Cincinnati Tea Party Founder Mike Wilson Sues Over Election Results: Aims To Block Vote Counting In African American Precincts

  [UPDATE: Pillich calls the lawsuit an attempt to subvert the voting and elections process.  See below.  Judge Winkler won't intervene.  Provisional ballots have not yet been counted.  Wilson still trails by five votes.]

Vote Fraud In Lincoln Heights?

 CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Mike Wilson's lawsuit contends there is evidence of possible vote fraud in three precincts in Lincoln Heights, a predominantly African American city in Cincinnati's northern suburbs.  At the moment, Wilson trails State Rep. Connie Pillich, a Democrat, by five votes in the contest for a seat in the Ohio House (District 28).  Wilson ran as a Republican.  There are 1,456 provisional ballots yet to be counted, and Wilson wants a restraining order that would stop them from being tallied.   The Hamilton County Board of Elections was scheduled to count the provisionals this week, an action that would determine whether Pillich or Wilson wins the House seat in Ohio's state legislature.  Court records show Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Bob Winkler scheduled an emergency hearing --- it will be held Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. in the courthouse.  The lawsuit is Case No. A-1010404.  Wilson's lawyers said in the complaint that 9% of all provisional ballots cast in the House race were in Lincoln Heights.

"Upon information and belief, most of the provisional ballots cast in the Lincoln Heights Precincts are invalid and should not be counted, which may change the results of the election for the 28th Ohio House District in light of the narrow 5-vote margin which currently exists.  Upon information and belief, the Lincoln Heights Precincts have suffered a significant population decrease during the last several years.  As reflected by the photographs attached as Exhibit A, hundreds of residential units in the Lincoln Heights Precincts were abandoned, condemned, or leveled."

Wilson contends that Lincoln Heights  traditionally votes Democratic.  He said his campaign has obtained the names of "at least 34 voters who moved, many of whom cast clearly ineligible votes."  Of the vote total on Election Day Nov. 2, Wilson received just 22 votes of the 984 cast in Lincoln Heights.  It was not Tea Party or GOP territory.  Said Wilson's lawsuit:  "Without intervention by this Court, relators will be irreparably harmed by being prevented from challenging and ascertaining the validity of the provisional ballots, because those ballots will be intermingled in the regular ballots and the 'envelope' information necessary to verify those ballots eligibility will be lost."

Lawyers at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, a downtown Cincinnati law firm, are representing Wilson and his campaign manager, Maggi Cook, who joined him in the lawsuit.  There is a twist in the case because Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex M. Triantafilou -- who turns out to be a member of the law firm's litigation department -- is also the chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Elections.  That means Triantafilou's law firm is suing the panel he heads.  And that poses a potential conflict of interest.  It will be interesting to see how Triantafilou handles the issue -- perhaps he will have to sit things out.

[UPDATE: 4:12 pm -- Word has just reached The Daily Bellwether that Republican Chairman Triantafilou has recused himself.  He will not participate in board of elections discussions or decisions about vote counting in the Ohio House contest between Wilson and Pillich.  His departure is a blow to Wilson because that means the Democrats have a 2-1 edge on the board, and their majority can control how all decisions are made.  Some Republicans are openly wondering why lawyers associated with Triantafilou are representing Wilson in a case involving the board of elections.  They said it looked like a tactical error because it has the effect of knocking an important Republican figure out of action.]

[UPDATE: 11/16/10, 8:07 am -- Pillich tells The Daily  Bellwether she has hired counsel and will fight to make sure "all the votes are counted."  She also openly wonders if Wilson has ever been to Lincoln Heights.  Here's the latest from Pillich:

 "The support for their motion is rather thin:  a lot of people had moved.  (Um … that is probably why they cast provisional votes.)  It is truly disappointing that such specious arguments are being used to subvert the voting and elections process.  I do have to wonder:  has Mike Wilson ever been to Lincoln Heights?  Has he seen all of the homes that are boarded up and foreclosed upon?  Did he not notice that Valley Homes has been condemned and the Health Department has ordered residents to vacate?  Did he miss the new construction and upgrades going on?  Is he unaware of the number of people who live in poverty?  Is he aware of the low employment rate among African Americans in our community?

