Associated Press
Floridians line up to vote.
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist recently wrote an op-ed condemning "zealots" for imposing new restrictions on voting, "overreacting to contrived threats of voter fraud by significantly narrowing the voting pool." As it turns out, he's not the only former Florida Republican with these concerns.
In a 630-page deposition recorded over two days in late May, [Florida's former Republican Party chairman Jim Greer], who is on trial for corruption charges, unloaded a litany of charges against the "whack-a-do, right-wing crazies" in his party, including the effort to suppress the black vote.
In the deposition, released to the press [last week], Greer mentioned a December 2009 meeting with party officials. “I was upset because the political consultants and staff were talking about voter suppression and keeping blacks from voting,” he said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He also said party officials discussed how “minority outreach programs were not fit for the Republican Party,” according to the AP.
In fairness, it's not unreasonable to question Greer's veracity. The man is facing felony corruption charges and very likely carries a grudge against his former colleagues -- the state GOP quickly kicked him to the curb when his legal troubles began.
But if Greer's deposition is accurate, and he saw first-hand that Republican officials took specific, deliberate steps to disenfranchise African-American voters, this not only sheds new light on Gov. Rick Scott's (R) "purge" crusade, it also confirms the worst Democratic fears about the ugly motivations behind the Republican Party's "war on voting."
In the meantime, controversy continues to plague Pennsylvania's voter-ID law, and one elections official said last week he'll refuse to enforce it.
"To ask me to enforce something that violates civil rights is ludicrous and absolutely something I am not willing to do," [Christopher Broach, a Democratic inspector of elections in Colwyn, Pa.] told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Though there's the potential he could face fines or prison Broach said his mind is made up.
"Rosa Parks made the same decision," he told the paper.
I'm not sure if the Rosa Parks comparison is quite right, but if other local election officials in Pennsylvania reject the scandal-plagued law, it's a development well worth watching.
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party officials discussed how “minority outreach programs were not fit for the Republican Party,”
That he would use this turn of phrase, which exactly says how the wingnuts think, is proof he is telling the truth.
This is perhaps the most breathtaking attempt to subvert democracy and disenfranchise Americans that we have seen in decades. Scott and the GOP cannot get away with this, no matter what it takes to stop them. If it takes federal troops occupying Tallahassee, they had better do it. These hateful, anti-American conservative dunces are taking dead aim at the basic rights of Americans enshrined in our founding documents. The GOP's master plan of making it harder to vote is bad enough. but Rick Scott's brazen and truly evil strategy of literally throwing legitimate voters off of the rolls and barring them from polling places just because thev are black, brown, independents or Democrats is the most insidious and anti-American thing we've seen since Jim Crow. I say to the DOJ, arrest Rick Scott if he does not stop his madness. - Principled Progressive
The Republicans in PA and FL have torn the figleaf of voter ID off the issue of voter suppression...they're not even trying any longer to convince anyone that this is NOT about keeping populations that might trend Democratic (minorities, young people, women, the elderly, etc.) to vote. It is all hanging right out there in front of us now. WHERE is the DOJ and WHY haven't these Governors and State Legislators been stopped before this?!?
Secretary Holder's going after them with the proverbial "both guns blazing". I believe it's the main reason they censured him and tried to entangle him in the "Fast and Furious" fiasco. I really wonder how the conservatives sleep at night. Could it be they believe the ends justify the means? Inasmuch as if you trample over several groups "certain inalienable rights", you can gain control of the government and then "provide new guards for their future security."
The DOJ, Attorney General has been held in contempt of Congress over trying to stop suppression in South Carolina. They held him in contempt regarding the gun thing, but they were giving him a kick in the teeth for attempting to stop SC from suppressing the votes.
Yes, to the GOP, the ends always justifies the means. And any means necessary are fair. The GOP only cares about winning elections at any cost and have no plans to re-work government, improve the economy, trim the deficit, retire the debt, etc. Their only goal is to dominate every office, every seat in local, state and federal government, from county assessor to POTUS and every branch.
