Concerning the upcoming election, Who originated this quote? "It is not who votes that counts, it is who ...?

Question

... counts the votes"  This has been attributed to Joseph Stalin, and I believe when I first heard it, the person was saying it was Vladimir Lennon who originated it.  In either case some one has made a rather obtuse argument that it could not have been Stalin because he was never elected, he instead came to power by assassinating all his rivals.  and of course Lennon would have never been involved in a Free and Fair election.  Why would these men be concerned with elections and say anything about them?  I actually think there was plenty of reason for both of these men to comment on elections since they both wanted to take over the world and that would mean controlling America.  So they could have been commenting on elections to school their comrads in America on how to win one.  But my question to you is, Who was it who originally said it?

fiof · Accepted Answer

I don't think it was Stalin.  I think that it was paraphrasing Boss Tweed who said something about he was the one counting the votes and you cannot do anything about it

@ICE T  The same thing happened in Minnesota, only it was a couple of hundred votes that was found.  I wonder if they are happy with the failed comedian Al Franken, actually he is funnier as a senator than he ever was as a comic.

IceT · Answer

Yes. Several years ago here in Washington state we had a republican beat a Democrat for Governor by a small margin. Because it was close the Democrats got a recount. During the recount a poll worker miraculously found over a thousand ballots in their trunk that didn't get turned in and when counted got the Democrat closer to winning after another 2 recounts they magically found enough votes for the Democrat to win!

prusa1237 · Answer

I hope the citizens of Wisconsin see the handwriting on the wall for what it is.  Fear and intimidation by unions should not rule the day.  I was always under the impression that Stalin came up with that quote, but I am not sure he originated it.

Philip H · Answer

Yes, you are correct. At least according to general legend.
If it isn't correct, you at least know it fits well within the framework of Leftist Marxist/Socialist rules of political ethics.

Concerning the upcoming election, Who originated this quote? "It is not who votes that counts, it is who ...?

4 Answers