PA Dems will challenge Green candidate's petition!

I received an email this evening from the PA Dems that states they will challenge the Green Party candidate for US Senate petitions because of problems with the company that did the petition drive.

I thought I smelled a foul odor emanating from these petitions.......

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     CONTACT:  
August 2, 2006                                                                              PHONE: (717)  

PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY POISED TO CHALLENGE GREEN PARTY PETITIONS

Rooney cites previous fraudulent activity by Florida-based,
signature-gathering company

HARRISBURG: Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney today said he is poised to challenge the nominating petitions for the Green Party candidate who has received substantial financial assistance from Sen. Rick Santorum.

Rooney based his concern on repeated instances of fraudulent activity by JSM, Inc. of Florida that pays its employees to gather signatures.

"This is a questionable and controversial firm that has a history of fraudulent activity where many signatures, and candidates in some instances, have been thrown off the ballot in various states," Rooney said. "We will ensure that this doesn't take place in Pennsylvania and that the integrity of the electoral process is safeguarded."

According to the Akron Beacon Journal (10/13/04), JSM has a "history of `widespread' and `substantial' fraud."

"Not only does this company have a history of rampant forgeries, but it has also hired convicted felons, engaged in bait and switch scams and has also hired non-Pennsylvania residents to collect signatures, a blatant violation of state law," Rooney continued. "This firm's tactics are despicable and will not be tolerated in Pennsylvania."

In addition, Santorum has admitted to illegally funneling contributions to the Green Party's candidate through `inking' transfers that were excessive according to federal campaign laws. Contributions made to federal candidates are limited to $2,100 while inkind transfers top off at $5,000.

Santorum supporters funneled $66,000 to the Green Party's candidate.

"Santorum is pulling out all the stops and he's unashamed of his deplorable tactics," Rooney said. "It is absolutely stunning to watch while his campaign continues to implode in the midst of sagging polling numbers, his unmistakable ties to President Bush, his voting with him 98 percent of the time and a mish mash of other bizarre events that have left voters scratching their heads."

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This company has been accused of using "sleazy" tatics to get signatures on petitions in Massachusetts last year:
http://www.knowthyneighbor.org/...

It gets even better, like this article from the 2004 election:
http://www.sptimes.com/...
College students were shocked to learn that they had registered to vote as Republicans.  This story is rather interesting because it follows a trail of this company and others associated with it that are controlled by conservatives.  Surprise, surprise!

I have a feeling that this will all backfire on Tricky Rick and the GOP.  Santorum and the GOP just ooze with sleaze, don't they?