[North-NV-Greens] Fwd: [Recount-news] COBB 2004 RELEASE: COBB BLASTS NM SUPREME COURT RECOUNT DECISION

[Paul Etxeberri]

>
>
>The Cobb-LaMarche Campaign
>Working to Make Every Vote Count!
>----------------------------------
>
>COBB/LaMARCHE 2004 GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
>
>http://www.votecobb.org
>
>
>
>NEWS RELEASE
>
>
>
>For immediate release:  December 23, 2004
>
>Contact:   Rick Lass, NM Coordinator at 505.920.0540
>
>                 Blair Bobier, Media Director at 414.364.1596
>
>
>
>    GREEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BLASTS NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT RECOUNT
>
>DECISION
>
>
>
>             Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb said that
>
>yesterday's decision by the New Mexico Supreme Court, denying Cobb's request
>
>to immediately start a recount of the presidential vote, was an insult to
>
>the democratic process and the citizens of New Mexico.
>
>             "We are seeking a recount in New Mexico to protect the right to
>
>vote and ensure that all votes are counted.  We came here expecting
>
>cooperation, or at least compliance with the law, from New Mexico's Governor
>
>and Secretary of State.  However, despite broad support across the political
>
>spectrum for an honest audit of New Mexico's voting system, we have been
>
>stonewalled and obstructed at every step by the Democratic Party leadership
>
>of this state," said Cobb.
>
>             "Hundreds of rank and file Democrats, along with Greens,
>
>Libertarians, and others, signed up as observers of the recount. Governor
>
>Richardson's actions, and the Supreme Court's tacit approval of them, are an
>
>insult to the democratic process and the citizens of New Mexico," added
>
>Cobb.
>
>             The Supreme Court's action on Wednesday, declining to hear Cobb's
>
>petition for a writ of mandamus, upheld a State Canvassing Board decision
>
>that Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik pay the full cost of the recount
>
>in advance; with the Board estimating that cost at $1.4 million.   That
>
>decision was contrary to New Mexico law; there is no legal requirement that
>
>campaigns pay the full cost in advance, nor any way to accurately estimate
>
>the cost of the recount before it is completed.
>
>             "The New Mexico Supreme Court has apparently decided it is more
>
>interested in protecting the rights of corporations who make electronic
>
>voting machines than the rights of citizens to ensure that their votes are
>
>counted accurately.  To call this a travesty of justice is understating the
>
>nature of the outcome," said Rick Lass, New Mexico coordinator for the
>
>recount effort.
>
>             "Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Supreme Court has
>
>supported Secretary of State Vigil-Giron's blatant disregard for New Mexico
>
>state law," said Lass, referring to a 2001 decision to redefine eligibility
>
>for major party status which affected the Greens and other small parties in
>
>the state.
>
>             Cobb-LaMarche Media Director Blair Bobier said that the campaign
>
>is still "exploring all available options" on how to proceed in New Mexico
>
>in light of the Supreme Court ruling.
>
>             For more information about the Cobb-LaMarche campaign and its
>
>recount efforts in Ohio and New Mexico, see http://www.votecobb.org.
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>recount-news mailing list
>recount-news at lists.votecobb.org
>http://lists.votecobb.org/mailman/listinfo/recount-news


-- 
Paul Etxeberri

"Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow"   ---Chateaubriand