world

Obama says right to vote under threat in U.S.

116 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

116 Comments
Login to comment

To buy alcohol if you don't look the age you need ID.

To buy cigarettes if you look age 25 and under you need ID.

To drive a car you need ID.

To vote for a US politician you Don't need ID! Silly to think "No ID Required.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

God forbid too many people have the right to vote - that sounds like democracy.... oh hang on, isn't the US supposed to be the shining light of liberal democracy???.... I guess those were the days before US 'democracy' simply became a front for corporate interests....

8 ( +13 / -5 )

It need not be a drivers license. An official valid ID. Fraud does exist. Illegals should have no vote. Deceased should have no vote. Registered voters to lazy to place a vote should have no vote. Underage should have no vote.

If you cannot provide a valid ID, no vote.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Of course Obama believes the right to vote is under threat, but his only concern is the new voter ID requirements. Voting fraud had been a huge problem in America for two centuries, and requiring voters prove that they are residents of tne cities and states thry are voting, or that they are US citizens at all would make a huge difference in how cleanly elections are run.

It has been an old practice for party activists to bus in friends, family member students, city employees, and union members to vote in elections in other cities and other states. It has been an old practice for a single individual to register to vote under numerous names and so be able to vote numerous times. This needs to stop, it should have been stopped more than a century ago.

But politicians value votes, not voters, and they have had no desire to fix a problem which favors them.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Every state with voter id has had increased voter participation of minorities. In several of these states in the South, minorities voted in greater percentages that the majority population. But let's no let facts prevent Obama from riling up the base to save his party's majority in the Senate.

Yet another ginned up issue to divide the country for political purposes.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

You don't need I.D. to join the military and possibly die. So why do you need one to exercise your right to vote.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Voting fraud had been a huge problem in America for two centuries,

No it hasn't.

1 ( +8 / -8 )

God forbid too many people have the right to vote - that sounds like democracy.... oh hang on, isn't the US supposed to be the shining light of liberal democracy???.... I guess those were the days before US 'democracy' simply became a front for corporate interests....

Here we go again, Obama playing the race card yet, once again. Why is it that liberals think asking for ID is a violation of your civil rights. You are nuts if you think voter fraud doesn't exist. Producing an ID will NOT kill you, just show it and that's it! Your rights are NOT denied and if you don't have an ID, just get one and done. I don't get what the problem is? So by that stupid logic, why do I need a drivers license? It has nothing to do with democracy, it has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that the Dems want to get as many people involved with the voting process and to vote Democrat in droves regardless of the persons background, legal or not, criminal or not etc. If people were turned away because of their race, religion or gender, then you can make that claim, other than that, you have no leg to stand on.

You don't need I.D. to join the military and possibly die. So why do you need one to exercise your right to vote.

What are you talking about? You have to be a U.S citizen or a legal Green card holder/resident, you can't just walk in and sign up without ANY form of identification, otherwise any one could just walk in with a dubious and shady background, ANYONE! NO ID, NO Vote, why is that so hard to understand. Being able to vote is a privilege, NOT a right, the same goes for obtaining a drivers license. It is NOT a right.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Here is your laugh of the day:

Voting fraud had been a huge problem in America for two centuries

The incidents of voter ID fraud are minuscule. The GOP, and it has been documented, uses the cry of voter fraud to limit the voting rights of some citizens.

Something for people to read http://www.brennancenter.org/issues/voter-fraud

0 ( +6 / -6 )

This is a good issue to see how honest the Republican in front of you is. If they have half a brain in their head then they know voter fraud is a myth. That means they're willing to look you in the eye and lie, and it's good to know that up front. For the low-information voters there's not much you can do.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

To buy alcohol if you don't look the age you need ID.

Nailed it there, MarkG. To vote, if you don't look sufficiently "American," you need an ID. (Also, if you live in a place with many minorities, get ready for reduced polling stations and hours and vastly curtailed early voting.)

1 ( +4 / -3 )

This can only happen in America.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You have to register to vote in every State except North Dakota. If you try to vote and you're not registered, you will not receive a ballot.

Voting fraud had been a huge problem in America for two centuries,

No it hasn't.

Well, not a HUGE problem until recently, but yes a problem, but not with showing ID. In some States, felons can not vote. The Bush II Republicans used this in Florida while his brother was the Governor.

They would take the felons last name and Social Security number and kick them off the registration lists. These lists were not vetted and a lot of innocent people were kicked of as well who's name matched a felons name. Computer voting systems have also been criticized. This is where the real fraud has been occurring.

Showing ID is just a Republican tool against minorities. And to be honest, if you don't have some kind of picture ID, then you're either lazy, a criminal or just irresponsible. Besides, you need a picture ID to register to vote.

I think Wolfpack hit it on the head.

Yet another ginned up issue to divide the country for political purposes.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

This is a good issue to see how honest the Republican in front of you is. If they have half a brain in their head then they know voter fraud is a myth. That means they're willing to look you in the eye and lie, and it's good to know that up front. For the low-information voters there's not much you can do.

What a load of crap. Is it going to kill you to show who you are? Do you know how many dead people vote? Being able to show proof of ID would discourage fraud and people trying to beat the system, pure and simple. But for some reason Democrats want to make you think you would be asking for a pint of blood. It would be hilarious if it weren't so outrageous.

http://ballotpedia.org/Dead_people_voting

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/14/146827471/study-1-8-million-dead-people-still-registered-to-vote

1 ( +5 / -4 )

“Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it’s done. First pro-life legislation – abortion facility regulations – in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done.” Said by Pennsylvania Republican House Leader Mike Turzai (R-PA).

and

"Featured on the show was North Carolina GOP executive committee member Don Yelton, who bragged about how the new voting restrictions would allow them to “kick the Democrats butt.” He also stated, in regards to the fact that these laws will prevent people of color from voting, “If it hurts a bunch of lazy Blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it.”"

and

Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer says he attended various meetings, beginning in 2009, at which party staffers and consultants pushed for reductions in early voting days and hours. “The Republican Party, the strategists, the consultants, they firmly believe that early voting is bad for Republican Party candidates,” Greer told The Post. “It’s done for one reason and one reason only. … ‘We’ve got to cut down on early voting because early voting is not good for us,’ ” Greer said he was told by those staffers and consultants. “They never came in to see me and tell me we had a (voter) fraud issue,” Greer said. “It’s all a marketing ploy.”

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

The right to vote in the U.S. is under attack, the issue of an ID could easily be solved by putting a picture on the social security card that is issued to everyone, but the Neo-Confederates in Congress block such efforts.

The Bush Administration investigated allegations of voter fraud and found it to be non-existent.

WASHINGTON, April 11 — Five years after the Bush administration began a crackdown on voter fraud, the Justice Department has turned up virtually no evidence of any organized effort to skew federal elections, according to court records and interviews.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/washington/12fraud.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Being able to vote is a privilege, NOT a right, the same goes for obtaining a drivers license. It is NOT a right.

Ha ha! For some, the only "right" that exists is the "right" to bear arms. V (By the way, it's called the "Voting Rights Act", not the "Voting Privileges Act".)

6 ( +7 / -1 )

"Featured on the show was North Carolina GOP executive committee member Don Yelton, who bragged about how the new voting restrictions would allow them to “kick the Democrats butt.” He also stated, in regards to the fact that these laws will prevent people of color from voting, “If it hurts a bunch of lazy Blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it.”"

First of all, the Democrats have no one else to blame for them to soon be ousted out of the Senate, they had 5 years and nothing to show for it, therefore you can't blame the man for bragging, Democrats did the exact same thing in 2008 with the highest confidence at the time and the Republicans did deserve a beat down as now do the Democrats. Second, one politician making stupid remarks about Blacks doesn't mean, the entire Republican establishment thinks that way, because I can give you a long list of Black conservatives, you have idiots in BOTH parties and it's not like Dems are in love with Blacks, in fact, the Democratic party has been a disaster for blacks and hispanics generally speaking. When Harry Reid made that comment about Obama being different as he talks and acts different from typical blacks. NOT one of his finest moments. So ignorance crosses both party lines, sadly.

Also, both sides want to win. Regardless of early voting, or trying to use voter fraud, both sides will do whatever to gain power, that's politics. My problem is that liberals scream to the mountain tops that they are immune to the trappings of lying, cheating, using dirty tactics to get into power. They are the honest party or so they want everyone to believe and I have a fundamental problem with that, I abhor liberal hypocrisy.

-3 ( +4 / -6 )

Shaken Dems start to use race card and winning about all sort of rights as welfare dependency is at highest under Obama , the deficit in chief. Responsible citizens have nothing to deter them from casting the vote, including registration or I.D. Winning about right to vote is a shameless act in the 21th. century as Americans. Illegal voting is a serious offense against the welfare of the state. Shameless politicians do anything to rile up the troops for their power. Al Sharpton was convicted in N.Y. court in making false allegation against the right of officials, and now he is talking about right(s), not self-interest opportunist?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"the fight for the Senate is expected to be tight"

Wow, the Democrats must be seriously messing up.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Can someone please point somewhere in which voter ID fraud has occurred and impacted an election. Something in the last 30-40 years please. Seriously, a couple of years back I spent some time googling and could not find anything credible. I say credible as I do not consider someone's blog as credible. All the analysis I read showed no evidence at all.

Think about it. Why all the GOP interest in making people jump through hoops? It's because elections are close and the best way for them to win is to curtail the voting of people who typically vote Democratic. That's the real story. All the people jumping up and down should step back and look at the facts.

You really want to get rid of this non-existence voter ID fraud problem? Require everyone to have a national ID card. No card, no voting, no bank account, no job, no utilities, no school, no guns, no nothing. A simple and easy solution to an invisible problem.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Wow, the Democrats must be seriously messing up.

I think that is a gross understatement.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Bgood41: Responsible citizens have nothing to deter them from casting the vote, including registration or I.D.

"Former U.S. Speaker of the House Jim Wright (D-Texas) tried to get a voter identification card at a Texas Department of Public Safety office on Saturday. But the only photo identification cards Wright has -- an expired Texas driver's license and a Texas Christian University faculty identification card -- do not satisfy the requirements of the state's restrictive vote identification law, passed in 2011. Wright is 90 years old. According to the Star-Telegram, Wright will return to the office Monday to get a Texas personal identification card with a certified copy of his birth certificate."

This one is pretty funny:

"To get [a voter ID card] in Mississippi, for instance, residents need a birth certificate, which costs $15 and requires the photo identification they don’t have."

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Voter fraud is no myth SuperLib. Look into the well published facts. It's alive and well.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Voter fraud is no myth SuperLib. Look into the well published facts. It's alive and well.

No.

2 ( +7 / -6 )

I disagree with a lot of what republicans are for, but this blatant push to make it harder to vote is way way beyond disgusting!! Shortening early voting...........WTF!!!

If the republicans want to do something why don't they work hard at getting all the dirty filthy $$$ out of US politics, its disgusting to watch, but hey they aren't interested in doing whats right only what will get them more votes or RATHER less votes for the dems

The whole US election scene is one GIANT cesspool & the stink is getting worse over time, its sad watch you yanks divide yourselves, hint its NOT making you better, your country is getting worse, the US used to be able turn things around, fix things............ your losing that aspect, you should fix it!!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

MarkG: Voter fraud is no myth SuperLib. Look into the well published facts. It's alive and well.

YES! And government bureaucracy will save us from the fraction of 1% of "potential" votes that are voter fraud!

"Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democrat made famous by her filibuster to try to block Texas' newest abortion law, also ran into trouble when she tried to snag her Texas voter ID. HuffPo reports that Davis ended up crossways with the voter ID regulations because her name is "Wendy Russell Davis" on her driver's license but just "Wendy Davis" on her voter registration file."

and

"The same thing happened to Texas' Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott -- "Gregory Wayne Abbott" was on his license, but it's just "Greg Abbott" on the voter roll, reports HuffPo."

and

"Last month, a Texas judge encountered issues with obtaining a voter ID because she, like many women, changed her name when she married. Because voter registration or other identifying information may have a women's maiden name as her last or middle name, it seems many Texas women will have to swear to their identities via affidavit in order to vote."

BIGGER government is the answer!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Don't see the problem with requiring an ID to vote, but I can definitely see this as an attempt by Republicans to undermine the minority vote. That said, if you don't have a photo ID I seriously don't know how you could even function in modern society.

Not wholly against it, but I do think states should reach out (and make it abundantly clear to everyone, multiple times, years before an election) that they would need their photo ID cards.

I mean, hell, if the US government is forcing people to sign-up for healthcare now, they can force people to get photo IDs.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Anyone can vote in the USA. Citizens are supposed to be the only voters. But, nobody has to show any proof of who he or she is. Nothing, not even a driver's license. Just register to vote at any table at the local grocery store, then go vote. Some state,s a few hours before the election. A person can register to vote in California based on the driver's license and register in Nevada based on the property tax statement. Oregon may be the only state where a person can vote on-line. There is nothing wrong with requiring a person to show ID. Mr. Holder is the problem. He needs to resign, but he will not. He will be gone in 2016.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

You don't need I.D. to join the military and possibly die. So why do you need one to exercise your right to vote.

I needed a birth certificate, drivers license, high schiool diploma, college degree, and a dozen other things which I joined the military, not to mention signing a mountain of papers, and swear a rather serious oath.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Get ready for a big event for this bozo will stay in power forever.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Another term or two with the best president in modern history wouldn't be a bad thing.

