Romney family buys voting machines through Bain Capital investment (2443 hits)
see video where Tagg Romney, the son of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has purchased electronic voting machines that will be used in the 2012 elections in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, Washington and Colorado. "Late last month, Gerry Bello and Bob Fitrakis at FreePress.org broke the story of the Mitt Romney/Bain Capital investment team involved in H.I.G. Capital which, in July of 2011, completed a "strategic investment" to take over a fair share of the Austin-based e-voting machine company Hart Intercivic," according to independent journalist Brad Friedman. But Friedman is not the only one to discover the connection between the Romney family, Bain Capital, and ownership of voting machines. Truth out reports: "Through a closely held equity fund called Solamere, Mitt Romney and his wife, son and brother are major investors in an investment firm called H.I.G. Capital. H.I.G. in turn holds a majority share and three out of five board members in Hart Intercivic, a company that owns the notoriously faulty electronic voting machines that will count the ballots in swing state Ohio November 7. Hart machines will also be used elsewhere in the United States. In other words, a candidate for the presidency of the United States, and his brother, wife and son, have a straight-line financial interest in the voting machines that could decide this fall's election. These machines cannot be monitored by the public. But they will help decide who "owns" the White House." Both The Nation and New York Times confirm the connection between the Romney family, Solamere and the Bain Capital investment in the voting machine company, Hart Intercivic, whose board of directors serve H.I.G. Capital. "Mitt Romney, his wife Ann Romney, and their son Tagg Romney are also invested in H.I.G. Capital, as is Mitt's brother G. Scott Romney. The investment comes in part through the privately held family equity firm called Solamere, which bears the name of the posh Utah ski community where the Romney family retreats to slide down the slopes." Truth out added. There are also political connections between Solamere and the Romney's. "Matt Blunt, the former Missouri governor who backed Mr. Romney in 2008, is a senior adviser to Solamere, as is Mitt Romney’s brother, Scott, a lawyer," according to the New York Times. Voter ID and voter fraud have been top issues in the 2012 race, as have claims of Republican voter suppression. Mr. Romney's campaign has also been the subject of controversy over misleading ads, false claims, sketchy math on his tax plan, and overall vagueness on women's rights and other hot button issues. Raising further questions of legitimacy in the Romney campaign is an audio recording recently made public, where Mitt Romney is heard asking independent business owners to apply pressure to their employees to influence their votes. What has also been made public are the emails those employers have sent to their employees with an implied threat that if they don't vote for Romney they may lose their jobs. What it all says is that Mitt Romney, with the help of his family and Bain Capital connections, is more than willing to try to take the White House through illegitimate and highly unethical, if not specifically illegal means. With each passing day, the character and campaign methods of Mitt Romney cast an ever-darker shadow over free and fair American elections. Yet there is an irony in the Romney campaign that cannot be ignored. For all the noise the right-wing has made in questioning the legitimacy of Obama's presidency, there have been so many questionable efforts made to help put Romney in the White House, if he wins, there should be great dispute over whether his election could ever be called genuinely illegitimate. The nagging question is why, if Mr. Romney truly has the qualities that American voters want in their president, does he have to go to such great and questionable lengths to try to win the election. They are doing everything they can to buy this election. I am not so sure they won't be successful....wow also see http://blackinamerica.com/content/240115/b...
A question Irma. Here in CA do we use voting machines? If so, can we demand a paper ballot instead? It is a key component of the Green Party platform that ONLY paper ballots shall be used.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 3:56PM
Steve Williams
And is President Obama on top of this? I sure hope so!
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 4:01PM
Steve Williams
And another key point of the Green Party platform is that no voting results shall be released until EVERYONE has voted. There is an obvious PROBLEM with later voters knowing how earlier voters voted.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 4:09PM
Steve Williams
And Ohio is not only an EARLY state, but also a swing state I believe?
