20 Dec 2008 Update: Mike Connell killed in plane crash. Michael Connell, 45, died when his single-engine Piper Saratoga struck a flagpole and crashed into the front lawn of vacant Ohio house. See the Akron Beacon Journal for more up-to-the-minute information. -- GH

Mike Connell, president and CEO of New Media Communications. Photo by Ken Love/Akron Beacon Journal, (c)2008, used with belated permission.

Velvet Revolution today issued a press release (pdf format) calling for Republican candidate John McCain to fire computer expert Michael Connell from his campaign for covering up alleged election manipulations of Karl Rove and others.