The Shell Game of Corrupted Government Exposed
My, My, My, How Opinions Change
Publisher's Note: The article, Beaufort County Commissioners Vote 5 to 2 in Support of Governor Perdue on her Veto of Photo ID for Elections, is a perfect primer for a better understanding of this fairly simple issue.
As someone who lives and dies by the strength of his opinion, on a variety of platforms, I am always intrigued by those who treat their opinions as something of an entity that is in constant transition. In this case, I speak of local politicians, who often find the strength of their position to be as solid as the shifting sands of Jockey's Ridge, or as hearty as the malleable bog of the Rose Bay salt marsh.
At the heart of this matter, these politicians' consistent inconsistency, is North Carolina elections law, or the change of such, which would close one of the loopholes that continue to permit voter fraud.
On July 5, 2011, at the Beaufort County Commissioners' General Meeting, I submitted a resolution for passage in support of the North Carolina General Assembly's work to close that loophole by already producing bills from the N.C. House and the N.C. Senate to accomplish this feat. The proverbial fly in the ointment is that our ultra-liberal governor, Beverly Perdue, vetoed both bills: Citing some clichéd liberal talking points by ostensibly throwing the words disenfranchised, disenfranchisement, disenfranchise around at anyone who might listen ... you get the picture.
Politically, the picture here in Beaufort County is not so clear. The great misnomer here in Beaufort County is that there has existed since 2002 a Republican majority on the board of county commissioners - four Republicans and three Democrats. Nothing could be farther from the essential absolute truth. If so: Why did that questionable Republican majority of county commissioners vote, 5 to 2, to defeat the resolution of support for the Republican initiative, "Voter Photo ID"?
Moreover, the truly interesting point to this super majority's political gamesmanship is that four of the five commissioners (two Democrats and the two very questionable Republicans) chose to support a Resolution from the board, May 5, 2008, to actually request that the then Democrat-controlled General Assembly, and Democrat Governor Mike Easily, make law stipulating that the Photo ID, or two forms of identification, be required from voters at all North Carolina precinct polls. Democrat Commissioners Jerry Langley and Robert Cayton and questionable Republican Commissioners Jay McRoy and Al Klemm voted for that resolution in 2008. Incredibly, all four of these county commissioners voted against the resolution of support for the Republican's initiatives: NC House Bill 351 and NC Senate Bill 352 in 2011.
In 2008, when all four of the aforementioned commissioners were in the affirmative for the resolution, some of the commissioners in question made comment, and these can be read below in the complete minutes from the various meetings where this issue was discussed. They are shown below in italics, just below the image of the 2008 Resolution that was sent to the appropriate officials from our Clerk to the Board, Sharon Singleton.
From their prior votes, and from their prior comments, one must be resolved to the immutable fact that all four commissioners have taken an absolute contrary position now that the Republicans have taken control of the North Carolina House and Senate. I can only happen to guess why two Democrats' and the two extra-questionable Republicans' opinions changed 180 degrees in just three short years. Obviously, it must be a Democrat thing.
Image file of the official Beaufort County Commissioners' official ratified resolution to request North Carolina officials for their help to eliminate voter fraud: Above. The minutes of various meetings in 2008, where the Beaufort County Commissioners expressed their concerns over obvious voter fraud: Below.
May 5, 2008
VOTER REGISTRATION IDENTIFICATION
Commissioner Deatherage asked the Board for support on a resolution that requests the State Board of Elections to require two forms of identification when registering any voter prior to any election cycle. Many states now require a photo identification for voter registration. North Carolina does not have that law.
Commissioners Langley noted that a photo identification can be obtained at the NC Department of Motor Vehicles. He also noted that if you are a member of the Credit Union they have the capacity to provide a photo ID on your bank card and they do it for free.
He noted that the Commissioners have sent a resolution to the State Board of Elections regarding that ballots not be printed in Spanish and we were turned down. He is now concerned about voter fraud.
Commissioner Booth said the problem associated with the photo ID is that some folks don't have the required information that is necessary. This would be a problem for some older folks. He noted that years ago the Holy Bible was used as an ID source, but cannot be used today.
On motion by Commissioner Richardson, seconded by Commissioner Deatherage, the Board voted to require the applicant that is registering to vote to present two forms of identification at that time. Included in the motion is when the registered voter goes to vote in an election they are required to present a photo identification prior to being given the ballot. Said resolution is to be sent to the Governor, and the State Board of Elections.
