Posted on 06/04/2011 3:36:52 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
In a racially mixed corner of Shreveport, La., a small group of white voters protested loudly this year that they did not want to be part of a majority black district when the legislature redrew the state’s political boundaries. The Republican-led statehouse complied, drawing a line around the community to accommodate them.
That line is at the heart of a case before the Justice Department that is seen as a critical test of how the Obama administration will interpret the controversial Voting Rights Act as it rules on a new wave of redistricting plans.
The law, passed in 1965, was designed in part to prevent white lawmakers from weakening the voting strength of minorities with the deft drawing of district lines. More than a dozen states, including Louisiana, are required because of their history of discrimination to clear their redistricting plans with Justice.
But some lawmakers in those states, many of which have Republican majorities, say they do not trust the Obama administration to fairly assess their maps. This is the first time since the passage of the Voting Rights Act that a Democratic administration has been in the White House following a decennial census, when state lawmakers redraw local, state and congressional boundaries.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
With all the historic gerrymandering and pandering to various groups in drawing district lines, who could blame them?
Right. /s
The decisions will be based on Just Us.
It seems that the elections are already decided with these laws.
Texas and its gerrymandered districts will be tested imo.
The Voting Rights Act is Reconstruction II, another occupation, this time political.
Who could blame the white voters or who could blame the DOJ?
Probably so. Any predictions?
Balkanizing America along racial lines.
Ethnic cleansing next?
...lawmakers in those states, many of which have Republican majorities, say they do not trust the Obama administration to fairly assess their maps. This is the first time since the passage of the Voting Rights Act that a Democratic administration has been in the White House following a decennial census, when state lawmakers redraw local, state and congressional boundaries.
Any predictions?
Not really other than I’d not be surprised to see another district with Hispanic potential emerge. Look at the proposed I believe it’s #33 that includes parts of Jefferson Cty and makes a circle to the north and west. The district as drawn has nothing in common from one end to the other, just as an example of gerrymandering, imo.
I’m sorry it’s proposed District #36 in Plan 125 assuming that plan gets approved. It’s a farce.
If the black representatives were not ignoring their whitey constituents this would not be an issue.
Removing white voters from what is apparently a gerrymandered district designed to elect a black politician affects the district, how?
It’s actually good to pack Blacks in the same district in the south. It leaves you with 1 Black rat and Republicans in the other districts. Instead of several White rats if you spread out the Black vote.
Ping
I’m in a VRA State Senate district (Black). My member completely ignores us (indeed, we don’t even so much as get campaign materials or newsletter updates).
You’ve got to admit that gerrymandering is an affront to liberty. How can you have real representation when ‘communities’ are mere political creations to preserve political power?
The dirty little secret now is that President Obama has done something no one ever thought possible - he has unified the white vote (against the Democrats).
It really doesn’t matter how they attempt to spread blacks out, particularly in those Southern States, as the white vote will overwhelm their votes in any case.
It took decades - but whites (in large part) FINALLY see just who the Democrats are and what they stand for.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.