Soundly. Lacking a conscience or a moral center, they have nothing to keep them up at night.
As a former resident of Florida, I just received a robo call stating that I must provide voter ID. I checked the internet to see exactly what must be presented there to cast a ballot and it says PHOTO ID, not Voter ID. I am a registered voter in Washington now and have taken the appropriate steps to get off the roll in Florida, but I find this stupefying and wonder under whose authority this recording was made and is being distributed.
I have one thing to ask. Where is the media? (Or use thereof) I simply don't understand why there is not more outrage and public awareness on this issue. talk about a reason for revolt! It's one thing to spin spin spin. It's another to outright purge the rights of the American voter. If we are to put these new laws into place, then we must first build the infrastructure required for the law. First make sure every American has some sort of voter ID. I assume this would take at least a year. THEN put the law into place. Anything less than that is an outright attempt to suppress the vote. Every single media outlet should be screaming of these outrageous actions by those whom would subvert our voting system for personal gain.
Where is the media, you ask? Right where they have always been, Vance, happily owned, lock, stock, and barrel, by Big Business.
Remember, their job is to make a profit for the stockholders- NOT to "tell you like it is".
(For that you have to come here.)
I think the media is working overtime as usual. I saw the media report the headline: President Booed at Basketball Game. Turns it was the President's missed opportunity to smooch the First Lady on the Kiss Cam. When Governor Romney hides millions in offshore accounts, we have to learn about it in Vanity Fair. So rest assured the conservative is on the job. Turning your head the other way is not as easy as it sounds.
Whenever anyone makes a remark about the MSM being liberal, I always ask them to explain to me how it can be liberal when it is owned by the teapub corporations.
Voter suppression headlines would make money for the stockholders. Watergate did wonders for The Washington Post, and made the careers of Woodward & Bernstien. I think it's the lack of courage of journalists or their editors, who are afraid of being denied access to politicians. I wonder if that couldn't be a secondary story:" We reported on voter suppression/ID laws, and these politicians cut us off, or threatened us." I think the press has a lot of power, but it sometimes needs courage to wield it.
I need help understanding something. Why can't these politicians be impeached or recalled or indited for what they are doing? Why are they still getting away with this? Esp. after openly admitting to it?!
Recall is a long drawn out mess , but voters and the aclu are suing , and the u s justice dept is finding ways to shut the new rules down , but like all big gov gop dirty tricks , they get away with what they can , pretty much since over 100 years of jim crow , liberals have been fighting these injustices from the bigots
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/aclu_sues_over_florida_voter_purge.phpRyan J. Reilly June 8, 2012, 5:08 PM 5394
The American Civil Liberties Union has sued Florida over Gov. Rick Scott’s voter-list purge.
The Justice Department says that the purge violates both the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act, but Florida officials haven’t backed down.
The ACLU suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, is on behalf of two Florida residents — Murat Limage, a Haitian-American U.S. citizen, and Pamela Gomez, a Dominican-American U.S. citizen — as well as the Mi Familia Vota Education Fund. Detzner is listed as the defendant.
Thank you! At least there is hope because I know someone is fighting this!
Because the wealth has been shifted to the top and big money and big corporations now own our government. What we get is propaganda
...it also confirms the worst Democratic fears about the ugly motivations behind the Republican Party's "war on voting."
Was there ever really any doubt? The 'right to vote' is a constitutionally protected right for white, male, republicans. Otherwise (per Scalia) the only 'constitutionally protected right' is the right to 'bear' shoulder fired surface to air missles and any other 'guns' that you can lift. Nothing wierd going on in our country, is there?
Landowning, as well--at one time, caucasian indentured servants, and those who did not own land, could also not vote. One had to be landowning, caucasian only, male, and most assuredly, wealthy. Of course, owning land insured the wealthy part. Of course, some women and people of color also owned land, as you might find if you read wills and other documents, which is why males are specifically identified and why later, the constitution had to be amended to include other classifications of people. I hate to say it, but the desire of some to return to "the past"--whatever that may mean to both speaker/writer and listener/reader--is, from the way things seem to be going, about to be headed back there. "Be careful what you wish for: you might get it" could be true for many who don't really want to be included in the entire past they would like to return to. It isn't a part-way proposition.