But moving the goalposts to allow for more than two terms would. If any administration ever decides to do that, they will have to do it for the next administration, not their own.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I think there has been plenty of significant fraud in U.S. elections. I just don't think its been from John Q. Public. Its been from the top. Its been in the form of gerrymandering and moving voting machines from lower class Black neighborhoods to affluent White neighborhoods. I also don't trust computerized software based machines connected to networks. I have no proof of fraud, but how could anyone with those?

I just don't think the real problems are voter fraud among individuals. And I am suspect of someone who would choose to focus on that.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

an someone please point somewhere in which voter ID fraud has occurred and impacted an election. Something in the last 30-40 years please. Seriously, a couple of years back I spent some time googling and could not find anything credible. I say credible as I do not consider someone's blog as credible. All the analysis I read showed no evidence at all.

The practice is far more rampant in caucuses running up to elections, read a little bit about the caucusing problems which occurred between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2007.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Myth? Ahem:

Leftists cheer and support an unrepentant convicted voter fraud felon: http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/04/voter_fraud_the_lefts_tool_for_social_justice.html

Convicted felons, dead voters, absentee ballot schemes: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/375021/dems-voter-fraud-denial-john-fund

And the money quote from the above article:

"There is a reason that polls consistently show over 60 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics support voter ID," he told me. "They realize voter fraud isn't a myth, and saying it is doesn't make it so."

35,570 possible double voters from North Carolina audit: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/374882/nc-state-board-finds-more-35k-incidents-double-voting-2012-andrew-johnson

When you read these (those of you who are honestly open-minded enough to do so), keep in mind that fraud efforts are concentrated on swing states, and remember how many times these swing states how been won by only a few thousand (or even a few hundred) votes. When you have 35,570 possible cases from North Carolina's voter rolls alone, it's pretty obvious that anyone denying the existence of voter fraud is either delusional or deliberately lying.

If voter ID is just racist voter suppression, then how could Leftist icon Nelson Mandela support it, but America's Leftists can't support it here?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

It may well be that the conflict between making it easy for voters to exercise their democratic privileges and the need to ensure against fraud will become a significant political issue in the future.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@ GW

If the republicans want to do something why don't they work hard at getting all the dirty filthy $$$ out of US politics, its disgusting to watch, but hey they aren't interested in doing whats right only what will get them more votes or RATHER less votes for the dems

They are trying right now to get the filthy $$$ Dems out of office and they shouldn't stop there, they need to also weed out the Republicans that are also poisoning the pool as well. Also, if I am in the opposition party, why on Earth would I ever want my rival to win, so of course, I want my party to win. Don't hold that over Republicans heads. Dems are equally guilty of that. Take the IRS and Benghazi scandal for instance, partisan....naaaw!

The whole US election scene is one GIANT cesspool & the stink is getting worse over time, its sad watch you yanks divide yourselves, hint its NOT making you better, your country is getting worse, the US used to be able turn things around, fix things............ your losing that aspect, you should fix it!!

I know, politically we're becoming more chaotic like the Europeans, I agree.

@MGiante

but I can definitely see this as an attempt by Republicans to undermine the minority vote.

Really? How so? What proof do you have of this?

@Superlib

BIGGER government is the answer!

That's the MAIN reason why over the last 5 years the country has been falling apart and sinking into the abyss and destroying the country.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Nothing wrong with requiring photo ID. I think everyone should be required to have photo ID, provided it's free and easy (for citizens) to obtain; maybe even national ID. And implemented well in advance of an election.

But making it easy or difficult to vote isn't just about rehiring photo ID, it's also about making it easy for citizens to vote not more difficult; early voting, weekend voting, absentee ballots, same day and online registration, investing in modern and sufficient voting facilities, implementation of minimum standards for efficient polling stations (say, no more than x minutes wait to vote), no changes in voting requirements less than 4 months before an election), etc.

Funny thing is that Republicans would have us believe that this rash of voting laws, are about protecting against voter fraud. Fact is you'd be hard put to show that allegations about rampant voter fraud are pretty much bogus. But as we all know and Republicans well know, high voter turn out favors Democrats.

Voter suppression though is actually a REAL problem. In my state we have a long history of disenfranchising minorities we know what it looks like.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/how-voter-id-laws-are-being-used-to-disenfranchise-minorities-and-the-poor/254572/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Absolutely, proper ID should be required to vote. The right to vote is limited to those eligible and to retain its value, voter eligibility must be confirmed. That protects the eligible voters. Maybe Obama is threatened by following rules that apply evenly to all.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

MarkG's first two posts say it all for me. No ID, no vote ! (and for the record, I tend to vote Democratic)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

OlhHawk: 35,570 possible double voters from North Carolina audit:

Wanna know how they got that number? They cross-referenced voters with another state who had the same name and birthday. And that's the total number. So out of all of the millions and millions of people who voted in both states, if they happened to have the same name and birth - wait, if you know enough about the situation to post links then I'm sure you've seen the dozens if not hundreds of articles written after the study that shows how useless it is.

Look, several Republicans from several states have already gone on record to say that their voting ID laws are a way to help them win elections. They know what we all know: New laws will stop more good people from voting than will stop bad people from voting. Republicans are on board with this because out of all of the good people it will stop from voting, a majority of them will be left leaning.

People can say that having a photo ID is easy, and that's because for a vast majority of us it is. But if you're 80 and in a nursing home and all you have is an expired driver's license then it's not easy. If you're disabled and need the assistance of another then it's not easy. A lot of people think they already have it, like a student who has an ID issued by his university, but if that student is in Texas then they won't accept university IDs and some people won't know that until after they arrive.

But Republican voter suppression doesn't end there. It's not just about producing IDs, it's about making it harder to register to vote, closing polling places, shortening early voting windows, etc. Some states allow early voting, but specifically ban it from one day of the week just before the election: Sunday. And wouldn't ya know it, the Sunday before the election just happens to be when many black voters arrange caravans from their churches for members to vote.

Again, the new laws will stop more good people than bad. That's the only fact in all of this.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

"Bigger government is the answer".....Government is paid by the PRIVATE sector taxpayers. Entitlement collectors are paid by the PRIVATE sector taxpayers.

We need industry to return to the states. Better paying jobs. The part time low paying jobs we have now are a drain to the PRIVATE sector taxpayers.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Honestly, most people in every first-world country don't care enough to vote. Osaka just had what, 24 or so %.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

BIGGER government is the answer!

(Uh - MarkG - irony.)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

“What kind of political platform is that? Why would you make that a part of your agenda, preventing people from voting?”

Exactly. The Republicans understand the message of the last election -- that the U.S. is becoming a country of many, many minorities, rather than one dominant demographic group -- and rather than respond positively to that, they have gone down this road. As usual, they are preaching fear and negativity rather than embracing change. They are just like the LDP is in Japan.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Funny thing is that Republicans would have us believe that this rash of voting laws, are about protecting against voter fraud. Fact is you'd be hard put to show that allegations about rampant voter fraud are pretty much bogus.

And your proof that there is no voter fraud is.....

@super

Look, several Republicans from several states have already gone on record to say that their voting ID laws are a way to help them win elections. They know what we all know: New laws will stop more good people from voting than will stop bad people from voting. Republicans are on board with this because out of all of the good people it will stop from voting, a majority of them will be left leaning.

I am always astounded when I hear you guys tell these tall tale stories. Again, you make it seem like Democrats are just The party of honesty, if that were true, they wouldn't be in the position of more than likely losing the Senate and future local elections. 5 years of failed liberL policies and the people voted left. These same people got the country in this mess, they put these people in office and look what we got....nothing but more debt, high unemployment, our allies are running from us, our enmities laugh at us, but Dems have done a great job overall. Your vote is important and does carry consequences and because so many Dems have done voter fraud and I did provide the proof that it exists, you libs gloss over and want to dismiss it, when there is enough evidence that dead people DO vote. Both sides want to win NO the Dems are on the same receiving end as the Republicans were 6 years ago. And just like conservatives, Dems will try to get as many votes in favor as much as they can.

But Republican voter suppression doesn't end there. It's not just about producing IDs, it's about making it harder to register to vote, closing polling places, shortening early voting windows, etc. Some states allow early voting, but specifically ban it from one day of the week just before the election: Sunday. And wouldn't ya know it, the Sunday before the election just happens to be when many black voters arrange caravans from their churches for members to vote.

Again, the new laws will stop more good people than bad. That's the only fact in all of this.

You mean like the NEW Black Panther Party that was intimidating White voters, using racial slurs, carrying clubs and openly taunting them. But Dems are incapable of such things. So what do you call that? A misunderstanding? The Whites were hostile towards these men?

@jerseyboy

The Republicans understand the message of the last election --

As NOW do the Democrats.

that the U.S. is becoming a country of many, many minorities, rather than one dominant demographic group -- and rather than respond positively to that, they have gone down this road. As usual, they are preaching fear and negativity rather than embracing change. They are just like the LDP is in Japan.

Fear and negativity? From the IRS scandal to Benghazi to allowing every person, resident, citizen or not to vote. Funny, the so called party of tolerance is not tolerant at all, let alone thick skinned unless it can benifits their case. What happend with that speech that THIS administration would be the most transparent? Is the president preaching fear and intimidation to China, Iran or Russia for that matter. But this is the new change he was talking about. If this is embracing change, then we are all screwed.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“What kind of political platform is that? Why would you make that a part of your agenda, preventing people from voting?” Who is preventing people from voting? Is that how you wish to title it also?

Exactly. The Republicans understand the message of the last election -- that the U.S. is becoming a country of many, many minorities, rather than one dominant demographic group -- and rather than respond positively to that, they have gone down this road. As usual, they are preaching fear and negativity rather than embracing change. Not all change is good. Embracing change when you don't see improvement would be dumb. Can the nation return to its former glory with changes the Democrats have made? WE do have printing presses and they are not the same as a money tree. And we don't have one of those.

Laguna Referring to; SuperLibAPR. 12, 2014 - 11:58AM JST posted above.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Obama is full of BullShiiiiit he is using the race card not only to defend the african americans but he also say other minorities for his own party. I total disagree with his statement for one most people of voting age had an ID if you are Born in the US you have a birth certificate this has nothing to with african americans losing voting rights but it has a LOT to do with letting all the ILLEGALS in the country vote to continue change the face of america. Voting my azz most americans have ID's its the people whom the democrats want to vote their party in vote with out an ID that means anyone just show up and vote and most are from south of the border. Lets say the last count their were 11 million illegals in the US by the democrats count but most americans say its 4 times that many. If you go anywhere in the US now you are more than likely to see 4 mexicans to any white or african american. The democrats know this and for Obama he will be the first and the last African/white american president of the US we will have a hispanic president before that EVER happens hispanics know this and before we know it the US will be just as corrupt and backwards as Mexico is and has always been. The US future is destined for failure.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Bottom line, US Citizens can produce a form of ID. If they cannot produce a valid ID maybe they don't have enough responsibility or intelligence to vote anyway.

Progressive Liberalism is the big push in recent years. Can any supporter of that agenda provide proof it is best for the nation? Seems to be an omission of intelligence supporting this. The money tree is fiction. The printing press is suicidal. The average Joe is squeezed to much as is.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

jerseyboy: The Republicans understand the message of the last election -- that the U.S. is becoming a country of many, many minorities, rather than one dominant demographic group -- and rather than respond positively to that, they have gone down this road. As usual, they are preaching fear and negativity rather than embracing change.

Yep. Republicans haven't won the popular vote for President in decades. And after each loss they talk about "soul searching" which lasts a few months. Then it gets pushed to the side because they cannot change as a party, and to combat that they start to work on things like voter suppression. The message is always the same: We don't really have to change our party when we can just change the system.

The laws are bad, but the overall goal is voter disenfranchisement. Republicans lose when a lot of people turn out to vote, and instead of changing their party to reflect the new America they are doing their best to sideline the new America. They know that laws designed around IDs will scare a lot of legal Hispanics who might fall victim to rumors that will circulate around their communities. And that's exactly what they want. Option 2 is to reform immigration which they are unable to do as a party.

They'll do well during the elections this year since historically the mid-terms favor the opposition party. And there are a lot of seats up for grabs from 2008 which means there are a lot more blue seats than red. Nate Silver is predicting that a Democrat needs to be at a 6% point lead or better just to counter the fact that Democrats will vote less. So they'll have some new victories and they'll resist change once again, then in 2016 they'll put their religious types and hard-liner idiots in front of America and the candidates will race to the right and they will lose once again.

Then the head of the RNC will give a speech about how the party needs to change and the process starts all over again.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Republicans haven't won the popular vote for President in decades.

They won the popular vote for president in 2004, so it has been less than a decade.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Superlib

Yep. Republicans haven't won the popular vote for President in decades. And after each loss they talk about "soul searching" which lasts a few months. Then it gets pushed to the side because they cannot change as a party, and to combat that they start to work on things like voter suppression. The message is always the same: We don't really have to change our party when we can just change the system.

So please explain to us, once the Dems are out of a job this time next year. How will they reflect on their past screw ups and blunders, will they too, do some very needed soul searching as their once seemingly omnipotent power comes to an end, finally. But the Dems didn't feel like they needed to change anything, they just thought riding the storm out and after the clouds faded, it should be smooth sailing, which NOT surprisingly didn't happen. And to be fair, both parties are guilty of this and both need to seriously change, because both parties CAN'T see beyond the next election!

