NBC News Election Expert Chuck Todd: Voting Machine Concerns are 'Conspiracy Garbage'

[BradBlog]

NBC News Election Expert Chuck Todd: Voting Machine Concerns are 'Conspiracy Garbage'
A few questions for the popular pundit that may help better educate both him and the nation's electorate...

This morning, NBC News' top election expert, Chuck Todd, tweeted: "The voting machine conspiracies belong in same category as the Trump birther garbage."

Todd was responding, no doubt, to the many folks who have been justifiably concerned of late, since it was discovered that a bunch of Bain Capital investors, led by Mitt Romney's son Tagg, via a company called H.I.G. Capital (believed to stand for Hart Intercivic Group) took over control of Hart Intercivic, the nation's third largest voting machine company, in 2011.

The Austin-based Hart company, according to VerifiedVoting.org's database, supplies electronic voting machines and paper ballot tabulators that will be used to tally votes in the Presidential Election this year in all or parts of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

I offered my point of view about those concerns earlier this month, explaining that it was not just the private ownership of Hart's machines by Romney backers which voters should be concerned about, but the private ownership of the similar systems in all fifty states that will once again be used to tabulate the results of this year's Presidential Election with little --- and very often zero --- possibility of oversight by the public or even by election officials.

Todd does an extraordinary disservice to the electorate with Tweets like the one above, and I'd be happy to come on his daily MSNBC show any time to explain why, as I have told him via Twitter in response to the above.

As Todd has not responded in kind, and to expand upon my response to Todd there, I'd like to ask him these few respectful questions...

FULL STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9651

[kimbutgar]

1. Chuck Toad corporate toaddy just like David Gregory

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I find him to be a waste of time and space as far as journalism goes.

[brooklynite]

3. So, if the Romney's didn't have a financial stake, the rigged machines wouldn't support them?

Do you see the flaw in this argument?

[sadbear]

4. Chuck Todd is becoming the Bill Kristol or Dick Morris of NBC.

If he says something, the opposite's more than likely true.

We now have legitimate reason to be concerned about voting machines.

[Sebass1271]

34. This should be tweeted in his profile

So he sees how a liar we all think he is

[City Lights]

5. Chuckie the Todd is a Corporate Toad.

So full of corporate bullshit it's oozing out his ears.

[Honeycombe8]

35. I think he's a Democrat. I think. nt

[dorkzilla]

54. Totally off topic City Lights

LOVE the snapshot of Dave...I've had a nearly life-long crush on Mr. Gilmour

"Dark Side of the Moon" was the first album I ever bought -- with my babysitting money at age 12.

Thanks for the tingle

[City Lights]

55. Haha. I've still got it bad for David!

David

[fleur-de-lisa]

6. Who cares what the toad tweets?

I certainly don't.

[one_voice]

7. Maybe he could sit down with this guy as well...

and explain why it's conspiracy garbage...

Romney Family Investment Ties To Voting Machine Company That Could Decide The Election Causing Concern

. . .

It turns out that Hart Intercivic is owned, in large part, by H.I.G. Capital—a large investment fund with billions of dollars under management—that was founded by a fellow named Tony Tamer. While nobody is clear just how much H.I.G. owns of Hart Intercivic, we do learn that H.I.G. employees hold at least two of the five Hart Intercivic board seats.

A little more digging turns up a few tidbits of data than soon become ‘the story’.

Tony Tamer, H.I.G.’s founder, turns out to be a major bundler for the Mitt Romney campaign, along with three other directors of H.I.G. who are also big-time money raisers for Romney.

Indeed, as fate would have it, two of those directors, Douglas Berman and Brian Schwartz, were actually in attendance at the now infamous “47 percent” fundraiser in Boca Raton, Florida.

With that news, voters everywhere start to get this queasy feeling in the pits of their stomach.

But wait—if you’re feeling a bit ill now, you’ll want to get the anti-acids ready to go because it’s about get really strange.

To everyone’s amazement, we learn that two members of the Hart Intercivic board of directors, Neil Tuch and Jeff Bohl, have made direct contributions to the Romney campaign. This, despite the fact that they represent 40 percent of the full board of directors of a company whose independent, disinterested and studiously non-partisan status in any election taking place on their voting machines would seemingly be a ‘no brainer’.

. . .


MUCH more:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/10/20/romney-family-investment-ties-to-voting-machine-company-that-could-decide-the-election-causes-concern/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021590760

[GeorgeGist]

8. That is worrisome.

If he feels the need to deny it, there probably something to it.

