Media Back Speech Suppression, Call It “Voting Rights”

The Houston Courant ^ | 6/8/21 | B. Vasoli

[The Houston Courant]

Suppose some beastly right-wing caricature in Congress proposed a law permitting all white-collar criminals, including current prisoners, to vote in American elections. That would be repulsive. It would also, technically, be a “voting rights bill.”

Imagine some congressperson went all-out fruitcake—worse than anyone there now, even—and wrote legislation extending American suffrage to Icelanders, porcupines, and bonsai trees. That would be daft and bizarre. And it too would be a “voting rights bill.”

So, then, perhaps the doyens of the national press could quit canting in such terms about House Resolution 1, a “voting rights bill” so offensive to basic constitutional freedoms that even the obsolescent American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) opposes it.

H.R. 1 has pervaded the news after Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) reiterated his disapproval of it in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Never having stood much chance of enactment, the bill is doomed without his support. The mainstream national media all responded to Manchin’s resolve by declaring him against “voting rights legislation.” Yes, they all said this. To wit: “Manchin Vows to Block Democratic Voting Rights Bill…” (New York Times); “Manchin defends bucking voting rights bill and digs in against eliminating the filibuster” (CNN); “Manchin to oppose voting rights bill pushed by Dems” (Reuters); “Manchin says he will not support voting rights bill…” (Washington Post); “…N.Y. Dems denounce Manchin over opposition to voting rights bill…” (New York Daily News); “Sen. Joe Manchin defended his opposition to the Democratic voting-rights act…” (Business Insider); “Manchin says he will vote against Democrats’ sweeping voting rights bill” (CNBC); “Joe Manchin opposes voting rights bill…” (The Guardian); “Sen. Joe Manchin to vote against key voting rights bill” (New York Post).

[Lurkinanloomin]

They want the fraudulently documented foreigner vote.

That’s the big reason they oppose ID or citizenship checks.

[PhineasSpear]

War Is Peace
Freedom Is Slavery
Ignorance Is Strength

....and now....

Voter Suppression Is Voter Rights