"Cheated" the Comic

“An essential read for those who care enough to participate in their own lives."

- Janeane Garofalo, Actress / Comedian

“The inside skinny on what happened in Ohio from the folks who were there. “Cheated!” tells the remarkable story in a way even George W. Bush would understand.”

- Brad Friedman, Investigative journalist, Bradblog.com

“'Cheated!’ is pure dynamite--a brilliant comic book that tells the whole dark story of Bush/Cheney's bogus "victory" in Ohio. It is as accurate as it is funny, which is really saying something. So buy as many copies as you can, and send them out to everyone you know, so that the truth may finally reach the people of this country.”

- Mark Crispin Miller, author of “Boxed in: The Culture of TV” “The Bush Dyslexicon: Observations on a National Disorder,” “Cruel and Unusual: Bush/Cheney's New World Order” and, “Fooled Again – How the Right Stole the 2004 Election.”

“The best depiction of the ordinary citizens who became the superheroes of the democracy movement. The Conyers Report in readable form.”

- Bob Fitrakis, Candidate for Ohio Governor, Investigative Journalist Free Press

"Cheated!” creatively captures the essence of the 2004 election irregularities through finely sketched comics and images. A harrowing story told in a sensitive yet entertaining way."

- Matthew Segal, Kenyon College, Voting Rights lobbyist

"This comic book is a testament to the passionate dedication of all Americans who value democracy. I can think of no better historical record for our movement. The characters and emotions are etched in our memories and our hearts. Thank you Sheri and Sophie!"

- Ron Baiman, PhD, senior research specialist at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago

“I really loved the book ... It put me right there, at the dawn of the new voting rights movement. I learned much that I didn't know about how the movement got formed. The art rocks. It brings an extraordinarily important and complex issue, which could be overwhelming, into the popular milieu of the graphic novel and makes it comprehen-sible to people who might otherwise run from it in pained denial.”

- Bob Koehler, Journalist, Chicago Herald Tribune

"Finally, the true, true story of what happened in Ohio in 2004 is told in a manner that all people will understand! Even members of the major media who couldn't figure it out or write about it!"

Steven Rosenfeld, Co-author of "What Happened in Ohio: A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election" and Executive Producer of Radionation with Laura Flanders

For the curious and the dubious… Cheated! is based on real events that happened to real people. Explore the links provided below to expand your experience and understanding of Cheated.” Think of it as your personal multi-media tutorial.

Bob Fitrakis, attorney, award-winning journalist, editor of The Free Press and Professor of Political Science at Columbus State Community College. Check him out at bobforohio.com and at fraudbusterbob.com.

Election Protection volunteers monitor polls in predominantly African-American and Latino precincts with a history of disenfranchisement, in order to provide direct assistance to voters. Visit their website for more information.

Reverend Bill Moss and his wife Ruth first appear on page 1. Reverend Moss was a charismatic, beloved Columbus civic leader who served on the school board for almost three decades. Bill used to wear battle fatigues to board meetings to declare battle and shake them up a little. More info here...

Voter Intimidation -- Check out a national overview of the reports of voter intimidation flooding the Election Protection hot line on election day.

“Favoritism in the Suburbs” by Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D. More info...

“Voter Suppression: Stealing Votes in Urban Areas” (full documentation) by Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D. More info...

“Was the 2004 Election Stolen?” To really grasp the Ohio election, read Robert Kennedy Jr’s extremely well-researched article first published in Rolling Stone, now available online with extra documentation.

Provisional Ballots -- Everything you need to know about provisional ballots. And it’s a good thing to know 'cause you could be next.

ACLU Warns: “Millions of eligible voters may be prevented from casting their ballots.” Check it out...

Blackwell and Damschroder Meet with George W. Bush in Columbus on Election Day. Get details here and find info on Blackwell’s investment in Diebold.

Photo-Op - Check out the photo of George W. Bush at his phone bank.

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the nation's oldest civil rights organization. Its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. Civil Rights is not a partisan issue. More info...

Exit Polls - Screen shots of the extensive CNN exit polls showing a FOUR POINT KERRY LEAD in Ohio before they were adjusted to match the vote flip. Click on “Ohio” scroll to the bottom for the totals. Uh huh!

Exit Poll Switch - Here’s a juicy read for folks who appreciate real numbers and facts. Top U.S. Statistical Experts analyze the Exit Poll switch. More info...

“Did Kerry Concede Too Soon?” by Bob Fitrakis. “Kerry conceded on Nov. 3 before some troubling election irregularities have surfaced in Ohio. Investigative reporter Gregory Palast has pointed out that there are more than 92,000 “spoiled” ballots in Ohio, mostly in Democratic wards that could easily be hand counted, 155,000 uncounted provisional ballots, uncounted overseas military ballots and some uncounted absentee ballots.” More info...

“Do you know what we’re up against?” Author, investigative journalist, media critic and NYU professor Mark Crispin Miller on the extremely frightening threat posed by the Bush regime. Stream the video of Mark’s articulate and passionate speech here...

“Hearings on Ohio Voting Put 2004 Election in Doubt” by Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman. Over 500 people attended the first public hearings in Columbus. The word got out, thanks to The Free Press.

Sworn Testimony Transcribed. Fascinating and horrifying stuff...check it out.

Lynn Landes is an investigative journalist who has researched the dangers of voting machines in our democracy. More info...

Voters Unite - A one-page, very readable sampler of the vote suppression and voting irregularities in Ohio. More Info...

