By Michael Smerconish
Follow @smerconish
Let me finish tonight with this.
The lead editorial of today's Washington Post said that among the new, Republican backed voter ID laws, Pennsylvania's is the "one with the most demonstrable partisan motivation." Nevertheless, earlier this week, a state appellate court upheld the law which would require a photo ID for voting.
Polls suggest voters approve voter ID measures, and they sound reasonable, except when you understand that many Pennsylvanians — perhaps close to one million voters — don't have a form of the photo ID which is necessary.
Who are they? Many urban, poor, minorities, who constitute the President's core constituency. One estimate holds that 18 percent of Philadelphians lack principle form of ID. Democrats in the City enjoy a 6:1 registration edge.
Judge Robert Simpson of the Commonwealth Court acknowledged that the law might have a partisan motivation, but refused to stop it. Judge Simpson describes the requirement to show state-approved identification to vote as a "minor change" to the state Election Code.
But it's actually a major change. So what happens next?
This matter now heads to the State Supreme Court which currently consists of six, rather than the customary seven, members. That's because one justice was recently suspended after being criminally charged, leaving the court with three Republicans and three Democrats.
At the helm is the state Supreme Court Justice, Ron Castille. Castille is a Republican. He is a war hero who left a leg in Vietnam and has never felt compelled to tow a party line. That independence has spanned his career, and just eight months ago, it was Castille who distinguished himself in an otherwise partisan ruling when the State Supreme Court threw out a redistricted legislative map designed to benefit the GOP by a 4-3 vote.
Many eyes are now shifting to Justice Castille to see whether he will stand in the way of this becoming Pennsylvania's partisan equivalent of Bush v. Gore. In the healthcare debate, Chief Justice John Roberts did not want a repeat of that decision on his watch, choosing instead to underscore that we are a government of law, not men.
Similar thinking might motivate Justice Castille. Where the Commonwealth entered into a stipulation acknowledging that there is not a single known case of the type of voter impersonation the new law seeks to preclude, and where by the state's estimate, nearly one million voters lack the primary form of acceptable photo ID, it would seem that only a partisan opinion could sustain the new law. That's a legacy I doubt Castille will embrace.
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Even Smerconish got this one one right...
Good news from Florida... A Three Judge Panel has Struck Down Governor Scott's Supression Tactics...
ttp://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/17/breaking-federal-court-slaps-down-florida-governors-voter-suppression/
Great website SL'. The quote above is from this article:
New Poll: 90 Million Americans Won't Vote, But If They Would, Most Would Vote For Obama
August 15, 2012
By Jack Watkins
Dems are for illegal immigration and no check of legal status of voters, aren't they?
Just asking. Ye?...
Leo, it's back to the remedial class for you... In point of fact, deportations, etc. have occurred at a far higher rate under the Obama Administration than under the previous one. And there's zero--repeat zero--evidence of the sort of voter fraud the I.D. laws are purportedly designed to combat.
You've used a favorite manipulative tactic of the pseudo-intellectual crowd, i.e. the build-a-strawman, burn it in a conspicuous manner, and proclaim victory for the forces of enlightenment...
The whole "illegal voters" nonsense amounts to wholesale application of such an idea, underwritten by ALEC, which has been heavily funded by the Koch Brothers and other Teapublican nutwads.
A few weeks ago I had conversation with a Brazilian who lives here as a citizen. She expressed the opinion that the presence of illegals here was "unfair."
What I saw as unfair was her being granted citizenship (which I don't begrudge her; she's a conscientious and hardworking soul) because she had married an American citizen. That option did not exist for many...
I'll suggest you've got a guilty conscience on that issue yourself; the only difference between your status--and say, some of my Latino customers--amounts to some legalese that wrote a law that permitted your entry, but has not permitted theirs.
Stop watching Fox and listening to Limbaugh Leo you sound ridiculous. Point of fact, the majority of illegal immigrants have been brought in illegally by right wing employers looking for cheap labor. Many have actually housed them in communities where they are "protected" or at least have been in the past from legal status checks so they could keep them employed at "slave wages."
Why do you think the Republicans have fought so hard against immigration and security policies?
Since the US is unable to deal with the illegal immigrant situation, the least we can do is try to protect the voting. We can't, or won't protect many other benefits that they illegally receive. I am all for voter ID in every state of the union. People were beaten and even killed gaining the right to vote. I don't think being required to obtain a voter ID is unreasonable.
jes33,
Yes, many people were hurt and killed before the Voter's Right Act of 64, and yet many republicans now are for overturning it, in the name of voter fraud, even thought there is no voter fraud!