VOTING YES VOTING NO
Richardson Booth
Langley
McRoy
Klemm
Deatherage
Cayton
August 12, 2008
VOTER REGISTRATION IDENTIFICATION LETTER FROM NC STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Commissioner Richardson referenced the letter received from NC State Board of Elections Director Gary Bartlett in last month's FYI. The Bartlett letter was a response to a resolution adopted by the Commissioners in May 2008 requesting the State Elections require more identification when the registered voter goes to vote in an election such as a photo identification prior to being given the ballot.
Commissioner Deatherage said we should meet with our the Legislators on this issue of voter identification.
Commissioner Klemm said he was offended at the tone of the letter from Bartlett.
Chairman McRoy stated it was not like the Commissioners asked the State Board of Elections to adopt a whole different voter registration policy. We just asked if two identifications could be required instead of one.
Continuing Commissioner Richardson said the Bartlett letter to the Commissioners was written in arrogant manner. He noted the letter was copied Yvette Rivera, US Department of Justice. Yes we have been turned in to the Feds again.
On motion by Commissioner Richardson, seconded by Commissioner Deatherage, the Board voted to send a letter to each member of the State Board of Elections, and any other official that received a copy of our letter and share with them the response of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners received from Mr. Bartlett.
The County Manager was directed to draft a letter and include it in the September Agenda designating the facts presented in the above mentioned motion. The Chairman is designated to sign the letter.
Commissioner Richardson said the Commissioners should ask Senator Basnight and Representative Williams about their thoughts on the issue in regard to the resolution requesting that two identifications be used when voting.
After further discussion on the Bartlett letter Commissioner Richardson amended his motion.
On motion by Commissioner Richardson, seconded by Commissioner Deatherage, the Board voted unanimously to table the prior motion pending the draft letter the County Manager is to provide at the September Meeting.
September 8, 2008
ELECTIONS
Commissioner Hood Richardson took this opportunity to review a draft letter with the Board, as a result of correspondence received from NC State Board of Elections Director Gary Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett's letter was written to the Commissioners after he received a resolution from the Beaufort County Commissioners requesting additional information be included when registering a person to vote. Several commissioners were offended at the tone of Mr. Bartlett's letter, sighting it as arrogant.
Commissioner Richardson said the letter prepared by the County Manager is alright, but stated it should be sent to Senator Marc Basnight and Representative Arthur Williams.
It was the consensus of the Board to send the letter to Mr. Bartlett, Yvette Rivera, the State Board of Elections Members and the Beaufort County Board of Elections as well as Senator Marc Basnight and Representative Arthur Williams.
A big thank you to the Clerk to the Board, Sharon Singleton, for her research in recovering these minutes, which one can clearly see is invaluable data for telling the true story.
Go Back
As someone who lives and dies by the strength of his opinion, on a variety of platforms, I am always intrigued by those who treat their opinions as something of an entity that is in constant transition. In this case, I speak of local politicians, who often find the strength of their position to be as solid as the shifting sands of Jockey's Ridge, or as hearty as the malleable bog of the Rose Bay salt marsh.
At the heart of this matter, these politicians' consistent inconsistency, is North Carolina elections law, or the change of such, which would close one of the loopholes that continue to permit voter fraud.
On July 5, 2011, at the Beaufort County Commissioners' General Meeting, I submitted a resolution for passage in support of the North Carolina General Assembly's work to close that loophole by already producing bills from the N.C. House and the N.C. Senate to accomplish this feat. The proverbial fly in the ointment is that our ultra-liberal governor, Beverly Perdue, vetoed both bills: Citing some clichéd liberal talking points by ostensibly throwing the words disenfranchised, disenfranchisement, disenfranchise around at anyone who might listen ... you get the picture.
Politically, the picture here in Beaufort County is not so clear. The great misnomer here in Beaufort County is that there has existed since 2002 a Republican majority on the board of county commissioners - four Republicans and three Democrats. Nothing could be farther from the essential absolute truth. If so: Why did that questionable Republican majority of county commissioners vote, 5 to 2, to defeat the resolution of support for the Republican initiative, "Voter Photo ID"?
Moreover, the truly interesting point to this super majority's political gamesmanship is that four of the five commissioners (two Democrats and the two very questionable Republicans) chose to support a Resolution from the board, May 5, 2008, to actually request that the then Democrat-controlled General Assembly, and Democrat Governor Mike Easily, make law stipulating that the Photo ID, or two forms of identification, be required from voters at all North Carolina precinct polls. Democrat Commissioners Jerry Langley and Robert Cayton and questionable Republican Commissioners Jay McRoy and Al Klemm voted for that resolution in 2008. Incredibly, all four of these county commissioners voted against the resolution of support for the Republican's initiatives: NC House Bill 351 and NC Senate Bill 352 in 2011.
