Congressman brags about stealing election

Posted by Evan Derkacz at 8:26 AM on September 22, 2006.

As if there weren't enough about Maryland's undecided Democratic primary to shake our faith in the system. According to Howie Klein, progressive Donna Edwards sent an email to supporters detailing a disturbing conversation that took place on the House floor.

Remember: Edwards' attempt to unseat good ol' boy incumbent Al Wynn includes a nasty primary fraught with violence and voting problems courtesy of Diebold. But here's the conversation in question:

BARTON: Down in Texas, we had a Democratic primary about 50 years ago that Lyndon Johnson won by 54 votes. And he got the nickname "Landslide Lyndon." We have Mr. Wynn next. He had a little bit of a tussle last week, but he did win. And so, I want to recognize "Landslide Wynn" for any opening statement that he wishes...

WYNN: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. In fact, they're still counting, but we're quite optimistic. And I did take a couple pages out of Lyndon's book, so if I win, it can be attributed to Texas know-how.

(LAUGHTER)

(UNKNOWN): Did you (inaudible)?

BARTON: I hope not. I hope you win fair and square.

(LAUGHTER)

WYNN: A win is a win.

Klein notes, quite correctly, that this is: "something a Federal Prosecutor ought to be examining." (DownWithTyranny)

Evan Derkacz is a New York-based writer and contributor to AlterNet.