Republicans are waging a war on American voters by attempting any means necessary to keep President Barack Obama from winning a second election. That doesn't mean they're going to be successful, with his approval rating being higher than those who disapprove (depending on which source you look at, of course). So when the far right isn't busy attacking the reproductive rights of women and the civil rights of homosexual Americans, they're focusing their sights on voter ID laws.
On the surface, requiring picture identification isn't that bad of an idea. It would prevent electoral fraud, which is a good thing because voter fraud is unacceptable regardless of the side of the political spectrum you associate with. Nonetheless, it's the wording used by a Pennsylvania Republican that points out why they're after these new laws. It truly has nothing to do with you, the American voter. It has more to do with their damaged pride and the fact that they seem to have a hard time accepting a black liberal president in the Oval Office.
House Leader Mike Turzai (R-PA) made some revealing statements recently regarding the reasoning behind voter laws, and it really didn't seem to have much with the point of protecting the interests of every American. In fact, it appears to be a concept pandering to bitter republican apologists.
Indeed, this is a war on U.S. voters.
Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it's done. First pro-life legislation—abortion facility regulations—in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done.
Republicans are trying to attack low-income voters, in particular African-Americans, because that is what this law would most affect. In conjunction with Turzai's comments, this just clearly shows what kind of game the far right is trying to run.
They cannot rely on honest political strategy or simply using good values in their platforms. Instead, they've got to cheat and play a cut-throat game that creates American casualties. This sad attempt at losing Obama the next election may come to bite them in the backsides when it's all said and done, though!
Crime analyst and profiler Chelsea Hoffman can be found on The Huffington Post, Chelsea Hoffman: Case to Case and many other outlets. Follow @TheRealChelseaH on Twitter or click here to contact Chelsea directly.
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Comments: 62 ( 1 removed by Chelsea Hoffman )
But hey... What does that matter, most states use electronic voting machines that, even our own General Accounting Office admits, can be easily tampered with (without risk of detection) to change vote tallies. Professor Steven Freeman of BYU calculated odds of what happened in the Battleground states going for Bush as they did, as roughly the same as me winning the lottery today while getting hit by lightning.
I recall seeing, a few years ago, a video of Marty Kaplan using a single screwdriver to change tallies on one of these machines in less than 60 seconds.
Yes... our elections are a joke.
If so it means the machines determined the outcome of the election, not the voters.
On the surface, requiring picture identification isn't that bad of an idea
I would agree in principle to the strengthening of voter laws, if the new laws were designed not to be implemented until after the upcoming 2012 general election. Thereby providing both the voting public and the political parties with the time needed to assist those in obtaining the required photo identification card who presently have no such identification before the next general election in 2016. For the 2012 election, all laws which were used for the 2008 general election should still apply.
However, for any state, political party or group of people, to demand such changes to the voting laws with only four months before the next general election is scheduled to be held, is without a shadow of a doubt, being done to purge the voter rolls of minority voters. Just as you also point out, the ethnic group which would be most effected under such new restrictive laws, would be that of the African American community. These are the people, who are most apt to express their political ideology at the polling station and did so, with notable gusto during the 2008 election. That being common knowledge, it would seem that this rush to change the voting requirement laws is being predicated on the high African American turnout in 2008 and the fact that 90% of the votes cast by that minority were for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Those feeling that it is necessary to immediately change the requirements in voting laws to include a photo ID, in order to prevent any voting by illegal aliens, visa students, green card immigrants, incarcerated inmates and/or the proverbial resurrected dead people, should make their case for doing so before Congress with supporting documentation.
IMO; To have 50 states making their own laws as to who is qualified to cast their ballot and who is not qualified, will certainly end up with conflicting voter requirement laws between states as well as the possibility of disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of the legal voting public.
People seem to have no problem providing valid IDs for other things they want. A person needs ID at the Airport, Hospital, Pharmacy, Social Securtiy Office, Pawn shop, Jail and Court. A person needs a valid ID to buy beer and cigarettes, to get a passport, to buy a handgun, to write a check, to donate blood, to adopt a child, to rent a car, to buy insurance, to apply for food stamps, to make medicare claims and to vote in Union Elections.
So why should a person be given the priviledge of taking part in the voting processes in the greatest country in the free world without a valid ID?
I can only think of one possble reason why a valid ID should not be required.
I normally support laws like this, but there is one thing, I know what it's like for the lowest economical class. It's hard. Imagine only making $300 a month total cash assistance as a single mom.. plus food stamps.. by the end of the month you're lucky if you have the $15-$20 to pay for an ID for your teenage kids so they can start out right in the world.
Otherwise, meh.
Yes. Colorful history. Long story. Wait for the memoirs.
It is amazing how resourceful poor people or anyone for that matter can be when they really want something.
It's not like they are not given enough notice about the timing of the election that they can't make a plan to provide ID at the polling place.
Showing an ID would prevent much voter fraud. I really believe that many opposing voter ID have alterior motives.
hmmm...
There are organizations available to help people to get out to vote there is no reason I can think of why these same organizations would not help make sure people have the correct ID needed. It really is not as hard as some are trying to make it.
That's about how I feel -- but it doesn't seem like that's the plan ;)
seriously, micky... there is no need to act like a child in the schoolyard when you're obviously an adult...
This is why liberal politics usually trumps conservatism in the end.... because of just how childish and loopy conservative voters behave... It's really something I would be embarrassed of, if I were you..
Like I said - ever live in the navajo nation? I have. I didn't even get my birth certificate until I was an adult. Life is harder in some areas than others, Charles, and everyone's lives are different. Some people are lazy good for nothings -- and some people are genuinely destitute with their backs against the wall.
I'd prefer not to judge those people simply because I've managed to get out of the hole.
Agreed, Charles, and of course, there is no excuse. One cannot get a Beer and a Basket of Chips without one. And there isn't an American who understands this..
Be careful who you call stupid Mark.
(trying to figure out why the post was flagged, but those types of comments being made is probably why)
Just saying. It's always easier to judge the less fortunate when you're more fortunate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuOT1bRYdK8&feature=player_embedded
Here in Ohio, the new law said that if you got the polls and didn't have ID, you'd be able to use a provisional ballot and come back within 5 days with ID. Even that made Democrats angry.
Voting isn't supposed to be easy. Not if it means anything.
I can remember my parents having to wait in line for hours to vote when I was a kid. Sometimes they were waiting in the cold and snow. It's what one does if one is a grown up who doesn't require the government to think and do for you at every turn.
Yes, Republicans are concerned about voter fraud. We don't want illegals and dead people to be able to vote this time.