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 4:12PM
Steve Williams
No Republican has won the White House without carrying Ohio, and polling in other key states suggests it is unlikely Romney will be the first. On the other hand, the last Democrat to win the presidency without this Midwest swing state was John F. Kennedy. President Obama doesn’t seem willing to try and break that pattern either: He has been to Ohio two dozen times during his presidency, and currently is averaging visits on a bi-weekly basis; he’ll return on Wednesday, overlapping the end of Romney’s bus trip.
Though Election Day is roughly six weeks off, the two nominees may well need to begin closing arguments here this week, as early voting starts on Oct. 2.
That answers my questions. Thanks Irma, so glad of your knowledge in this area.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 4:57PM
Steve Williams
Is this what you refer to Irma?
"Some state parties participate in formal party primaries established by state law, others conduct party conventions and/or caucuses to instruct their delegates and others utilize still other methods."
Still, we can judge the Green Party this election based on their platform and their nominee. I've posted on Earl's blog about this, and a blog of my own. I watched the debate and I am impressed with Jill Stein and the party platform.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 5:11PM
Steve Williams
I see her and their platform as to the Left, so to speak, of Mr. Obama.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 5:13PM
Steve Williams
Anyway, as regards the subject of this blog, I think ONLY paper ballots should be used.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 5:19PM
Steve Williams
Create Petition Donate Victories Search Help About Sign this petition
Name*: Email*: Country*: Address:
City: State:
ZIP code*:
Comment:
Privacy policy Note: MoveOn.org Civic Action sponsors SignOn.org. By signing, you agree to receive email messages from SignOn.org, MoveOn.org Civic Action and MoveOn.org Political Action. (You may unsubscribe at any time.)
Department of Justice: Investigate Ohio Voting Machines owned by Tagg Romney By Alea Bankston (Contact)
To be delivered to: Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General and President Barack Obama
Ensure that the election is not stolen and that the results are not tampered with or altered: Investigate voting machines owned by Tagg Romney. http://signon.org/sign/department-of-justi...
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — More than 800 absentee ballots have not made it to voters in Auburn Hills and are missing, stumping Clerk Terri Kowal.
Kowal says Monday that she learned of the missing ballots last week when only about 650 of the more than 1,400 mailed to in early October to registered voters were returned completed.
She tells The Detroit News that all ballots mailed out where assigned numbers and voter fraud is not a concern, but adds the concern is for "some people who wanted to vote absentee but haven't received their ballot yet."
The Nov. 6 general election is fast approaching.
Registered voters who did not receive a ballot still can get one by contacting the clerk's office.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 7:59PM
DAVID JOHNSON
As for the machines. Yes, we are well into the computer age. Bill Gates still at the top, I guess. How he got to the top is relentless pressure in the industry resulted in his choice to compromise the reliability and security of his software. Not just him, but virtually every company developing software. So the danger is on two fronts. The software may have bugs, leading to erroneous results. Worse, the software may suffer a lack of security, leading to manipulated results.
Managing elections is a big job. Public attention has become focused on elections more than ever. Citizens want to be assured that the election process cannot be compromised and their vote is counted accurately.
Consequently, election officials face the spotlight while working to train staff and poll workers, respond to changes in election law, and ensure the integrity and security of elections. Every election presents unique challenges, so what can you do to keep up?
Hart has the election management software, voting systems, and support you need to ensure success. Our proven best practices and knowledge of election procedures are reflected in everything we do from programming ballots to recording and tallying votes to training election workers and staff.
For more information contact us at info@hartic.com.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 9:36PM
Steve Williams
So Hart Intercivic partners with Scytl who partners with HP who partners with Microsoft.
That was a nice little side effect for Mr. Gates. I cringe when I look over the doctor's shoulder and they are still using XP.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 11:25PM
Steve Williams
But as for the video linked above, just think of it in the same terms as politics. If it cannot be understood (and even as a software engineer of 25 years, I would need to look into it much deeper) can it be trusted? But I did notice some obvious omissions.
Wednesday, October 24th 2012 at 11:32PM
Steve Williams
Right, divert those $$ from Microsoft.
