Republicans argue that voter ID laws are designed to prevent people who are NOT eligible to vote from casting a ballot. But that almost never happens.
In 2007, The New York Times reported on a five-year, nationwide probe of voter fraud conducted by the Justice Department under President George W. Bush. As of late 2006, the Times reported about 120 people had been charged and 86 convicted in that probe.
Most of the cases involved felons or immigrants who may not have known they were ineligible to vote. Otherwise, there was little evidence of widespread, organized fraud.
But even if there was widespread, organized fraud, a law that discourages (and in reality prevents) legally-registered citizens from voting is not the answer. In fact, one could argue that a law that suppresses the vote (like the voter ID law) is itself a form of voter fraud.
That's certainly the case with a new, Republican-backed voter ID law in Pennsylvania, where 758,939 registered voters who don't have a Pennsylvania driver's license or alternative PennDOT identification will not be allowed to vote in November unless they find another acceptable form of identification.
Most of those 758,939 without photo IDs tend to be poor, minority, young and elderly voters -- core constituencies of the Democratic Party.
That’s an incredible 9.2 percent of Pennsylvania's 8.2 million voters. In a close national race, that difference could easily tip the presidency to Mitt Romney!
Republican Gov. Tom Corbett has rebuffed calls to delay voter ID implementation, but did agree to spend a whopping $249,660 to educate voters about it (that's a lousy 33-cents for every registered voter who does not have PennDOT-issued ID).
And guess who that got that contract?
It went to none other than Bravo Group, a company run by Chris Bravacos, a former executive director of the state's Republican party and a fundraiser for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. According to the Center For Responsive Politics, Bravacos has thus far bundled $30,305 for Romney's campaign.
Check out the Bravo ads at the top and bottom of this posting:
Leave a Comment:
Republicans are loathsome! They are the termites destroying the democracy of America!
Exterminate the House and Senate of all republicans!
Obama/Biden 2012 FOR SURE!
DemsElizabeth, Let's also get rid of the T-Party GOP governors who are refusing free government Medicaid for those in their state who cannot afford insurance. To me, this is monstrous.
How could anyone refuse to help people get medical care, especially when it costs these governors NOTHING, and even helps their economy. It helps the doctors, hospitals and insurance providers, as well.
To me this is just beyond cruelty. Bobby Jindal and Rick Perry, two whose states need the most help, have said NO! I don't wish them any bad luck, but......................well, yes, I do.
Don't forget Scrooge Branstad in my state. I knew he'd turn it down too. He's too chicken to buck the Repub party. He was a weasel last time he was Governor and he's even worse this time around. And DemE we need to get the word out that getting Dems elected to Congress is just as important as re-electing Obama. The termites are trying to do a hatchet job on Sherrod Brown in Ohio. I hope he survives. He stands up for the little guy.
i agree 100% elizabeth. hope everyone is doing ok, i'll be back after my shoulder heals better. hard to type with one hand.
Get better John ! Our thoughts are with you !
We have been missing you John......u can use short cuts 2 get u'r point across.
Dear John: Get well soon! NO JOKE!
Quite a few US citizens older than 53 can't get some forms of government ID required to vote.
People are still alive that were born in Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii before those were states.
Native Americans could not get birth certificates before 1924 because they were not allowed to be US citizens, so US citizens born on an indian reservations older than 88 may be unable to vote.
Alaskan and Hawaiian were not states before 1959, so birth certificates before that are questionable in the same way as those from Puerto Rico.
The average Fox viewer is 67 years old.
Republicans hate democrats so much that you can actually watch them taking away their own right to vote in order to get even.
Watching Fox has become like watching a Mell Brooks movie if he could make them scary.
Thanks C.A. I will use it! Good work AGAIN!
Now that we have a GOP governor in PA, and legislature, over 700,000 voters disenfranchised by the new Voter ID law. My son is scrambling to get eligible and he has voted since he was of age to vote with NO PROBLEM.
I will never forget when I turned 18 years old and could finally vote. I have been voting for 41 years now and NEVER have I been asked for ID EVER. Why now ? Why in this election season ?
Racism ?
Women Hating ?
Homophobia ?
Class Warfare ?
Destroying Unions ?
Destroying the Middle Class ?
