"In the pre-Voting Rights Act era, the Jim Crow states used literacy tests as a means of preventing African-Americans from registering to vote. Local registrars (who were all white) would often exempt white voters entirely or only give them a simple task, compared to a complex series of civics questions given to black citizens. (Here is an actual literacy test used in Alabama.)"
Think Newt could pass?
The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of
entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to
limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the
necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to
have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far
more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us.
Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast
confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can
survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of
fools such as those who made him their president.”
No doubt at all.
But I still don't want him as president.
Newt continues his crusade to make Ron Paul look sane.
Will someone post the Alabama test? (I can’t open it)
This is so over the top stupid, it’s hard to believe.
While I do believe in voting requirements (age 25, tax payer, etc), I do not believe that literacy should be one of the requirements.
Newt is nuts
One has to wonder if Gingrich still has two feet given he has put both up his arse these past few days... =.=
THE ONLY voter test that there should be....did you pay taxes in the previous year (more than you got back), or are you MARRIED to someone who did!
There is no doubt that discrimination took place against blacks, but the Voting Rights Act was not the solution. Getting rid of it is a good idea. And, at the same time, maybe we should only allow people not on the entitlement payroll to vote. That is, if you have a vested interest in voting for Democrats because they pay you to vote, maybe if you are unemployed and receiving payments, maybe you should not be allowed to vote until you get a job.
That is the illiterate and ignorant of what voting responsibilities and rights entail should not be allowed to vote.
Those receiving unemployment benefits from the Federal government should be removed from the register until such time that they have jobs and are not dependent upon the government.
Newt, we hardly knew ye....
Instead of a literacy test for voters, why don’t we adopt a morality test for politicians?
Isn’t it racist to decree that a literacy test discriminates against blacks? It’s tacitly admitting that most blacks are illiterate.
This is not a standard Alabama test. The standard test was two sets of four questions, plus reading aloud a section of the Constitution. They may have been chosen from this list, but any other resemblance to an actual test is purely coincidental.
This is NOT to say that the registrars didn't play fast and loose with literacy qualifications. They did, and they also picked and chose questions depending on the race of the applicant.
But it is not necessary for PBS to exaggerate and outright lie in order to make this point. But I guess it's open season on Alabama up at PBS.
Newt would probably pass the test. So would I. So what. He's a two-timing, back-stabbing cheat, and I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher.
No, it isn't. Question 24 asks about the type of government there "was" in Russia. "Communism" is the correct answer...but it wouldn't have been in 1965.
That’s indicative of a kind of elitism I’ve heard way more often from Lefties than I have from Conservatives.It’s a fond conceit of the modern Left that everyone right of Center is an uneducable boob, even thought they court hardcore constituencies L3eft-of-center who fit that descrioption—it’s clear Newt now subscribes to that notion, and shows his disconnect with common sense, not to mention profound tone-deafness. He’s given the Dems something to point to once more to (justifiably) paint him as an elitist. So far he’s doing all their work for them. What an idiot.
“...tests for voting, which were banned by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as a tool used to suppress African-American voters.”
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So being an informed and educated citizen is an exclusive province of the white devils?
I think I get it, now........
I think a dependency test is in order. Anyone on public assistance continuously for more than 12 months at the time of the vote is ineligible.
I would also like to see school budget voting restricted to property tax payers in the district - including renters (named on a leas), but not their kids or live-ins. If said rent is paid by the government, no vote.
This is off the top of my head - so feel free to amend or contradict the ideas if you wish to.
Did anyone actually listen to what Gingrich said? He said that in order to become a citizen, an applicant should be familiar with American History...and native citizens, even to vote, perhaps should have to learn about American history...that students today are ignorant about our history and couldn’t even pass a citizenship test. Allen West should not being playing the race card already...