[grasswire]

9. I believe we need to make a concerted effort to oust him.

If Olbermann can be ousted, and Shuster, Todd can be ousted.

It won't happen right now, but perhaps it can be one of our goals post-election.

[sandyshoes17]

10. We need to keep at it

They are all ignoring this story, about Taggs connection to this. It needs to be brought out into the conversation.

[B Calm]

11. I have a sick feeling this election

is already in the bag for Romney. It's hard for me to believe that Romney who was 5 points behind with likely voters could magically be tied with Obama overnight. I'm sorry, but people don't change their minds that quick! Then you get stories about Romney ties with this company that tally votes. . .

[one_voice]

12. How/who do we contact....

at MSNBC when we want to lodge a complaint?

How dare he dismiss this like that. They've had every kind of birther on multiple shows and continue to do so. They continue to have that ass clown Sununu on their network. No we should have our say on this.

Who do we contact, I'd like to give them a piece of my mind.

[tarheelsunc]

13. Chuck Fuck Todd.

The other side (in this case the GOP) has direct control over the counting of votes by ownership of the machines. The Democrats don't control birth certificate production as far as I am aware.

[JSK]

14. He should have a little chat with Greg Palast (n/t)

[xfundy]

15. You'd think even repigs would agree

that the vote is too important to be left up to anyone other than the GOVERNMENT. But no, since the machines usually show victories for repigs, why mess with a good thing?

[libdem4life]

16. Well, hopefully he can enter his objections to the European UN election watchers.

Just another Bananna Republic creeping north. I mean, just that the Romneys own a few voting machines and got their "money stake" down South ... as in South America ... nothing to get worked up about. Not.

[Glitterati]

18. Uh, don't count on the UN Election Watchers

They were here in 2004, too.

The only thing they will produce is a wishy washy report which every one will just laugh at.

Been there. Done that.

[marions ghost]

23. Their presence is important

...and I am glad the NAACP thinks so.

[Glitterati]

26. I'm glad they do too

But you really should look up the 2004 report, because it's going to mean nothing in terms of fighting these machines.

And, yes, we had the NAACP with us, and the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, Rainbow Push and everyone else we could think of.

[marions ghost]

29. OK well...

I don't think it helps so much in fighting the machines. I think it helps prevent blatant acts of suppression and works as a deterrent to that. We need all the witnesses we can get.

The machines are another matter.

[ReasonableToo]

17. How about his tax returns...who's paying him? n/t

[inamatteroftime]

19. Chuck Todd, G.E.'s paid-for neutralizer. NT

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. If Chuck says it is garbage

I believe we need to pay even more attention to it.

Oh and Chuck let's take your word at face value for a second, they are nuttery... the mere perception that the son of one Candidate owns these machines or has a substantial interest is enough to raise questions of .... conflict of interest.



There used to be a time when pols did not even let these perceptions be raised.

[L0oniX]

21. This asshole is a frog from one of the biblical plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt.

Now this frog is a plaque on our media and the US people

[amborin]

22. he must be getting paid off; plus, he's probably a republican

[annabanana]

24. His eyes fixed on the Beltway Buckle..

he fellates Conventional Wisdom for a living.

[marions ghost]

25. ++++++

Bradblog

[porphyrian]

27. Intelligence Expert G.W. Bush: I Finally Got High Score on Donkey Kong! n/t

[forestpath]

28. Of course that sleazy POS would say that.

[68 Rex]

30. Chuckie is but a Child, Playing

[Johonny]

31. It a conspiracy theory only because the liberal media won't look into it at all

on the other hand they covered the birth certificate thing constantly until Obama finally showed the damn long form. I mean the birth certificate is a joke because the media looked into it found proof it wasn't true. The voting machines... clear conflict of interest having your son control voting machine companies in your election. The media dismisses it without even trying to see if there is anything of interest. Why? because they are lazy.

[Blue Owl]

32. I can't see real good... Is that Chuck Todd or Fuck Wadd?

n/t

[progressivebydesign]

33. I don't like Chuck because of his stupid "I'm a groovy born again guy with a goatee" look to him.

I know.. superficial, but I HATE that look. It's like code or something.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

36. did you know he didn't graduate college? not that you have to to be smart, just saying.

[reformist2]

37. On what basis does he dismiss this concern - his female intuition?

Very unprofessional Todd, to spout off without facts.

[catbyte]

40. Let's not get sexist

OK?

