'If You've Done Time, You're a Democrat'

Fox News ^ | February 18, 2005 | John Gibson

[MisterRepublican]

Hillary Clinton is running so hard you might occasionally see some perspiration.

As if we needed further evidence of the running Hillary Clinton, yesterday she offered a suggestion for a new law, which, if enacted, would probably guarantee her election.

She proposed a national holiday for voting. The theory here is that people want to vote, but they can't because they're working. So if it was a day off, they would vote.

Frankly I think they would go do something fun and turnout numbers would fall even deeper in an already deep hole ... if you're a Democrat.

She also wants to repeal the rule or law or tradition that felons are not allowed to vote. This one is really good. Evidently she thinks, and Democrats think, that felons will vote for Democrats. Evidently she thinks people who have been to prison are more simpatico with the Dems than with conservatives.

First, I don't know if that is true, though it has the suspicious whiff of truth, but secondly, do Democrats want to be known as the jailbird party? Really?

If you've done time, you're a Democrat — vote for Hillary. As a slogan it's probably a little clunky but you get the idea.

Does Hillary think these suggestions will become law? I doubt it.

[Graybeard58]

I think that it's a fair statement to say that most people who have been convicted of a felony are, at a minimum, guilty of having exercised very bad judgment.

Judgement is a subjective thing. In my opinion 47,000,000 people were guilty of bad judgement in the last election

In my case it wasn't so much a matter of bad judgement as it was of simple forgetfulness.

I had been target practing (legally) and forgot that I still had a hand gun in my coat pocket. It was small caliber(.32) and I forgot that it was in my heavy coat pocket. I was sitting in a resturaunt, someone saw it or the bulge and called the cops.

I don't deny my responsibility or my guilt. Again, I'm thankful that Illinois allows me to vote.

[Paleo Conservative]

She also wants to repeal the rule or law or tradition that felons are not allowed to vote. This one is really good. Evidently she thinks, and Democrats think, that felons will vote for Democrats. Evidently she thinks people who have been to prison are more simpatico with the Dems than with conservatives

Well I think it ought to be up to the states to determine the issue.

[Paleo Conservative]

Judgement is a subjective thing. In my opinion 47,000,000 people were guilty of bad judgement in the last election

But what about the other 10,000,000 who also voted for Kerry?

[Osage Orange]

I'm sorry you feel that way....I understand, I suppose. Do you think it's possible that you are taking some offense here...when none is intended? As I'm not reading the article in the same way you are taking it....

Based on your experience's...would/could you give us an educated guess on the political persuasions of the incarcerated?

Thanks-

[sphinx]

I've written a number of emails to Republican leaders suggesting that the party commission an independent survey to research what the political background is for violent criminals (US Citizens, only).

I've always thought the newspapers should put the perps' party registration into crime stories.

[suzyq5558]

Well Im glad your here. you've paid your debt and have gone on living your life. and I wish you all the best with your liberal girlfriend:) my husband was once a stanch dem but he's changed the many years we've been married and is now very conservative.

[GreenHornet]

'If You've Done Time, You're a Democrat'

Howard Dean didn't waste any time coming up with a new slogan for the DNC, did he?

[Graybeard58]

But what about the other 10,000,000 who also voted for Kerry?

They were dead and I don't speak ill of the dead.

[Paleo Conservative]

LOL!

[harpu]

"Please enlighten me on this, I thought States could give felons the right to vote in State elections but that they could not vote in Federal elections. Just seeking information."

The inverse of your need ("enlighten me"), please show me in Federal Law that; 1) a convicted felon can 'never again' vote, or; 2) a state cannot return the right to vote after a 'sentence is served'.

[brooklin]

"Hillary Clinton is running so hard you might occasionally see some perspiration."


Not something that I ever wanted to envision.

[LarkNeelie]

I find it shameful that in Afghanistan and Iraq, millions braved credible death threats to vote, some DID die, many, many voters joyfully and with determination hiked miles and miles to get to their voting place - and here in America people complained about long lines and rain, hanging chads, electronic machines, not enough machines, too many machines, paper trails, no paper trails, anger over Daffy Duck's vote being thrown out and now someone thinks we need an even EASIER way to vote?

We've already got no-questions-asked absentee ballots, no worries about homicide bombers, registration available on practically every corner, access to umbrellas and coats, protection by authorities, bi-partisan committees running the elections...

