Landrum's voting scandal

Madison County Journal Editorial - Landrum's voting scandal - David Landrum has some explaining to do. So far, his ever-evolving story about his voting record isn't holding water.

The next Landrum press release could very possibly cite the Madison County voter roll "scandal" that was breaking at press time as proof of the corruption he's been alleging. The problem is, Landrum has never stated unequivocally that he voted regularly during the nearly decade in question. The record reflects that Landrum didn't vote after November 2000 or before November 2007. The Madison County voter roll story is overblown, by all accounts.

A blog entry late Wednesday by Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger said the Landrum campaign is likely to ramp up previously vague allegations they've made of possible tampering with voting documents in Hinds County. Because Landrum was hit in the Madison County voter roll purge, they will suggest a similar pattern exists in Hinds County.

"That's a stretch, considering that the Hinds County affidavit voter register remains available for inspection. But look for a conspiracy scenario to emerge that attempts to give the Landrum campaign some cover on what they've already admitted - manufacturing false evidence to bolster Landrum's voting claims," Salter wrote.

The stakes are high and the shoes to be filled are big in this election on Tuesday. Mississippi would be well served in Congress by a Harper, Ross or Rounsaville.

But Mr. Landrum has some explaining to do.

If casting a ballot on election day isn't really that important, then why are we in Iraq? For a flag-waving Republican trying to get elected to Congress, failing to participate regularly in the most basic of democratic processes is an unforgivable sin.

The controversy began Feb. 11 at a debate in Noxapater when Landrum was asked directly for whom he voted in the 2003 gubernatorial election between incumbent Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican challenger Haley R. Barbour. "Well, my vote is for Gov. Barbour," Landrum said, dodging the question. But Landrum acknowledged making a $1,000 donation to Musgrove at the request of friends and business associates interested in tort reform.

Many of the other candidates are aware of Landrum's voting record, but only one, John Rounsaville, has had the courage to call Landrum out. He did so in a Feb. 20 press conference - not with a whisper campaign or mud-slinging. Now that's the kind of integrity and character we need in Washington.

On Feb. 22, two days after the press conference, Landrum's campaign provided documentation saying that signatures on a Hinds County voting log belong to Landrum and his wife Jill. The Clarion-Ledger reported on Sunday that other voters say the signatures are theirs - and they are.

By Monday night, Landrum's campaign chair was explaining that the Feb. 22 press release was sent out without Landrum's knowledge. "It never occurred to either David or Jill to verify the signatures. David accepts responsibility for an honest mistake," wrote Bill Lampton, the campaign chair, in an e-mail.

Hogwash!

Records show Landrum didn't vote at all, wasn't even registered in Hinds County. What about the other elections between 2000 and 2007?

The Landrum coverup began and continues with a classic campaign tactic of admitting nothing, denying everything, demanding proof, minimizing the effects and making wild counter accusations.

Landrum's story simply isn't adding up and voters deserve an explanation from a candidate who has made integrity an issue. Landrum has spent nearly $400,000 of his own money campaigning. For a man who professes to be the anti-politician of the bunch, he sure is acting like one.

Voting is the solemn right, privilege, and civic duty of every American citizen. Landrum has yet to state definitively that he's voted regularly since 2000. Is David Landrum telling the whole truth?