"The initial hearing on the lawsuit is Tuesday morning at 9 am, in Judge Robert Winkler’s court room at the Hamilton County Court House.  I will attend, and I have hired legal counsel to represent me.  Uriah is going to stay on as my campaign manager through this entire process, until all of the votes are counted."]

Official Marine Corps' Facebook Page Debate: Should U.S. Troops Shoot Tea Party Members And Christians When Obama Gives The Order?



Martial Law On USMC Facebook Page

 CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has an official Facebook page -- the Pentagon having embraced social networking -- where an interesting discussion thread has been unfolding for several weeks.  Part of it is about President Barack Obama's citizenship -- is he really an American born in the USA.  And part of it is somewhat morbid -- should Marines shoot Tea Party members if Obama declares martial law?  You can read the thread on the Marine Corps' Facebook page by clicking here.

It is more than a little disconcerting to see such a discussion find traction on a military-sponsored website.  After all, who wants to think about U.S. troops opening fire on U.S. citizens, who can imagine such an event.  It did happen at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, when four students were killed by Ohio National Guardsmen ordered onto the campus during the Vietnam War.  President Richard Nixon's policies put the troops on the campus, but Nixon didn't give any orders to the National Guard -- they were sent by Ohio Gov. James Rhodes to quell student unrest.  Only the most rabid conspiracy theorists and Obama-haters must think that the President is considering imposing a military dictatorship with himself as the dictator.  Only the most rabid imagine that Tea Party activists are going to be rounded up and massacred by U.S. Marines.

Here's the post that started the discussion thread on the Marine Corps Facebook page:  "Being a veteran Marine, I ask this in all sincerity expecting a civil responses from those who are always faithful.  An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign.  With the current state of affairs in the USA and this President being your Commander in Chief, what can we expect from the Marines who fight to defend this country when/if the time comes for his administration to declare martial law and turn the troops against the citizens of this country; whether it is a Tea Party group, Christians, Gun owners or those patriots who are willing to give their own lives for this country?''

To me, this sounds like something from a provacateur, a message meant to cause disorder in disciplined ranks.  It speaks of the "when/if" moment when Obama gives the order to start using the armed forces against Americans.  It says the President is going to target "patriots."  Free speech is a great gift.  Suggesting to U.S. troops on a military website that the commander-in-chief is going to seize power is inflammatory.  Maybe the website should be shut down, or closely monitored to scrub such talk of violence and despotism.  Republicans and Tea Party candidates fared well in the mid-term elections this week.  Tanks did not roll.  The Republic is safe.

Tea Party Sues Butler County Board of Elections: Says Supporter Banned From Access To Voters Outside Precinct In Union Hall

CINCINNATI (TDB) --  The Tea Party wants a federal restraining order that would prohibit officials in Butler County -- John Boehner's backyard -- from interfering with supporters who gather petitions opposing President Obama's health care law.  The Tea Party plans to set up outside an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall in Liberty Township that serves as a voting precinct.  It says a federal judge should intervene to: "Stop the unconstitutional restrictions imposed by the IBEW in cooperation with the Butler County Board of Elections."  The lawsuit claims a Liberty
Township Tea Party activist, Kathy Dirr, was previously ordered off the property and threatened with arrest last May during Primary Day voting.  U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett has set a 3 p.m. hearing on Oct. 18 at the federal courthouse in Cincinnati on the request for a temporary restraining order.  Lawyers Chris Finney and Curt C. Hartman represent the Liberty Township Tea Party.  The Case is No. 1:10-CV-707 in the Southern District of Ohio.

The Tea Party says Dirr was seeking signatures on a petition in support of the Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment, which seeks a statewide referendum aimed a limiting the reach of the new federal health care law:

"On the day of the primary election, Ms. Dirr set up a table outside of the electioneering-free zone at the IBEW Local 648 Union Hall from which she could engage in discussing and advocacy with her fellow citizens and solicit signatures on the petition.  Her table contained a sign which announced "Stop Obama Care' and was located outside of the electioneering free zone as was marked by the precinct election officials.  Neither the table nor Ms. Dirr obstructed anyone's access or posed any safety hazard.

