Low Turnout Seen In Iranian Election

Pro-Ahmadinejad Hardliners Expected To Dominate Vote As Many Reformists Are Disqualified

(CBS/AP)  Voters at a Teheran mosque Friday morning were the stars of Iran's democratic show for the world's media.

But as soon as CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer asked one man why authorities had banned all the reform candidates, a plainclothes policeman appeared, and tried to censor his answer.

He needn't have bothered: "We love our leader," the man said.

He is one of the regime's diehard loyalists, who wouldn't dream of criticizing - or casting a vote for anyone else.

Critics see the overall low turnout as a sign of frustration with a vote that hardliners allied with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are expected to dominate.

Lineups did develop at a few spots in the capital, but they were at major mosques where most voters were expected to back pro-Ahmadinejad candidates.

But at dozens of polling stations in schools, universities and other mosques around the city, voters dribbled in slowly.

Most supported reformists, bringing in newspaper lists of reformist candidates for Tehran's 30 seats.

Iran's reformist movement, which seeks democratic changes at home and better ties with the West, has largely been sidelined in the race after most of its candidates were barred from running by Iran's clerical leadership.

With reformists crippled, the race is instead a test of Ahmadinejad's support among conservatives, some of whom have been disillusioned with the president since he came to office in 2005. Ahmadinejad could face a challenge from moderate conservatives in presidential elections next year.

Palmer reports the election is really a contest "between the hard-liners, and the not-quite-so-hard-liners," leaving thousands of young Iranians who do crave real change disillusioned and disinterested in the vote.

The Guardian Council - an unelected body of clerics and jurists - disqualified around 1,700 candidates, mostly reformists, on the grounds they were insufficiently loyal to Islam or Iran's 1979 revolution. The reformist candidates who remain are mostly little-known to the public.

Critics say Ahmadinejad has fumbled efforts to fix the economy of this oil-rich nation - hit by high inflation and unemployment and fuel shortages. They blame his fiery manner for worsening the standoff with the West, bringing on U.N. sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.

The key question will be the performance of Ahmadinejad's conservative critics, a year ahead of presidential elections when he could face a challenge by moderate conservative candidates, many of whom call themselves "modernizers", reports Palmer.

A strong showing Friday by the Inclusive Coalition of Principlists - a slate of candidates that includes conservative critics of the president - would be a sign of Ahmadinejad's waning support.

The list allegedly has the support of Tehran's popular mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a conservative who is often cited as a possible rival to Ahmadinejad in the 2009 election.

Another key candidate in Friday's race is Ali Larijani, who stepped down as Iran's top nuclear negotiator because of differences with Ahmadinejad. Larijani, who is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's personal representative on the Supreme National Security Council, is running for parliament from the city of Qom and has sometimes also been cited as a possible presidential candidate in 2009.

Palmer says Larijani, seen at left, has indicated a desire to try and mend the virtually non-existent diplomatic relationship with the West, including the United States government, should he come to power.

At a number of polling stations at mosques in southern Tehran, there were lines of 50 to 60 people soon after voting began Friday morning, with a steady flow of people coming in throughout the following hours.

Many filled their ballots by picking names from print-outs of the United Front of Principlists, a slate dominated by Ahmadinejad allies.

Mustafa Rajabi, a 33-year-old government worker, said he voted for backers of the president. "This is my duty to keep the country stable," he said, standing with his wife, who wore a black chador robe draped over her head and body, and their two children, too young to vote.

Polling stations are set up in mosques, schools and universities. Mosques are seen as more likely to draw conservative voters, schools and universities more moderate voters - though such distinctions are not clear cut since many people vote at whatever station is closer. Voters can cast ballots at whatever station they choose in their city.

In contrast, polls in several schools of northern Tehran and at Khajeh Nasir University were all but empty early Friday, with 5 or 6 people in each.

"Many students and activists have been under pressure because of their political activities," said Reza Kolahroudi, a 22-year-student who showed up to vote for reformists. "I hope reformists can change the current situation."

Some 4,500 candidates nationwide are running for parliament's 290 seats in Friday's vote. But reformists say they don't have candidates in around 200 of the races.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has backed conservatives, saying earlier this week that Iranians should elect anti-U.S. candidates "whose loyalties are to Islam and justice."

The disqualifications have divided reform supporters, some of whom have decided to boycott the vote. But reform leaders are pressing them to go to the polls, hoping to at least build a strong minority bloc, rather than the handful of seats they now have.

Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a powerful member of the clerical leadership seen as a top rival of Ahmadinejad, tried to convince the boycotters to vote.

"To be reluctant and say why we should participate in the election is a kind of self-destruction," said Rafsanjani, a conservative who has grown closer to reformists. "This will lead to the absence of their favorite candidates in the council," he said, according to the state news agency IRNA.

Turnout among the estimated 44 million eligible voters is a key issue. In 2004 elections, which were swept by hard-liners after most reform candidates were barred from the race, turnout was around 51 percent. In previous votes won by reformists, it was closer to 80 percent. Reformists say they have the support of a silent majority that, if it votes, swings elections to them.

Outside mosques, young boys were urging any reluctant passers-by to come in and vote for conservatives.

Many people were more concerned with shopping, packing malls and shops on main street to prepare for the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, which takes place next week. Sherine Faraji said she might vote in the afternoon after shopping.

"If I get to the polls, I'll vote for reformists. They don't bother women," said Faraji, who wore a tight-fitting jacket and a colorful headscarf that showed much of her hair. Conservatives seek to enforce a stricter female dress code covering the entire hair and hiding the body from head to toe.

Reformists held parliament from 2000 to 2004. During that time, they loosened Islamic social restrictions. But hard-liners, who control the unelected clerical bodies whose powers trump the parliament and president, prevented deep political change.

If reformers fail to win a significant parliament minority in Friday's vote, it will illustrate the endurance of conservatives' lock on power, with the clerical leadership able to thwart any reformist comeback.

[grazinggoat]

What?????
They have DEMOCRACY in Iran?

-This is not the picture painted by our Walking-Liar''s government and backers. Some will say, they did not let the ggays with colored feathers and lesbiaans with military/police outfits be candidates. Did we?

[tbweb]

"Iran''s reformist movement, which seeks democratic changes at home and better ties with the West, has largely been sidelined in the race after most of its candidates were barred from running by Iran''s clerical leadership."

Selective, restrictive and limited participation on who is allowed to run is not Democracy, its bogus elections, stacking the deck in your favor out of fear of losing, like the Russian elections, all the while allowing Iran to claim it had a Vote!

[demslie]

Ahmadinejad and his terrorist murderers in IRAQ, GAZA, Beruit, Somalia, The Philippines, Indonesia, India and Sir Lanka may have a political problems now because the IRANIAN people had democracy and loved it. But, take heart, Ahmadinejad, IRAN and Al Qaeda have no better supporters in the World than Democrats in the United States. Democrats wil still denounce America and any action the Amercian Military takes in the world. So while Ahmadinejad must, for now, play it cool, American Democrats will be there to carry the tourch of hate for everything American.

[radiob-2009]

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports the election is really a contest "between the hard-liners, and the not quite so hard-liners," leaving thousands of young Iranians who do crave real change disillusioned and disinterested in the vote.


Can we the US look in the mirror? The world is filled with more of the same "politicians" hidden under many disguises (religion, political party) yet they remain the same. Whether voices of integrity are barred by a court or barred by the finacial loopholes to become elected, the people of the world suffer from the indifference of the systems.

[beehive21-2009]

The iranians are learning a new word Democracy ,now for the the definition.

[radiob-2009]

They have DEMOCRACY in Iran?===
posted by grazinggoat



We have democracy in the US?

[rowdytexan2]

The US should take heart from what the Irananians are trying to do for themselves. We need to stand up and get rid of the Neocon new world order that is stealing from this country and causing hate and chaos all over the world!

[jwind11]

The US should take heart from what the Irananians are trying to do for themselves. We need to stand up and get rid of the Neocon new world order that is stealing from this country and causing hate and chaos all over the world!




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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:02 AM : Mar 14, 2008

grow up already....you are like a broken record....an article about iran and you still bring bush into it...pathetic

[jwind11]

"The US should take heart from what the Irananians are trying to do for themselves. We need to stand up and get rid of the Neocon new world order that is stealing from this country and causing hate and chaos all over the world!"
Posted by RowdyTexan2



Well said!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jh6379 at 10:10 AM : Mar 14, 2008

you and rowdy need to really read article and rowdys post and see if you really think it was well said

[easeup-2009]

"grow up already....you are like a broken record....an article about iran and you still bring bush into it...pathetic

Posted by jwind11 at 10:04 AM : Mar 14, 2008"

There''s an article about a dead cat and yes, they were blaming Bush. Unbelievable.

