[EL] ELB News and Commentary 12/8/11
John Tanner
john.k.tanner at gmail.com
Thu Dec 8 08:34:04 PST 2011
Did Gingrich Break the Law with the Promise to Appoint John Bolton
Secretary of State? <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26225>
I checked Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses (by DOJ Office of Public
Integrity) and not only is Rick right that a violation requires a quid pro
quo (conditioning appointment on support), but even a quid pro quo is ok,
in DOJ's view, when it comes to senior policy officials, i.e. all schedule
C personnel.
On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 11:00 AM, Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu> wrote:
> “GOP Nonprofit Backs Electoral College”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26264>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:57 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26264>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> *Roll Call*:
> <http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_71/GOP-Nonprofit-Backs-Electoral-College-210872-1.html>“An
> obscure but well-funded campaign to reinvent the Electoral College and
> elect the president via a national popular vote has alarmed GOP leaders,
> who have mounted a counterattack with the help of a newly revived
> nonprofit.”
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26264&title=%E2%80%9CGOP%20Nonprofit%20Backs%20Electoral%20College%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in electoral college <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=44> | Comments
> Off
> “Democrat-led petition drive on congressional boundries lacking cash,
> relying on volunteers” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26261>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:53 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26261>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> News<http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/12/democrat-led_petition_drive_on.html>from Ohio.
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26261&title=%E2%80%9CDemocrat-led%20petition%20drive%20on%20congressional%20boundries%20lacking%20cash%2C%20relying%20on%20volunteers%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in direct democracy <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=62>,
> redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>, referendum<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=56>
> | Comments Off
> “Voters want information online, but will they find it?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26258>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:51 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26258>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> That’s the lead story in this week’s Electionline Weekly<http://www.electionline.org/index.php/electionline-weekly>
> .
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26258&title=%E2%80%9CVoters%20want%20information%20online%2C%20but%20will%20they%20find%20it%3F%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments
> Off
> “SC Republicans met with Colbert over rights to rename presidential
> primary after comedian” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26256>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:50 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26256>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> AP reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/sc-republicans-met-with-colbert-over-rights-to-rename-presidential-primary-after-comedian/2011/12/07/gIQAnLZ2cO_story.html>
> .
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26256&title=%E2%80%9CSC%20Republicans%20met%20with%20Colbert%20over%20rights%20to%20rename%20presidential%20primary%20after%20comedian%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in election law "humor" <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=52>, political
> parties <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25> | Comments Off
> “Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26254>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:49 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26254>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> *NYT *reports<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/us/blagojevich-expresses-remorse-in-courtroom-speech.html?_r=1&ref=politics>
> .
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26254&title=%E2%80%9CBlagojevich%20Sentenced%20to%2014%20Years%20in%20Prison%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in conflict of interest laws <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=20>,
> ethics investigations <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=42> | Comments Off
> “Revisiting Newt Gingrich’s 1997 Ethics Investigation”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26252>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:47 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26252>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> NPR strolls<http://www.npr.org/2011/12/08/143333594/revisiting-newt-gingrichs-1997-ethics-investigation>down memory lane.
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26252&title=%E2%80%9CRevisiting%20Newt%20Gingrich%E2%80%99s%201997%20Ethics%20Investigation%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in conflict of interest laws <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=20>,
> ethics investigations <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=42> | Comments Off
> “The Tweets, Tics And Turns Of Twitter Politics”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26250>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:46 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26250>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> NPR<http://www.npr.org/2011/12/08/143292205/the-tweets-tics-and-turns-of-twitter-politics>:
> “*Political convo on Twitter is more opinionated, more negative. Diff
> from that in blogs or lamestream media, sez new study by Pew. Like duh!”*
>
> This is something I explore in my forthcoming book, *The Voting Wars*<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=22990>,
> in terms of the impact on social media on any post-election meltdown.
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26250&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20Tweets%2C%20Tics%20And%20Turns%20Of%20Twitter%20Politics%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in social media and social protests<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=58>,
> The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
> Texas Tribune Interviews Trevor Potter<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26247>
> Posted on December 8, 2011 7:40 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26247>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Here<http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/campaign-finance/trevor-potter-tt-interview/print/>
> .
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26247&title=Texas%20Tribune%20Interviews%20Trevor%20Potter&description=>
> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
> Off
> “Colorado Secretary of State proposing changes to voting machine
> security” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26245>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 8:58 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26245>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> *Denver Post*: <http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19490338> “The
> Colorado Secretary of State’s office is considering changes that would
> relax security around electronic voting machines, making the
> already-vulnerable equipment more susceptible to hacking, opponents of the
> equipment and the draft rules said today.”
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26245&title=%E2%80%9CColorado%20Secretary%20of%20State%20proposing%20changes%20to%20voting%20machine%20security%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in voting technology <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40> | Comments
> Off
> WaPo-ABC News Poll Applies Instant Runoff Voting to Cain Supporters<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26241>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 8:51 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26241>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Here<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postabcpoll_120411.html>and
> here<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gingrich-emerges-as-clear-front-runner-in-iowa/2011/12/05/gIQAbWxNYO_story_1.html>
> :
>
> 6. If the Republican caucus were being held today, and the candidates
> were: (Michele Bachmann), (Herman Cain*), (Newt Gingrich), (Jon Huntsman),
> (Ron Paul), (Rick Perry), (Mitt Romney), (Rick Santorum), who would you
> support? Which candidate are you leaning toward?