Why do they want to overturn it??????????
Many people here in Florida, are poor or are very elderly. Many of older citizens cannot get new birth certificates (just because those records in early 1900's were not kept over time very well), and although many have older birth certificates, those as of last year, cannot use their older birth certificates (FL way of dealing with 9/11, BS), they have to be new ones with special paper!
Most of Florida elderly are from other states, this is not an easy task and it takes time, I have been waiting two months myself, just to renew license.
No New Birth Certificate, No Picture I.D., No State or Driver's License I.D. !!!!!!
FL also is onerous in giving back right to vote if your are a felon. Now before anyone goes off on felons voting, you should know majority of felons are crimes that 5 to 10 years ago would of been considered misdemeanors.
For example: a friend of mine had a Xanax Prescription, it was about 6 months old. The bottle had faded with all data (partial name & discription). He was walking down street and cop pulled him over, saying there was a robbery in neighborhood and could he frisk him. He, not being the brightest bulb, and very afraid of cops (he black by the way).
He complied, cop found bottle could not read, arrested him for illegally having Xanax and trafficking, typical here in Florida. You should know he had a minor pot bust about 25 years ago, which was a misdemeanor at the time. It appeared to cop in car as a flag, hence his overreaching.
Thrown into the jail, 3 weeks later he gets to see judge, they offer him a deal for two year probation and felony conviction. Now most people would of got lawyer, his public pretender could not trace down prescription and advised him to take deal.
Now let's recap here in Florida, man whom has legal prescription for Xanax is now a drug felon and cannot vote in Florida,,how convenient.
I like to tell this is an exception to rule, but it is not, 60% of Florida inmates are in for low drug use with no violence. His crime was to be poor and stupid! FL knows it is better for controlling party (right-wing repub club) that 700,000 plus (90%) would probably not vote for repub club.
The people being dis-enfranchised are probably 90% would not vote for repub club.
Now tell me again that older people, poor people, people whom made mistakes (not heinous crime here, more of create a crime), people whom are not white should not vote in America!
If they are paying taxes, should it be no-taxiation with representation, is this not what the tea-vengelicals are about?
Cut the crap, it is voter suppression, pure and simple, and people like you should be taken out and shot!
F**k You!!!!!!!!!
People ALREADY have voter ID. The Republicans are requiring only certain types of photo ID on top of voter iD cards. Like drivers licenses even though millions of people don't own cars and thus don't drive. To get this ID they have to have an ORIGINAL birth certificate with a RAISED seal. This means you if you don't have one (most don't since originals are kept in files and copies are given to citizens) you have to travel back to your home state if you live else where and pay for an original which may takes weeks or months if you can get it at all.
Even the vast majority of FEDERAL photo ID's aren't acceptable under these Republican laws. Only military and in some cases passports which are on backlog.
My suggestion for those that have federal forms of ID that aren't acceptable or have other problems, apply for a passport, pay the Republican poll tax and hopefully you'll get your passsport in time to vote.
What confuses me is why the poor and minorites do not have an ID. I have been homeless and one of the most important things to get in order to work day labor temp or any jobs was social securtiy card and photo ID. Especialy when working day labor because you get paid by check at the end of the day. To be quite frank voting was the last thing on my mind when I was working day labor. All of the people that lined up every morning for day labor were poor but had managed to get IDs so they could work. It reall seems very weird that so many poor people dont have ID seeing that ID is needed to work.
Strawman argument: This is a topic about voter disenfranchisement, not photo ID usage.
High rolla. Study America's history of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation. This type of problem was incrementally made worst in troubled states until it eliminated the poor black and poor white from voting.
I have stated this before to you: Your anecdotal story is about something other than voting.
Rolla. See above. It ain't a photo ID. It's only certain types of photo ID that require certain NEW requirements now to obtain such ID's.
A college ID won't work, 90% of FEDERAL photo ID's even those that have TOP SECRET clearance by the federal government that is they are MUCH MORE secure and definitely verify that these people are citizens ARE NOT ALLOWED by these REPUBLICAN laws. But hey a hunting license is fine! Ridiculous!
Wake up idiot! These laws have been passed solely to prevent Democrats from voting!
Hey SED how about a simple DMV ID will that work? You know everytime I got a DUI I had to go to the DMV and get an ID. It wasnt a drivers license it was just an ID. Just saying dude getting the correct ID is pretty damn easy.
