‘Jim Crawford’ Republicans (GOP working to keep eligible African-Americans from voting

Newsweek ^ | 9/11/08 | Jonathan Alter

[Libloather]

‘Jim Crawford’ Republicans
The GOP is working to keep eligible African-Americans from voting in several states.
Jonathan Alter
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 2:37 PM ET Sep 11, 2008

It was a mainstay of Jim Crow segregation: for 100 years after the Civil War, Southern white Democrats kept eligible blacks from voting with poll taxes, literacy tests and property requirements. Starting in the 1960s, the U.S. Supreme Court declared these assaults on the heart of American democracy unconstitutional.

Now, with the help of a 2008 Supreme Court decision, Crawford vs. Marion County (Indiana) Election Board, white Republicans in some areas will keep eligible blacks from voting by requiring driver's licenses. Not only is this new-fangled discrimination constitutional, it's spreading.

GOP proponents of the move say they are merely trying to reduce voter fraud. But while occasional efforts to stuff ballot boxes through phony absentee voting still surface, the incidence of individual vote fraud—voting when you aren't eligible—is virtually non-existent, as "The Truth About Vote Fraud," a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, clearly shows. In other words, the problem Republicans claim they want to combat with increased ID requirements doesn't exist. Meanwhile, those ID hurdles facing individuals do nothing to stop the organized insiders who still try to game the system.

The motive here is political, not racial. Republicans aren't bigots like the Jim Crow segregationists.

[Libloather]

...by requiring driver's licenses.

An ID? THE HORROR!

[muawiyah]

The Leftwingtard Democrats would have gotten further in their argument if they could have found some "victims", but they couldn't.

That's 'cause there aren't any.

The Dems are totally delusional.

[greyfoxx39]

Setting the stage for massive voter fraud. Excuses to hold the polls open past legal closing time.

[Let's Roll]

bump

[xcamel]

The entire story is based on unmitigated denial...

Go figure.

[gitmo]

To get an idea of how many African-Americans nationwide lack driver's licenses, recall Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when thousands were stranded without transportation. "Crawford Republicans" could make the old "Jim Crow Democrats" look like pikers when it comes to voter suppression.

I'm surprised they said "Jim Crow Democrats" in the article.

I just took my son (who cannot drive) to (a) get an ID and (b) get registered to vote. The lad told the lady he was a Republican. I guess he can live another couple of years in my house.

[DJ MacWoW]

My state offers ID’s that look like a DL, $10,

[indylindy]

Indiana has the voter ID law. I live in a mixed area and have yet to see anyone gripe at the polls.

The state makes sure way ahead of the elections to make sure that those without a license are accommodated.

This is BS and a foreshadow of what they plan to make sure Obama wins.

[Alouette]

Dead people don’t drive.

[xcamel]

‘zactly

It’s called a ‘non driver ID’

[GSWarrior]

These eligible voters, disproportionately African-American, will need to take a bus or catch a ride from a friend down to the motor vehicles bureau to make sure they obtain a nondriver photo ID

Sounds like a great project for community organizers.

[FlingWingFlyer]

But while occasional efforts to stuff ballot boxes through phony absentee voting still surface, the incidence of individual vote fraud—voting when you aren't eligible—is virtually non-existent,

Sounds like Jonathan might be hitting the bong or something. Apparently, the boy has never heard of ACORN.

[DJ MacWoW]

Next we’ll hear “But how will the poor afford it?”

[TribalPrincess2U]

Next we’ll hear “But how will the poor afford it?”

There must be a program for that. If not the bleeding hearts will make one.

[Salamander]

My tiny little polling place is staffed by poll workers whom I’ve literally known all my life and grew up with.

Nevertheless, after greeting me by name, asking after my family and generally chit-chatting, they then demand that I show my driver’s license to prove I am who I appear to be.

And I’m glad for it.

Why?

Because *I* am not trying to cheat the system.

Which, to me means, logically, that anyone who *does* complain has a nefarious reason for not wanting to verify their identity.

[Clemenza]

Alter lives in Montclair (surprise, surprise!).

[DJ MacWoW]

There must be a program for that. If not the bleeding hearts will make one.

Ain't that the truth!

