STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN MAJOR R. OWENS AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE JOINT SESSION TO COUNT THE ELECTORAL BALLOTS

January 6, 2005

Mr. Speaker: We have preached democracy in Afghanistan. We have preached democracy in Iraq. Now the time has come for us to accelerate the process of more fully practicing what we preach. Our great nation is the premium democratic government of the world and we are all proud of that fact. A unifying position of both Democrats and Republicans is that we support democracy everywhere. We believe that where there is democracy the people are inevitably better off. I wholeheartedly endorse the democracy mission of America. But I am here today to beg the chosen decision makers here in the Congress to take a giant step forward to bolster America's world crusade for democracy. As we strive for a more perfect union let us unite to end hypocrisy and to construct a more perfect one person, one vote electoral process.

Today it is appropriate that we address our remarks not only to the citizens of America but also to the people of Afghanistan and to the people of Iraq. We should begin by apologizing for this present electoral system, which undercuts the principle of one person, one vote. Our efforts to achieve free elections in Iraq would be totally shattered if we were to propose today that that nation be divided into 30 or 50 units with each unit granted the power to determine its own election procedures; to select its own equipment; and to appoint its own administrators without any uniform national standards. Our historic compromise granting certain powers to the States that was necessary for the birth of this nation must no longer be used as an excuse for the abuse of the free and democratic election process here in America. The abuse in certain sections of the country, which once openly used violence and intimidation, has been outlawed. All other abuses involving voter suppression and dirty tricks should immediately be made federal crimes.

For too long our nation has accepted and has tolerated blatant sabotage of free elections. Florida offered abundant evidence of such sabotage in the year 2000. Now, in 2004, Ohio has produced a multiple list of irregularities and we are demanding a more thorough investigation. In Ohio the failure of 25 to 30 voting machines to operate correctly with one precinct recording a negative 25 million votes; the forced waiting periods of three hours in the rain in African American neighborhoods, and ten hours at a polling site for college students; these are only a few of the outrageous examples of voter disenfranchisement in Ohio.

In honor of those who have fought in the past and those still on the battlefield for the cause of true democracy it is our duty to first investigate and then to legislate to overcome all of the poisoning obstacles which obstruct the consolidation of a more perfect national election process. This is a vitally necessary action which will escalate our momentum toward the obtainment of a more perfect nation. God bless America. And God bless democracy everywhere.
 

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