Is it easy? The rules have changed. You must have a birth certificate with a RAISED seal on it now to get that drivers ID. Do you have that? I don't! They only issue copies where I was born. To get that you must return to your state of birth IF they will give you it at all and since the Republicans are running this campaign many aren't issuing them in a timely manner (until after the election).
Additionally you must take a drivers test to get your drivers license. Many of these people have NEVER driven and are elderly.
For those just getting a simple ID EVEN on their birth certificate they have their MAIDEN names NOT their married names which means they have to get an attorney to verify legally that they are who they say they are under the new Republican law and that costs hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Are you starting to understand the new laws? It's easy for you and I because we drive, and have had ID's in the past. But for those that live in cities and have ALWAYS taken buses and/or subways, and those are millions of Americans, they now have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to vote. That's money and time they don't have, and your Republican buddies know it.
This is a problem that doesn't exist. ELECTION fraud where voter machines are fixed and election officials report bad results DOES EXIST and we all know it because we catch THEM EVERY year but those crimes are NOT being addressed JUST the fake issue of election fraud specifically to keep people from voting. This is the difference! Corruption and fraud by the Republican party and YOU not only don't care but are defending them.
SO if Im a republican I dont have to use the format you just mention. If so then its seems to me that everybody will Be plying by the same rules. Now if it applied to dem voters only then you would have a beef. However if a repuk has to do the same thing no foul play ball.
That's exactly the point! It's NOT be evenly applied to everybody! First of all the rules are being applied differently in Democratic districts! Secondly, as I have said hunting ID's are fine. Why? Because gun owners are typically REPUBLICAN. Medicare, Social Security cards, even FBI, CIA, Federal Marshal ID's, college ID's, elderly home ID's and many many more are NOT acceptable! Republican Governors have even closed DMV's in Democratic districts so that Dems have to drive for Miles and miles to get to a DMV office but they have'nt closed any DMV's in Republican districts.
These laws have been tailored specifically towards disenfranchising Democrats and making it easy for Republicans.
Then just tell them your not a democrate and the problem is solved. Tell them your a REPUK and after you get in the booth vote staright dem. How hard is that dude. So if Im a repuk living in a democratic district do I have to get and ID? Botton line its no harder for a dem to get and ID as it is for a repuk. Its a made up issue that is a load of bs.
You're not a college student. You're not elderly. You're not elderly and female. You have had a drivers license before and probably do now which means you can drive to a DMV. But that's the point. You ALREADY have your drivers license don't you? That's why it doesn't matter to you. I don't know how poor you are but most of the above are really poor and lived on strict fixed incomes. I don't know how to make it any clearer and since you refuse to believe your own Republican leaders when they come right out and say it's a scam to disenfranchise Democrats that proves you don't care about this issue you only care the Republicans win even if they take away millions of Americans right to vote.
You don't want to understand.
Yes many years ago it was this is true. However knowing what I know from real life expericence the poor not having ID is strange. I know that when I was in vegas at the end of the day myself and 2 of ny buddies would go eat 4.99 buffet and sometimes we would get a room for the night. However in order to get a room we needed ID. I just honestly dont see voter disfranchisment in this day and age. I understand back in the 60s this was a major problem. Saying that the poor have a disadvantage in getting an ID just seems strange to me. I guess what Im saying is that I dont see the ID issue that big of deal now days.
What has become old can become new again. If we forget our history we are doomed to repeat it again.
Take a look at Virginia's history regarding voting for the poor and minorities:
(Should you read the article keep in mind that in that era democrats behaved like republicans and republican behind like democrats, the roles are reversed now!)
Note: Disenfranchisement could come for $1.50 back then. So is it a far cry to see the relative cost today as disenfranchisement. This is why the matter is in Court, and coming before the DOJ.
Im glad its not like that now a days. Those were some terriible times and thank god we dont see disenfranchisement like that now. My god we could make an argument that ID should not be required for anything. So thinking that poor people cant get an ID is realy insulting the intelligence of a poor person. As a poor person I dont appreciate you insinuating that Im not smart enough to get an ID.
Photo id usage is not the issue, I have told you this 3 times already. Voter disenfranchisement is.
THIS MATTER IS NOT IN COURT OR GOING BEFORE THE DOJ DUE TO PHOTO ID. THE MATTER IS GOING TO COURT AND DOJ SO THAT A DETERMINATION CAN BE MAD, WHETHER OR NOT ANY VIOLATION OF VOTING LAWS ARE INVOLVED AS STATED BY PLANTIFF(S).
Calbab can you please explain why its voter disenfrachisement if its got nothing to do with IDs. I thought the photo ID was the issiue.