[ThoughtCriminal]

38. Prove it.

"Journalist"

[kentuck]

39. Ronald Reagan said:

Trust but verify. Chuck Todd, how do know what is "garbage" and what is not? That is just your uneducated opinion. Maybe you are right but citizens still have the right to know their vote can be validated and not dependent upon any computer owned by anyone, especially someone that has a vested interest in the election.

[ladjf]

41. Wrong unfortunately! nt

[PD Turk]

42. Expert?

My dad had a little saying he was fond of regarding "experts". He'd say "an ex is a has been and a spurt is a little drip that didn't quite make it". Sums up Chuckie nicely I think.

[Supersedeas]

49. Disseminator of Corporate Polls and rightwing talking points

[LuckyLib]

43. Not according to this computer scientist who is an expert on voting machine

mechanisms:

http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/7559

She says you can have voting machines (and she is highly suspicious of the poor quality and hackability of many derivatives of Diebold) but the American people should demand paper backup.

[glinda]

44. He should be canned.

[spanone]

45. expert, my ass

[Z_I_Peevey]

46. You can add The New Republic's Alec MacGillis

to the list too. He says concerns about voting machines hurt OUR credibility. Expect the numbers of mainstream journalists pooh-poohing this very real threat to grow as the issue gains traction. It's a handy test of character as far as I'm concerned.

It is insane to defend a political candidate's family having any ownership stake in voting machines. Utterly insane. Especially a candidate from a party that is currently using every known method of cheating, right out in the open.

[condoleeza]

47. Just got this message on FB

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/10/22/1059171/why-romney-isnt-rigging-the-voting-machines/

Actually don't know who "Think Progress.org" is, but they've been pretty anti-Romney thus far and maybe they have a point here.

[WilliamPitt]

48. ThinkProgress said the same thing

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/10/22/1059171/why-romney-isnt-rigging-the-voting-machines/

...while consigning Forbes to the "liberal blogosphere" for reporting on it.

Which is really really really really funny.

ThinkProgress Fail.

And I like them a lot, too.

*sigh*

[IDemo]

50. Was he including e-vote hacks along with Taggard's conflict of interest?

That's a pretty big envelope to toss in the garbage with no further inspection of the contents.

[Skittles]

51. Dem Underground Ass-kicking Expert Skittles: Chuck Todd is a turd

yes INDEED

[Octafish]

52. +1

Chuck Todd is a turd through and through.

I really appreciate his condescension, too.

So, Chuck. Here's some coincidence soup for your bonnet:

The Suspicious, Disturbing Death of Election Rigger Michael Connell

[Blue Idaho]

53. Republican Sock Puppet Fuck Todd toes the company line.

Hardly a surprise - wouldn't you say?

[davekriss]

56. Chuck Todd is "establishment" garbage

The sooner he disappears from MSNBC, the better.

[Initech]

57. "Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." -Stalin

[Sybildisobedience]

58. This cannot stand.

If the corporate media refuses to take this seriously and people like chuck Todd refuse to even believe that this could be a legitimate issue, then the social media universe has to pick up the slack and humiliate Todd and others into at least acknowledging their cowardice.
At the very least, they'll know we know that they are gutless corporate whores. They'll know they didn't fool everyone.
I'm proud of all those who are tearing Todd up on twitter.

[bvar22]

59. Johnny-Come-Latelys !

I do NOT care that Tagg of the Romney Family owns some voting machines.
The OUTRAGE is that ANYBODY "owns" voting machines,
and THAT outrage has been marginalized for over 10 years.
I would be just as outraged if Michele Obama owned the voting machines.

The bi-partisan decision to Privatize the machinery that
records, tabulates, and reports the vote in America [font size=4] is an insult to every American[/font]
AND a Serious THREAT to our democracy.
This alone should have American Citizens carrying Pitch Forks, Tar & Feathers, and Torches marching in the streets 10 years ago.

Where have all the flowers gone?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

60. Chuck should go back to the 90s where his bad goatee came from

What an embarrassment to the network

[Nevernose]

64. I second the motion

His chin looks suspiciously like my crotch.

[OldDem2012]

61. Chuckie and his comment have one thing in common....both are garbage. nt.

[SaveAmerica]

62. Well, isn't he special, and part of the problem!

[laruemtt]

63. why does Toad even have that job? n/t

[flamingdem]

65. Well Mr. Todd the known conspiracy rag FORBES Magazine published the story about HIG! n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

66. 18181