Destroying the base of the Democratic Party ?
YES to all of these.
Voter Fraud ?
OF COURSE NOT !!
There has been zero voter fraud in the state of PA. Nada, zip, none. This is about getting that freak elected. PA has long gone Democrat. PA went for Obama in 08.
They were even caught SAYING it was to get Romney elected, to have him win this big state's electoral votes. It's wrong, just plain WRONG. I have come to despise Republicans.
The Koch brothers funded and founded the T-Party and it is the most destructive force EVER in this country's history. It is an immoral bunch of people who think they are grass roots but who are being led by Koch.
hope, the reichwingnuts will do everything in their power to get what they want including lying, cheating and stealing elections, it's been proven time and time again. it's imperative we dems get out and vote to keep these corrupt bastards out of power. our democracy depends on it
You are so correct India and John ! We are in some seriously scary times !
I joined the army when I was 19 and every time I went to the chow hall I had to show my id. Even though the person checking them knew me. Even when we went to the NCO club we had to show our ids. Hell In las vegas I jay walked and low and behould two motorcycle cops were sitting at the corner i had to show my ID them jokers actualy wrote me a 95 dollar ticket and one of them had just got out of bragg he lived in the building next to mine( and still gave me the ticket). I just Dont see the big deal about showing id. The states need to offer free id and free rides and get everybody an id. Thats a service they need fot many other things than just voting. If somone needs assistance then the states should help them.
Thank you for the service you have given our country.
But you miss the point.
Showing id in the chow line isn't new.
Driver's License IDs are not new.
ID for many reasons is not a new notion.
What is new -- after decades and decades of voting in America ?
Voter ID. Why ?
Why now in 2012 all of a sudden ?
If you come up with anything but voter suppression -- you are in denial.
Sorry, the reps and t/people can make up all the excuses they want to disenfranchize voters. Why do they always have to look like cooks. Is it a matter of pride with them to see how low they can go?
TM, There seems to be no bottom to how low and inhuman they can go. This is starting to look like an illegal takeover by a bunch of crazed extremists with a dangerous and counterproductive ideology.
They are determined to turn America into a third world country. The liars and toxic talkers on Fox and the radio are being paid well to perpetuate this insanity.
TM~ I hope you meant crooks or you are going to have cooks all across the country mad at you! LOL
Id is such a common place thing I just dont buy into it. All they need to do is offer the ID at the states expense and a ride. Im sorry but in this day and age ID is required for darn near everything. In fact you had to show id to see Holder speak. This is just not passing the smell test . Having ID is no big deal, you even have to have Id to cash a welfare check, get a job, but beer, get onto an open Miltary base. Something strange is going on for Holder to be acting like this.
Everybody is already well aware of how low they are and how low they can go. Only their brainwashed puppets cannot and will not admit it.
I want this ALEC sponsored voter ID laws crushed. I so despise conservatives for doing this that I want to denounce them for being anti-American. Both parties should be encouraging mail in balloting, motor voter registration, and registration where college students, military personnel, and social workers whose clients are handicapped get out and vote. Many Western European countries and other industrialized countries take a holiday to vote. We should do the same. The goal for both parties should be maximum participation in voting.
The Department of Justice needs to haul all of these states that have sponsored these voter ID laws straight into federal court period. The DOJ also has administrative sanctions that it can impose when states violate the 1965 Voter Rights Act. AG Holder needs to be extremely aggressive at enforcing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Go on offense and stay on offense until after November and beyond. This whole These ID laws are in reality a new pseudo-type of poll tax that suppresses the vote. I find this despicable and odious because it violates citizen's civil rights. If you are in favor of voter ID laws you are probably a bigot and a racist. Let's call this what it really is hogwash from the conservatives and ALEC. I regard any group that tries to suppress the vote as odious, loathsome, and despicable. Both parties should be proud enough of their ideas that they want as many people to vote for their candidates as possible. If you are ashamed of having the maximum number of people come out and vote because they may not support your candidate than maybe your candidate is lousy or what you stand for as a party is only for an elite group of people on the top?