The right to vote originally also included only landowners. It specified caucasians because women and people of color--both free and bond--are listed in historical documents as having inherited or purchasing land at vaious times before either group was legally allowed to do so without approval of "the group in charge"--white, rich men. The same ones, ironically, who got to vote, as you may note. This is why we also needed specific amendments to the Constitution to permit other groups to vote. Apparently the founders realized sooner or later we'd get our rears in gear about more fairness, but folks weren't ready yet. Looks like some want to go for a walk in the past, but that little journey can end up costing more to them than they realize, since picking and choosing isn't necessarily an option..."be careful what you wish for, you might get it" is one reason why. The other is, "He who forgets history is doomed to repeat it".
While I take the point, being kicked to the curb by the GOP may be what it takes to free the "faithful" from whatever pledge or loyalty keeps them from stepping away from participating in such contemptible behavior - ya know. . . just saying, it doesn't mean he's lying.
Now if he could just produce proof, then we'd be cooking!
Being very familiar with Mr. Greer and with most of the people he makes reference to and with how they conduct business what he said has the ring of truth about it.
It's always interesting to note which posts are devoid of comments by the resident wingtrolls.
Oh, it's quite possible that at least one of them will show up. After all, voter suppression is a goal that is dear to their hearts (or whatever they have in place of hearts).
I believe this guy without hesitation. follow the pattern
Ironic that the right tells Progressives and Liberals that we are Un-American! Clearly their actions are as unAmerican as you can get.
Are we talking about Northern American or Southern American?
But but-it's a "state's right" to suppress the vote and thereby rig the elections.
Kind of proves they know they are a minority huh?
Voters have to ask themselves what is wrong here. Is the platform being offered so full of holes and the people building their party on it so worried that it won't be accepted that it is necessary to decimate any possible opposition? Can their platform not stand scrutiny? Can it even be--and I hope this is not so--that even some of their candidates cannot stand vetting? This is all leaving so many more questions than are being answered. This is nothing more than schoolyard cheating in the worst sense, and something I would think these supposedly grown people would have long since gotten over.
Read up on Republican's and Civil Rights:
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/12/13/194350.shtml
And for the record:
When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 came to a vote, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to support the legislation. The bill received votes from 80 percent of the Republicans in the House and 82 percent of Republicans in the Senate. Democratic percentages were 61 percent and 69 percent in the respective chambers.
How about you apply your news max kkklan propaganda some where else ? We are too educated here to fall for that lame old gop line , like you clowns do
Civil Rights Act of 1964
By party and region
Note: "Southern", as used in this section, refers to members of Congress from the eleven states that made up the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. "Northern" refers to members from the other 39 states, regardless of the geographic location of those states.
The original House version:
The Senate version:
The original House version:
The Senate version:
Your analysis left a lot to be desired. What happened during the Civil Rights vote was a large shift in the parties. The vote was not as clear cut as you made it, as can be seen here. In fact, Johnson (D) was reported to have said "We have lost the South for a generation."
So, this idea that Republicans aren't racist because they voted for the Civil Rights Act lacks a nuanced analysis that shows that it was Southerners who did not vote for it. In fact, when you break it down on regional scale, more Northern Dems voted for Civil Rights than Northern Republicans, and same goes for the South.
Oh so glad I wasn't the only one pulling out old voting/demographic charts to refute this stupid idea. :-)
It is a lie that those on the right love to tell, so expect to see it again, and again, and again...
Another fact that goes well with that , is Strom Thurmon abandoned the dem party , to go to the gop in 1964 , because dems voted for TCRA , it leaves the gop civil rights poser champions slack jawed every time .....that and dems seated black dem convention members in 1964 , while the gop refused to even allow them to enter their conventions
I figure that everyone that brings up that old tired dem/rep voting on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 flunked history in a big big way.