In 2008, when all four of the aforementioned commissioners were in the affirmative for the resolution, some of the commissioners in question made comment, and these can be read below in the complete minutes from the various meetings where this issue was discussed. They are shown below in italics, just below the image of the 2008 Resolution that was sent to the appropriate officials from our Clerk to the Board, Sharon Singleton.
From their prior votes, and from their prior comments, one must be resolved to the immutable fact that all four commissioners have taken an absolute contrary position now that the Republicans have taken control of the North Carolina House and Senate. I can only happen to guess why two Democrats' and the two extra-questionable Republicans' opinions changed 180 degrees in just three short years. Obviously, it must be a Democrat thing.
May 5, 2008
VOTER REGISTRATION IDENTIFICATION
Commissioner Deatherage asked the Board for support on a resolution that requests the State Board of Elections to require two forms of identification when registering any voter prior to any election cycle. Many states now require a photo identification for voter registration. North Carolina does not have that law.
Commissioners Langley noted that a photo identification can be obtained at the NC Department of Motor Vehicles. He also noted that if you are a member of the Credit Union they have the capacity to provide a photo ID on your bank card and they do it for free.
He noted that the Commissioners have sent a resolution to the State Board of Elections regarding that ballots not be printed in Spanish and we were turned down. He is now concerned about voter fraud.
Commissioner Booth said the problem associated with the photo ID is that some folks don't have the required information that is necessary. This would be a problem for some older folks. He noted that years ago the Holy Bible was used as an ID source, but cannot be used today.
On motion by Commissioner Richardson, seconded by Commissioner Deatherage, the Board voted to require the applicant that is registering to vote to present two forms of identification at that time. Included in the motion is when the registered voter goes to vote in an election they are required to present a photo identification prior to being given the ballot. Said resolution is to be sent to the Governor, and the State Board of Elections.
VOTING YES VOTING NO
Richardson Booth
Langley
McRoy
Klemm
Deatherage
Cayton
August 12, 2008
VOTER REGISTRATION IDENTIFICATION LETTER FROM NC STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Commissioner Richardson referenced the letter received from NC State Board of Elections Director Gary Bartlett in last month's FYI. The Bartlett letter was a response to a resolution adopted by the Commissioners in May 2008 requesting the State Elections require more identification when the registered voter goes to vote in an election such as a photo identification prior to being given the ballot.
Commissioner Deatherage said we should meet with our the Legislators on this issue of voter identification.
Commissioner Klemm said he was offended at the tone of the letter from Bartlett.
Chairman McRoy stated it was not like the Commissioners asked the State Board of Elections to adopt a whole different voter registration policy. We just asked if two identifications could be required instead of one.
Continuing Commissioner Richardson said the Bartlett letter to the Commissioners was written in arrogant manner. He noted the letter was copied Yvette Rivera, US Department of Justice. Yes we have been turned in to the Feds again.
On motion by Commissioner Richardson, seconded by Commissioner Deatherage, the Board voted to send a letter to each member of the State Board of Elections, and any other official that received a copy of our letter and share with them the response of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners received from Mr. Bartlett.
The County Manager was directed to draft a letter and include it in the September Agenda designating the facts presented in the above mentioned motion. The Chairman is designated to sign the letter.
Commissioner Richardson said the Commissioners should ask Senator Basnight and Representative Williams about their thoughts on the issue in regard to the resolution requesting that two identifications be used when voting.
After further discussion on the Bartlett letter Commissioner Richardson amended his motion.
On motion by Commissioner Richardson, seconded by Commissioner Deatherage, the Board voted unanimously to table the prior motion pending the draft letter the County Manager is to provide at the September Meeting.
September 8, 2008
ELECTIONS
Commissioner Hood Richardson took this opportunity to review a draft letter with the Board, as a result of correspondence received from NC State Board of Elections Director Gary Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett's letter was written to the Commissioners after he received a resolution from the Beaufort County Commissioners requesting additional information be included when registering a person to vote. Several commissioners were offended at the tone of Mr. Bartlett's letter, sighting it as arrogant.
Commissioner Richardson said the letter prepared by the County Manager is alright, but stated it should be sent to Senator Marc Basnight and Representative Arthur Williams.
It was the consensus of the Board to send the letter to Mr. Bartlett, Yvette Rivera, the State Board of Elections Members and the Beaufort County Board of Elections as well as Senator Marc Basnight and Representative Arthur Williams.
A big thank you to the Clerk to the Board, Sharon Singleton, for her research in recovering these minutes, which one can clearly see is invaluable data for telling the true story.
| Municipal Candidates are trickling in to the Beaufort County Board of Election | Editorials, A Commissioner's View, Op-Ed & Politics | We invite the WDN to try again to explain its hyprocrisy |
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