Tag: Jason Bauer

PONTIAC, Mich., Jan., 11, 2012 - A second Democrat Party official was sentenced today for his role in creating a fake "Tea Party" in order to confuse voters in the 2010 election cycle. Jason Bauer served as political director to the Oakland County Democratic Party and as campaign manager to then-secretary of state candidate Jocelyn Benson. Former Oakland County Democrat Party Chairman Mike McGuinness was sentenced on similar charges in December. Bauer was charged with five felony counts and sentenced to probation by Oakland County Circuit Judge James Alexander.

"The actions by these Democrat Party officials is disappointing and was a serious attempt to undermine our system of government," said Bobby Schostak, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. "Voters expect political parties to disagree not lie, cheat or steal. These individuals attempted to confuse voters and manipulate the election by fraudulently creating a political party. It is disappointing such high level Democrat officials were involved in this scheme and even more troubling to learn that one served in such a prominent position to a candidate running to be Michigan's chief elections officer. We can only hope that my counter-part at the Democrat Party joins me in condemning these individuals and their action."

The scheme involved creating a fake Tea Party by Mark Steffek of Clio, Mich., which then held a "convention" to nominate 23 candidates to various legislative offices both at the state and county level. The names of the 23 candidates were then submitted to the Michigan Department of Secretary of State. An investigation into the names by then-Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson revealed that some of the candidates were not aware that the fake Tea Party had nominated them, signatures were forged and at least one no longer lived in Michigan.

Jason Bauer, the former Oakland County Democratic Party operative who was busted for his role in last summer's failed attempt to qualify a slate of tea party candidates for the Michigan ballot, pleaded no contest this morning to five felonies related to the scheme.

Bauer, 31, of Waterford entered the plea of nolo contendere (which is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction under Michigan law) to all of the charges for his role in what became known as "the fake tea party," an elaborate effort to siphon votes away from Republicans in the 2010 election by running a slate of candidates under the tea party banner.

Did Jason Bauer and Michael McGuinness pray to the great and all-powerful Obama for guidance?

Did MDP Chair Mark Brewer appear in a pink tutu and confess to planning the whole thing (and then gripe that he woulda gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those pesky, meddling Right Michigan kids)?

{Shudder}

Okay, so maybe it wasn't that unusual.

Granny found the golden ticket. (H/T to grannynanny for this breaking story)

Or at least the latest news of our friends in Oakland county:

Michael McGuinness and Jason Bauer both stood mute at an arraignment this morning before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge James Alexander. The pair were charged under a one-man grand jury convened last fall to investigate claims that phony candidates were trying to get on the ballot to split the Republican vote.

Obviously things are under control. As they are at all times within the Democrat party of Michigan.

Mark Steffek's puppet masters,the Democrats are likely a little hung over this morning.  Mark Brewer is likely cleaning off his hand and counting the pennies left after suffering another failure of epic proportions in an attempt to deceive Michiganders.  The Detroit News reports that the ballot will not see the Gadsden symbol on it this November:

"In light of the plaintiff's failure to strictly comply with the requirements (of state election law), plaintiff fails to establish a clear legal duty on the part of the defendant to certify the petition," the court ruled.

Short of an expensive and approved emergency challenge to the MI SC, its done, over.. fin.

As there is more information beginning to appear that demonstrates fraud in their efforts, a further effort to gain ballot status by the Mudhens of the Democrat party is likely to see even increased resistance.  Additional attempts to move it forward have even better chances to fail.

They partied hard, drank the wine of deceit, and this morning Democrat hands across the state are holding onto ceramic rings of support.  

The Donkeys that have brought us the RMGN, High taxes, Granholm, Obama, and this year the FAKE TEA party, have taken a blow on the face.  The Fake Tea Party has been denied its position on the November ballot for now:

Petition forms didn't have "The" before "Tea Party" on it, which is the proper name that the mysterious startup political party used on other campaign documents. The vote to approve The Tea Party petition failed in a 2-2 vote with the two Republican board members voting not to approve it.

Michael Hodge, the attorney representing The Tea Party, said he expected to be in the Michigan Court of Appeals as early as Wednesday. At issues is whether the missing word on the petitions is "substantially" not in compliance with the petition gathering laws, given that there is another entity claiming the title of "Tea Party," without the definite article "The" in front of the name.

Although forgetting "The" in the proper name was considered a technicality by Hodge, there were bigger issues presented to the canvassers during the Monday meeting, including allegations of fraud involving the creation of The Tea Party.

You've read about the MDP schenanagians involved with their cheap knock-off of the Tea Party here in Michigan here, here, here, here...oh, you get the point.

Anyway, the first ax has apparently fallen.