"After Ms. Dirr had been at the IBEW Local 648 Local Union Hall and collecting signatures on the petitions for approximately 10 minutes, four precinct election officials (who work under direction and supervision of the Board of Elections) came outside and approached Ms. Dirr, inquiring if she was 100 feet away from the entrance to the hall.  The election officials insisted that Ms. Dirr move her table approximately 10 feet from its initial location, which Ms. Dir did and from this new location continued to solicit signatures for the petition she was circulating.

"Then approximately 10 minutes later, Defendant Jeffrey McGuffey, who is the membership development director for the IBEW, approached Ms. Dirr and demanded that she immediately cease her activities and leave the polling place all together.  But in light of Ms. Dirr's knowledge that the same or similar activities having been allowed to take place outside of the electioneering-free zone during the course of prior elections for at least 10 years, Ms. Dirr indicated that she would not leave until the Butler County Board of Elections indicated that her continued presence at the polling place location was not permissible."

Eventually, the lawsuit contends, the county elections director, Betty McGary, sent an e-mail saying that the union could decide who it would allow on its property.  Dirr said she stopped seeking signatures.  The lawsuit says she wants to show up again on Election Day Nov. 2 and resume collecting signatures outside the voting precinct.  The lawsuit says the Tea Party and its members should be allowed to "freely disseminaate information of critical importance to the elections, government and politics on election days outside of the electioneering-free zone at polling place . . . "

Cincinnati Tea Party Founder's British Boss Can't Profit From Socialized Med If Wrongly Listed As CEO Of Firm With UK Healthcare Pact

Captured from Firstpoint's homepage

IMPORTANT UPDATE: 10/15/10 12:36 pm -- I just changed the headline.  An e-mail has arrived from PCMS Datafit Inc., the company that employs Mike Wilson, saying that the John Court in Britain who is the CEO of PCMS is not the same John Court who runs Firstpoint Healthcare.  The e-mail said the information contained in the Bloomberg BusinessWeek executive profile and biography is incorrect.  Bloomberg says, "John Court serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Firstpoint Healtcare Ltd. and PCMS Datafit Inc."   This is what came in the e-mail:
 

"There are (at least) two John Court’s in the UK.  One is “ours” and is the CEO of PCMS (partially represented below).  The other John Court is the CEO, we assume, of Firstpoint.  They are definitely different people.  While PCMS’ John Court is aware of the other John Court, they have not met and he did not know he was the CEO of Firstpoint."

The Daily Bellwether passed along a link that would allow Bloomberg to correct its data, and the PCMS e-mailer said she would seek a correction:  I appreciate the link as I will attempt to contact Bloomberg to rectify the inaccuracy on their end.

Hopefully, that straightens out any confusion over the two CEOs in Britain who are named John Court.  PCMS is working to show Wilson's CEO does not have anything to do with FirstPoint, the National Health Service contractor.      

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Investment research data compiled by Bloomberg lists Cincinnati Tea Party founder Mike Wilson's British boss as CEO of Firstpoint Healthcare Ltd., which holds contracts with Britain's National Health Service. On its website, Firstpoint describes itself as "proud" to have a contract with England's governent-run healthcare system, as the accompanying document shows.  Wilson is running as a Republican for the Ohio House (District 28) in suburban Cincinnati. Wilson is challenging State Rep. Connie Pillich, a Democrat who is a lawyer and former U.S. Air Force captain. Wilson says he will: "Support nullification legislation should Congress pass a health care bill that requires consumers to purchase government-approved insurance." Wilson paints Pillich as backing out of control government spending programs, yet corporate financial data makes it looks like Wilson's bread is being buttered by execs profiting from socialized medicine in England. Wilson says he works for PCMS Datafit Inc., an IT and data-mining firm. Bloomberg says the CEO of Datafit also holds the same job at Firstpoint, which is based in Birmingham, England.  Here's a snippet from Bloomberg:

"Key developments for Firstpoint Healthcare Limited

Firstpoint Healthcare Limited Wins Multiple Awardees Contract for Nursing Services

12/19/2009

Firstpoint Healthcare Limited won a multiple awardees contract award from NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency for the supply of nurses of all bands and sub-job families including community services nurses, dental nurses, health visitors, midwives and theatre nurses to all NHS bodies within England and any other named organizations within the United Kingdom. No contract amount was specified (Ref. No.: CM/ANS/08/4961)."  Firstpoint is a subsidiary of Servoca, another British corporation that has numerous government contracts, including some with the National Health Service.