I also live in Pennsylvania. What Gov. Corbett & the current GOP legislators have done by following suit with other GOP states is deplorable. They changed the districts in PA to split the Democrat voters to help insure Reps. get voted into local positions. They have now made it harder for people without a drivers license to vote. The comment House Leader Mike Turzai made "Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done" eliminated all doubt as to the real reason for the voter ID law. It has nothing to do with voter fraud. This is so wrong. Too many people have died to preserve the right to vote for all people. We not only need to reelect Pres. Obama for a 2nd term, we also need to vote out the Tea Pary Republicans. Otherwise, our Democracy is in great peril. We would end up with a Plutocracy: 1) Governmnt by the wealthy. 2) A wealthy class that controls a government. 3) A government or state in which the wealthy rules.
it is simplistic for the Republican spokesperson to say that once a registered voter finds out they need a photo ID (state issued) for PA that it's a simple matter to go out and get that ID. Many people without driver's licenses cannot readily get to the PADOT photo id centers; i.e., in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, there is one center per county and they are NOT at the end of bus routes (first of all the bus routes are skimpy and ill timed to begin with and secondly, even the one in Lehigh County is a hike from the nearest bus stop... something an elderly person is going to find unfeasible to 'readily' get a photo id. The entire problem is that people without driver's licenses don't drive a car and the centers are NOT positioned throughout the Commonwealth to make this a good solution to people getting a photo ID. It's a lot of nonsense that people will be able to comply with no sweat or effort. On top of that, if you don't have your birth certificate, sometimes that's not easy or cheap to get (have you priced obtaining these or in fact a passport lately? One elderly lady in PA was adopted and can't get her birth certificate readily. This entire process isn't easy or cheap or designed to keep people's voting ability intact without those ID's... as already stated by Turzi, 'Done!' How to steal an election!
In the areas we are fighting, Iraq and Afghanistan and in Egypt, Liby, and Tunisia did we ask to check their ID? I do believe we are supposed to be creating democracy in these places, yet, in the US, we are trying to stop people from voting? At best, 60% of the public shows up to vote, but, our efforts are to supress the ones attempting? The fear that the people will use their voice is a great reason for supression and concern over the future changes in demographics are reasons to change the enfranchisement before the boys in power lose simply by numbers. Change your policies and you won't have to worry about being kicked out.
As Nancy Pelosi said, "Don't agonize - organize." The forms of IDs requested by the states are available if one wants to spend the time to get one. Why is everyone wasting time writing these comments? Get out there and do what it takes to help people get the proper IDs. Quit wringing your hands and being professional victims all the time! You're never going to beat the Republicans by being wimps. Get a backbone, and take someone to get an ID.
I agree. In most of the cases, it shouldn't be that hard to get an ID. Others, I am sure it may be more difficult. If it is a money situation, then fundraisers need to be held ect, whatever it takes. But if they want a fight, then we can't sit back and let them win over this ID issue.
Yeah, I'm ready to jump through hoops cause someone puts punitive laws in the way of my RIGHTS. Obstacles are used and if one overcomes this, I'm sure ALEC is working on others. The right to vote is in the Constitution and since they can tax without ID, I also can vote without. Organize in Russia if you think we should be continuing a fight that has lasted 300 years. We have fought poll taxes, women being able to vote, only property owners to vote, killings, and corruption. This is corrupt and you dance for them.
and since the right to own a gun is guaranteed in the constitution, then I have the right to buy a gun without an iD...right?
and since the right to vote is in the constitution, there is no reason for unions to require a picture ID before their elections...right?
just saying...
Dear Ed,
I liven in Pennsylvania for 38 years. Because of Tom Corbet , He took our home, he took our money, and he took my mothers freedom. So what makes you think he doesn't mind taking peoples Vote? He was the Attorney General at the time and Lied about my family and Stole Everything from my Family. That is the type of man this Governor is. Nothing Surprises me about that Man!!! He would steal your soul if he could..
Before 2008 I was pretty open to both the democratic and republican side of politics. But since President Obama has taken office, the repubs have shown their true colors. I am convinced that 95% of them are money hungry crooks that would do anything to protect their wealth, no matter who gets left behind in the process. Simply sad.
