'Not a hack': Iowa Democratic Party defends delay in release of caucus results

[libertybele]

'Not a hack': Iowa Democratic Party defends delay in release of caucus results

The Iowa Democratic Party is scrambling after encountering problems with its new caucus results reporting system.

Iowa's state Democratic Party found "inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results," spokeswoman Mandy McClure said in a statement late Monday, referring to caucus alignment and delegate allocation outcomes from the first-in-the-nation primary contest.

"In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confidence and accuracy in the numbers we report," McClure wrote.

She added, "This is simply a reporting issue; the app did not go down and this is not a hack or an intrusion. The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results."

The Iowa Democratic Party earlier chalked up the delay to conducting "quality control," saying the wait was "out of an abundance of caution."...............

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/not-a-hack-iowa-democratic-party-defends-delays-in-caucus-results-release#new_tab

[thackney]

They want everyone to believe the data once they have manipulated it to the predetermined results.

[don-o]

As organized as a Chinese fire drill.

Can I say that?

[Sighlass]

And the results are as read.... Hillary in first second and third place.

[Free Vulcan]

What the heck are these asshats even saying?

I've been in on the process, even the '12 fiasco. There's no excuse for this. The small counties at least should have something.

[mystery-ak]

Iowa blames app for caucus delay, says results to be released 'as soon as possible today'
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/481346-iowa-blames-app-for-caucus-delay-says-results-to-be-released-as-soon-as

[mystery-ak]

Firm That Built Iowa Caucus App Is Full of Former Clinton Campaign Staffers
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2020/02/04/shadow-hillary-staffers-n2560675

[libertybele]

Listened to Beck this morning (treadmill time) and he had Cruz on -- They were talking about the caucus.  It is an absolute complete disaster.  Cruz did say that he didn't think there was really anything going on by the DEMS -- it is nothing more than their sheer incompetency.  He went on to state that these are the same people that want you to entrust your lives to by voting for them.

By the way Cruz now has a podcast -- it is #1 in the nation!!!  In listening to him on Beck, Cruz was much different -- he was relaxed, very down to earth and jovial and his personality came across  in my books very likeable.

I think Ted is aiming for 2024.

[mountaineer]

Looks like the Clinton/Obama/Buttgay cabal that is Shadow should have learned to code.

Lachlan Markay   @lachlan
New: Shadow Inc. investors ACRONYM and Higher Ground Labs are scrubbing their websites of info linking them to the firm behind the app that fueled Iowa caucus chaos last night
2:10 PM · Feb 4, 2020·

Investors Rush to Downplay Ties to Firm Behind Iowa Clusterf**k
The frantic cleanup put a microscope on one of Democratic Party’s fastest-rising digital stars.
Lachlan Markaym Reporter
Sam Stein 
Politics Editor
Published Feb. 04, 2020 2:09PM ET

Hours after a debacle that marred Monday’s Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses, investors in a company hired to tabulate votes through a new mobile app worked to distance themselves from the company at the center of the chaos, scrubbing digital trails publicly connecting them to the firm.

The chaos in Iowa on Monday evening put a microscope on one of Democratic Party’s youngest and fastest-rising digital stars, Tara McGowan, prompting serious questions—and some conspiracy theories—about the constellation of advocacy, technology, and quasi-news organizations she's built.

“It is a pattern of fake it till you make it,” one top Democrative operative said of McGowan and her firm, ACRONYM. “You talk a big game and then sort of hope it becomes true.”

On Monday, all eyes turned to one company in McGowan’s portfolio, Shadow Inc., as Iowa precinct chairs reported serious flaws with the app it had developed tabulate the vote. ...

Full story at Daily Beast

[mystery-ak]

Caucus app blamed for Iowa vote count chaos was created by tech firm Shadow, Inc. that is run by staff from Hillary Clinton and Obama's campaigns

    Iowa caucus results in chaos, with zero precincts reporting Tuesday morning
    Delay caused by 'inconsistencies' in app being used to report precinct results
    App created by Shadow, Inc., which was paid $60,000 for 'web development'
    CEO, COO and product manager all worked with Hillary for America campaign

more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7963929/Democratic-caucus-results-delayed-mobile-app-issues.html

[mountaineer]

Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

The stealthy, Eric Schmidt-backed startup that’s working to put Hillary Clinton in the White House
October 9, 2015
By Adam Pasick & Tim Fernholz

An under-the-radar startup funded by billionaire Eric Schmidt has become a major technology vendor for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, underscoring the bonds between Silicon Valley and Democratic politics.

The Groundwork, according to Democratic campaign operatives and technologists, is part of efforts by Schmidt—the executive chairman of Google parent-company Alphabet—to ensure that Clinton has the engineering talent needed to win the election. And it is one of a series of quiet investments by Schmidt that recognize how modern political campaigns are run, with data analytics and digital outreach as vital ingredients that allow candidates to find, court, and turn out critical voter blocs. ...

There is also another gap in play: The shrinking distance between Google and the Democratic Party. Former Google executive Stephanie Hannon is the Clinton campaign’s chief technology officer, and a host of ex-Googlers are currently employed as high-ranking technical staff at the Obama White House. Schmidt, for his part, is one of the most powerful donors in the Democratic Party—and his influence does not stem only from his wealth, estimated by Forbes at more than $10 billion. ...

Full story

And google has its mitts all over Shadow, Inc.

[mountaineer]

From Shadow, Inc.'s website:

MEET THE SHADOW TEAM

We are campaign and technology veterans who have built and implemented technology at Hillary for America, Obama for America, Google, Kiva, Apple, the AFL-CIO, and the DNC.

Our passion is to create a permanent advantage for progressive campaigns
 and causes through technology.
Why Shadow?

When a light is shining, Shadows are a constant companion. We see ourselves as building a long-term, side-by-side “Shadow” of tech infrastructure to the Democratic Party and the progressive community at large.

[Fishrrman]

I can see the headline:
Panic in Ratville!

[mountaineer]

Brian Fung is the tech reporter for CNN:

Brian Fung @b_fung
I visited Shadow Inc.’s address listed in the Iowa Dems’ disclosure filings. It led to a WeWork in this trendy Washington alley (steps from Maydan and La Colombe). But a receptionist told me Shadow moved out last month to an unknown destination. ??? https://cnn.com/2020/02/04/politics/iowa-caucus-app-issues/index.html

12:37 PM · Feb 4, 2020
-----------------------
Rob Galbraith   @RobGalbraithLS
Replying to  @b_fung
A different address listed for Shadow Inc (on Biden, Buttigieg, and Texas Dems' filings) is a mansion in Calabasas. There was a company called Shadow Inc incorporated in California at that address in 1979, but filed paperwork to dissolve in December 2005.
2:57 PM · Feb 4, 2020·
-----------------------
Brian Fung  @b_fung
Meanwhile, we’re beginning to get comments from others who have used Shadow’s products, including Buttigieg’s campaign, Texas Dems and Wisconsin Dems. They all say they hired Shadow only for its voter texting service:
Problematic software used in Iowa caucuses also set to be used in Nevada, sources tell CNN
12:59 PM · Feb 4, 2020
-----------------------
Brian Fung  @b_fung
But it seems Shadow’s experience in technology may be rather limited beyond that. One Democratic official told me their conversations with Shadow suggested software development was “not their area of expertise”:
1:01 PM · Feb 4, 2020
-----------------------
Brian Fung  @b_fung
Our own look at the LinkedIn profiles of some of Shadow’s employees seems to underscore that impression.

1:03 PM · Feb 4, 2020