Meanwhile, Wilson says he's going to oppose government programs here: "Our Constitution was written based on the principle that governmental power is derived from the consent of the governed and that the most effective government is exercised as close to the people as is possible. Over the last 120 years, arrogant politicians have subscribed to the fatal conceit that a one-size fits all federal government could more effectively direct our country than the 50 states or hundreds of millions of people scattered across our fruited plains. As a result, the federal government has continually asserted new powers beyond those enumerated specifically, and contrary to the 10th amendment."

Wilson has been endorsed by the Ohio Tea Party PAC.  Its candidate survey says endorsed candidates have to support limited government, and candidates are expected to "support the Healthcare Freedom Amendment of the Ohio Constitution that would overturn the recently passed federal health care mandate."  But the Bloomberg data shows he works for British bosses, who run businesses that make money from nationalized health care.

UPDATE: 11:50 am -- Just noticed the comments.  Yes, Britain's National Health Service does pay for abortions.  This link will take you to the NHS and its abortion policies. I don't know that the Tea Party has a position on Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in the United States.   The first anonymous commenter makes an interesting point, but there is a counter argument.  If you work for a company that owns casinos, it would be difficult to say you are opposed to gambling; if you work for a gun maker, it is hard to say you are opposed to guns; if you work for the government, or a company that derives income from the government, it is hard to say that you really believe the government should go out of business.

UPDATE 2: 10/08/2010 5:10 pm -- Righty Ohio blogger Matt Hurley at
Weapons of Mass Discussion is hacked at me for posting about Mike Wilson and his British CEO's contract with Britain's socialized healthcare system. Hurley thinks it is the kind of stuff that will drive good citizens away from seeking public office. Hmm. Not quite up there with "Ma, ma where's my pa. He's in the White House, ha, ha, ha." But Hurley is entitled to his opinion and you should read it. That is the point of the Internet and blogs -- to let it all hang out, to unplug the corks that bottled up the flow of information.  That way you get to decide what is interesting or useful, or not.  So click on the link above to see what Matt Hurley has to say.  Here's a sample: "Complete nonsense from top to bottom.  Really, Bill, you are better than this... Is it just me or is all the stupid people out with the most frivolous and irrelevant rubbish they can find during this election cycle?  Or am I just getting too old for this crap?" By the way, Matt Hurley's blog has the coolest name in the blogosphere.

Cincinnati Tea Party Muffs U.S. Flag Etiquette: Old Glory Becomes A Snowman's Cape

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- At the moment, some folks are frostier than the snowman in the accompanying photo. Has the Cincinnati Tea Party disrespected the American flag? The picture comes from its blog. By law and custom, a U.S. flag is not supposed to be used as an ornament, nor displayed in inclement weather. And the stars are on the wrong side. Obviously, nothing intentional. Probably irrational exuberance. But the rules are encoded in federal law at Title 36 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 10, Sections 174, 175 and 176. The rules say: "The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise . . . The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free."

The Cincinnati Tea Party claims its foundation is anchored in patriotism. Certainly respect for the flag should be a priority for an organization that claims other citizens with differing political viewpoints are dedicated to the destruction of our nation, or ignorant about about the meaning of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Many of those non-Tea Party citizens have served in the military under the American flag. They pledged their lives. Imagine if the snowman with the flag as a cape scene were in front of a Democratic or Republican headquarters. There would be howling. (H/T to Jim Schifrin at the Whistleblower, who spotted this first. He suggests they violated the spirit if not the law.)