[1171] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: Fwd: Re: rhett disqualified, read below
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Reuben Cummings)
Thu Mar 14 10:57:52 2002
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Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20020314035508.00d015d0@hesiod>
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 04:31:36 -0500
From: Reuben Cummings <reubano@MIT.EDU>
To: MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: <200203140850.DAA06412@melbourne-city-street.mit.edu>
I completely agree.
What Rhett is doing is just an altered version of many other candidates
have already done. A quick perusal of the platform statements and one will
notice comments such as "we'll still bring you the free food, but now we'll
bring you even more...", "More FREE events with more FREE food....", and
"I'll hook us up with lots of freebies...". Are these to be considered as
bribes also because although it is not money, all of them are worth the $10
Rhett is promising if not more.
As thunder said, I really do not see the difference between what Rhett is
promising and what every other candidate has promised to do. Promising has
become a very prevalent tactic in recent elections so why punish those that
have promised something not thought of before.
Reuben Cummings
> >this is bullshit--if rhett woulda went around BEFORE the election and gave
> >kids
> >10 for voting for him than it WOULD be bribing.
> >
> >BUT all he did was make promises contingent upon his election--if he gets
> >elected he will do a number of things, _one_ of which was give kids 10
>dollars
> >from a general fund.
> >
> >I don't see how this is any different than some u.s. prez saying he's gonna
> >give tax cuts or rebates or guarantees some other shit to citizens if he
> >gets elected.
> >
> >they promised certain things to a certain group of people if they get
> >elected, HOW
> >IN THE HELL do you think presidents(u.s.) get certain populations or people
> >to vote for them? by promising them whatever it is they want..at least
> i can
> >say Rhett/Brar INTENDED to give us the $10....
> >
> >hell, they even offered to donate it to charity--which i am SURE is doin a
> >helluva
> >lot more good than some study-break for already-spoiled mit students.
> >
> >this honestly doesn't surprise me that this happened tho, i think its sad
>the
> >kids won't get elected tho...cause of this bs
> >
> >thunderstorm
> >
> >At 01:48 AM 3/14/2002 -0500, Nicholet Vermillion wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>------- Forwarded Message
> >>
> >>Return-Path: <helenlee@MIT.EDU>
> >>
> >>cc: ua-elect@MIT.EDU, ua-candidates@MIT.EDU, ua-all@MIT.EDU,
> >> ua-announce@MIT.EDU, ua-judboard@MIT.EDU, mit-talk@MIT.EDU,
> >> mit-tech@MIT.EDU, ec-discuss@MIT.EDU
> >>Subject: Creighton/Brar ticket decision
> >>Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 01:41:51 -0500
> >>From: Helen Lee <helenlee@MIT.EDU>
> >>
> >>Hello everyone,
> >>
> >>There has been a lot of controversy about the UAP/UAVP elections this
> >>year. As the UA Election Commissioner, I'd like to share some
> >>clarifications as well as new information.
> >>
> >>The Election Commission has reviewed Dan Liston's communications to the
> >>public and to Rhett and feels that they were inappropriate. I asked
> Dan to
> >>resign from the Rules Board, and have recommended that Swapna Panuganti
> >replace
> >> him as Chair of the Rules Board.
> >>
> >>We have also reviewed the issue at hand - the Creighton/Brar ticket
> >>offering $10 to each person that places them first on the ballot. After
> >>much discussion (which was not, alas, reflected in Dan's emails) the
> >>Election Commission and Rules Board have come to a consensus that offering
> >>bribes to students that vote for them is unethical and against the spirit
> >>of the election rules and the UA Constitution. Regardless of where they
> >>would obtain the money, they are using money to pay for votes all the same.
> >>
> >>As has been pointed out, there is no specific rule in the Election Code or
> >>Campaign Rules that says that offering voters money for their vote is a
> >>violation. Apparently at least this basic rule that should have been
> there
> >>was neglected. However, the rules are only the minimal explicit set of
> >>rules to guide the Commission and Rules Board and say so explicitly. When
> >>we make decisions we are supposed to consider the spirit of the elections
> >>as well as the published rules.
> >>
> >>The Commission and Rules Board believes that our central purpose is to
> >>maintain the integrity of the election and the campaign. Allowing
> >>candidates to offer bribes to voters seriously compromises this integrity
> >>and is also obviously contrary to basic democratic principles.
> >>
> >>The decision of the Election Commission and Rules Board is that the
> >>Creighton/Brar ticket, because of their public offers to bribe students
> for
> >>their votes, are disqualified from the election. All votes for them will
> >>be awarded to the next preferences chosen on each ballot.
> >>
> >>We have no official opinion on the appropriateness of using the Bush fund
> >>for this or any other purpose.
> >>
> >>We have no official opinion on the appropriateness of promising a certain
> >>amount of money to every undergraduate (a 'refund') regardless of how
> he or
> >>she votes.
> >>
> >>I encourage everyone to think about this issue seriously and thank those
> >>that have been doing so. I realize that we have made mistakes but we are
> >>doing our best to remedy them.
> >>
> >>To Rhett and Victor - I know that the decision above is not stated in
> >>official terms with citations and such. I apologize - I do not have
> >>experience in writing such statements - but we felt it was important to
> >>distribute this information quickly and clearly. If you would like to
> >>appeal this decision, as I anticipate you will, please email the UA
> >>Judicial Review Board (ua-judboard@mit.edu) with the details of your
> appeal.
> >>
> >>To everybody - if you would like to discuss previous emails from the
> >>Election Commission or Rules Board, or this email, I urge you to speak to
> >>me personally. My phone number is 617.256.8121 and I will be in the UA
> >>office from 2:30-4pm tomorrow (Thursday). If neither of those works for
> >>you, please email me and we can arrange a time to talk.
> >>
> >>Sincerely,
> >>
> >>Helen Lee
> >>UA Election Commissioner
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>------- End of Forwarded Message
> >>
> >
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