Top Republican: "questionable" that Philly turnout was so high
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Top Republican: "questionable" that Philly turnout was so high
The day after election day is supposed to be a time for the parties to kiss and make up.
Not today. Not in Pennsylvania.
A war of words, of sorts, has broken out after Republican House Speaker Sam Smith seemed to suggest today that turnout in some Philadelphia precincts was "staggering" - almost too high to believe.
"You know I was told that 90 percent of the precincts in Philadelphia County turned out over 90 percent of voters," said Smith, of Jefferson County.
Asked to explain his comments, Smith added: "I’m saying 90 percent of the precincts turning out 90 percent of the voters is ... It’s questionable. I know counties where the people work their tail off trying to get people to come out to vote and they don’t hit 90 percent in 90 percent of the precincts."
Asked whether he was saying there was fraud, Smith replied: "Maybe a good investigative reporter could track some of that down."
As Smith was talking, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) was, not-so-subtly, trying to end the line of questioning. He stood up. He called out the name of GOP spokesman Steve Miskin, in hopes, no doubt, the latter would put an end to it. He tapped his fingers on his leg.
But Smith was already off.
And then, so were Democrats.
Democratic Senator Vincent Hughes, of Philadelphia, called those comments "offensive," "outrageous" and borderline racist.
He called Republicans "dinosaurs," and said Philadelphians came out to vote because they were tired of "hard-right" Republican agenda.
"If they believe there was a corruption of the process, then go to court and challenge it. Show the people of Pennsylvania," said Hughes. "Beyond that, shut up."
Smith's math does not add up or not. Overall, voter turnout in Philadelphia was around 60 percent, according to state election figures. For Smith to be right, 90 percent of voters in 90 percent of precincts would have meant turnout of more than 80 percent.
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- And that was not done by incompetence. It was done to 70 different poll watchers, and it was coordinated, thus making it corrupt...Taking 6 hours to correct, not good.
— bearsfriend - Repeating a tired old lie doesn't make it true. ACORN registered voters. When ACORN discovered the occasional falsified registration, they reported it. ACORN had nothing to do with voter impersonation, which happens about once in ten million votes.— gordonminor
- You know, somehow I don;t believe it was ACORN or any Democratic group who was making calls and distributing literature in Black and Latin communities telling them the could vote today, Wednesday, or telling the people they could have someone pickup and deliver their absentee ballots for them. Or tell folks they absolutely had to have a correct voter ID or they would be refused the right to vote or maybe be prosecuted. Hmmm,I wonder what other party types were doing that? — mike l
- I think that you should have ID to vote and I hope it passes in the future. There is absolutely no excuse not to have photo ID— lulu
- It's the law in Pennsylvania now, and in future elections WILL be mandated. — bearsfriend
- Is Congress willing to put Nathan Sproul out of business just like they did with ACORN? Or is he safe because he has friends in high places? www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/virginia-voter-fraud-case-expands-to-focus-on-gop-firm/2012/11/02/76285252-24eb-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html— afrishkoff
- Maybe a good investigative reporter can track that down. We dont investigate the party in power here, we;re on the team. While youre at it, which judge sent the 75 republicans poll workers home and why isnt he in jail. Sorry, we just spent 9 montsh telling everyone that there is no voter fraud in this city when everyone knows thats a lie.— tr88
- Show us the voter fraud, tr, no I mean real voter fraud. Not your rightwing lies and party myths. C'mon, genius, where were repubs turned away from voting. Which polls? Where are the complaints with the election bureau. Which judge and where, sent 75 repub poll watchers home? C'mon, chapter and verse. Real facts, not rightwing lies you come up with all the time. That's all repubs can do anymore is lie. Well, the two biggest liars got their heads handed to them last night. Maybe you are #3. — mike l
- Lol. I guess the bible-thumping, white rich folk in Kensington didn't want to wait in line. Look at the results in all major metropolitan areas. The GOP has been reduced to redneck racist wifebeaters who use the bible as both a history and science book and the rich white owners who lead them like dogs with "birth certificate" diversions. And until these math-challenged morons figure out that Hispanics exist and will very soon out number them, let alone sperm-receptacles, ooops, sorry, women, they should stop trying to control them like some civic SPCA.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatusTheSecond
- Voted D this year and I believe the voter ID is appropriate. The timing of it was the shady part.— Vote for Dickie
of course there was fraud. it's the city of philadelphia. corrupt and contented— hannibal barca- So what new innovative ways will the Republicans devise to keep people, who are not disposed to vote for them, from voting in future elections ? Maybe we will all be required to show an NRA membership card, or your old University of Mississippi student ID.— candidly
- yeah right!! ... and a woman of rape or a molested girl child's body will automatically abort the baby she is carrying, you insipid numbskull you!!!— taught2fearGOD
- … did you expect democrats would just lie down and let the likes of you roll roughshod over them while they stayed home and chanted kumbaya? what a twit!! if you are searching for fraud, ask mitt about the blind bank account; trying to uncover that huge deception ought to occupy your little mind for a long time to come!— taught2fearGOD