[SampleMan]

Indeed, Republicans are trying to prevent people from voting. They are trying to prevent them from voting twice and voting from the grave.

[KriegerGeist]

"Dead people don’t drive."

But, they vote in Illinois...over and over...

[Alouette]

In Michigan, the liberals are having a meltdown over a Macomb County decision that will not allow “voters” to claim foreclosed houses as their primary address.

[duckbutt]

If you rent a movie or want to buy beer —don’t you have to show ID?

So, why no outrage over that?

[LottieDah]

This reminds me of the blather I heard when Guiliani his first term for Mayor of NYC. Liberals and Dumbocrats claimed that police officers on horse back were preventing Blacks from going to the polls. I wonder which NYC they were talking about? Probably the one in their alternate reality.

[longtermmemmory]

Newsweek is DEAD WRONG. ID is NOT NEW. It is at least 30 years old.

Newsweek’s yellow journalism is beyond absurd since they do not mention the provisional balloting or FREE ID’s.

[Iron Munro]

[machogirl]

so are they saying that blacks are more likely to be law breakers and not get licenses? /s

[ROTB]

Exactly! Which is why people who complain about airport security should be *particularly* suspect.

[KriegerGeist]

"Which, to me means, logically, that anyone who *does* complain has a nefarious reason for not wanting to verify their identity."

Exactly. I don't care how dirt poor a person is, they always seem able to get to the mall, the movies or video store or the fast food place. If they were really interested in participating in the electoral process, then they would find a way to get an ID. And, I'm sure they would get one without any interference. Any interference and they could just call the police right then and there.

The ONLY excuse is laziness, lack of interest or a desire to play the victim (as they have been mind-bent to believe that they are).

[longtermmemmory]

I thought by the misleading wording that Newsweek was upset some people would be blocked from voting IN MORE THAN ONE STATE!

ala NY and FL snowbird residents.

[ROTB]

poll taxes, literacy tests and property requirements

************************************

I am ...

1) white
2) don’t own property

... and I think owning property is an EXCELLENT prerequisite to voting.

Simpletons should not be voting.

[appleharvey]

When I read the name of Jonathan Alter, I have the same reaction as a column of Anna Quindlen. I know what both of those left wing hacks of Newsweek are going to say about an issue before I even read it. I’ve never been wrong yet.

[xcamel]

Good one...

[FredZarguna]

Democrat cries for counting every vote ring a bit hollow when they're willing to discount the votes of honest voters through fraud. The rabid defense of free-for-all, indentity verification-free elections offered by Dem partisans gives an outright lie to their supposed belief in the sanctity of the franchise.

Democrats have made it increasingly difficult to police the rolls to purge the missing and the dead. A charitable person wonders why this has been done, when the result of keeping voters who haven't voted in a precinct for many election cycles -- and in many cases won't be voting again -- can have only one purpose. Now we read columns by Lefties like Alter, and the suspicion many of us have had concerning these practices solidifies into a certainty. The protestations that fraud "isn't really a very big problem" only further confirms those of us who monitor and judge elections in our resolve to make sure it remains that way. Clearly Mr. Alter is frustrated because he has other plans. Advocating for election fraud is what Barack Obama did during the missing years when he pretended to be a social worker. Not surprisingly, we know of at least one sitting Senator and one sitting Governor -- surprise, in liberal venues -- who owe their seats to voter fraud.

Alter is a cheerleader for a soft totalitarianism, where the criminals get to rule by fraud and intimidation rather than through the purer terror methodologies of the past. No thanks. I'll take my tyrannies straight. It's easier when you know whom to shoot.

[snarkytart]

Setting the stage for massive voter fraud. Excuses to hold the polls open past legal closing time

BINGO!

[Iron Munro]

"...the incidence of individual vote fraud—voting when you aren't eligible—is virtually non-existent"

300+ Illegal Aliens Registered To Vote In Bexar County TX

"...In a review of the past six years, Callanen said 330 undocumented people had registered to vote, and that 41 of them had voted — even though they later acknowledged they were not U.S. citizens."

"The 330 people had received jury duty summons cards because their names were culled from the county's voter registration rolls."

llegal Immigrants Are Voting in American Elections

"The U.S. Attorney at the time estimated that there were at least 80,000 illegal aliens registered to vote in Chicago, and dozens were indicted and convicted for registering and voting."