The laws are bad, but the overall goal is voter disenfranchisement. Republicans lose when a lot of people turn out to vote, and instead of changing their party to reflect the new America they are doing their best to sideline the new America.

What NEW America? Oh, you think America is a progressive society??? ROFL The backlash is coming you guys are still in denial....wow!

They know that laws designed around IDs will scare a lot of legal Hispanics who might fall victim to rumors that will circulate around their communities. And that's exactly what they want. Option 2 is to reform immigration which they are unable to do as a party.

It should scare the ILLEGALS to try from wanting or hoping to vote. You think if I were in Mexico, the Mexican government would allow me to vote illegally? Try sneaking into Mexico and see how strict they are within their own country about illegal immigration. They can uphold their sovereignty, but we in the U.S. can't? The Democratic solution is, to allow EVERYONE to vote, be that illegal, criminal, NO borders, NO country, NO land, NO sovereignty.

They'll do well during the elections this year since historically the mid-terms favor the opposition party. And there are a lot of seats up for grabs from 2008 which means there are a lot more blue seats than red. Nate Silver is predicting that a Democrat needs to be at a 6% point lead or better just to counter the fact that Democrats will vote less. So they'll have some new victories and they'll resist change once again, then in 2016 they'll put their religious types and hard-liner idiots in front of America and the candidates will race to the right and they will lose once again.

Yeah, yeah and then perhaps they will run the same cycle once again and vote in the Dems and then we'll see widening gaps of income disparity and high unemployment, we'll see Blacks and Hispanics unemployment rise above record levels and the Dems inability to govern and manage money and the economy. This maddening perpetual cycle will continue until the people get so friggin' tired a third party will rise to tell both sides that there is a middle and there are real Americans with real problems that want to get these social issues solved, a person that puts America first and NOT petty partisan politics and I think that will happen real soon.

Then the head of the RNC will give a speech about how the party needs to change and the process starts all over again.

Better than hearing the head of the DNC Wasserman-Schultz spin and deny that there is anything wrong with the Democratic party, not even a smidgeon!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Noliving: They won the popular vote for president in 2004, so it has been less than a decade.

Thanks for that. I should have said that Republicans have won the popular vote once in the past 6 Presidential elections.

bass4funk: So please explain to us

I haven't been responding to your posts that much, sorry. Once you resorted to petty word tricks to get around listing Republican accomplishments I figured your position for the future is to treat me like I can't see right through you.

MarkG: Bottom line, US Citizens can produce a form of ID. If they cannot produce a valid ID maybe they don't have enough responsibility or intelligence to vote anyway.

I think this is what Mitt Romney was talking about when he said he wanted to write off 47% of the United States. It was taboo a few years ago, but Republicans are becoming more brazen about selling a concept that there is a group of Americans who just shouldn't count anymore. No one here is debating that reality that Republicans want to make it more difficult for the poor and minorities to vote, the opinion is more that they shouldn't be allowed to vote and this is a good way to get things started. Unfortunately, they are willing to include the elderly and disabled as collateral damage and they're fine with that. The list will grow longer in the future.

What's scary is phase II.....which is a Republican push to change the electoral college. They want to change it from the "winner take all" system that we currently have to one the splits up the votes and makes it possible for a Presidential candidate to get the electoral votes when that person actually loses the popular vote for the state. That's one's a big danger.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I haven't been responding to your posts that much, sorry. Once you resorted to petty word tricks to get around listing Republican accomplishments I figured your position for the future is to treat me like I can't see right through you.

I think that's translation for: I've been made.Super, I'm not expecting you to respond, perfectly ok, because I know you can't. Everything I said about Dems is true as well as the Repubs, however and sadly, you can't get passed your liberal partisanship. I can fully admit the problems republicans have past and present and things they need to work on to make a stronger, more reliable and formidable party, but you and most other liberals absolutely will NEVER admit or concede that this president, the Democratically lead congress from every issue (pick one) for the last 5 years have been an utter disaster. That's a fact! I'm NOT resorting to anything, I'm not gloating, in fact, I'm very saddened by what has happened these last 5 years to the country and abroad with our allies and enemies overall and yet, you make it seem like the Republicans are standing in this presidents way. You keep harping on Republican accomplishments, that's not the issue and they are not the party in power, heck, you can't even get Obama to sit down with the Republicans, let alone have a decent conversation. Maybe it's a liberal thing to just face reality. From the lies that this admin. Will be open and transparent, to the lie that the stimulus worked, to that "what difference does it make?" When it comes to Benghazi to NOT a smidgen of corruption in the IRS targeting conservatives scandal to everyone will love Obamacare to voter ID fraud claiming it doesn't exist when it does and on and on and on And listening to Pelosi, Reid and Schultz bold face lying to people and I mean, blatant, not a shred of guilt lying is very disturbing, not to mention insulting to the American people, but Dems think they are in good standing with the public. When I show you hard, concrete facts you blow it off, why, because you I'm right and you just want to bash conservatives when they are not the issue, even though liberals are desperately trying to. Unbelievable!

I think this is what Mitt Romney was talking about when he said he wanted to write off 47% of the United States. It was taboo a few years ago, but Republicans are becoming more brazen about selling a concept that there is a group of Americans who just shouldn't count anymore. No one here is debating that reality that Republicans want to make it more difficult for the poor and minorities to vote, the opinion is more that they shouldn't be allowed to vote and this is a good way to get things started. Unfortunately, they are willing to include the elderly and disabled as collateral damage and they're fine with that. The list will grow longer in the future.

Again, hogwash, you don't have a shred of fact that Republicans don't want or want to make it harder for Blacks, other minorities or the poor to vote. Of so, please show us some hard hitting evidence that, that is what all Republicans want. You libs constantly play this game, we can't get our way, we've been backed in the corner, let's pull out the RACE CARD, that way, they don't have a comeback. Over the last 5 years, I've heard more about the word RACE, RACE CARD, RACISM, you don't agree because the president is BLACK, you don't like his policies, it's because he's BLACK, any negative criticism of the president, it's because he's BLACK, Obama received a huge majority of the White vote and at that time it was perfectly acceptable. You cannot disagree with this president, for doing so means, you are a true racist. But now that things are getting worse, it anyone complains, particularly White people, then they must be racist, that can be the only rational and logical conclusion, right?

What's scary is phase II.....which is a Republican push to change the electoral college. They want to change it from the "winner take all" system that we currently have to one the splits up the votes and makes it possible for a Presidential candidate to get the electoral votes when that person actually loses the popular vote for the state. That's one's a big danger.

Super, you are sadly and shockingly misguided if you think the Dems wouldn't do the exact same thing. By the way, what do you think the Democratic strategy is? It's the actual topic we are on, ironically. If the Dems can get anyone to vote Democratic, you ARE changing the electoral collage. Why do you think they are against controlled legal immigration and against voter ID? Flood the countries with enough illegals, promise them FREE entitlements, have them sign up as Democrats, increase their numbers to giant levels, marganilize the Republicans and you come up with a one party system, one party rule. That's the end game for liberals, pure and simple. Legal immigration, voter ID would put a stop to that and that's why overall, the majority of Liberals and Dems oppose it. Funny thing is, the majority of Mexicans and Blacks are NOT liberal by default. They vote liberal, but socially, economically, they have NOTHING in common with Liberals, truthfully speaking. This is all about giving the people a choice and if Democrats have their way, they want to limit that choice.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Featured on the show was North Carolina GOP executive committee member Don Yelton

Yelton was a precinct chair in a rural mountain county in the western part of the state. He said some stupid things and got fired for his idiocy. So are you dissatisfied that he was sacked?

It is in every citizens best interests to have identification and one would think that the reasonable Democrat party response to voter id laws would be an effort to get their supporters a valid id card. Id is required to vote in many European countries. So what's the big deal?

No one can open a bank account, collect government benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security without it. You cannot even enter the Democrat National Convention without an id. In North Carolina where voter id doesn't go into effect until 2016, fewer than 150 people have asked for and received a free government id. The truth is very few citizens do not have some form of government issued identification. This is really not much to get all upset about.

The only reason to oppose this law is because the Democrats believe that they benefit from voter fraud. It's been working in Obama's hometown of Chicago for decades. They know that they have a good thing going and do not want to lose it.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The only reason to oppose this law is because the Democrats believe that they benefit from voter fraud.

No.

0 ( +2 / -3 )

@strangerland

Yes, it's a fact. Leave the emotion out of it.

@wolfpack

It is in every citizens best interests to have identification and one would think that the reasonable Democrat party response to voter id laws would be an effort to get their supporters a valid id card. Id is required to vote in many European countries. So what's the big deal?

No one can open a bank account, collect government benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security without it. You cannot even enter the Democrat National Convention without an id. In North Carolina where voter id doesn't go into effect until 2016, fewer than 150 people have asked for and received a free government id. The truth is very few citizens do not have some form of government issued identification. This is really not much to get all upset about.

Exactly, in fact, they should be encouraging it and thereby ensuring that EVERY voters right is protected and NO can claim or dispute otherwise because everything would be legit and verified, any opposition to it is highly and suspiciously questionable. As you said, if you are buying a car or wanting to open up a bank account, it should NOT be a problem and people usually never have a grievance, but Dems know what kind of implications this could have on the voting system in general if everyone has to show ID and it doesn't sit well with them. If it were up to them, everyone regardless of their status, legal or illegal would be allowed to vote.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yes, it's a fact. Leave the emotion out of it.

No.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Strangerland

Instead of taking one word statements, prove to us that we are wrong, please! I'll bet you can't. Just saying "No" Will NOT suffice!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

No bickering please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wolfpack: Id is required to vote in many European countries.

Wow. Just, wow. Republicans are now looking to expand government bureaucracy and their example is that Europe does it, too. I never thought I'd hear a Republican looking to Europe for help, yet here we are. How the mighty have fallen.

So what's the big deal?

Well you should know based on the comments here that everyone knows what you're really up to. So I guess that's the big deal. Restricting registration, reducing early voting, closing voting polling places, requiring useless voter IDs that solve a "problem" that only exists in your head, trying to change the electoral college, etc. Republicans are losing the popular vote due to changing demographics so now you're changing democracy in the US.

My guess is that you'll be successful for the next election, and in elections in the future where voter turnout is smaller. You'll keep the House since you've created a system where you keep the majority even though Democrats get a million more votes than you do. You'll sometimes claw your way to getting half the Senate, but since Republicans have abused the filibuster there's not much that will be done without 60 votes anyway. The White House will be a pipe dream unless you can find a way to capture that without the popular vote, something you're working on. Instead of stemming the tide of a shrinking base, Republicans are choosing to subvert democracy and win with fewer voters.

It's the new system in America. Republicans have banned themselves from creating new legislation on immigration, healthcare, or the budget. They have decided to wait until after the election this fall because they don't want to expose their party as a fractured group that is unable to even agree, therefore unable to lead. It's pathetic. When I was younger Republicans used to lead the country, now they ban themselves from leading because they don't want people to see who they really are. Since they cannot create policy their entire platform is based on complaining about Obama and convincing people that anything is better, making them the "choice by default."

If I'm wrong, tell me about successful Republican policy that isn't related to obstruction, and give me an example of someone who can capture the White House in 2016. Since that's not possible, might as well destroy Democracy in America as the next best thing.

The first to be excluded from the democratic process will be the elderly, the disabled, the younger voters, and minorities. That should help keep Republicans around for a few more years. After that? Who knows. Republicans are in survival mode now and everything is on the table. The more voters that lean to the left that can be eliminated, the better. It's the best chance the Right has.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@superlib

Wow. Just, wow. Republicans are now looking to expand government bureaucracy and their example is that Europe does it, too. I never thought I'd hear a Republican looking to Europe for help, yet here we are. How the mighty have fallen.

It wouldn't really expand the government by a significant margin. It just means, sensibly speaking, if Europeans are smart enough and reasonable enough and logical enough to use ID, then it should be a NO brainer. It won't cost, or hurt anyone, you have an ID, show it, register and you are done. Simple.

Well you should know based on the comments here that everyone knows what you're really up to. So I guess that's the big deal. Restricting registration, reducing early voting, closing voting polling places, requiring useless voter IDs that solve a "problem" that only exists in your head, trying to change the electoral college, etc. Republicans are losing the popular vote due to changing demographics so now you're changing democracy in the US.

The 2012 elections will feature many close races, likely including the presidential contest. That makes concern about voter fraud and ballot integrity all the more meaningful, and a conference held here last weekend by the watchdog group True the Vote made clear just how high the stakes are.

“Unfortunately, the United States has a long history of voter fraud that has been documented by historians and journalists,” Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in 2008, upholding a strict Indiana voter-ID law designed to combat fraud. Justice Stevens, who personally encountered voter fraud while serving on various reform commissions in his native Chicago, spoke for a six-member majority. In a decision two years earlier clearing the way for an Arizona ID law, the Court had declared in a unanimous opinion that “confidence in the integrity of our electoral processes is essential to the functioning of our participatory democracy. Voter fraud drives honest citizens out of the democratic process and breeds distrust of our government. Voters who fear their legitimate votes will be outweighed by fraudulent ones will feel disenfranchised.”

