Indefensible

Posted by Indiana Democratic Party | 02/02/2012

The setup: A disgraced Secretary of State is on criminal trial for voter fraud.

The prosecution lays out a carefully crafted case that clearly shows the state’s chief elections officer lived one place but voted in another, collecting a public salary while he perpetuated the lie.

It comes time for said Secretary of State to mount his criminal defense.

What does he have to say for his actions? How does he explain what happened and why he believes he didn’t violate state law?

The response: Silence.

This is no legal drama on the big screen. It’s happening right now in a Hamilton County courtroom with Indiana’s own embattled Secretary of State Charlie White.

Not only has Charlie disgraced the office he’s held for more than a year, but he’s got absolutely nothing to say for his actions.

A jury will begin deciding Charlie’s fate tomorrow, but this further validates what we’ve known all along: He’s an embarrassment to public service and our state, and it’s past time for Democrat Vop Osili, a respected business leader who’s committed to the office, to take over.

Vop has been rightfully declared the winner of the 2010 election. We need him in that job as soon as possible to make up for lost time, bring back a level of respect and dignity to an office sullied by Charlie’s recklessness.