Top Republican: "questionable" that Philly turnout was so high
Political News and Analysis from Philly.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, including complete coverage of the 2008 Pennsylvania primary election.
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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Prove it Mr Smith.— Jeff C.- There was no documentation of in-person voter fraud in Pennsylvania. There were people who had cards who were not on the rolls and had to file provisionals. I saw one such instance. Citizens have a right to vote. Government has the responsibility of making the system work better and more smoothly for all of us. Do other countries require picture id to vote? Is it really necessary?— philapat
- I worked the polls all day in the 27th Ward (University City/W.Philly/S.W. Philly) and here is what I saw: Republican election workers inside and outside the polls. No signs of fraud. High turnout due to proper election effort work. People came out because their rights are being threaten. The right to vote. The right to personal autonomy. The right to safety and security and not an "own your own" society. And things like that. There's a reason the speaker's Republican colleague wanted him to shut up, he's wrong!— BMVILLA
- Their rights, or their entitlements? — bearsfriend
- you say repubs are dirty and sleazy yet the democrats were not allowing the repubs in the polling stations. are you that ignorant— mkmholla
- Like I said, show us where Democrats didn't let repubs vote. You are just as big a blowhard as tr. No facts, just rightiwing lies and whining. — mike l
- Newsflash, Philly votes democrat. Stop the presses. Seriously, what is this guy trying to say again? If there wasn't this imagined fraud, Philly would have went republican? It seems like the GOP hasn't learned their lesson. They are still trying the same old tired tricks. The country has spoken. We don't want them anymore. Learn from it, and make your party viable again.— Hemingway
- All of these right-wing comments are a perfect illustration of why the Republican Party, as it is currently constituted, is over. Mike Murphy said that the coming war within the Republican Party will not be between moderates and conservatives but between those who can count and those who can't. These commenters are the dead-enders. Any party that intends to stay relevant will cast them off. It's time to face the fact it's never going back to 1980 (or in some of your cases, 1950).— abendteuer
- ha. but there's nothing odd about the fact that record numbers of black voters have come out for this and the past election. but in 2004, when a white guy was running for the democrats, the brothas and sistas couldn't be bothered.
this guy is an idiot. philadelphians are tired of republicans? meanwhile, the city, which has been under democratic rule for decades, is in debt up to it's knees, struggling to provide basic public services, and has one of the nation's worst grad rates. they'll just keep raising taxes as the people who pay them leave for the burbs and the welfare mentality continues to become the norm in our neighborhoods.
— Zero - God, for those who backed the candidate with fewer votes, may their anger subside so that they can effectively and actively participate in the future of our country. As we grew up, we were taught to overcome anger and hatred. We tried to pass that on to our children. Help us not to fall-back into this "feeling of our parents." Show us the way.— BigDipper
- And how exactly is it that showing your ID is racist?— dtcoder
- Dude, we just spent two years talking about this, countless primary debates, three presidential debates, one vice-presidential debate,countless political robo-calls, and television advertisement campaigns spending not millions of dollars but billions of dollars. If you don't know now, go ask a Harrisburg Republican, if any got sent back. Better still, take a course in the topic. I'm sure the people who conceived of the topic will be glad to spend a few months educating you on the topic, hopefully for free. — BigDipper
- think about it: the only real voter fraud would be with people who set up the machines. why bother hiring 10 people to vote fraudulently when that is too time consuming and will probably do nothing. and lulu, for 225 year we had no voter ID. let's keep that way. your name and signature and the people who work the polls know you should be enough.— joegrink
- When I'm blind and I can't see, I'm gonna lead the G.0.P.!— BigDipper
- The voter ID trick is now law and will be enforced next time around. Dementia wards of nursing homes were cleaned out and the patients loaded on buses where their "care takers" wheeled them into voting booths and filled out ballots for them. This on top of the usual "get on the bus, here's $10, vote for BO" Philly has done for generations.— sandiego1969