There are the facts. Whatever you say, Dems are toast this year and as long as they keep denying that the country is a center-right, they will keep losing in the years to come. BOTH parties need to do a lot of changing. But the Dems are at the helm and the Dems are the ones that WILL be kicked out of office or do you think they just want to leave willingly?

but since Republicans have abused the filibuster there's not much that will be done without 60 votes anyway. The White House will be a pipe dream unless you can find a way to capture that without the popular vote, something you're working on. Instead of stemming the tide of a shrinking base, Republicans are choosing to subvert democracy and win with fewer voters.

Oh, really? Remember, pay pack goes both ways. If the Dems EVER want to get the White House back, they had better do a lot of soul searching. Clinton was more popular and more loved because he know how to govern from the center, which made him a decent president, but Obama, NOT even close. This is THE most partisan president in U.S. history. But we'll get passed these 2 years, NOT soon enough in my opinion.

It's the new system in America. Republicans have banned themselves from creating new legislation on immigration, healthcare, or the budget.

Budget? When did this White House have a budget under Obama? You mean deficit. As for healthcare, I'll give you that. Republicans can't just go around saying they will appeal this healthcare, they can modify, tweak it, but they need to come up with a more affordable and better accessible healthcare or they are in big trouble.

They have decided to wait until after the election this fall because they don't want to expose their party as a fractured group that is unable to even agree, therefore unable to lead. It's pathetic. When I was younger Republicans used to lead the country, now they ban themselves from leading because they don't want people to see who they really are. Since they cannot create policy their entire platform is based on complaining about Obama and convincing people that anything is better, making them the "choice by default."

So tell me, you think the Democratic party is NOT fractured or at least plagued with a litany of liars, con artists and race hustlers? But Dems don't cheat, nor do they lie right? ROFL

If I'm wrong, tell me about successful Republican policy that isn't related to obstruction, and give me an example of someone who can capture the White House in 2016. Since that's not possible, might as well destroy Democracy in America as the next best thing.

Eliminated the Kyoto treaty (Thank God), we had increased funding for the troops, got rid of Saddam, dismantled the Soviet Union, Abolished Slavery, limited the size of government, established a $2.4 billion fund to help states implement teacher accountability systems, reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains, willing to tap into our natural resources of Nuclear, Gas, Oil and Coal, would try to get that Keystone pipe built, passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals. Signed the No Child left behind and on and on...there are a lot more, I gave you a brief answer to your question, but that is NOT the issue. Now we can lay that to rest. Oh, and by the way, if you think Hilary is a shoe in, you are kidding yourself. After 8 years of Democratic failure, you honestly think Americans with what happened will subject themselves to 8 more years of the same? I'll give you at best a slim margin. By that time the word Democrat will be a curse word.

The first to be excluded from the democratic process will be the elderly, the disabled, the younger voters, and minorities. That should help keep Republicans around for a few more years. After that? Who knows. Republicans are in survival mode now and everything is on the table.

Super, I have a question, tell me what great achievements have the Democratic party done for minorities? Since you are making outlandish claims, that are completely absurd and bogus. How are minorities benefitting from this President, how did voting for him change their lives and what impact has it given them.

The more voters that lean to the left that can be eliminated, the better. It's the best chance the Right has.

That's politics and both sides would MOST definitely take advantage of that, they all would be idiots if they didn't. If you don't like it, never get into politics. ONLY one party can be in power up to 4 or 8 years.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@SuperLib: I never thought I'd hear a Republican looking to Europe for help, yet here we are.

Just trying to provide a real example that the Left can relate to. If both conservatives and the Europeans can agree, what's wrong with the American Left? By the way, conservatives do not mind bureaucracy as it pertains to the core responsibilities of government. Fair and honest elections are primary function of democratic government. The Left just keeps trying to take government into every aspect of private life.

Restricting registration, reducing early voting, closing voting polling places, requiring useless voter IDs that solve a "problem" that only exists in your head, trying to change the electoral college, etc.

Voter id is not useless. Why do you think Democrat's require their fellow Democrat's to provide an id to get into the Democrat National Convention? Are those Lefties that are too poor to afford an id not allowed to be delegates? Voter registration and voting are not "restricted". Every citizen has equal access to the same election system in every state. In case you haven't heard, that horrible Democrat Jim Crowe was banished from America half a century ago. Every citizen has an equal opportunity to participate. You do realize that when a person first registers to vote, they must provide an id? Therefore, in order to be eligible to vote on election day each person must have already had the ability to identify themselves. I wonder if that fact even crossed Obama's mind when he and Holder came up with this latest race baiting scheme.

The Lefts ridiculous arguments against reasonable voter laws are rejected by most people - just read the polls on voter id laws. It's a losing argument as public policy but useful as a means to divide Americans along racial lines in order to stir anger and resentment prior to the mid-term elections. Throughout American history, Democrats have always been the party of racial division. Their tactics may have changed but the strategy has remained the same.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Here's what a North Carolina GOP official said in an interview that aired nationally: "If it hurts a bunch of lazy Blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it."

I know that voter suppression supporters here don't specifically point out one group of people that will get hurt, but let's just say I don't think any of you are stupid. You know who it's going to hurt and you're OK with that. But I guess I'm just playing the race card here.

As for the collateral damage that will be done to the elderly and the disabled, I'm guessing you're OK with that as well.

Oh, one question. Part of the new laws are to ban voting on the Sunday before the election. Saturday is OK, Friday is OK, Thursday is OK, but not Sunday. Have you guys come up with a reason for that yet? One that you can sell?

Social media will be busy come election day. There will be plenty of white people showing up to vote and realizing that the names on their driver's license doesn't perfectly match the one they used to register to vote with. Does yours? And make sure your wife doesn't have an issue with a maiden name. Oh, and be sure your state allows you to use your out-of-state license since not all do. Got a kid? Make sure he knows he can't use a university ID because....well, we know why. The fewer younger people voting, the better.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Here's what a North Carolina GOP official said in an interview that aired nationally: "If it hurts a bunch of lazy Blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it."

The problem is, there are so many minorities that follow the party of dependence and especially Blacks and Hispanics vote overwhelmingly Democratic and how has the party of dependence helped them? Black and hispanic unemployment is up the roof and 98% of Blacks voted for this guy. I understand, he was the first Black president and they felt a strong bond and unity and yet, no matter how his policies keep failing them, they keep going back for more. As I said before, what gets me is, Blacks and Hispanics are NOT natural Democrats, NO way, They have NOTHING in common with Democratic philosophy. Many Blacks think they HAVE to vote Democrat, in that case, you get what you paid for. As long as Blacks keep voting for Democrats and think the way in life is big government and government dependency, they will be at the level they are. It's not racist, that's a fact. Most Blacks I know that vote Conservatively and are self-reliant are amazingly prosperous. It's No one's fault but there own. Also, stop using the race card, I can shut that down quickly and throw you a ton of Black and powerful Conservatives. Not going to work.

I know that voter suppression supporters here don't specifically point out one group of people that will get hurt, but let's just say I don't think any of you are stupid. You know who it's going to hurt and you're OK with that. But I guess I'm just playing the race card here.

Yes, you are as most liberals do.

As for the collateral damage that will be done to the elderly and the disabled, I'm guessing you're OK with that as well.

You want me to show you stats at how many Americans are pissed off and many of them are elderly as well as middle class people that realize they were hoodwinked with this crap we call Obamacare.

Oh, one question. Part of the new laws are to ban voting on the Sunday before the election. Saturday is OK, Friday is OK, Thursday is OK, but not Sunday. Have you guys come up with a reason for that yet? One that you can sell?

Personally, I can't, but how about explaining as to why Liberals are so adamant about just showing one simple little ID card. It's so painless. What's the rational reasoning behind that?

Social media will be busy come election day. There will be plenty of white people showing up to vote and realizing that the names on their driver's license doesn't perfectly match the one they used to register to vote with. Does yours? And make sure your wife doesn't have an issue with a maiden name. Oh, and be sure your state allows you to use your out-of-state license since not all do. Got a kid? Make sure he knows he can't use a university ID because....well, we know why. The fewer younger people voting, the better.

The 2012 elections will feature many close races, likely including the presidential contest. That makes concern about voter fraud and ballot integrity all the more meaningful, and a conference held here last weekend by the watchdog group True the Vote made clear just how high the stakes are. “Unfortunately, the United States has a long history of voter fraud that has been documented by historians and journalists,” Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in 2008, upholding a strict Indiana voter-ID law designed to combat fraud. Justice Stevens, who personally encountered voter fraud while serving on various reform commissions in his native Chicago, spoke for a six-member majority. In a decision two years earlier clearing the way for an Arizona ID law, the Court had declared in a unanimous opinion that “confidence in the integrity of our electoral processes is essential to the functioning of our participatory democracy. Voter fraud drives honest citizens out of the democratic process and breeds distrust of our government. Voters who fear their legitimate votes will be outweighed by fraudulent ones will feel disenfranchised.”

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I understand, he was the first Black president and they felt a strong bond and unity and yet, no matter how his policies keep failing them, they keep going back for more. As I said before, what gets me is, Blacks and Hispanics are NOT natural Democrats, NO way, They have NOTHING in common with Democratic philosophy.

Let's just ignore the complete and utter drivel that comes from thinking that someone's political party should be determined by the color of their skin for a moment, for the sake of argument. If what you say is true, that they have nothing in common with the Democratic party, then wouldn't the Republicans be better off trying to bring them into the fold by changing their policies, rather than trying to eliminate them from the entire process by changing voting rules?

Again, if what you say is true, it really doesn't say much for a party to which they should belong if 98% of them won't vote for that party.

And just to be clear, I don't agree with what you say as being true, I'm just pointing out the fallacies if it were.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Oh, one question. Part of the new laws are to ban voting on the Sunday before the election. Saturday is OK, Friday is OK, Thursday is OK, but not Sunday. Have you guys come up with a reason for that yet? One that you can sell?

Obviously no voting on Sunday was originally due to the fact that not a whole lot was done on that day for religious reasons and later because of the permanency of the 40 hour work week in government and the private sector. As an agnostic I have no problem working or voting on Sundays. Others in government service might object and I respect that. Do we really need to work the elections people so much? They already have a lot to do leading up to an election.

There will be plenty of white people showing up to vote and realizing that the names on their driver's license doesn't perfectly match the one they used to register to vote with. Does yours?

But this is what is so great about modern election law, race doesn't have anything to do with these regulations as opposed to those under the Democrats during Jim Crowe. Whenever someone of any race moves to a new residence they know that they have a short period of time, typically 30 days to update their registration. The same is true for name changes. It is the responsibility of the voter to ensure that the information on their voter registration card is correct. If it isn't, they must notify their local board of elections to correct it prior to the election.

Anyone who has registered to vote has provided proof of their citizenship and residency status. Providing the id when they vote isn't all that hard given that they have already done so.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@strangerland

Let's just ignore the complete and utter drivel that comes from thinking that someone's political party should be determined by the color of their skin for a moment, for the sake of argument. If what you say is true, that they have nothing in common with the Democratic party, then wouldn't the Republicans be better off trying to bring them into the fold by changing their policies, rather than trying to eliminate them from the entire process by changing voting rules?

Yes, it's true. Blacks and Hispanics are mostly conservative people. They are mostly against abortion, same sex marriage, church going people, entrepreneurial, want lower taxes. The main problem is, the Republicans didn't do a good job at pulling these people in, that's a fact. And today's Republican Party is NOT the old party days of Pat Buchanan. You have people like Allan West, Colin Powell, Condolezza Rice, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal and the just goes on. These are the new faces that reflect that diversity and going by your own argument, you think these people are wrong for wanting smaller government, lower taxes, a strong military. They don't seem to have a problem with making mandatory laws that everyone should carry a valid ID.

Again, if what you say is true, it really doesn't say much for a party to which they should belong if 98% of them won't vote for that party.

Blacks and Hispanics haven't benefitted much from the party of dependence, if you want stats, I'll get it, NO problem. Minorities have suffered more under this president than ANY other president in history.

And just to be clear, I don't agree with what you say as being true, I'm just pointing out the fallacies if it were.

You mean, you don't want to accept the facts, I get it. Some people don't want to acknowledge, liberal, blatant failure.

At recent article from the Washington Post.

NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous said Sunday that black Americans “are doing a full point worse” than when President Obama first took office. “The country’s back to pretty much where it was when this president started,” Mr. Jealous told MSNBC host David Gregory on “Meet the Press.” “White people in this country are doing a bit better. Black people are doing a full point worse.”

The black unemployment rate was 12.7 percent when Mr. Obama took office. While the unemployment rate in the U.S. as a whole is below 8 percent, the Labor Department reported the black jobless rate was up from 12.9 percent to 14 percent for December. The worst during Mr Obama’s first term was in September 2011, with 16.7 percent unemployment for blacks — the highest since 1983, the Department of Labor reports. The black teen jobless rate hit a staggering 39.3percent in July 2012. The NAACP, the National Urban League and the National Action Network, among others, met for the second time on Friday to discuss a “black agenda” for the president, Politic365 reports. The coalition stated it will urge Mr. Obama to mention an urban jobs plan in his State of the Union speech on Feb. 12.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Others in government service might object and I respect that. Do we really need to work the elections people so much? They already have a lot to do leading up to an election.