Harvey Wasserman is the Free Press Senior Editor, "Superpower of Peace" columnist, senior advisor to Greenpeace USA and the Nuclear Information & Resource Service. He is author or co-author of six books: four on nuclear power and renewable energy, and two histories of the United States. More info...

Evan Davis, Pacifica reporter, has a number of excellent audio interviews. Check it out and look for “E” producers.

Cliff Arnebeck explains the lawsuit on C-Span. Check out the video interview...

Steve Rosenfeld is executive producer of RadioNation with Laura Flanders, heard on Air America. He is co-author, with Robert Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman, of “What happened in Ohio: A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election.” Check out Rosenfeld on Jim Crow voter suppression.

Laura Flanders - To listen, check out...

Randi Rhodes - To listen, check out...

Sworn Testimony Transcribed -- Second hearing, more info...

Mighty Texas Task Force - Members of this underground task force place calls to ex-felons telling them it's illegal to vote. More info...

Votes Switched - More info on Kerry votes switched to Bush votes and ballots pre-punched for Bush. Check it out...

Susan Truitt, attorney, is co-founder of CASE Ohio (Citizens Alliance for Secure Elections). More info...

Peter Pekarsky is a Washington D.C. attorney who joined the Ohio legal team filing the Moss v. Bush lawsuit.

Verified Election Contest (Moss v. Bush) petitions and documents, more info...

Ohio Governor Robert Taft is a close personal friend of coin dealer and big Republican party player Tom Noe, who’s been indicted on 53 felony counts for embezzling millions from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and making illegal campaign contributions to Bush’s 2004 campaign. When the Coingate corruption investigation focused on Taft, Judge Thomas Moyer ruled for the first time in Ohio history that the Governor can keep some public records private.

More info on Moyer and Taft... (Go to archives April 14, 2006)
More info on Taft and Noe...
More info on Noe and Blackwell...
More info on Mr. & Mrs. Noe and Blackwell...

Ex-Congressman Bob Ney (R-Ohio) wrote the Help America Vote Act legislation that has allowed our democracy to be privatized by voting machine companies such as Diebold. Ney is under investigation for – among other crimes of corruption - receiving $32,000 and a Scotland golfing trip from Jack Abramoff’s lobbying firm, Greenberg Taurig. Ney’s $32K pay off was a relatively small chunk of the $275,000 Diebold paid to the (now) disgraced and imprisoned Abramoff. Blackwell received $50,000 from Diebold as an alleged contribution to his tax reform group. Oh, and Blackwell bought $10,000 of Diebold stock in 2005.

Greens Call for Recount - Read this and you’ll understand why the Greens fought. We ALL have to demand justice the next time around. Be prepared, people!

Conyers Hearing in Columbus - 12/13/04 Film Clips of Tubbs-Jones, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Bob Fitrakis, John Bonifaz, Reverend Bill Moss, Susan Truitt and Clint Curtis. Check it out...

“Son of a Preacher Man” - David Cobb rips Blackwell another one as he details the blatantly partisan, not to mention criminal steps Blackwell has taken to derail the recount. More info...

John Bonifaz - Founder of the National Voting Rights Institute, is the Green/Badnarik attorney for the Recount. More info...

What the heck IS the electoral college? More info...

Ronnie Dugger saw the whole thing comin’… “How they could steal the election this time.” More info...

William Rivers Pitt exposes Triad. More info...

Expert testimony from Baiman and Phillips -- “Exit Polls Leave Little Doubt that in a Free and Fair Election John Kerry Would Have Won both the Electoral College and the Popular Vote.” Ron Baiman, PhD. More info...

Geomorphologist Richard Hayes Phillips’ Archive of Ballot Study - “I do not believe that most of the supporters of gay marriage were secret admirers of George W. Bush.” More info...

Clint Curtis v. Rep. Tom Feeney - Juicy stuff courtesy of BradBlog. More info...

Got questions about electronic voting? Read Bev Harris...

A Wrap-Up of the Failed Ohio Recount - A great, clear website detailing the NUMEROUS CRIMES committed during Blackwell’s (successful) effort to prevent a fair recount in Ohio. More info...

“Stand Up Senator” - Will Pitt writes an eloquent, passionate, powerful appeal from the front lines. More info...

Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones - More info...

Senator Harry Reid -- More info...

Brad Friedman is Bradblog – A citizen journalist/ bloggers besting the media, breaking stories, investigating, diving in where the MSM fears to get their hair wet. More info...

Representative Maxine Waters -- More info...

Senator Barbara Boxer -- More info...

“What the election challenge means” by David Swanson. More info...

“Get Up On the Bus: The January 6th Rally in Washington” - Great music by Wil b. Great speechifying. Prepare to be inspired. Check it out! See how much FUN it is, to get involved! Listen to the Political Power of hip hop from Wil b on myspace.

“None Dare Call it Stolen” - Mark Crispin Miller on the Mass(ive) Media blackout of the historic Boxer/Tubbs-Jones challenge on 1/06/05. "The Boston Globe gave the report 118 words (page 3); the Los Angeles Times, 60 words (page 18). It made no news in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, or U.S. News & World Report. It made no news on CBS, NBC, ABC, or PBS. Nor did NPR report it (though Talk of the Nation dealt with it on January 6). CNN did not report it…” Read more...

BLACKWELL addresses the Council for National Policy. A photo that he doesn’t want Joe Public (that's you!) to see. Check it out...

“Why Did J. Kenneth Blackwell Hide His Association With Super-Rich Extremists & E-Voting Magnates? Fitrakis & Wasserman. More info...