[jwind11]

There''''s an article about a dead cat and yes, they were blaming Bush. Unbelievable.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by easeup at 10:31 AM : Mar 14, 2008

please tell me thats not true....what pathetic person would bash bush in article about a dead cat?

[stn_sage]

Let Iran be a shining example as to WHY you do not want to mix religion into government! The result is even more DISASTER! Point- 1,700 reformists are disqualified by the Guardian Council for alleged religious disloyalty. So---

The election is between conservatives & extreme conservatives who are not motivated to have friendly relations with the West.

Their form of democracy is even less democratic than ours! It certainly results in a more restrictive, closely controlled environment where civil liberties are ignored or side-stepped in favor of state control---OOPS, hey,that kind of sounds like what''s happened here under the Bush administration, huh?!

[jwind11]

There''''''''s an article about a dead cat and yes, they were blaming Bush. Unbelievable.


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
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Posted by easeup at 10:31 AM : Mar 14, 2008

please tell me thats not true....what pathetic person would bash bush in article about a dead cat?


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Posted by jwind11 at 10:34 AM : Mar 14, 2008


wow!! you are right!! now i have seen everything.....these people are really brain damaged

[easeup-2009]

"wow!! you are right!! now i have seen everything.....these people are really brain damaged

Posted by jwind11 at 10:39 AM : Mar 14, 2008"

I told you so....

I guess it''s easy to rationalize all of your failures in life when you can just blame one person for everything.

[gwagener]

I bet the ''Christian'' right in this country is reading this and asking, "Hey! Why don''t we have this in the US? Why can''t we take people off the ballot who aren''t ''Chrisitian'' enough?"

[kaviz]

jwind and easup, I find it interesting that not once did rowdy mention bush in the post, but after you read it, the first name that came to your mind was Bush. LOL

[easeup-2009]

"wind and easup, I find it interesting that not once did rowdy mention bush in the post, but after you read it, the first name that came to your mind was Bush. LOL

Posted by kaviz at 11:31 AM : Mar 14, 2008"

uhhhhh....neocon?

[kaviz]

easeup, he could have been talking about the Rep party in general. You came up with Bush. Still LOL.

[demslie]

Thats right, an article about IRAN''s ruling terrorists eliminating voters that might not like murder but somehow, its al George Bush''s fault. I am sure however, that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his genocidal terrorists would let Democrats vote in the election because he knows who his friends are.

[ki8911]

As imperfect as our nation is, we Americans are still a heck of a lot better off than a lot of other countries. Iran is a good example of what we don''t want to become. They are governed by the lunatic fringe of tribalists & religious zealots. Yes, there are those groups that reside here in the States, but I don''t think the majority of christians or jews or muslims want that kind of theocracy. They came here to escape that horrific state of affairs. As a woman, I kiss the ground because I was lucky enough to be born in a country that even though it''s government makes mistakes and the citizens don''t always pay attention, this nation still wants reach for ideal state of justice for all. So every time you complain about government, the status quo, be grateful and maybe a little humble that you can do that without dragged away from your family & be killed. Appreciate that you can declare you are a christian, a jew, a muslim, a wiccan, an atheist, that you won''t be punished by a state police. Yes, our USA has its problems, but at least we do have the chance to fix it. It''s called voting.

[kaviz]

Demslie, such inciteful wisdom you spew. Shouldn''t you be in school right now?

[notblue]

Demslie, too funny! Unfortunately it''s too true!

[jwind11]

"The US should take heart from what the Irananians are trying to do for themselves. We need to stand up and get rid of the Neocon new world order that is stealing from this country and causing hate and chaos all over the world!"
Posted by RowdyTexan2
so i guess low voter turnout is what rowdytexan favors...interesting

[demslie]

"The US should take heart from what the Irananians are trying to do for themselves. We need to stand up and get rid of the Neocon new world order that is stealing from this country and causing hate and chaos all over the world!"
Posted by RowdyTexan2

The Above words sound like they came directly from a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hate speech. RowdyTexan2 must be a terrorist infiltrator to this country. With all the news outlets there are in the world, How could anyone believe that the IRANIAN people have any say in who gets elected to IRAN''s Genocidal Dictatorship? People would get their heads chopped off for a single word against the ruling party. But "RowdyTexan2" and Democrats praise IRAN and dnounce the United States. That will win over the American People for sure.