Do we really need to work election people so much? hehe

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Our Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves & the rest of the world views the U.S. Government a laughing stock being snookered down the garden path by this closet communist & his cronys-as far as voters rights both parties are guilty of pandering in thier lust for power while voter apathy is rampant nation-wide.when the people see the choices who can blame them?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't see why the people pressing for Voter ID cards aren't pressing for a system that extends and fulfills their logic about the "problem" [sic] of voter fraud, i.e.: a system using biometric technology to ensure the identity of the person who appears at the polling place.

That would mean a national identification card, issued at birth or at naturalization, for every American citizen with a chip that records the unique biometric data about the individual.

After all, without biometric data, the person showing up to vote might still be an impostor. Bear in mind that I personally do not support this, but such a system would certainly fulfill the stated goals of these voter fraud dupes. Many of them admit and concede that the current system can't be trusted: Look at how they cast a cloud of delusional suspicion over President Obama's official record of birth. I mean, if a man can make it to the White House and still be suspect by these idiots, how could an easily-hacked Voter ID system satisfy them?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Obama is so corrupt he makes Bill Clinton seem honest. In US elections 99% of the black people all vote according to their race, and they bus them from city to city where they vote repeatedly. Nobody checks their identification because that is "racist" (sure). When they count the votes the state voted Republican but all the black votes from the inner city - including tens of thousands of dead people and fraudulent voters - overwhelm everybody else and the Democrats "win". They also rig the computer voting machines so that nobody really knows what the accurate votes are.

With this current level of fraud going on in the USA its elected government has lost all credibility.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

and they bus them from city to city where they vote repeatedly.

Thank you for providing Exhibit A to my previous post. I am curious about these buses you speak of. Do they pull right up to the polling places and let all the phony voters out?

With this current level of fraud going on in the USA its elected government has lost all credibility.

When the right-wing expresses sheer lunacy so blatantly as you do above, it's no wonder they're on such a downhill slide.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@yabits

When the right-wing expresses sheer lunacy so blatantly as you do above, it's no wonder they're on such a downhill slide.

I think you have that backwards. There has been enough evidence, but to be brutally honest, when Dems use the race card, the so called "war on women" card and going against legislation to impose strict voter ID, it's all about getting the people angry and to have them go out and vote Democratic pure and simple. These complaints are bogus, have zero merit or credibility. EVERYONE can see through this facade. It's so ridiculous, I can't stop laughing. You need an ID for everything else in life, voting should be no different and a no brainer. It's just that simple and that painless. Any opposition exposes the real agenda behind liberal opposition to this rule. We've been on a downward spiral for the last 5 years and with this president and party at the helm with their radical policies for another 2 more years. I don't see us coming out of that spiral.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

and they bus them from city to city where they vote repeatedly.

No.

With this current level of fraud going on in the USA

No.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

These complaints are bogus, have zero merit or credibility.

Yes, the complaints about voter fraud have zero merit or credibility. Thank you. The citizens of Washington and Oregon have voted to allow their citizens to cast ballots by mail. And their system has been working just fine -- with the highest voter participation rates in the nation.

It's so ridiculous, I can't stop laughing.

I can easily picture a maniacal hyena.

You need an ID for everything else in life, voting should be no different and a no brainer.

Obviously, some people have never heard of fake IDs. Also, the vast majority of things that people do each day do not require an ID. I might face a situation once a month at best where I am asked for my driver's license.

Is an American citizen of voting age -- one who has legally registered to vote -- no longer eligible to vote because they don't have a driver's license or passport? We've come over 230 years as a country without a specific ID for voting. If conservatives were serious, they would be in favor of a national identity card for EVERY citizen that could not be easily falsified. But they are not for that. They want a special ID just for voting for those people who don't have a driver's license. Their shameful facade is easily seen through.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It isn't just a myth that Chicago has had such a well earned reputation for corrupt elections. But ask a Progressive and they will look you in the eye and deny what everyone knows to be true.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@strangerland

What was it that Clinton said, a few years ago? "Deny, deny, deny..."

@yabits

Yes, the complaints about voter fraud have zero merit or credibility. Thank you. The citizens of Washington and Oregon have voted to allow their citizens to cast ballots by mail. And their system has been working just fine -- with the highest voter participation rates in the nation.

I guess you just purposely glossed over the stats. But I can provide more if you wish and just try to read through it. 33 states already require voter IDs and they seem to do just fine. No ID, NO vote, it's just that simple. Being from California, I know there is a serious problem with voter fraud. We have over 3 to 4 million illegals and probably you would say, that is also not true as well.

Obviously, some people have never heard of fake IDs. Also, the vast majority of things that people do each day do not require an ID. I might face a situation once a month at best where I am asked for my driver's license.

So why carry an ID at all? What if the police pull you over? How about when I want to buy a house, a car and what if I want to use my credit card or when I want to purchase alcohol? How about an airline ticket. That is a bunch of crap, you need to use your ID for almost everything, on a daily basis, voting is and should be NO different. Again, the people complaining about it are the same people that want to cheat the system, otherwise they would be mute about it. No one complains about showing ID for anything else. We all know what's up. This year is and will be a horrific year for Democrats and they need to up the anti as much as they can. They can pretty much kiss off the Senate and in many local elections as well.

Is an American citizen of voting age -- one who has legally registered to vote -- no longer eligible to vote because they don't have a driver's license or passport?

Because of fraud whether it's credit card, bank, voter, whatever, you should have a picture ID. President Clinton fully supports it, last I checked, he is a Democrat.

We've come over 230 years as a country without a specific ID for voting. If conservatives were serious, they would be in favor of a national identity card for EVERY citizen that could not be easily falsified.

I heard that is a possible idea on the ballad.

But they are not for that. They want a special ID just for voting for those people who don't have a driver's license. Their shameful facade is easily seen through.

Why not? You don't have a drivers license, then you NEED some other form of photo ID. Seems fair enough to me.

@wolfpack

It isn't just a myth that Chicago has had such a well earned reputation for corrupt elections. But ask a Progressive and they will look you in the eye and deny what everyone knows to be true.

Yes, that is another reason why the city as most other liberal governed big cities are out of control, because they don't acknowledge the problem as well as they will lose again big time this mid term, but asking the average Democrat, they would never admit it. Something must be wrong with Americans for wanting to kick the liberals out of office. It's called "waking up to reality." They hate it and the ONLY that they can do is scream foul.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It isn't just a myth that Chicago has had such a well earned reputation for corrupt elections.

"Myth" might not be the right word; "apocrypha" and "conjecture" better suit the phony claim.

The biggest myth of all is the one that goes: "If minorities voted Republican, their problems would be solved."

I guess you just purposely glossed over the stats.

The stats on fraudulently-cast ballots indicates the problem to be insignificant. I guess you purposely failed to provide a source that can prove otherwise.

That is a bunch of crap, you need to use your ID for almost everything, on a daily basis

Anyone living in the United States, as I do, reading that statement knows it to be a bunch of crap. The truth is that there are almost no daily activities that require an ID to be shown. The purchase alcohol usually requires an ID, but not to prove nationality, but age -- which in my case is not needed because they can clearly see I am over 21.

So why carry an ID at all?

The driver's license I carry is not actually an "ID," but proves I have passed the requirements to drive a vehicle in my state (Georgia). I carry it for the same reason I post my business license at my place of business -- the law requires it.

Why not? You don't have a drivers license, then you NEED some other form of photo ID. Seems fair enough to me.

It would only be fair if the state made the process of obtaining the ID free and simple. If the ID is just to be used for voting by the poor, infirm, or elderly who can't get a driver's license -- which doesn't prove nationality anyway -- then forcing people to pay for it is like levying a poll tax on them. Forcing them to take time off work and travel many miles to wait in line at an office with limited hours of operation only adds to the cost of the tax -- and further assists the real goal behind this ID implementation: voter suppression.

My county requires a special photo ID (with bar code) to use its athletic facilities. I can go to any gym or pool and the staff there has the equipment to supply me with that ID on the spot -- and their hours run from 6 AM to 9 PM, being closed only on Sundays. To be fair, the issuance of Voter ID cards should be mandated to be just as simple -- with any public library, post office, or major store being equipped to manage the process. The LAST thing the people who cynically endorse these Voter ID measures want is a simple, free process that would not do anything to suppress legally registered American citizens from voting. They want to create a bottleneck by making the ID card as inconvenient to obtain as possible.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@bassfunk!!!

You are right on the money with your comments!! Most don't have a clue I am african american I didn't vote for Obama and saw the hand writing on the wall first hand, being born and raised in Chicago Illinois. One thing PEOPLE HERE have to realize in CHICAGO in order to be a politician you HAVE TO BE CORRUPT! Obama had a short span in politics he rose through the ranks very fast because most of the Governors from Illinois went to prison, I know for a fact for reason I won't write here but I have nothing to say about the MACHINE except that its very corrupt!!! In order to understand it you have to live in the city to know then you can understand how he is running/ruining the country!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Myth" might not be the right word; "apocrypha" and "conjecture" better suit the phony claim. The biggest myth of all is the one that goes: "If minorities voted Republican, their problems would be solved."

Myth?? Apparently, you haven't been to Chicago lately. Last weekend 34 people were killed. That's astounding! One city. Of course the crime rate in Chicago is through the roof. Everyone knows it except liberals and the President. Well, they know, they just want to ignore it and it's mostly black on black, that's not a racist thing to say, it's just a fact. No one is saying if Blacks vote Republican their problems will go away, however, they will understand that the philosophy of Conservatism is Self-reliance, less government and that it's up to them to forge out their life and destiny.

The stats on fraudulently-cast ballots indicates the problem to be insignificant. I guess you purposely failed to provide a source that can prove otherwise.

I did. But Ok, so you just don't want to accept facts. It's ok, I know first hand growing up in Los Angeles, seen, been through it. Regardless what YOU choose to believe, I hope and pray that they enforce the law and make it mandatory to cut down on electoral fraud in this country.

Anyone living in the United States, as I do, reading that statement knows it to be a bunch of crap. The truth is that there are almost no daily activities that require an ID to be shown. The purchase alcohol usually requires an ID, but not to prove nationality, but age -- which in my case is not needed because they can clearly see I am over 21.

So you don't need to show ID when buying liqueur, a car, when you show up at the airport to get your ticket, when you use your credit card, when the police pull you over? How about when you travel? Sorry, you're dancing. Every store, every clerk is different and it totally depends on the individual. You need ID pure and simple and listening to liberals like you make a thousand excuses keeps proving my point time and time again, you guys just want ANYONE to vote, legal or illegal! living or dead! bottom line. These days are slowly and thankfully coming to an end, but even your fellow Bill Clinton supports it. At least there are a few rational Liberals that understand the importance of it.

The driver's license I carry is not actually an "ID," but proves I have passed the requirements to drive a vehicle in my state (Georgia). I carry it for the same reason I post my business license at my place of business -- the law requires it.

That's Georgia, California is the largest state and I assure you that the tendency for ID courrption is high in my home state, no question about it and the same goes for Nevada as well.

The LAST thing the people who cynically endorse these Voter ID measures want is a simple, free process that would not do anything to suppress legally registered American citizens from voting. They want to create a bottleneck by making the ID card as inconvenient to obtain as possible.

"The last thing?" Yeah, for Democrats. Sorry, NO one is buying that, just like if you oppose Obama, you're a racist, you oppose Hilary, you're sexist. If you oppose Obamacare, you hate the elderly, you oppose voter ID fraud, you're a racist. With you guys, it can NEVER be about policy, it's always some other excuse. I think finally, the people are waking up and realizing that liberals are a whiny bunch. Nice try, but it's time to seriously stop this president and the madness in Washington.

@kaimychal

Exactly! You get it. Dems just can't stop the partisan rhetoric and the constant lies. But thankfully, people are opening up their eyes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I did. But Ok, so you just don't want to accept facts.

You did not. You posted a 2008 opinion by Justice John Paul Stevens. You seem not to understand the difference between facts and anecdotal opinions.

The VoterID card is designed (in theory) specifically to prevent the kind of fraud where one person attempts to cast a vote as someone else -- that "someone else" being someone who has legally registered to vote and is on the rolls. Where are your stats indicating how voter impersonation has been a problem?

There are many other types of electoral fraud practiced by both major parties: Voter intimidation -- which an ID card will do nothing to prevent; vote-buying -- which an ID card will do nothing to prevent; misinformation -- ditto; misleading and confusing ballot papers -- ditto; misrecording of votes -- ditto; misuses of proxy votes -- ditto; destruction/invalidation of ballots -- ditto; and tampering with electronic voting machines -- again, which an ID card will do nothing to prevent.

So you don't need to show ID when buying liqueur, a car, when you show up at the airport to get your ticket, when you use your credit card, when the police pull you over? How about when you travel? Sorry, you're dancing. Every store, every clerk is different and it totally depends on the individual. You need ID pure and simple...

You are making my point. The people who don't have a voter ID card are, for the most part, able to purchase alcohol. The polling place should accept the same ID that the liquor store accepts, by your logic. By the way, purchasing a car is not a daily event, nor is traveling by plane. The American citizens who don't have a photo-ID are able to manage living their lives quite well without one -- and now the conservatives want to add costs and roadblocks to their ability to vote.