Reading your comments I have come to the conclusion that the
fat POS host of the show is an idiot and you are drinking the cool aide. The 15th
Amendment specifically states that you must be a citizen of the United States
to vote and have the right to vote. The federal government has passed the real
ID act that requires states to validate citizens are verified with federal ID, Military ID, Drivers license,
birth certificate, passport to name a few. If you do not have an ID and or the
money to do so guess what, you can get one for FREE!
and you still have 4 months to go get it. In fact if you really want to vote
you can have a friend take you there to get one, or if you call the Department of State's Voter ID Hotline at 1-877-VotesPA
(868-3772) they can tell you were to get one or get a ride to the nearest
office.
This has been law since March and 9 months
is long enough to get people off their couches to get an ID. As far as the crack
heads who say that the republicans are money hungry whores guess what, in the
past year alone 1700 so called 1 percenters have left the US and gave up their
citizenship rights to avoid paying taxes to include one of the founders of Face
Book. So when all of the rich people leave the US because of a 66% tax on their
income and the rest of us are left holding the bag you can really blame the rhetoric
you idiots spew out of your mouths. It is almost like a PA resident saying
steel, coal are bad for the sate when it employees millions. Come on think
about it, Florida alone has found on the books where hundreds of non-citizens
are registered to vote and they are purging them from the rolls. Get over it.
People that are to stupid and to lazy to get a I.D are probably to stupid and to lazy to vote. Didn't they have to have a I.D. to start there welfare checks and food stamps? Eric Holder spoke yesterday at the NAACP national convention in Houston Tx,attendees had to show a government issued I.D and another form of I.D. Holder was also in Texas to make sure that non citizens were given the right to vote for Obama.
Mike 3624898 said:
No, Mike, the rich will not have to pay two thirds of their income to Uncle Sam. If the Dems prevail, the most it would be is 39%. Frankly, anyone in that tax bracket could certainly afford to pay 4% more in taxes. It is not only a civic duty, but people should be happy to contribute to the success of our great nation. The operative phrase is should be.
Paying one's fair share of taxes never used to be an issue until the GOP made it an issue in recent years. My whole working life, which stretched from 1966 to 2002, I paid taxes at a higher rate than I would be paying now if I were still working. Never bothered me. For example, I proudly helped pay for our space program and putting Americans on the moon where they drove around in electric cars.
Too many Americans have become selfish, greedy, and filled with hate towards other Americans, and this poisonous, diseased attitude is dragging the whole country down the toilet. And the Republicans (of which I used to be one) are responsible for this sad state of affairs. And now they are trying to force us into being a one-party state, with the voter suppression laws, the anti-union laws (which effectively de-funds the Democrat party and thus marginalize it).
Jeff P - 1939810 said:
So everybody that doesn't have an ID are stupid, lazy, and on welfare? Do you really assume this to be true? What would give you such an idea? Rush Limbaugh? One of the biggest problems we have is the continuing stream of hate speech from right-wing radio and cable TV. And millions of Americans are being influenced by this stuff. Just like 1930s Germany, the right wing propaganda apparatus is working otherwise reasonable people into a froth.
This right wing agenda that seems to have taken hold of this country will ruin us if it's not stopped. Unfortunately, I think the only way to stop it is for Romney to win the presidency, the GOP to take over Congress, for Romney to appoint fringe RW ideologues to the SCOTUS, all of which will take this country down. Maybe we can rise up from the ashes to take our country back from these zealots.
Oh, and BTW, these rich people who are renouncing their citizenship so they can get away without paying their fair share of taxes, I say GOOD RIDDANCE!!!
Okay, here's what I don't get. Why are the republicans so hot over "voter fraud" now, but they blocked and stonewalled investigations of the Diebold voting machines even after it had been demonstrated that they could be easily hacked, and could change or generate THOUSANDS of false votes? Sounds a tad hypocritical to me to be throwing roadblocks in the way of already registered voters while allowing a company that contributed heavily to their coffers to get a free pass.
I just dont see what the big deal is about showing an ID. The supreme court just ruled that the gov can tax us for any reason it wants. So we cant argue that its a voting tax because the supreme court just over ruled any law about taxing. However the state should be required to give free IDs to the ones who cant afford it.
They already DID give them ID's. It's called a "Voter registration card." It's been good enough for decades, but now suddenly it's not, because there's this huge voter fraud going on...not.
What if I use your voter ID card? Can I vote under your name?