[jwind11]

"The US should take heart from what the Irananians are trying to do for themselves. We need to stand up and get rid of the Neocon new world order that is stealing from this country and causing hate and chaos all over the world!"
Posted by RowdyTexan2

The Above words sound like they came directly from a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hate speech. RowdyTexan2 must be a terrorist infiltrator to this country. With all the news outlets there are in the world, How could anyone believe that the IRANIAN people have any say in who gets elected to IRAN''''s Genocidal Dictatorship? People would get their heads chopped off for a single word against the ruling party. But "RowdyTexan2" and Democrats praise IRAN and dnounce the United States. That will win over the American People for sure.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by demslie at 01:14 PM : Mar 14, 2008


amen demslie

[crusherking]

I''''m sure the Iranian Supreme Court can decide the winner with a ruling general enough to be applied in future cases too.

Posted by Nancy_Naive


Another bitter and naive post from a lib still living in 2000.. Bush won.. Gore lost(THANK GOD).. Get over it.. Moveon.org and grow up. If you think our election process is so bad nancy, move to Iran. Oh but make sure you cover your entire body from head to toe, leaving only enough room for your eyes to be seen, don''t speak out against the government and vote who they tell you to vote for, lest you be dragged into the streets and beheaded for betraying Islam.. Is THAT what you want in America???

[crusherking]

Hey.. whats going on with this election.. I looked on the ballot and I didn''t see Obama... Shouldn''t he be on the ticket there somewhere???

[j-whitman]

crusherking,,,, Iraqi Troops watch more US News than you do, they are all pulling for Hillary & Obama to win --- They''ve seen what republicans do 1st hand

[crusherking]

Rafterman,
You don''t get the joke do ya. My point was that she hasn''t gotten over something that happened 8 years ago. And now my point about you sir. You honestly think you are above someone because they watch nascar and live in a trailer?? Judging by the lack of intellect in many of your posts( and the fact that you probably worship socialism) I''d say that you are below that. You choose to insult hard working middle/lower class americans simply because you don''t agree with their political views? Interesting. I bet you would not DARE walk up to someone at a nascar race and call him trailer trash. Why? because you are a coward. Simple enough. Hide behind your computer and insult the people living in trailers, drinking beer and watching nascar, thats fine. It just goes to show that you are a hate monger trying to divide America along social status lines. Maybe you''d be happier if the rest of America was like you. Watching Croquet on the telly, eating crumpets, takin it up the old drain pipe and touching children.. Yup.. sounds just like you..

[crusherking]

crusherking,,,, Iraqi Troops watch more US News than you do, they are all pulling for Hillary & Obama to win --- They''''ve seen what republicans do 1st hand

Posted by j-whitman


Well that means they watch 10 times the news yo do Jwhitless. And you are incorrect on your assertion. The military votes Republican.. Always has and always will. Noone in the military wants a b*tch as their commander. Alpha dogs never follow b*tches. If you ever served in the military, you''d be familiar with that term.

[j-whitman]

crushedqueen -- You have no idea what you are talking about, do you ????

[j-whitman]

crushedqueen -- Mind your spelling, jwind will jump all over you

[j-whitman]

What did one Iraqi Soldier tell the news crew ?? --- I want Hillary to write a book on democracy so we can see what it suppose to look like

[j-whitman]

rafterman,,,, crushedqueen is another singinrick & thinks all our troops worship the ground Bush walks on.

[crusherking]

Jwhit,
Your stats says Republican soldiers are down to 46%. That doesn''t mean 54% are democrats. Doesn''t mean they support Hillary or Obama. And if Hillary were to write a book, it would be about socialism, not democracy.. can you say National healthcare system that is MANDATORY..

[j-whitman]

crushedqueen,,,, I don''t have any stats on how many are repubs or dems..... But if those are correct, it doesn''t meen they are party loyalists, I think most of them are smart enough to understand McCain is just an extension of the problem

[crusherking]

Rafterman,

My point was that you have such a disdain for ''trailer parkers'' and make overly generalized statements insulting their intelligence. Just because I am more Republican than Democrat, honestly I am more libertarian than either, doesn''t mean I watch Nascar.. I don''t. I do drink beer, eat pizza, watch football etc. just like you do. So your divisive statement has no real foundation then does it. I am very well versed in cultures around the world. In fact, it is one of my favorite subjects. I have studied pre-history civilizations all the way up to what is currently going on. Granted, I don''t know everything but I would certainly say I have more knowledge than the VAST majority of the population. Again, your point on this is again, without foundation. And finally, no, I have not read anything in your posts that indicates pedophilia, just giving you the same medicine you dish out. What in my posts gives you any indication that I live in a trailer park or watch nascar?? See my point here? You just make accusations and labels as you see fit so why shouldn''t I?