I thought conservatives were against unfunded mandates. If they want the government to force IDs on everyone, they should give each state the means to offer free IDs at places like post offices, major stores, libraries and schools. The costs should not be levied upon the low income folks like a poll tax. And driver's licenses should no longer be acceptable at polling places -- everyone should be required to have a Voter ID card. That's if your side is really interested in fairness and fraud prevention (by voter impersonation), which it is not.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Republicans hate democracy. They know if everyone votes they lose. The numbers of old, white, tired and angry old men are going down while the rest of voters are going up. Voter ID laws are meant to stop voting, the excuse about voter fraud is insane. It is the same as the whaling story on JT, the excuse for killing whales is research but the fact is quite different. The tired LDP politicians and the tired Republican politicians have much in common. They are living in the 1950s for one.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@Zurc:

The numbers of old, white, tired and angry old men are going down while the rest of voters are going up.

It never ceases to amaze me how Democrats are always separating out people and attacking them. First it was blacks so they enslaved them and later imposed Jim Crow and poll taxes on them. Then it was the lesser non-contributing citizens so they came up with Eugenics and Planned Parenthood so they could cull out the undesirables. Then it was the Jews so they attacked the corporations and money lenders. Then it was the Christians and the Left is attempting to drive them out of the public square. All this hate and division for the sake of power and the never ending desire to control other peoples lives.

So now it's those terrible old white men. As if only these horrible people support the idea of voter id laws.

Geez Lefties, cant we all just get along? -- (Rodney King)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

yabits: You seem not to understand the difference between facts and anecdotal opinions.

And there are countless studies, like the one completed in Ohio in 2013 which found that fraud was alleged in 0.002397% of the millions of votes cast there. And the report was done by the Republican Secretary of State. There was even a massive study under George Bush that said there was no evidence of any meaningful voter fraud that could impact anything. Anyone can do a search for "voter fraud studies" and see countless cases where the results show voter fraud is virtually non-existent. The articles dominate the top of the search engine results.

We've entered a phase where Republicans know they are in a bubble and they can what they want, even if it's been reported as untrue countless times in the real world. And then there are the other Republicans who just lie through their teeth and they just don't care because they're in survival mode.

Another example is the Republican war on abortion being framed as a women's safety issue. Obviously a lie, but if they don't admit to it and enough people join in on the BS then they have strength in numbers. Oh, and if you aren't for it then you must enjoy seeing women get hurt!!! ;)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You did not. You posted a 2008 opinion by Justice John Paul Stevens. You seem not to understand the difference between facts and anecdotal opinions.

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/04/10/bill-clinton-on-voter-id-why-not-solve-the-problem-by-putting-a-photo-on-every-social-security-card/

http://www.truethevote.org/news/how-widespread-is-voter-fraud-2012-facts-figures

My home state https://www.electionintegrityproject.com/2013/09/california-suspends-a-critical-method-to-prevent-voter-fraud/

Now, if you want to shuffle around these updated facts, be my guest, but there is NO way that you can tell me as a resident of CA. that voter fraud is a ruse.

It's been there, it's been for years and it's getting worse and the people are tired of it.

The VoterID card is designed (in theory) specifically to prevent the kind of fraud where one person attempts to cast a vote as someone else -- that "someone else" being someone who has legally registered to vote and is on the rolls. Where are your stats indicating how voter impersonation has been a problem?

I just did, again. Again, it matters not if you dance around it. Everything, thankfully is already set in motion to change.

There are many other types of electoral fraud practiced by both major parties: Voter intimidation -- which an ID card will do nothing to prevent; vote-buying -- which an ID card will do nothing to prevent; misinformation -- ditto; misleading and confusing ballot papers -- ditto; misrecording of votes -- ditto; misuses of proxy votes -- ditto; destruction/invalidation of ballots -- ditto; and tampering with electronic voting machines -- again, which an ID card will do nothing to prevent.

Sure, I agree, so it would be best until there can be an adequate system that covers all these issues, it takes time to sort out and to come up with a valid solution, but until then, we should make it impossible for ANY illegals to vote or to get dead people to vote and we should create stiff penalties for anyone violating these laws, regardless of what political side you are on.

Republicans hate democracy.

If that's so, Blacks would have never been emancipated, EVER! But I think Dems hate personal freedom.

They know if everyone votes they lose. The numbers of old, white, tired and angry old men are going down while the rest of voters are going up.

Sorry, won't wash. Apparently, if you haven't seen the Republican Party lately. If you make that preposterous and outrageous claim that Republicans are racist towards minorities, then the opposite can be said, that Democrats and liberals are racist towards White Republican and conservatives. You guys use the race card constantly, now right back at you. You guys are intolerant of White people. So I guess, you guys are equally as hateful and racist.

Voter ID laws are meant to stop voting, the excuse about voter fraud is insane.

If you were living in California you wouldn't say that.

It is the same as the whaling story on JT, the excuse for killing whales is research but the fact is quite different.

How did whaling edge itself into this topic?

The tired LDP politicians and the tired Republican politicians have much in common. They are living in the 1950s for one.

Sorry, we're living in the 21st, liberals like you are angry because unlike now, in the 50s we had something like responsibility, pride and accountability, strong work ethics, love of country and American exceptional ism. If your liberal policies really were working, why then are the Dems getting ready to being thrown out of office. Why is it that over 56% of Americans think we are on a wrong path? The race card doesn't work. People oppose this radical presidents policies, NOT his skin color, but because that's the ONLY thing liberals have in their arsenal and the one thing that works for them is the RACE CARD.

Seems like many people do want to go back in some ways to the 50s

@superlib

And there are countless studies, like the one completed in Ohio in 2013 which found that fraud was alleged in 0.002397% of the millions of votes cast there. And the report was done by the Republican Secretary of State. There was even a massive study under George Bush that said there was no evidence of any meaningful voter fraud that could impact anything. Anyone can do a search for "voter fraud studies" and see countless cases where the results show voter fraud is virtually non-existent. The articles dominate the top of the search engine results.

If you want you can believe what you want. Liberals want and can believe what they want. Evidently, you guys think Obama is THE greatest president ever, that in itself speaks volumes how out of touch Dems are with reality.

We've entered a phase where Republicans know they are in a bubble and they can what they want, even if it's been reported as untrue countless times in the real world. And then there are the other Republicans who just lie through their teeth and they just don't care because they're in survival mode.

How exactly are Republicans in trouble when they are getting ready to lose the Senate and possibly gain more seats in the House, not to mention local state elections?!

Another example is the Republican war on abortion being framed as a women's safety issue.

So you're ok with aborting a full term baby, meaning: that it can survive on its own out of the womb? Again, I'm strictly talking about "full term."

Obviously a lie, but if they don't admit to it and enough people join in on the BS then they have strength in numbers. Oh, and if you aren't for it then you must enjoy seeing women get hurt!!! ;)

Hey, the so called "war on women" is equally a lie as much as the "voter fraud" debacle. I hope you're aware of that.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The "hotair" site provides no statistics about voter identity fraud. It merely reiterates my point that any such ID should be a universal requirement and free. Bill Clinton's (and Andrew Young's) idea is to put a photo on social security cards. I don't see that as a bad idea at all: having the card serve at least two purposes. A driver's license should not be used as a proof of citizenship, so everyone would have to obtain the new photo-social security card.

The "truth-the-vote" reference is ludicrous as a "proof" of voter identity fraud. Chuck Norris approved??!!

Just because people die (or move away) and the state or local government fails to remove them from their list of registered voters, it is no proof whatsoever that these dead folks are showing up at the polls to cast votes. Oh, "truth-the-vote" does provide evidence that the problem is insignificant: in the link below they find only 34 cases combined in Ohio and Florida that they could turn over for further investigation. That's 34 cases out of millions of voters in each state -- and even then, those 34 cases are simply allegations, not proven cases of intentional fraud.

http://www.truethevote.org/news/true-the-vote-announces-new-findings-of-voter-fraud-in-ohio-new-york-florida-and-rhode-island

The "election integrity" site contains no data whatsoever about actual voter fraud.
1 ( +1 / -0 )

The "hotair" site provides no statistics about voter identity fraud. It merely reiterates my point that any such ID should be a universal requirement and free. Bill Clinton's (and Andrew Young's) idea is to put a photo on social security cards. I don't see that as a bad idea at all: having the card serve at least two purposes. A driver's license should not be used as a proof of citizenship, so everyone would have to obtain the new photo-social security card.

It doesn't have to. You want to call it, then the same can be said about Republicans being racist, where are the stats to back up that accusation? It's all in liberals minds.

Just because people die (or move away) and the state or local government fails to remove them from their list of registered voters, it is no proof whatsoever that these dead folks are showing up at the polls to cast votes. Oh, "truth-the-vote" does provide evidence that the problem is insignificant: in the link below they find only 34 cases combined in Ohio and Florida that they could turn over for further investigation. That's 34 cases out of millions of voters in each state -- and even then, those 34 cases are simply allegations, not proven cases of intentional fraud.

Then likewise, you can't provide a shred of widespread evidence that it doesn't exist, despite what the majority of the liberal media prints.

Again, the clock is ticking on you guys and all the squirming will not prolong the inevitable.

@wolfpack said it best:

It never ceases to amaze me how Democrats are always separating out people and attacking them. First it was blacks so they enslaved them and later imposed Jim Crow and poll taxes on them. Then it was the lesser non-contributing citizens so they came up with Eugenics and Planned Parenthood so they could cull out the undesirables. Then it was the Jews so they attacked the corporations and money lenders. Then it was the Christians and the Left is attempting to drive them out of the public square. All this hate and division for the sake of power and the never ending desire to control other peoples lives.

The party of tolerance is looking not so tolerant and hasn't been for a very long time, but racist, anti-religious, white hating and wanting to take the rights away of Americans. What a shame.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The party of tolerance is looking not so tolerant

I don't believe anyone should be tolerant of the utter dishonesty and lack of integrity coming from what passes for the conservative movement today. Back to the topic...

In the Music Man, the con-man salesman had to get the town of River City to buy one his phony "boys' bands." To do that, he had to engineer a phony problem to get the town riled up. (He used the town pool hall as his ploy -- creating a "problem" where none had existed before.) It is almost identical with the conservatives and their voter fraud ploy.

When you ask them for evidence of the size and scope of the "problem," all they can provide is stuff like three dozen allegations in states with millions of voters, in a nation that has held elections for over two centuries. They are completely taken in by the flim-flam from VoterID Central.

Here's the real agenda:

Thanks to candidate Barack Obama, greater numbers of Americans belonging to minority groups are becoming more active and swinging more elections over to the Democrats. What can be done to stop them?

Create a phony problem that these American voters are accompanied by hordes of illegal voters. Make it appear that their legally cast ballots are tainted.

"Fix" the problem by creating a process which will levy a tax anyone who doesn't have a picture ID of the type specified by the conservative proponents. Create bottlenecks by limiting the number of places that can issue the new ID card, as well as limiting their hours of operation. Create as much of a roadblock to real American citizens who tend to vote for Democrats, but don't have a driver's license or passport, as legally possible.

Then likewise, you can't provide a shred of widespread evidence that it doesn't exist,

I don't see why any intelligent person has to tolerate such utter foolishness. Those who insist there is a problem should be the ones to prove it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@yabits Not sure why you bother.

Then likewise, you can't provide a shred of widespread evidence that it doesn't exist,

A "shred of widespread evidence"?

LOL, I guess nobody explained to Bass that the burden of proof lies with person making the claim. You claim widespread fraud, you prove it.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

LOL, I guess nobody explained to Bass that the burden of proof lies with person making the claim. You claim widespread fraud, you prove it.

Which I did, but as with most liberals, you seem to believe in what you want, NOT what is.

@yabits

I don't believe anyone should be tolerant of the utter dishonesty and lack of integrity coming from what passes for the conservative movement today. Back to the topic...

Since when have Democrats been honest these last 6 years? Come on, let's be serious now, April 1st was two weeks ago.

When you ask them for evidence of the size and scope of the "problem," all they can provide is stuff like three dozen allegations in states with millions of voters, in a nation that has held elections for over two centuries. They are completely taken in by the flim-flam from VoterID Central.

Then as I said, in that case it goes both ways, discounting the overwhelming liberal bias media, which I know all to well about. The same can be said about libs thinking in their over exaggerated heads that conservatives don't want minorities or the elderly to vote. So both sides are suffering from mental paranoia.

Thanks to candidate Barack Obama, greater numbers of Americans belonging to minority groups are becoming more active and swinging more elections over to the Democrats. What can be done to stop them?

Most Blacks are going to vote Democratic NO Matter what, which is sad, as Blacks are suffering most from Democratic policies. Chicago, Philly, Detroit, L.A. And other liberal controlled city or state, Blacks and Hispanics are doing poorly in these areas and as long as they believe, the only way to achieve prosperity is by sucking the tit of big government, they will always destined to be poor.

Create a phony problem that these American voters are accompanied by hordes of illegal voters. Make it appear that their legally cast ballots are tainted.

Phony? As in the war on women, conservatives hate minorities, they hate immigrants, they despise Blacks, they hate the president because he's Black and on and on and on....except these bogus allegations that Dems love to whine about, claiming this is how Republicans feel about these issue is hilarious to say the least. But voter fraud is NON-existent. Being a native Californian and seeing this my whole life, I guess what I was seeing all these years was my eyes playing tricks on my and every news coverage over the last 30 years was a complete lie. I mean, we have over 4 million illegals, but, yes, they are illegal, but other than that, they would never engage in voter fraud. It's just impossible. One thing I love about liberals, when they lie, they really know how to embellish. ROFL

"Fix" the problem by creating a process which will levy a tax anyone who doesn't have a picture ID of the type specified by the conservative proponents. Create bottlenecks by limiting the number of places that can issue the new ID card, as well as limiting their hours of operation. Create as much of a roadblock to real American citizens who tend to vote for Democrats, but don't have a driver's license or passport, as legally possible.