As you have stated (in your own posts) people can get suitable identification (ID) cards free and for a fee, as necessary, provided they have the means and documents in a timely manner.
The reason this photo ID card, free or fee, is in court has to do with the question: Voting. Plantiffs are saying that the documents we already present at the voter polls "id" voters to poll-officials sufficiently. Republicans, you already know what they are saying, in my opinion.
Therefore republicans in Pennsylvania, as spoken outloud by a republican leader, are using a tactic with purposeful intent to cause an x number of voters to stumble during this November 2012 presidential election. This is a form of voter manipulation.
As the article from Virginia (and some of the other historical documents there) demonstrate has occurred before, and will occurr again unless someone call out any device used by a political party to suppress, harm, intimidate, disenfranchise, or hamper the free exercise of voting.
Finally, when you read America's history, you see why and how a seemingly neutral act can and has in the past been used for nefarious and devastating purposes.
What happens if I use your voter resistraton card to vote because you sold it to me for 50 bucks? Now if I dont have to show an ID then I will get away with it. However if I have to show an ID then they can look at it and see that Im not you. One incident of this would be one to many. So having to show ID actualy can help prevent voter fraud. I can tell you if I was hungry and sombody offered me 50 bucks to use my voter registration card I would think about doing it very seriously.
There has been 10 cases of voter fraud in ALL of America in the last 12 years of voting. That was according to Bushes own federal judges 6 years of investigation. Thats something like .0005% In other words more people die from their TV sets falling on top of them than commit voter fraud. It is non-existant. It is a red herring used solely to prevent people from voting. Something Republicans have actively been doing now for over thirty years. they actually call it the "Goo Goo syndrome." The Good government syndrome. Good government is where everyone in America can vote and the Republicans believe if that happens they lose. So they try to restrict voting as much as possible. Click on this video of the "Father of the conservative movement" if you dare.... youtube.com/watch?v=WPsl_TuFdes
Thats 10 to many and you have to take in mind for evey 10 that got caught another 10 got away. Im poor and have been homless and I still was able to vote. So just exactly how is any one being resticted? Its non-existant because Im poor as dirt and I still can got the necssary ID to vote. So the theory of being poor keeps us from voting is not true. However if one case of voter fraud can be prevented that is enough because ones to many. It sounds to me like the democrates are full of it because being poor does not keep you from voting. I can personaly atest to that I got my ID and I will be voting and cashing my disabilty check when I finaly get approved).
1. It is a crime (perjury) to falsely apply to vote for someone else.
Furthermore, the issue of the day is voter disenfranchisement not photo ID cards!
Rolla: Even if that was 20 fraudulent cases in 12 years it meant ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL. Do you understand percentages? .0005% means it affected NOTHING AT ALL! Incidentally ALL of those people were caught! The fraudulent election machines and corporations that produced them however, as well as the politicians who reported fraudulent election results NEVER were prosecuted AT ALL! THOSE DID affect the elections!
Again YOU aren't concerned with the real corruption and REAL fraud at ALL! As long as your party can win by fraud and corrupting American democracy you're OK with it and that's what makes you not only a jerk but a traitor to the American system of democracy! Just join the fascist party and get it over with!
Thank you for the video (above) Sed. High Rolla: Your " another 10 got away...." comment is not valid. You can not argue from silence.
This matter is about voter disenfranchisement, and the smoking gun which can be used as a frame of reference is the PA state representatives own words!
No prob. Classic from the right wing strategies of the early 80's (1980), and the co-founder of the Heritage Foundation.
Incidentally, why has MRomney not renounced PA state representative comments in this video (for the whole world to see)? Shame on you MRomney!
Same video I showed Rolla below and he won't admit anything wrong either.
The reason is the Republicans KNOW they're trying to deny democracy and voting rights to their fellow Americans but as long as they win they don't care. They don't believe in American democracy or democracy of any kind. They only want power and money.
There is fraud and corruption here and it's all Republican politicians and their corporate backers. You never see Democrats pulling crap like this, only Republicans over and over again and again. 100 years ago they would've been tarred and feathered.
Calleb you seem to be missing the point the issue is about voter ID causing disenfranchisement. If it wasn for the new voter ID laws we wouldn be having the conversation about disenfranchisement. What the big stink is all about is having to have an ID to vote. Its also a crime to sell dope but people do it everyday.
Wrong again. The big stink is about disenfranchising millions of voters in 12 specific key counties that voted for Obama last time. These are the counties that the Republicans have specifically targeted with the most stringent requirements specifically to deny them their right to vote and give Romney a victory. The Republican's HAVE ADMITTED this multiple times now, and it is ON VIDEO.