Not all of us learned it in history -- some of us are still around who were there at the time.
You are referring to the Republican Party of Old. Than they put Country before Party and they understood that compromise was a part of everyday life. The Republican Party that exists today would not have voted for Civil Rights. The Republican Party of today does not believe in Freedoms, unless it is the Freedoms they allow you to have.
Today's Republican Party wants to dictate what your Religious beliefs are, what your morality will be, what your family planning will be, what a woman's reproductive rights are. They believe money is speech and that corporations are people too. The most important thing about today's Republican Party they represent "Them the Corporate People" and not "We the People" that our Constitution actually refers to.
Thats kind of the point Eric ... We are a long way from 1964 and the Republican Party has gone over the edge!
If you have any doubt ...these are the people Republicans are palin' around with
http://www.teaparty.org/AFPInfo.html
If you find one rational argument on this website I will buy you lunch .
That mindset like this exist..........
I would love to follow the money on this "grass roots" effort
ORLANDO — A judge on Thursday delayed the criminal trial for former state GOP chairman Jim Greer until mid November, sparing Florida Republicans the embarrassment of intense scrutiny of the party's inner-workings just weeks before Tampa hosts the Republican National Convention.
all the more reason to NOT delay the trial,it should continue as scheduled.
MID NOVEMBER? Greer's trial's been put off until AFTER the elections? OH LOL! If there were ever ANY DOUBT that the State of Florida is as corrupt as any Third World Country, then let that doubt hereby be BANISHED!
That judge should be investigated, himself! I mean,----I know that this is a HUGE stretch----but supposing there's a few Honest Republicans left in the Republican Party, who DON'T WANT their crooked State GOP Chairman Jim Greer, ANYWHERE BUT IN FREAKIN' JAIL???? (I mean, I know it's a stretch, but just maybe?)
LOL!
The republican party of today is not the same as the republican party of the past.
AS far as "where is the media" goes, are they not, themselves, possibly with full agreement either suppressing (or being suppressed) themselves and when have they supported anyone who is not a rich, Caucasian, middle-aged, Anglo-Saxon male??
Testimony , along with the BS they were pulling , is the proof , giving some actual fangs to addressing the issue in florida , would be the justice dept hammering the gop bigots there , in a way the press could not ignore it , and embarrassing the crap out of the ayn rand banana republic brigade , in Redneckistan, as our wonderful poster in here puts it lol
So when the ussc wants to dismantle THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT , we can shove these things in their faces , and prove jim crow is alive and well
Chill. AG Holder's already on it. I live in TX and there's big posters on exactly how to get word to Holder that the vote's being diddled in any way shape or form. We'll be able to vote under the protection of the National Guard, if need be.
bush, kerry all over again
No, probably not. She didn't exactly risk prison for refusing to enforce an unjust and unConstitutional law.
That said, in the long run we're all better off when more of us (public servants or otherwise) are willing to make some personal sacrifices for doing the right thing:
I lost a lot of respect for Janet Reno when she "took full responsibility" for Waco -- which was basically empty rhetoric. A little more Winston Churchill post-Gallipoli might have been a good example to set.
The party of Lincoln.
I've been re-reading "The Coming Fury," the first of Bruce Catton's American Heritage Civil War trilogy. It's basically the story of the 1860 presidential campaign that led directly to the Civil War. And what's particularly striking is how, under Nixon's "southern strategy," the Republican Party absorbed everything that was truly awful about the Democratic Party as it was in 1860--the racism, the dogmatism and violent urge to purse all those whose facts were dictated by objective reality rather than ideology. South Carolina. Everything, really, except the marked propensity for fatctionalism and backstabbing, which is the modern Democrats' last cultural link to the party as it was in 1860.
