Republican speaker in Michigan fixes election, but it's not illegal!

Here's a little info on the bogus tea party candidates I was talking about. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2010/10/20/republican-runyan-pushes-back-on-fake-tea-party

I can understand the issue with someone switching parties in the middle of an election, but lies and fraud to manipulate an election are just par for the course in politics. I'm not saying I approve of any of it, I just don't know what laws there are banning it. Remember the bogus Republican that ran in the NY 23rd? She dropped out 3 days before the election and endorsed the Democrat.

I do see the similarities between these two cases. However, in this case you have PROOF that the House Speaker knew of the fraud, and not only approved of it, but explained what they had to do to make it work. I don't think you should be able to change parties beyond a certain date in a race, but that is up to the states, and the political parties. But, I do think it should be illegal for an elected official, or a member of a party to help someone break the law. The only thing that saved everyone involved was the parents of this kid who told him not to take the money. If this kid takes the money, they are all in jail. I just don't understand how it is that it is illegal to threaten to kill an elected official (but not do it), but it isn't illegal for an elected official to try to bribe someone. Both acts were never followed through with, but both acts are illegal.

Andy, the leader of a political party conspired to rig the election by not only planning how to deceive the voters in the district, but also assisted in making sure that his patsy would be allowed to run against him. I think, and mind you I am not sure, that they wanted to cover up what they were doing, and by having a republican, and democrat running for office it wouldn't look so bad from someone who didn't know the history of the election. The e-mails explain exactly what they did, and how much the speaker knew about the situation. There was a conspiracy to commit fraud here, the only thing that saved everyone in this situation was the kids parents who told him not to take the money. If he took the money they would all be in jail. This SHOULD be illegal, and both men SHOULD step down. But, we all know that ain't going to happen. But, if Harry Reid did this, would you be calling for him to step down?

To answer your question, no. I would not require a criminal investigation of Harry Reid if he did exactly what happened here. At least, if this is all there is. If there's more, then that could change my answer. First of all, I think you are confused about who we're talking about. This isn't Speaker of the House of Representatives in Washington DC. That's John Boehner. This is James "Jase" Bolger, who is Speaker of the Michigan House of Reps, part of the Michigan State government. It's an honest mistake. Similar name, similar position. But Bolger, isn't a leader in the GOP by even the most wild stretch of imagination. This is why it isn't front page national news. If it was, then it would be. But to the point... I have read the entire thing front to back. I have specifically looked closely at what Bolger said and did. He asked if Schmidt had found a Democrat challenger. Is that fraudulent? No. Not anymore than someone asking Mike Tyson if he found a challenger to his heavy weight title. He asked if Schmidt's Demo was in the district. Is that Fraudulent? No. In fact it indicates he wanted the challenger to be legal. He asked if Schmidt's Demo was a legal resident for 30 days. Is that Fraudulent? No. Again, it show he wanted to follow the law. Now again... if there is more too this than what is here, maybe you have a point. But nothing that I find in this text indicates he's an accomplice in the crime. Schmidt himself though, very different. He clearly offered to pay someone to pretend to be a Demo Challenger. He then had that person falsely claim have lived at the address for 30 days. Finally, he offered him money after the start of an investigation. Depending on how you look at it, Schmidt was either walking right on the edge, or passed a find line. Very shady if you ask me. But of course Schmidt was originally a Democrat. And last I checked most Democrats do not believe in absolutes. Like moral right and wrong. If you don't have absolutes, then why is this so bad?

Andy, I am not confused, that is why I state many times this happened in Michigan. Secondly, when Schmidt tells Bolger that the patsy didn't live in his district, Bolger said he could fix that. It may not be illegal to hand pick the people that are running against each other in an election, but it sure isn't ethical. Candidates should run for office because they want the job, not to make money so someone can win an election. Schmidt we a democrat, but if he is your prime example of a republican, than I think the party won't be winning many elections. Isn't Bolger a career Republican politician? Pleas show me where he tells Schmidt that his is wrong, and it could be illegal. Remember, if this kid takes the money ALL OF THEM ARE IN JAIL!!!!! Is that really the party you want to support?