Norm Coleman: running for court jester?
Little else could explain the awesome progression of foibles that has unfolded in the legal contest Norm Coleman (used to be R-Minn.) has brought against Al Franken (probably soon D-Minn.). The contest, in my opinion, is a very good thing–making certain votes are counted properly is incredibly important and has been the subject of much redefining and maneuvering the past few cycles. He who got the most votes had ought to win.
But this particular good thing has become a comedy show. Perhaps someone should tell Coleman that he's not competing with Franken for a Saturday Night Live sketch, but a Senate seat.
If you haven't been tuned in to this recount, grab some popcorn. It's a doozy. Talking Points Memo has been doing the mighty work of following the ins and outs of the whole thing. Here are some of the best moments.
Witness the japes:
First, the Coleman camp doctored photocopies of ballots.
Later questioning by Elias of Coleman legal staffer Gloria Sonnen revealed that the submitted copies also include written notes added on to the envelopes by the Coleman team, and it's impossible to tell what writing was there originally and what was added by the Coleman camp.
Then Coleman's witnesses, which his lawyers say haven't been cherry-picked, keep spilling the beans on the stand about being cherry-picked or having legitimate reasons for rejection:
Upon cross-examination by Franken attorney Kevin Hamilton, DeMuth said he was contacted by the Republican Party and told about the problem. "They asked me if I knew my absentee ballot had been rejected. I said no," said DeMuth. "They asked me if I was a supporter of Norm Coleman, and I said yes, and they proceeded to ask me if I would like to go further."
And this:
One of the voters was Douglas Thompson, who admitted under oath that his girlfriend filled out his absentee ballot application for him, signing his name with her own hand and purporting to be himself. His ballot was rejected because the signature on his ballot envelope (his own) did not match the signature on the application (his girlfriend's). …
Thompson's story came up during the direct examination by Coleman lawyer James Langdon. So the Coleman camp fully knew this information and decided to make him into a witness.
Another one of the voters, an older man named Wesley Briest, initially responded that he voted at the polls — not by absentee. Then Coleman attorney James Langdon showed him his absentee ballot envelope, reminding him that he did not go to the polls, too.
And then this exchange, right out of Laurel and Hardy:
[Coleman attorney] Friedberg: In point of fact, even though I did something I wasn't supposed to do with the application, my ballot should still count because my signature is genuine.
Deputy Secretary of State Jim Gelbmann: Not according to the procedures we use to determine whether the signature is genuine.
Friedberg: I don't care about your procedures.
(Franken lawyer calls an objection, is sustained.)
Friedberg: Okay, I do care…
It's as if they don't want to win this thing. I suppose it should occasion anger that the Coleman camp is playing fast and loose with what should be a sober attempt to make sure votes are cast. But it's such comedy gold it's hard to get upset. Let's hope this contest gets a lot better (although a lot worse would be more entertaining.)