The real risk lies after November. If Republicans are able to take both houses, whether or not they have a Mitt-puppet in the White House, they will be able to permanently dismantle all our protections and there will be no-one in a position to stop them. They screwed up in '94-96 by underestimating Clinton and again in 2000-2008 by invading Iraq. Since then they have been working carefully and consistently to make sure they don't screw up again. Between voter suppression, no-trail, hackable voting machines, gut-check issues (like abortion, xenophobia and same-sex marriage) and control of the media, the future of this country is in grave doubt. I fear for our future.
Oh come ON! This country's faced down worse than these enemies of our country, and WE WON! You trying to say, that politically (and every other way) INBRED Repukes, can do anything, once we're onto them?
They can only win if we believe anything they say. They're gonna lose but ONLY if we ALL GET OUT AND VOTE!!! And in order to keep Repukes away, that's what we'll all keep HAVING TO DO FOREVER! And THAT is what our Founding Fathers, fought for us to be able always to do.
We need two parties? Then we get a Conservative as well as a Progressive, Democratic Party. (And make VERY DAMN SURE that it's Democrat and NOT Repuke in disguise!) We sure don't need ANY MORE of THIS BUNCH OF CROOKS AND THIEVES!
There's better evidence than that available. One of Karl Rove's operatives emailed complete documentation of the Republican voter suppression efforts in Florida to the wrong email address; the site that got it forwarded it to Guardian reporter Greg Palast. Palast has been trying to get a prosecutor, anywhere, at any level, to look at his evidence and file subpoenas to verify it. He's been trying for twelve years. Nobody would touch it. Election fraud: IOKIYAR.
Oh come ON! Sheesh, have some faith in our Constitution! The first thing that Attorney General Eric Holder did---WAY back in early spring---was to FILE SUIT AGAINST ALL THESE VOTER SUPPRESSION "laws", and since voter suppression is UNCONSTITUTIONAL---he threatened the @!$%#s with jail if they even thought to carry out their threat. Nikki Haley (North Carolina) and Booby Jindal (Louisiana) will probably be decorating the same Federal jail.
I live in TX, and we had primaries this May. A run-off, on the last week of this month. And everywhere on those voting machines was a MANDATORY MESSAGE from the Attorney General, advising voters that any and all forms of voter suppression are ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL, and inviting voters to immediately inform the US Attorney General's office should voters become aware of such things.
"Mandatory" meaning, the a-holes didn't WANT to post the message...but the A/G's office FORCED THEM TO. This was in TEXAS! So-called BUSH COUNTRY-- OK? Nobody's gonna allow another "Florida" or "Ohio". Not on OUR guys' watch...!
Just remember---as Election Day draws closer, the Repukes are gonna flood the media with these stories, hoping that enough morons will listen to them, and stay home from the polls this November...so THEY can "win" in November, BY DEFAULT!
Now go get ready to vote this November, and quit worrying! Sheesh...! Me, I'm dying to see what MY PRESIDENT can do, with a decent CONGRESS AND SENATE behind him (meaning of course, a DEMOCRATIC Congress and Senate!)
He's done EVERYTHING that he said he would do so far, even if he DID have to do it by Executive Order!
The United States Constitution is one of the most brilliant and beautiful documents ever written ANYWHERE!! But it needs to be enforced by intelligent law-abiding people and their leaders, not overridden by racist, sexist, greedy, self-serving liars (Mitt Romney), point being the Constitution is great, but it cannot enforce itself!!!
When we get to vote for CEO's we will discovery something about voter suppression. The corporate definition does not exist non-stock holders, and for stock holders it merely an advisement. Exactly why is not justifiable for workers to have an interest in the company they work for, incentive seem to work for the CEO, if haven't noticed. Business fraud not a problem?
Voter suppression and outright bigotry have taken the Republican to the McCarthyism and Hitler edge with Florida governor actions and Frank Harmon that he was opposing Medina because “he had a Mexican name”
You got THAT right, Rich! LOL!
I'm sure that behind closed doors at GOP and Tea Party meetings there's a lot of racist language because they're racists.