Again, that whiny argument has played its course. Once 5 years ago, you guys could make that bogus charge and many ignorant people would buy it, but now, the public has thank God finally woken up to the reality that Dems are desperate and will do anything to hold on to the power. Sadly, it's not working this time. Dems getting ready to lose big in November is due to failed Democratic policies. You guys dug your own graves and trying to weasel out of another lie that Voter ID is intrusive is flat out ludicrous.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Let's be HONEST here....

America is becoming a different country... The ideal of freedom is changing !!!

It's very silly but watch " Captain America " you can actually hear the politics in the movie about so called, " American Freedom " and etc.

You look at the 1980's & 1990's and you can see the big difference of freedom we used to have and the current so called, " freedom " we have today.

Especially the airports !!!!

Now Obama is RIGHT !! Things are changing !!!! America is changing to a more control the people control who votes and who has the right to vote...

What else will change in our future ?

English language will change too in America...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The same can be said about libs thinking in their over exaggerated heads that conservatives don't want minorities or the elderly to vote.

Let's clarify that: Real conservatives would want maximum participation in the voting process as much as possible. Genuine traditional conservatives wouldn't be for any change that would discourage people from voting. Liberals naturally also share this goal of max participation. We don't want anything that hinders an American from voting. (That's why states like Oregon and Washington allow voting by mail -- and have the highest voter participation rates by far.)

But today's conservatives don't care about that ideal, as your posts make perfectly clear.

Most Blacks are going to vote Democratic NO Matter what, which is sad, as Blacks are suffering most from Democratic policies.

Although most blacks have been voting Democratic, the critical factor is how many blacks and Latinos take the trouble to show up at the polls to vote. That is a major factor why Barack Obama received the largest popular majorities for a 2-term president since Dwight Eisenhower. And that fact explains the drive by conservatives to enact Voter ID.

as long as they believe, the only way to achieve prosperity is by sucking the tit of big government,

I regard statements where a person purports that they know what the majority of another race "believes" to be very revealing. (Especially in light of the simple fact is that most black-Americans do not receive government assistance.) It is such a condescending and often racist mindset that is pushing to put roadblocks in the way of low-income folks -- many of whom are minorities -- so that fewer show up to vote on election day.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

bass4funk Apr. 18, 2014 - 04:38AM JST Most Blacks are going to vote Democratic NO Matter what, which is sad, as Blacks are suffering most from Democratic policies. Chicago, Philly, Detroit, L.A. And other liberal controlled city or state, Blacks and Hispanics are doing poorly in these areas and as long as they believe, the only way to achieve prosperity is by sucking the tit of big government, they will always destined to be poor.

Obviously social programs should be more efficient, but that’s not the fault of the poor, but of the rich who administer these programs and create insane bureaucracies in an attempt to squeeze the most money for themselves out for these programs, and give the least to poor people, as possible. By far the biggest recipients of welfare are corporations, the rich, and the military who get trillions per year and hide their cash in tax havens.

The biggest welfare program in the U.S. is the national debt. Taxpayer and their representatives have been duped into delegating the nation’s sovereign authority to issue its own currency and paying hundreds of billions each year for corporate currency. Over a two decade period, the cost of the currency, the interest on the national debt, equals the debt itself. Privately owned, corporate currencies like Federal Reserve System Currency rob people of the value of the work and property, inevitably resulting in increase of national debt, social inequality and economic injustice.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Let's clarify that: Real conservatives would want maximum participation in the voting process as much as possible. Genuine traditional conservatives wouldn't be for any change that would discourage people from voting. Liberals naturally also share this goal of max participation. We don't want anything that hinders an American from voting. (That's why states like Oregon and Washington allow voting by mail -- and have the highest voter participation rates by far.)

Both sides play this game. Both sides want and will go to arms length to get as many votes as possible. I just get peeved when I hear libs and Dems wanting to suppress ANY Americans right to vote, when that is a flat out lie. I have never met anyone that thought, murmured or eluded to that fact. I just hate partisan politics, the problem is, liberals and particularly now more than ever in our history are so overly charged with partisanship it's baffling.

Although most blacks have been voting Democratic, the critical factor is how many blacks and Latinos take the trouble to show up at the polls to vote. That is a major factor why Barack Obama received the largest popular majorities for a 2-term president since Dwight Eisenhower. And that fact explains the drive by conservatives to enact Voter ID.

So then you are basically saying Blacks coming out in droves to vote for this president the way they did was due to the fact that he was Black, let's cut through the BS. The problem with most Blacks, the only thing they see or care about is voting Democrat, they don't know anything else or want to, but have the Democratic party helped them in any way, absolutely NOT, in fact, Blacks are in a more destitute state then ever before. Obama has NOT addressed the issue, even CA. Congresswoman Maxine Waters asked Obama to be proactive in the Black community. Blacks are NOT natural Democrats ideology wise. They have nothing in common with liberals for the most part. They are socially conservative on most issues, they are for lower taxes and many are small business entrepreneurs. There is NOT one thing you can tell me where Blacks have benefitted or become more prosperous these last 5 years.

I regard statements where a person purports that they know what the majority of another race "believes" to be very revealing. (Especially in light of the simple fact is that most black-Americans do not receive government assistance.)

Out of birth wedlock is through the roof with Blacks about 71% the highest of any minority group in the U.S. most Black homes are run by a single parent and you're telling me, these mostly women do not get government assistance of any kind? I know you don't believe that, NO one would. I know that for a fact. You are absolutely wrong and believe me when I tell you, I know more about this than you think, believe me.

It is such a condescending and often racist mindset that is pushing to put roadblocks in the way of low-income folks -- many of whom are minorities -- so that fewer show up to vote on election day.

How many times will keep repeating that nonsense? Race, religion, age, nationality have nothing to do with it. Voting dead and illegal do. I'm telling you, the race card WILL NOT work anymore, no one is listening to that. Now that is condescending of the highest order! Dems can try to spin it, just like they do when they say, people love Obamacare, but the polls reflect the exact opposite.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@yabits

Let's clarify that: Real conservatives would want maximum participation in the voting process as much as possible.

You are exactly right. Real conservatives also want the nations laws to be faithfully enforced. Do you have any evidence that people are being denied the right to vote in the more than 30 states that have voter id laws? I haven't heard of any. You say it's discriminatory but cannot prove it. Despite the fact that more states had voter id in the last election than ever before minority voting was not depressed at all compared to previous elections. Quite the opposite was the case. In a number of southern states the percentage of minority votes exceeded that of the majority population.

Voter id has absolutely zero impact on voting. If anything the stats prove the opposite. Democrat's should support a clean and fair election process that has resulted in increased minority voting. Check the stats - you know I'm right.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

bass4funk Apr. 18, 2014 - 07:30AM JST There is NOT one thing you can tell me where Blacks have benefitted or become more prosperous these last 5 years.

Hispanic and African American women are the fastest growing entrepreneurial segments in the U.S. for the past 5-10 years. They represent more than two million of the roughly eight million women-owned businesses in the country. African American and Hispanic women are three to five times more likely to start a business compared to whites. For most minority women, the problem isn’t entrepreneurial appetite, it’s sufficient financial and social capital resources to lean on. The impact of single parent households is a significant impediment to many entrepreneurial black women.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Both sides want and will go to arms length to get as many votes as possible.

I have only witnessed one side actively attempting to suppress American citizens from voting in hopes of hurting the other side by putting roadblocks were none have existed. Voter ID laws are an example of that.

So then you are basically saying Blacks coming out in droves to vote for this president the way they did was due to the fact that he was Black, let's cut through the BS.

If Republicans had chosen an African-American to lead their ticket, they would have attracted more black votes, but a majority of African-Americans still would have voted the other way. The percentage of the black vote going to Obama, as a Democrat, didn't change much, but his candidacy inspired many more minorities to show up to cast what they knew would be an historic vote. That's the simple truth.

The problem with most Blacks, the only thing they see or care about is voting Democrat...

It is nice to see conservatives admit that they have a problem with black people voting.

They have nothing in common with liberals for the most part.

The thing they have in common with liberals is a strong bent towards justice and fairness for all people -- and a support for government's role in achieving justice and fairness. That one factor trumps all the other petty differences you cited. A person may not condone a certain personal behavior, but that's a far cry from endorsing laws which would penalize people who engage in it.

You say it's discriminatory but cannot prove it.

I have never used the word "discriminatory." I have only stood on principle that, for low-income people of all types who do not have a driver's license, the requirement of having them pay for a new piece of identification is the equivalent to a poll tax. And poll taxes have been found to be discriminatory in how they were implemented.

My main point is that fraud by voter impersonation is not the problem that the VoterID proponents claim it is, and it is their intent to place new hardships in the path of people who tend to vote against their party.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hispanic and African American women are the fastest growing entrepreneurial segments in the U.S. for the past 5-10 years. They represent more than two million of the roughly eight million women-owned businesses in the country. African American and Hispanic women are three to five times more likely to start a business compared to whites. For most minority women, the problem isn’t entrepreneurial appetite, it’s sufficient financial and social capital resources to lean on. The impact of single parent households is a significant impediment to many entrepreneurial black women.

I think you're right and it is mostly Black women, NOT men. There is also a trend that these women are voting more conservatively as well and the same goes for Hispanics, most are not a monolithic group and don't vote one way. But needless to say, there are many single parents, mostly women that do rely on government existence, the problem is that many use it as a crutch and NOT a short-term stepping stone. Under Clinton he was able to get welfare for about 6 months and now under Obama it's jumped more than 32% in the last 4 years and the main reason for that os Washington has reduced the qualifications necessary to receive welfare.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Half the city government of Cleveland , Ohio (all Democrats) are doing up toe 25 years in jail for corruption. Think they wouldn't bus a few hundred homeless from precinct to precinct to steal an election? And of course the mob famously bragged that they elected Kennedy in 1960 with the votes of dead people in Chicago.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Half the city government of Cleveland , Ohio (all Democrats) are doing up toe 25 years in jail for corruption. Think they wouldn't bus a few hundred homeless from precinct to precinct to steal an election? And of course the mob famously bragged that they elected Kennedy in 1960 with the votes of dead people in Chicago.

Exactly, I heard about that, but ask the average partisan Democrat and they will tell you, pink elephants DO exist. Again, both sides can be despicable when it comes to trying to gain votes, that just the nature of politics, but Dems act as if they are Saints and Democratic corruption or political persuasion is just NON-existent. The problem with these politicians, both parties, they can't see beyond the next election cycle sadly.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's simply amazing how many anti-Democrats come forward to clearly prove, by their own example, just what I have been claiming: When it comes to voter fraud, you can't trust what these so-called conservatives are saying.

edbardoe claims that "half the city government" of Cleveland, Ohio, are doing up to 25 years in jail for corruption. The statement is utterly false. In 2007, investigators found corruption not in the city government of Cleveland but in the Cuyahoga County Commission. Nearly every county in Ohio is led by a board of commissioners led by three people. The county of Cuyahoga, which includes Cleveland, also contains a number of strong Republican communities. And while one former commissioner was sent to prison, the vast majority of those involved in the scandal were from the private sector. They were business-owners and "entrepreneurs," who thought they could get away with gaming the system.

After making a false statement, which is also a form of corruption, edbardoe then tries to use it to smear and to claim that "these people" would also "bus a few hundred homeless people from precinct to precinct. to steal an election." All the while overlooking the fact that many Democrats who are not corrupt brought the matter to the attention of authorities and provided necessary evidence and testimony along the way.

And so, we are witness once again to the delusional and often-corrupt frame of mind of the ones who see voter fraud everywhere. They even turn to the Mafia sources to bolster their claims!

The happy ending to the Cuyahoga County story is that the voters of the county -- predominantly Democratic -- elected to abolish the 3-person commission and replaced it with a much larger, bi-partisan board.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's simply amazing how many anti-Democrats come forward to clearly prove, by their own example, just what I have been claiming: When it comes to voter fraud, you can't trust what these so-called conservatives are saying.

Geez, I can give you a litany of examples just within the last 3 months liberal dishonesty. You really think that American people are that naive? Question.... When have you ever criticized Democrats on anything? So you're saying Obama and all liberals and Democrats are the party of honesty? I thought April 1st already came and went.

edbardoe claims that "half the city government" of Cleveland, Ohio, are doing up to 25 years in jail for corruption. The statement is utterly false. In 2007, investigators found corruption not in the city government of Cleveland but in the Cuyahoga County Commission. Nearly every county in Ohio is led by a board of commissioners led by three people. The county of Cuyahoga, which includes Cleveland, also contains a number of strong Republican communities. And while one former commissioner was sent to prison, the vast majority of those involved in the scandal were from the private sector. They were business-owners and "entrepreneurs," who thought they could get away with gaming the system.

So they have something in common with the Democrats and Lerner targeting conservatives. You just proved my point that both parties are dirty.

After making a false statement, which is also a form of corruption, edbardoe then tries to use it to smear and to claim that "these people" would also "bus a few hundred homeless people from precinct to precinct. to steal an election." All the while overlooking the fact that many Democrats who are not corrupt brought the matter to the attention of authorities and provided necessary evidence and testimony along the way.

