MSNBC's Chuck Todd hosted a great discussion on new GOP voting restrictions on The Daily Rundown this morning, and as Josh Israel noted, it was particularly interesting to see the Heritage Foundation's Brian Darling struggle to cite real-world examples of voter fraud.
Given the severity of this alleged scourge, backing up claims of systemic fraud shouldn't be this difficult.
That has not, however, slowed the Republican drive to put new hurdles between American voters and their elections.
In Florida, the state's most populous counties have announced they're halting the voter-purge efforts launched by Gov. Rick Scott's (R) administration. The move comes just a few days before Florida officially responds to the Justice Department's intervention in the controversy.
In the meantime, an even broader effort is underway in the state of Texas (thanks to James Carter for the tip).
More than 300,000 valid voters were notified they could be removed from Texas rolls from November 2008 to November 2010 -- often because they were mistaken for someone else or failed to receive or respond to generic form letters, according to Houston Chronicle interviews and analysis of voter registration data. [...]
Statewide, more than 1.5 million voters could be on the path to cancellation if they fail to vote or to update their records for two consecutive federal elections: One out of every 10 Texas voters' registration is currently suspended. Among voters under 30, the figure is about one in five.
The drive in Texas has gotten considerably less attention -- in large part because it, unlike Florida, isn't considered a swing state -- but the purge in the Lone Star State involves an enormous number of voters.
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For voter fraud - let us point out Thaddeus McCotter, or how about that guy in Albuquerque NM that registered his "dog" to vote? Oh that's right they're GOP'ers so it doesn't count, right. Wink, wink.
So the Heritage Foundation flak couldn't think of a single example of voter fraud? Obviously not a viewer of this program. How about the Indiana Secretary of State? Or, (still one of my all-time favorite examples), some other flak named Ann Coulter in, where was it... oh, right - FLORIDA?
Oh, he could give examples, if he'd been willing to say what he really thinks: "Sometimes Democrats win elections. There's your fraud right there."
The most frightening thing for conservatives is a fully functioning democracy where every vote counts -- even the ones from black, brown and poor people. Republicans are closing down voting booths and threatening folks that have the temerity to want to take part in their constitutional right to cast a ballot out of fear. The right is deathly afraid of the 99 percent of ordinary, poor and middle-class Americans that are fed up with the loopholes and benefits for the wealthy, fed up with a political party devoted to destroying the American Dream so Corporate America can send our jobs to China and make a fat profit. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Electoral politics ain't bean bag. GOP will kick, bite, and scratch at every level to win whatever edge they can. They are on a jihad don't you know.
In the eyes of the John Bircher, the only problems that need to be fixed are those that don't need fixing. They are still trying to fool themselves into thinking Bush/Cheney and their Congress didn't cause a Second Great Depression.
When the Dow starts to dive down into No Man's Land, they will still be saying voter suppression is more pressing than stimulating the economy or increasing revenues.
I watched Chuck conduct this interview this morning, and I couldn't believe the blah-biddity blah coming out of this guys mouth. Chuck did his level best to not laugh in his face, IMO.
"Chuck did his level best to not laugh in his face, IMO."
And, therein lies a big part of the problem: when this kind of nonsense is spewed, the (alleged) journalists being spewed upon (or hosting the spewing as it foisted on the audience) should call them on it right then and there. Laughing in their faces ought to be the least of it...
What group/groups are leading the national campaign to counter and challenge the voter suppression laws and practices that these states are passing? Is it only the Justice Department? The Advancement Project?
I live in Harris County, outside of Houston. I attempted to change my registration from my previous residence in another county. It took 4 separate applications before I was registered to vote. I was born in Texas. I was registered to vote one day after my 18th birthday.
Wonder if my Democratic registration had anything to do with that?
They're all starting to look like gym rats with ties and shaved heads. Why is that so worrisome to me? Well, have you ever tried to talk about anything other than pushups with a gym rat? They run the maze with alacrity and never know where they're going. This is what America wants?