Thursday, October 25th 2012 at 1:08AM
Steve Williams
Irma, I had employee stock options with a company at $.03/share. The company went public in 1994 at $13.00/share. Thereafter, by 1997 the shares had increased by 3500%. These were the Golden Years, under Bill Clinton. But he didn't have a damn thing to do about it.
Thursday, October 25th 2012 at 1:54AM
Steve Williams
My bad, $.3/share.
Thursday, October 25th 2012 at 2:01AM
Steve Williams
Steve the person I was speaking of has a masters in computers and he has a computer business where he teaches office worker new computer programs...he said the office workers don't have time to go take a 8 weeks course learning a new program and he teaches them in a few days.He himself is in school leaning all teh time so he can be ready for his coustmers.lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...NO MY BROTHER i AM NOT TALKING ABOUT RACISM...BUT prejudice as in ignorance and noting to d withour skin color hang-up as a first resource blinders to not alow natural things from unpolluted meds to foods to the clothes on our backs. (nup)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
@Stere, you know about the only thing I know about computers is to ask it to FIND. LOLand. until we where I live get our internet neds put under ground to protect it from interference from the baske's powerful raars...we will never get past dial up.
And , yes as soon as we learn one program there is a new one...The person who was the computer professor at teh college near me said somwting that made swense...he asxked me to remember when Bill gate gave the colleg free computers back in the 80s...but the college had to buy his programs...this is where Gates got his monies from as soon as he found out th ekinnks in a program he put up a neew program and you had to buy it if you wnated to do so or not. (smile)
and, Steve I will also put this on your Green post, but as I have you here now...Lawrence O'Donnell at the end of his program on right now @msnbc has said that we had a debate last night not carried by major tv that covered subjects we all care about but were not covered by the other debates an d he would be talking about this at the end of his program where he has his Rewrite segment(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
"Green jobs" will give you another chance...the whole industry will be computers and natural energy. (smile)
That cheap sun enery will be replacing the high cost to oil and its global warming no matter the brainwashing on it is not happening so we can keep using oil, plus we will be paying more attention to those republican governors saying no canadian pipe line coming across my state so we can send oil to China via our country because Canada is not going to polute their lands with that dirty oil the dirtest known otoman so far. (smile)
And here in Ca. we are already turning sea water into fresh water so needed in southern Ca. we have many, many years to go before we find another planet to live to move on so we must start to protect our planet from the sun rays (and not by using suntan lotion taht is setting people onfire using it today) by not distroying our ozone and faster then we are doing right now.(smile)
YES WE ARE...A LOT OF LESS BRAINWASINGS TO PROTECT THOSE PROTECTING BIG OIL WILL FOLLOW THE ELECTION RELATED TO THIS...YES YOU GREEN PARTY DOES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THIS/ THESE TRUTHS AS DO THE LIBERATION PARTY EXCEPT THEY STILL HAVE TOO MUCH NEED TO PROTECT JIM CROW AS THEIR HANG UPS...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Stere, I don't know if I have told you this before or not. I believe it was about 1987 when a friendd of mines whose husband was in the air force had gotten a big settlement from an auto accident, and her attorney had said he wanted to invest her money in Microsoft for her. She agreed to do just htis. I regret we have lost contact or had known what this investment would be worth today. (smile) I know she was from D.C. because once she calle dher mom to tell her about how exicted the children were to see snow for the firs ttime and her mom said she should hang up the phone on her because they were having a blizzard in D.C at the time. lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
liberal leaning new anchors on cable news networks. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
(rotflmao) Bill O'Reilly has not only not touched this hot potatoe, but he is having his program leaning towards our president dodwn to talking about neews anchors who have no reason to have a bone to pick with Romney because they are fair??? and his guest tonight not only is a libeal on the most right-wing program on fox The Five and another of his guest toningt will be non other then DL Hughley...now I would say he is not going to touch tis issue on these machines at all...Fox refusing to go against somethng eric Holder is doing????????????????????? ...