>
> 12/4/11 - NET LEANED PREFERENCE
>
> Potential Likely
> caucus-goers caucus-goers
> Newt Gingrich 28 33
> Mitt Romney 18 18
> Ron Paul 16 18
> Rick Perry 12 11
> Michele Bachmann 10 8
> Rick Santorum 4 7
> Jon Huntsman 2 2
> Other 1 *
> None of these 4 1
> Would not vote * 0
> No opinion 4 3
>
> *Cain supporters were reallocated based on their second choice.
>
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26241&title=WaPo-ABC%20News%20Poll%20Applies%20Instant%20Runoff%20Voting%20to%20Cain%20Supporters&description=>
> Posted in alternative voting systems<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=63>
> | Comments Off
> “The Influence Industry: Gingrich case raises question, ‘What is a
> lobbyist?’” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26238>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 8:46 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26238>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> *WaPo* reports <http://t.co/rxSFy56i>.
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26238&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20Influence%20Industry%3A%20Gingrich%20case%20raises%20question%2C%20%E2%80%98What%20is%20a%20lobbyist%3F%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in legislation and legislatures<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27>,
> lobbying <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28> | Comments Off
> “Obama Administration White House blurs line with campaign”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26235>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 7:15 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26235>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Must-read Josh Gerstein post<http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/1211/White_House_blurs_line_with_campaign.html>:
> “It’s illegal in some places to eat peanuts in church. And in some states
> it’s illegal to sell beer on Sundays. But could it really be illegal to
> talk politics in the White House press briefing room?”
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26235&title=%E2%80%9CObama%20Administration%20%20White%20House%20blurs%20line%20with%20campaign%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, conflict of
> interest laws <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=20> | Comments Off
> Sragow: Americans Elect: A More Democratic Alternative<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26231>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 2:46 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26231>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Earlier I invited Darry Sragow of Americans Elect to write a response to
> my *Politico *oped <http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67965.html>,
> “A Democracy Deficit at Americans Elect.” He has sent along the following
> response, which I am reprinting in its entirety (click the to read the
> entire piece).
>
> *Americans Elect: A More Democratic Alternative*
>
> By Darry Sragow
>
> We’d like to begin by thanking Professor Hasen for the opportunity to post
> to this blog, and for his willingness to engage in a dialogue with us about
> the Americans Elect process.
>
> Next summer we’ll host a secure, nonpartisan online convention to let the
> American people directly nominate a presidential candidate for the first
> time in American history. The nominee will be on the ballot in all 50
> states. Successfully executing a monumental task like this requires a
> collaboration of the best minds available, so we appreciate Professor
> Hasen’s comments and welcome his critical eye. We believe that tough
> questions can only help us clarify our mission, improve our process, and
> help political insiders and the American electorate understand the
> incredible potential of this historic opportunity.
>
> Professor Hasen’s critique of Americans Elect addresses four essential
> issues: the democracy of our process; the validity of our nonprofit status;
> the security and reliability of our online convention; and the source of
> our funding.
>
> Let’s address each of these issues in order.
>
> Continue reading → <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26231#more-26231>
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26231&title=Sragow%3A%20Americans%20Elect%3A%20A%20More%20Democratic%20Alternative&description=>
> Posted in ballot access <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46>, third
> parties <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=47> | Comments Off
> “Rockland Independence Party chairwoman pleads guilty to perjury,
> forgery charges” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26228>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 2:32 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26228>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Here<http://www.lohud.com/article/20111207/NEWS03/112070330/Rockland-Independence-Party-chairwoman-pleads-guilty-perjury-forgery-charges>
> .
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26228&title=%E2%80%9CRockland%20Independence%20Party%20chairwoman%20pleads%20guilty%20to%20perjury%2C%20forgery%20charges%E2%80%9D&description=>
> Posted in campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>
> | Comments Off
> Did Gingrich Break the Law with the Promise to Appoint John Bolton
> Secretary of State? <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26225>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 2:30 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26225>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Political Wire flags<http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/07/gingrich_promise_breaks_the_law.html>the issue. The federal statute bars making such promises “for the purpose
> of procuring support in his candidacy.” I read this as requiring proof
> Gingrich said he would appoint Bolton for the purpose of getting Bolton’s
> support. More likely, Gingrich made the promise to gain support from
> voters.
>
> I recall a similar issue around alleged promises of employment in the
> Obama administration to Joe Sestak to get him to drop out of the race
> against Arlen Specter. After nosing around, I found virtually no
> prosecutions or caselaw developing such rules.
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26225&title=Did%20Gingrich%20Break%20the%20Law%20with%20the%20Promise%20to%20Appoint%20John%20Bolton%20Secretary%20of%20State%3F&description=>
> Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments
> Off
> “Paycheck Protection” Measure Makes It to CA Ballot<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26222>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 2:24 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26222>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> See this press release<http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/press-releases/2011/db11-059.pdf>
> .
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26222&title=%E2%80%9CPaycheck%20Protection%E2%80%9D%20Measure%20Makes%20It%20to%20CA%20Ballot&description=>
> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, direct
> democracy <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=62> | Comments Off
> Will Today Be the Day… <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26217>
> Posted on December 7, 2011 8:00 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=26217>
> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> SCOTUS decides on Texas’s request for a stay in the redistricting cases?
> [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D26217&title=Will%20Today%20Be%20the%20Day%E2%80%A6&description=>
> Posted in redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>, Supreme
> Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>, Voting Rights Act<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
> | Comments Off
> --
> Rick Hasen
> Professor of Law and Political Science
> UC Irvine School of Law
> 401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
> Irvine, CA 92697-8000
> 949.824.3072 - office
> 949.824.0495 - fax
> rhasen at law.uci.edu
> http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
> http://electionlawblog.org
>
> _______________________________________________
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