"The grand jury's report resulted in a limited cleanup of the voter registration rolls in Chicago, but just one year later, INS District Director A. D. Moyer testified before a state legislative task force that 25,000 illegal and 40,000 legal aliens remained on the rolls in Chicago."

[redhead]

Exactly. I don’t have a driver’s license because I don’t drive. But I do have a State ID, which is every bit as valid as any DL. Nobody needs to be without valid identification, drivers’ licenses notwithstanding. I show my ID every time I vote. And they compare my signature every time. I’m pleased. That’s the way it should be everywhere.

[KriegerGeist]

"In Michigan, the liberals are having a meltdown over a Macomb County decision that will not allow “voters” to claim foreclosed houses as their primary address."

I was born and raised in Center Line (Macomb County). If a person is not living in a house because their house was foreclosed, then it should be their responsibility to notify their resigtrar's office of change of address or apply for an absentee ballot if they are staying with family or friends.

Those with foreclosed houses could be living anywhere. It would be totally irresponsible of Macomb County to allow a person to claim an empty house as a residence. Although, in some states, those residing underground don't seem to have a problem.

[aroostook war]

There must be a program for that. If not the bleeding hearts will make one

A project for up-and-coming community organizizers.

[Lady Heron]

Just ask St.Louis and Detroit about that supposedly non-exsistant vote fraud. BS!

[Ole Okie]

Next we’ll hear “But how will the poor afford it?”

Georgia will supply photo ID's for free for those who can't afford them.

Next question: but how will the poor get to the ID issuing place?

My understanding is that Georgia will go to the poor places of residence and do the photo ID there.

Next question: ...........etc.

This is the surest way of stopping election frauds, and the Democrats don't like it.

[SuziQ]

To get an idea of how many African-Americans nationwide lack driver's licenses, recall Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when thousands were stranded without transportation.

They weren't stranded because they didn't have Driver's Licenses; they were stranded because the stupid Governor and Mayor didn't have the sense to get them out when they had the chance. They may not have had cars, or they may not have had the money to pay for a hotel when they evacuated. But driver's licenses weren't the problem.

If I'm not mistaken, most of these laws allow for people to get an alternative to a Driver's License, so the whole issue is a red herring.

[DJ MacWoW]

This is the surest way of stopping election frauds, and the Democrats don't like it.

Isn't that the truth!

Except for what the Dems are pulling in Ohio.

Ohio’s Dem Sec. of State Seeking To Disenfranchise McCain Voters

[SuziQ]

I show my ID every time I vote. And they compare my signature every time. I’m pleased. That’s the way it should be everywhere.

I've voted at the same place for 20 years. I showed them my voting card the first time, and haven't had to do it since, because the same ladies have been sitting at that precinct every election.

[CarryingOn]

I really think they should make Republican voters show their ID too. That would seem to make it fair.

[boop]

Actually the dems are saying that blacks are too stupid to know how to get a state ID. Even if it’s “free”.

[freespirited]

I have never been allowed to vote in Virginia without presenting my drivers license. I imagine other ID is acceptable, but no one votes without showing ID.

Have voted many times and never once seen anyone complain.

[According2RecentPollsAirIsGood]

poll taxes, literacy tests and property requirements

************************************

I am ...

1) white
2) don’t own property

... and I think owning property is an EXCELLENT prerequisite to voting.

Simpletons should not be voting.

************************************

I’d be fine with a citizenship test demonstrating basic knowledge of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. They make you take a written test to get a driver’s license. No one complains. Shouldn’t be any different.

Or maybe it could be you should have to prove you pay taxes to vote. Same concept as owning property in that you actually have a stake in things. This one probably would have more inherent problems.

I’ve been saying since I was a kid that it’s way too easy for people to vote.

[sitkaspruce]

Amazing in this day and age some people don’t have ID’s. Wonder how they cash checks or pay for groceries or go to the bank?

[machogirl]

i would be really insulted
this is along the same lines as affirmative action.
can’t succeed unless you get a “handicap” (golf analogy).
what an insult

[Marysecretary]

And some always get cigarettes and beer...