oh,oh the liberal just put BO down in a big unespected way and in a way he told BO he only has him on because he is desperate by saying to him how he had not asked to be on his show, but bo had invited hime...now BO as the top paid anchor on fox is not meant to be spoken to like this so he went straight to a commeerical. back (rotflmao)(smile)
I know DL is not going to suger coat this racist in any way...again despweration big time andnot like BO in any way...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
ANd David that about Eric Holder and romeny's son is priceless...Bill O'Reilly will be on in a few and Sean Hannity will be on at 6 since so far no one on Fox has touched this issue, I am facinated and can't wait for these two, because if this is not BO's lead in then I will know this is a disaster for the right even trying to come up with any talking points...poor Romney is busy trying to rise above the latest "rape' campaing matter of Senator R. Murdock (smile)
If it were possiable for me to fell sorry for them I would do so...and please keep these coming David...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...kinds of make up for all of those courts putting a stop to those other creative means of voter suppressions...and, no I don't blame those out to stop a Black male from returning to the Whitehouse by any means necessary...(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Thanks David, for this info and for some reason, if this is how serious that matter is to be taken...for some reason I do expect this to be a coming trend...especially for those voting on the Democrat ticket...between now and Nov.6...
I WONDER WHY?!? (nup/ smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
CNNNewsroom reprted tis morining about hundreds of voting ballots are missing in one state(they never ssid what state tis is)...anyway from where I sit what good are these machines if they are out to make sure less and less ballots manage to reach these macines due to VOTER "SUPRESSIONS" LIKE THESE SO OUT OF CONTROL IN 2012 IN AMERICA ?
"JUST THINKING". (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
@Steve, this is the computer age and it i scalled CHOICE. LOL!!!...we have in where I work on the poll only one computer and some times when a wife and husband comes in togather one will chose the computer and one the paper ballot...sometimes people get tired of waiting for the computer and just ask for a paper ballot instead...oh and you are allow a new ballot when you make a mistake up to the third ballot...the computer takes care and remind you of your mistake before you can say cast your ballot or it will remind you youhave skiped someting on your ballot and ask youif you want to correct it...if handicapped you can aks fo r our help or bring in help withyou like you r service animal and you have a chair and a ballot booth that can allow you to sit in your wheel chair to vote, ect.(smile)
woll let you know if there is any thng totally brand new in our voting system after attening th emanditory training meeting, "K"? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...@Brother Rabbit, I don't think this is the case...Ca. is such a LIBERAL state until it tends to allow the majority to rule and not so much political / religigious ideologys to make thes choices. example, it has not beento many years that we had primaries determining who got to be on teh ballots come election day...it has not been too long that one could vote in any language but English, ect...and being Ca. it is lamost impossiable for a Republcain to get to win and election and now we have just done redistrictings which now determines who can even have republican candidates to run it their area... and yet where I live it is Conservative hands down. exaample,
You can almost count th eblacks here on our fingerss and toes(not living on Baele Air force base and yet Dan Logue who has won the republican seat in Sacramento fo ryears and years is not even able to run now...he tried to run in Chico, but the residenancy came up so he just dropped out of rthe 2012 race sighting health reasons...and, yet lat week they ran an ad in the paper who was this person running for office...the next day this person said he is running but, he had been out of state to meet his son coming back from Afgan back in teh east...and, he is running on what no oneknows still...remember the apology post card I mentioned a few days ago...this is no way to run and election inmy point of view, but this still follows teh rules here in Ca.
OUR POLITICIANS IN sACRAMENTO ARE ONLY RIGHT NOW INTERESTED IN TRYING TO PROTECT ILLEGALS SO NEXT YEAR THOSE CROPS WILL NOT BE ROTTING IN THE FIELDS FROM LACK OF WORKERS. EXAMPLE,
a few weeks ago an illegal could be deported for not having a liscense to run a food truck and was illegal too boot because they were affectint the returants business...now it is all of a sudden no siding with these samll business when it come to protecting big business...but I do give our law makers credit for now going againt thee big business allowing these workeers to fall dead from lack of water because they refuse them water breaks..(nup/ smile)
and, yes I fully relize at times I give far too much info...but this is part of my obsession to fight against prejudices a in ignorance. LOL!!! (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...oops, again our president is only that...a president...he is not a dictator...the individual voter is the Amerian government...