I truly resent our elections being turned into a circus or used as a political talking point or throwing down the 'race card' or used as a stick to beat Bush with.

[speed_addiction]

I'm sorry you feel that way....I understand, I suppose. Do you think it's possible that you are taking some offense here...when none is intended? As I'm not reading the article in the same way you are taking it.... Based on your experience's...would/could you give us an educated guess on the political persuasions of the incarcerated?

Well this thread has not taken the turn other have. In most threads regarding felons voting the opinion usually falls on the side of a felon never again voting.

As far as how felons would vote if they could. Very few of them would bother to vote at all. Seriously. Most of the felons would not know or care who was running for President and few would be able to name the Vice President. The ones who would take the time vote would fall into two categories; Activists and regular joes with a sense of civic duty. The activists (as activists are wont to do) would probably vote Democratic. The regular joes, the one who lived up to the conditions of their parole, who worked hard and walked the straight and narrow would vote Republican. Also take into account this. A lot of felons that would take the time to vote are white collar criminals. Most of the guys who commit these kinds of crime are pretty much fiscally conservative anyway.

They way I see it, instead of a huge segment of new voters for the Democrats on this I see a very slight surge that is evenly split or maybe with a slight edge to our side.

[Verginius Rufus]

The 14th amendment to the Constitution allows states to deny the right to vote to felons (at least to those who are male and over 21 years of age, the only people who could vote in 1866 anyway).

I guess the idea is to make it too inconvenient for states to deny felons the right to vote for state and local offices when those same individuals can vote for the national offices so that they will cave in and let all felons vote...the same strategy that was used to make 18 the voting age nationwide in 1971.

This is the kind of issue which was intended to be left to the states to determine. Hillary is doing this partly out of demagoguery and partly because she believes in concentrating power in the hands of the federal government.

[NickRails]

You guys are missing the point. If you give people the day off, then it is easier for you to get your supporters (unions, etc) to politic for you (phone banks, drive people to the polls, etc), and they don't have to take a vacation day.

See, you only need a couple of hours to vote once, but the possibilities are limitless with the whole day off.

[metesky]

'If You've Done Time, You're a Democrat'

I've done time. I'm a registered Republican.

[metesky]

Looks like we're a pretty small club here on FR.

[cripplecreek]

There are others. We just choose to be out in the open about it. I have in the past chosen to keep my mouth shut about this stuff but this is an important issue and people should be educated about it.

I think that opposing the democrats without finding the facts will only help the democrats. I oppose the plan but I do so based on the states rights issue, because I don't think inmates should vote, and because Hillary's statement about felons was a flat out lie to begin with.

[metesky]

There are others.

I know. They come and go. Some stay.

We just choose to be out in the open about it.

We are who we are and that in itself is a conservative value.

I have in the past chosen to keep my mouth shut about this stuff...

I've been open about it since the day I joined up here (marijuana thread in the good old flame war days).

I oppose the plan but I do so based on the states rights issue, because I don't think inmates should vote, and because Hillary's statement about felons was a flat out lie to begin with.

I agree on all points.

[Osage Orange]

Well this thread has not taken the turn other have. In most threads regarding felons voting the opinion usually falls on the side of a felon never again voting.

"Never" is a word...I try not to use. My Pop used to say.."Never say "never", son".....Hehehe...he was right.

As far as how felons would vote if they could. Very few of them would bother to vote at all. Seriously.

I would guess you were correct, in that regard.

The ones who would take the time vote would fall into two categories; Activists and regular joes with a sense of civic duty. The activists (as activists are wont to do) would probably vote Democratic. The regular joes, the one who lived up to the conditions of their parole, who worked hard and walked the straight and narrow would vote Republican. Also take into account this. A lot of felons that would take the time to vote are white collar criminals. Most of the guys who commit these kinds of crime are pretty much fiscally conservative anyway.

You could be right...I dunno. My gut says that considering the numbers that I read..( and assuming they are accurate..) about demographics, race, social economics and such....I'd hazard a guess that a majority of felons would lean to voting Democrat. But like I said, it's my gut and a guess.

They way I see it, instead of a huge segment of new voters for the Democrats on this I see a very slight surge that is evenly split or maybe with a slight edge to our side.

You may have a clearer picture than I....I respect that. And I could be wrong, I admit that.

Best FRegards,