[crusherking]

Jwhit,

An extension of the problem vs a new problem.. thats the dilemma. I find it hard to believe that Troops would support either Dem candidate most notably based on experience levels. Neither has ever commanded or been in a battle situation, knows what its like to be a soldier or even spent 1 day on active (or reserve for that matter) duty. 1 is a Muslim that attends a church that hates America(as does his wife apparently). The other is a socialist thinly disguised as a democrat. My military experience tells me that they will vote in majority with the Republicans yet again for the umpteenth time. Just an educated hunch I guess.

[crusherking]

No, the military is more conservative than the public overall, especially the officer corps, but more and more rank and file people, the ones that get dirty fighting the wars, are dropping Republican affiliation year after year. If you had any of that "intelect" that you accused me of not having, that should indicate to you that the troops are getting fed up with the direction Republicans have taken them and the military. It''''s a warning sign and you''''d better heed it.


And you get this info from where?? Show me the data..

[crusherking]

jwhit AND rafterman vs Crusherking..

And the odds are still in my favor!

[j-whitman]

crusherking,,,,, Actually both Hillary & Obama have more experiance than Bush did by far,,, And Bush never served one day on active duty, he ran from it.

McCain''s active duty wasn''t that great, he crashed 5 jets & witneesses put him in the plane that started the USS Forrestal fire, but, I do honor his sacrifice.

He''s been wrong on every part of this war, & echoed all of Bush''s lies including on the strength of the economy.... He''s to lobbying what Elliot Spitzer is to prostitution, made it a legislative issue then has lobbyists running his staff on the campaign & his Senate office.

McCain was behind his lobbyists all the way on the Air Force tanker deal with AirBus, even after the Secretary of the Air Forced promised Congress they only wanted medium size tankers -
--- McCain who spoke out against the "Religion of Intolerence" has now surrendered to them.

[crusherking]

Rafterman,

Well fair enough. But again, my point is that Nancy Naive still hasn''t gotten over 2000.. I think that is a valid point.. Isn''t this 08 now?? And furthermore, she wanted to compare our Election process to Irans.. That was where I went into what its really like in an Iranian election. I feel more that just in pointing out the stupidity of her statement.

[j-whitman]

crusherking,,, You are talking of odds ?? Aren''t you one who''s thought Bush was the greatest thing since Mayonaise ???

[crusherking]

Jwhit, Bush is not running for office again(thankfully) and the only reason I ever voted for him was to keep Gore out of the Oval Office. I am not a staunch republican. Don''t know how much clearer I can make that. I don''t support Bush on everything. And say what you want about McCains service. Its still mountains more than what either Dem has. We need someone who knows how to run the military, or, at least has an idea what it means to be a soldier.

[crusherking]

Rafterman, The LA Times? Yeah. Theres an unbiased and even handed publication!.. NOT!

[j-whitman]

crusherking,,,,, Isn''t McCain just another Bush ?? McCain is far from the man he was in Viet Nam, hell, he''s not the same man he was 10 years ago by far, he''s flip-floped & straight up lied on many issues including the border & how good he was for Arizona, Yuma is talking about building a moat.

[crusherking]

jwhit, Flip floppers abound in this election year. Are you honestly going to say that Hilary and Obama have not flip flopped?

[crusherking]

Rafterman, Yes and we went over those numbers. Just states how many claim to be republican. I am sure Bush has cost Republicans many supporters. That is one of the reasons I''ll be glad to see him go. But the poll does not indicate what rank or MOS the soldiers are and does not indicate who they plan on voting for.

[j-whitman]

crusherking,,,, No, I''m not saying that at all... Yet Obama has been the most steadfast on his issues... Yet McCain has flip-flopped on damm near everything from Tax-cuts, demanding more troops, economy, the religions of intollerence, lobbying, national security & much more --- Just for party loyalty & electioneering.

[crusherking]

Rafterman,
You may be correct but I think the latest on Obamas Church is going to really start to hurt his standing amongst the public, especially the military. Have you listened to his pastors sermons where he damms America for everything from Hiroshima to support state sponsored terrorism since we back the Israeli State? I think that will effectively preclude him from the Military vote. Just a guess there though.