be subpoenaed if some loose cannon DNC worker in charge of this tele-fraud campaign called the wrong number.

[windchime]

"Although it was amusing, the guy may have been trying to tie up their answering machine."


OR.....could be McBride/McAuliffe/Clinton/Clinton calls in the middle of the night impersonating Republicans to make voters angry with Republicans.

I would take his message seriously. He's probably not the only one that's gotten these calls.

[floriduh voter]

Although it was amusing, the guy may have been trying to tie up their answering machine."

OR.....could be McBride/McAuliffe/Clinton/Clinton calls in the middle of the night impersonating Republicans to make voters angry with Republicans. I would take his message seriously. He's probably not the only one that's gotten these calls.

PKM, people are getting calls in the middle of the night allegedly from Republicans.

Windchime has a good point. They're dems impersonating Republicans to anger people awoken from their sleep. I don't doubt it, especially since this is happening in the Tampa Bay area. At least McMumbles is in South Florida lately - except for his occasional tv spot.

[floriduh voter]

The FBI needs to see if the DNC has retained a certain Texas phone bank who convinced voters that they voted incorrectly in S. Florida. Maybe the calls are coming from Texas.

[windchime]

"The FBI needs to see if the DNC has retained a certain Texas phone bank who convinced voters that they voted incorrectly in S. Florida."


Any company in the country (or out) running an automated call system could have been employed. If I were repeating a crime, I wouldn't use the same company as last time. McAuliffe/Clinton/Clinton are EVIL, but not that stupid.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

This is a job for Rat-busters. (^;b

[windchime]

"This is a job for Rat-busters. (^;b"


You're right!