Democrats NOT corrupt? Which one?

And so, we are witness once again to the delusional and often-corrupt frame of mind of the ones who see voter fraud everywhere. They even turn to the Mafia sources to bolster their claims!

You mean this admin.??

The happy ending to the Cuyahoga County story is that the voters of the county -- predominantly Democratic -- elected to abolish the 3-person commission and replaced it with a much larger, bi-partisan board.

So that means both Dems and Repubs. are Working harmoniously together?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Voter fraud isn't the major issue in American elections, not even a minor one by comparison, big money is.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@yabits:

I have never used the word "discriminatory." I have only stood on principle that, for low-income people of all types who do not have a driver's license, the requirement of having them pay for a new piece of identification is the equivalent to a poll tax. And poll taxes have been found to be discriminatory in how they were implemented.

By that logic everyone pays a poll tax due to the fact that government charges fees for government issued identification. Your "poll tax" argument is not simply weak it is nonsensical. Most if not all states with voter id laws offer free identification - usually through local DMV offices - for those very few people that have somehow never been able to figure out how to either obtain id or have not been able to retain whatever id they had since the day they were born.

Also does it not require id to get any kind of welfare or entitlement benefit? One would think that those in support of the welfare state would want every citizen to have an id so they can get (and cash) their government check.

Those against preventing voter fraud do not have logic or common sense on their side.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Wolfpack: Voter id has absolutely zero impact on voting

Then explain this comment to me, said by Pennsylvania state House Republican leader Mike Turzai in 2012: "Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it’s done. First pro-life legislation – abortion facility regulations – in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."

What do you think he meant when he said that voter ID will allow Romney win the state of PA? Could it be that he believes voter ID laws do in fact have and impact on elections, and that impact is pro-Republican?

When a Republican official from North Carolina says, on camera, that the new voting regulations will "kick Democrats in the butt," what does that mean to you?

You say it's discriminatory but cannot prove it.

But yet you are the ones saying that more regulation and bigger government is needed. Wouldn't the burden of proof be on your shoulders?

You haven't proven that voter fraud has any meaningful impact on elections, and moreover you haven't shown that providing an ID will change anything. In fact, a vast, vast majority of the blips of "fraud" involve people unwittingly voting at the wrong places and other situations where showing ID would have zero impact. So you're fighting fraud which consists of a fraction of a percent of the votes, and on top of that you're only dealing with a kind of fraud that is a fraction of that as well. You're literally going to place burdens on the entire voting population on the United States to catch a handful of imposters at best.

Obviously there is more going on here than you are willing to admit. The scary thing will be the next round of restrictions that Republicans will try to place on voting.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Voter fraud isn't the major issue in American elections, not even a minor one by comparison, big money is.

Funny, all the polls are saying the major issues that is hurting America is Big Government and the growing intrusion and impact on personal liberties.

What do you think he meant when he said that voter ID will allow Romney win the state of PA? Could it be that he believes voter ID laws do in fact have and impact on elections, and that impact is pro-Republican?

Last election cycle people were and voted heavily pro-Democrat, but that's changing and thanks to you guys with your governmental overreach, not only are you guys creating a toxic political environment for Democrats, but at this rate, you guys WILL have to fall back, reevaluate and do some serious soul searching just like the Republicans. They didn't think they had any problems, but now they are trying to evolve on certain issues, the same needs to go for Democrats. Sadly, they don't see themselves as the problem that's causing America to sink. Not only is that astounding, it's scary.

When a Republican official from North Carolina says, on camera, that the new voting regulations will "kick Democrats in the butt," what does that mean to you?

Oh, please do stop! When Democrats won in 2008 and the last election Democrats were constantly boasting how they smashed Republicans and that the liberal utopia will reign forever and just non-stop gawking. So it's ok, if you guys brag, but it's sickening when Republicans do it, huh?

But yet you are the ones saying that more regulation and bigger government is needed. Wouldn't the burden of proof be on your shoulders?

Asking for Voter conformation is nowhere NEAR what you want to imply as being remotely close to being Big government.

You haven't proven that voter fraud has any meaningful impact on elections, and moreover you haven't shown that providing an ID will change anything.

And you haven't proved that it as well. One dopey politicians sound byte doesn't mean or prove anything beyond a shadow of a doubt

In fact, a vast, vast majority of the blips of "fraud" involve people unwittingly voting at the wrong places and other situations where showing ID would have zero impact. So you're fighting fraud which consists of a fraction of a percent of the votes, and on top of that you're only dealing with a kind of fraud that is a fraction of that as well. You're literally going to place burdens on the entire voting population on the United States to catch a handful of imposters at best.

Since this president and the Dems been in office, believe me, the American people have already been burdened on a constant 24 hour 7 day a week 365 day cycle. And that's just putting it lightly.

Obviously there is more going on here than you are willing to admit. The scary thing will be the next round of restrictions that Republicans will try to place on voting.

Not even close or fraction of a smidgen compared to the restrictions and Civil Liberties lost these past 5 years.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Most if not all states with voter id laws offer free identification - usually through local DMV offices - for those very few people that have somehow never been able to figure out how to either obtain id or have not been able to retain whatever id they had since the day they were born.

This is completely false, and demonstrates the inability of many opposed to Democrats and liberals to present facts.

In reality, only one state -- Georgia -- has it written into law that VoterIDs will be offered at no charge. Two other states, Indiana and North Carolina, stipulate that the first card can be obtained for free, but that there's a renewal fee when they expire. All other states require fees to be paid.

In researching this, I came across one very curious loophole: In North Carolina, for example, a person can obtain a Driver's License, and supplying just a Social Security card will suffice as proof of identity. And yet that same driver's license can but used to demonstrate proof of identity at a polling place. But a Social Security card alone is not sufficient to obtain a state identification card for voting purposes.

There is a clear double-standard here -- one that is very revealing.

Another clear double-standard: A person born into a very poor family was more likely not to be born in a hospital, but at home, than those higher on the economic scale. They are also born into family conditions where there are serious challenges to the record-keeping ability of caretakers. Do we blame the baby for that? Such folks in that situation join the military, and all that is required of them is an affidavit, which recruiters are all too willing to help with. Why not the same for voting?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@yabits:

This is completely false, and demonstrates the inability of many opposed to Democrats and liberals to present facts.

You are willfully ignoring reality. Even if there were no states providing free id, which is clearly not the case, obtaining a $20 id can in no way be considered a hardship on anyone. Especially given the generous welfare benefits, food stamps, earned income tax credit and other benefits that poor people are eligible for. Again, no one can get benefits from the government without id. In reality, paying $20 for an id will open up the poor person to access to thousands of dollars in government benefits per year. You know that's true don't you...

But a Social Security card alone is not sufficient to obtain a state identification card for voting purposes. There is a clear double-standard here -- one that is very revealing.

No double stands. It's just that it isn't the function of elections agencies to issue and/or validate a persons citizenship and residency.

Another clear double-standard: A person born into a very poor family was more likely not to be born in a hospital, but at home, than those higher on the economic scale.

So you are saying that people born in their homes are not eligible for social security? At this point you are just reaching wildly for anything to justify your nonsensical point of view.

@SuperLib:

Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."

OK - explain how Romney lost Pennsylvania in the election?

But yet you are the ones saying that more regulation and bigger government is needed. Wouldn't the burden of proof be on your shoulders?

I say that government should do what it is supposed to do. One of the core purposes of government in a democracy is to hold free and fair elections. And no, the burden of proof is not on the shoulders of those that support voter fraud safeguards. It is up to those that are against these common sense measures that must justify risking the legitimacy of the elections process in a highly polarized nation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Even if there were no states providing free id, which is clearly not the case, obtaining a $20 id can in no way be considered a hardship on anyone.

Quoting your earlier statement, you said "Most if not all states with voter id laws offer free identification.." That is clearly false. One state, Georgia, offers free ID. Two others -- Indiana and North Carolina -- offer the first one for free, and charge for renewals. All other states with VoterID require a fee.

It's this type of easily verifiable factual error that reduces your credibility on this issue to zero.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@yabits:

It's this type of easily verifiable factual error that reduces your credibility on this issue to zero.

One can easily Google a long list of states that offer free voter id. Maybe search engines don't work on your computer. Here is the list of states with free voter id that I came up with before I stopped searching because I believe my point has been made:

Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

Here is a (Liberal) source that I found with a good list: https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/voter-id-laws-passed-2011

You stated that only one state offered free ID's - Georgia. That is clearly incorrect and very easy to confirm as such. Whose credibility on this issue is zero?

The bottom line is that there is no threat to the right to vote as Obama suggests. In fact, minority voters turned out in record numbers often exceeding the percentage of the vote by the majority. This is just another wedge issue to divide Americans along racial lines - as Democrats have always done - in order to get out the vote in an off year election.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

One can easily Google a long list of states that offer free voter id. .. Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

State by state: Pennsylvania has no VoterID law in effect. What was passed by the legislature was struck down by the commonwealth's highest court.

South Carolina's card currently is free, so I stand corrected there. Wisconsin has no VoterID law in effect. Georgia was already mentioned, as was North Carolina. (But NC's law won't take effect until 2016, per the article above.)

Texas charges a fee for its ID card, as does Arkansas, Alabama, Rhode Island, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennesse, and Virginia.

I did not do a search of right-wing misinformation sites: Each item above was taken from the state's DMV site.

You stated that only one state offered free ID's - Georgia.

Incorrect. I stated that only one state had it written into law that state ID's were to be issued at no charge, and that is Georgia. All other states leave it up to the discretion of the DMV -- which is subject to change at any time.

The bottom line is that there is no threat to the right to vote as Obama suggests.

The bottom line is that there is a very real threat to the right to vote to low income Americans who don't have a driver's license. Republicans' bragging that Voter ID laws will swing elections their way provide ample evidence. Per the article:

Just last year, seven states passed voter restrictions, ranging from reductions in early voting periods to identification requirements

It's not just ID laws -- Republicans have been doing all they can to restrict voting.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@yabits:

State by state: Pennsylvania has no VoterID law in effect. What was passed by the legislature was struck down by the commonwealth's highest court.

That law is on appeal and is therefore not invalidated. The Supreme Court has already ruled that voter id is legal and when it gets to the high court - as it surely will - the Pennsylvania court will be slapped down and the law will go back into effect. The constitutionality of voter id is settled law. Liberals on the judiciary in various state governments are still in denial but when the cases are appealed to the Supreme Court they will be reminded once again what the Supreme Court has already stated - voter id laws are legal. Here is a link to the case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_v._Marion_County_Election_Board

I did not do a search of right-wing misinformation sites: Each item above was taken from the state's DMV site.

I gave you a link to a left wing website to back up my information. If you do not believe me, try Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Brennan,_Jr

As the seventh longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history, he was known for being a leader of the Court's liberal wing.[2]

Texas charges a fee for its ID card, as does Arkansas, Alabama, Rhode Island, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennesse, and Virginia.

You are a glutton for punishment. The following state government websites disprove your ridiculous attempt at disproving the truth - which is publicly available to everyone willing to seek it - here we go:

Arkansas: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/FaceYourvote.aspx Alabama: http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters Mississippi: http://www.msvoterid.ms.gov/Pages/VoterIDHowtoGetID.htm New Hampshire: http://www.nhcdd.org/documents/VoterIDbrochureProof.pdf North Dakota: http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/driverslicense/idrequirements.htm#fees Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/sos/election/photoID.htm Texas: http://votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id/ Rhode Island: http://sos.ri.gov/elections/voterid/ Virginia: https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+sum+SB1256

I have provided you with facts, citations, and common sense. You and Obama are wrong about voter id. It is in the interests of all in a democracy that elections be seen as fair. At a time of record illegal immigration, claims of electoral fraud by both parties, and political polarization voter id is just plain good government.

Next time try facts and leave your tired ideology out of it.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You are a glutton for punishment. The following state government websites disprove your ridiculous attempt at disproving the truth - which is publicly available to everyone willing to seek it - here we go:

Picking an example of one of your states, Alabama only recently (March of this year) has made the IDs available. And, yes, thanks to getting around the accusation of imposing a poll tax, Alabama has decided to provide them for free at the present time. But the state also recognized that people who can't drive can't get to the Registrar's office, so the state has promised to provide a mobile solution that will go to the people -- only they have yet to make good on that promise.

After looking through your links, it is obvious that what I thought were DMV sites (link below to one for Alabama) were outdated and wrong. I admit my mistake and apologize for the error.

http://www.dmv.org/al-alabama/id-cards.php

I do not know what the costs will be to Alabama and other states to provide free ID cards. North Dakota is spending three-quarters of a million dollars just to educate people on the new ID process. North Dakota, with only one U.S. Representative for the entire state, and where practically everyone knows everyone else. Is the alleged problem worth the extra expense and inconvenience to so many?

I am laughing, and would place a bet that as soon as many of these states get into a fiscal crunch, these free ID programs will be on the chopping block.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's very true that with the all of the political back and forth and all of the litigation keeping track of the current status of state voter id laws is difficult at best. I acknowledge your point that free voter id's are left in the lurch whenever a judge intercedes in the implementation of the various state voter id laws. I have a great deal of faith that people will take their voting right seriously and will tolerate a minor and inexpensive measure to bolster public confidence in government.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites