Over BBQ and Beer, GOP Lawyers in Tampa Warn of 'Stolen' Election

TAMPA, Fla. — Stars of the conservative legal world on Thursday toasted GOP lawyers who were on hand for the Republican National Convention.

In a dimly lit, air-conditioned tent, Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), former Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.) and Patton Boggs partner Benjamin Ginsberg, among others, took the microphone to salute members of the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Republican lawyers across the United States have assisted his panel and Congress generally in bringing to light allegations of Obama administration malfeasance.

"Many of you have helped bring us clients and people that could define what is wrong with [the Obama] administration," said non-attorney Issa, whom association Chairman David Norcross named an "honorary lawyer."

Issa, an ardent critic of Attorney General Eric Holder Jr., took another jab at him, claiming that the Justice Department's top official is "finding ways not to have the voter rolls clean."

Bond, a Thompson Coburn partner, also expressed concern about the DOJ's efforts to ensure a fair election.

The former senator told the dozens of lawyers gathered that they have "a lot of work to do to make sure this election is not stolen," saying that President Obama will "stop at nothing" to get the votes he needs to win. Bond said he "has a feeling" that the DOJ won't crack down on election irregularities.

"We need you to be there," he said as lawyers munched on barbeque pork, nachos and other small-plate items and sipped on beers provided by the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the trade group for beer distributors.

Ginsberg, Mitt Romney's top campaign lawyer, thanked the lawyers for their efforts to assist the Republican presidential nominee.

"It's great to be here with all of you and celebrating Mitt Romney and his nomination tonight and his ultimate election as president of the United States," Ginsberg said. "What's really important is all of your help in this endeavor."

Comments

[Michael R. Graham]

These claims of possible voter fraud are so baseless as to be laughable -- if they weren't intended to energize the tea party to vote for a candidate they don't like merely to prevent Obama from "stealing" the election. Of course, most of the voter fraud prevention laws coming into effect are intended to prevent voters who would likely vote for Obama from enjoying their franchise, so the question of who is trying to steal what is truly ironic.

[Richard Brodsky]

I left out some words:

"... harder to vote."

[Richard Brodsky]

Ginsburg's "endeavor" being the GOP's attempt to steal the election by enacting needless laws to make it hard for those not born on third base and believing they had hit a triple?