Rationalize your ridiculous opinion all you want but the truth is hard to deny when you have Republican's confessing their plan ON TAPE. 2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/2012/06/turzai-admits-pa-voter-id-law-p...
ACtualy half of the people who voted for Obama last time will be voting against him this time. YouR saying that the requirments dont affect repukes. So why dont the dems just tell them they are going to vote for the repuk and then they want need an ID. Also for your argument to work you are saying a dem voter is to stupid to comprehend the new ID law. I personaly will tell you to go to helL My county is traditionaly democratic and when Gov Haley did ours we didnt see no big deal abouT it. Maybe they are to stupid up north but democratics in South Carolina know how to get an ID.
Pure nonsense. I have no idea where you are getting that crap. Perhaps you can see into the future? Ha Ha Ha! The average of the national polls since the very beginning of this race has had Obama ahead. Gov Haley is a far right wing Republican which is why she did it in your state. The reason you didn't see a big deal about it is because you watch Fox who tells you lies like half of Obama's supporters wont be voting for him and that you're smart! Ha Ha Ha!
I'm sorry...didn't you believe your own Republican leader above when he openly admitted that the whole voter ID Law movement was a scam to get Romney elected? I guess you don't believe your own leaders either? You just believe the talkers on Fox! Man you are stupid!
I still dont understand why voter ID will win the state of Pennslyvania for Romney. Its it somehow impossible for dems to get the required documents needed now? Are the republican voters smarter than the dem voters? Why can thes potential voters not comply with the new laws?
Sed I speak from expereince and Im poor and I have mostly voted democratic my entire life. However I didnt get to vote in 92 because I moved to Memphis and was living there during the election. I just dont take kindly to rich people like you looking down on the poor as if the poor and minorty are stupid. In my opinion no sane person would vote for Obama agian because hes been a terrible President and a non leader.
You don't understand because you're undereducated and have a low IQ. All military ID's are invalid because they don't have expiration dates on them. As the supreme court justices noted their own federal court ID's are invalid because they don't have dates on them. Do you get it now? I've already given you several links to Republican leaders saying on air, several times that they did not because of voter fraud (because it doesn't exist) but solely because they want to get Romney elected. That is proof that this is Republican voter suppression.
Because you refuse to acknowledge that your side is cheating despite overwhelming proof supplied by your own leaders admitting it outright on tape do proves that you are not only an idiot but are also immune to fact and reason. So stop repeating this question over and over and over moron.
I have been using my military ID for years as a form of ID for voting. Are you telling me that it is no longer valid?
It depends on what state you're in dude. Seriously, you better check it out and check it out fast unless you also have an ID with a date on it. I've also been using my military ID but luckily I also have a drivers license with an expiration date.
Ohio, Pennsylvania are two examples of such states that have changed the laws. The courts are currently hearing arguments against allowing the laws to go into effect for this election but no one knows for sure which way it will go. So call and find out if you want to vote. I don't care what party you are or who you are going to vote for, just do it.
Good looking out, Sed! Big ups!!
I just saw this full informative video on Current: (It is a BBC proprietary video.)
The Mormon Candidate
Has anyone else seen this one?
I've been meaning to watch it but have had guests over for the past week. Any good?
Yes, it is visually stunning and a powerful research aid the farther it goes into the hour. I highly recommend it. Moreover, it is done with stoic british "flair" for understatement (gets to the heart of the matter). A+
I'll try to watch it tonight. BBC really is one of the best channels out there!
Yes! It is quite strong to see this "brit" walking around Utah asking probing questions and getting precise answers from the mormon leadership, mormons, and former mormons. Did you know one of Romney's cousins is a former mormon? He calls mormonism a cult (in this video).
Oh! This is about MRomney time as bishop and Ward President too. There is a line in it about, 'Mitt Romney probably has his underwear with "runes" on it on right now.'
The whole hour is a bit of a rush! (I actually could watch it over again.)
I wonder how long it will be before some enterprising lawyer sues on behalf of a disenfranchised American citizen who has their right to vote in a federal election taken away by a state law. Knowing the creativity of lawyers it is easy to see a lawsuit in every state with some 75 year old, born in America, Korean war veteran, who has voted legally for decades then is stripped of his right to vote in a federal election by state partisan politics as the victim.
God I hope so! There has already been one, along with everything you mention this one is also black.
Before Ft Lauderdale, I grew up on Jersey Shore.