STOP THE BRAINWASHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! V-O-T-E NOV.6 (S-M-I-L-E)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...NOW I SHALL COLSE WITH THIS REALITY...J.F.K GO TINTO THE WHITEHOUSE ONLY DUE TO THE BLACK BLOC VOTE WA GREATER THAN THE VOTES OF THE CHRISTIANS WHO FEARED KENNEDY AND THE POPE WOULD TAKE OVER OUR GOVERNMENT...
AND, STEVE DO YOUHEAR ANY THNNGS LIKE THIS FROM THE RIGHT ABOUT BHO IS GOING TO DISTROY AMERICA WITH REV. WRIGHT / MUSLIMS' RELIGION...
THE MORE THNGS CHANGE THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME FOR THOSE PRAYING THAT GOD WILL RETURN OUR CHRISTIAN, FAMILY VALUES BACK TO THE DAYS OF JIM CROW...
POLLS DECIDING ONES VOTES OVER PROPER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AS TEH REASON TO CAST ONE'S VOTES...BRAINWASHINGS WORK WELL TODAY INAMERICA AS WELL AS ABUSE OF RELIGIONS!!! (NUP/SMILE)
THUS SENATOR R. MURDOCK IS RUNNING ON A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN SAYING RAPE IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF GOD...ROMNEY PRETENDING HE IS A CHRISTIAN AND NOT A MORMON...OUR PRES. IS NOT A CHRISTIAN NOR AN AMERICA CITIZEN...AND, PLEASE DON'T FORGET WHAT I SAID ABOUT THE GREEN PARTY...AND, WHY MY CHANGE IN MY OPINION OF RON PAUL FROM 2008...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
STEVE, when we open the poll, the first person there to cast their vote is to look at all of the macines, the voting boxes where the ballots are put and not voting has been done on teh computer voting machine...no votes can be casted by anyone not all ready in line after the polls close.We then count all of th evotes in all forms even the ones tha tpeople have turned in their mail in ballots so they can vote at the poll or for those who vote in the pricent not of their own...these all go from all of the pricents inone are to teh clerk of thecourt/ elections wher they begin counting the votes...this process can actually in some cases take days to do and why sometimes it takes days to actually find out who own and what propositions won.and why people working on the polls are always needed...also each pricent has a high school student/college student working on the polls as a reuirment since they are our future...amy people bring their children into sow them how the voting works and yes they can take them into the voting booths with them...some bring their children withthem because they can't speak English and yes, they can vote in their own first language...you see our state see the not to be able to do this is another form of voter suppression. (smile)
FOR WHICH I AM SO GLAD WE DO THIS HERE IN CA....
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...FOR SOME REASON, "I" LIKE TO SAY, "NO WHITE PRESIDENT HAS EVER WON THE 'WHITEHOUSE' WITHOUT OHIO.LOL (S-M-I-L-E)
'I" WONDER WHY??????????????? (ROTFL)...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
@Steve, yes, we have both paper ballots and a computer of which one can make their own choice to use...ME, I USE MY MAIL IN BALLOT AND PUT IT IN THE BOX ON NOV.6, BECAUSE I WORK ON THE POLL IN ANOTHER PRECINT AND NOT MY OWN...IF I DROVE THEN I WOULD TAKE OFF TIME TO GO VOTE IN MY PRICENT WHICH IS ABOUT 7 MILES AWAY AND DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE...
when I was at UCD, I liked what the Green party had to say and so much so I regristered with them...I unregristered with them after I found the had taken away my rights to vote myown conscious...
YOU SEE THEY MADE THE CHOICE OF WHO I COULD VOTE FOR AND NOT ME...THY PUT ONLY THE NAMES AND ISSUES THEY CHOSED "I" WAS ABLE TO CAT MY VOTES FOR...NOPE, NOT FOR ME. (S-M-I-L-E)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
As for my take on this matter...
if some governments in South America can do this then why can't an Americcan citizen? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA