It can't happen here
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It can't happen here
Good news...from Texas. Voter ID in the Lone Star State has been struck down, for the right reasons:
“The State of Texas enacted a voter ID law that — at least to our knowledge — is the most stringent in the country,” the court wrote. “That law will almost certainly have retrogressive effect: it imposes strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor, and racial minorities in Texas are disproportionately likely to live in poverty.”
It would be great if the same federal courts struck down Pennsylvania's hideous voter ID law. But they can't -- at least not on the same grounds. Texas is one of the Southern states covered by the 1965 Voting Rights Act because of its history of racial discrimination. Pennsylvania -- no nirvana on earth by any standards -- did at least have the decency to generally allow blacks to vote prior to 1965.
For that small slice of decency, Pennsylvania's black and Latino voters, among others, are punished today. Talk about a Catch-22. It means that black voters in Texas -- or Mississippi, or Alabama -- are treated more fairly in 2012 than here in the Keystone State, once a critical stop on the Underground Railroad.
Here's some irony. Last night Paul Ryan Condoleeza Rice called failed schools the civil rights issue of our day.
Unfortunately, the civil rights issue of our times remains...civil rights.
UPDATED: Unlike Mitt Romney's campaign, I take my fact-checkers seriously.
What a complete waste of time and money. Creating a law to solve something that doesn't exist - voter fraud. I'm not against showing an ID to vote but we all know it was done to suppress Democrat voters.— chasing history- Is there any standard that the poor and minorities have to live up to? It seems nothing is ever expected of them. Many live their lives on government programs, yet can't seem to get a government ID card.
— jmc - Short of striking down the PA voter ID law - clearly passed for the sake of political expediency on the part of Republicans who don't particularly care if fewer minorities, younger people and older people will vote so long as they are disproportionately Democrats......
At least obtaining an ID had become much easier.
--snip--
Pennsylvania election officials announced plans Friday to reduce the number of documents required to obtain a photo ID card that will allow voters to cast ballots in November.
Would-be voters who do not already have driver's licenses or other acceptable photo IDs will still have to travel to offices of the state Transportation Department to obtain the new cards.
But beginning the last week in August, when the new cards are supposed to become available, citizens will not have to produce birth certificates and Social Security cards, as currently required, to prove their identities to PennDot personnel.
Under the new requirements, the new photo ID cards will be available to registered voters who can provide a birth date, Social Security number, and two proofs of residency, such as utility bills.
--snip--
In addition, since most polling places in Philly are deemed as "inaccessible" for seniors due to lack of handicapped parking - folks over 65 can use "alternate ballots" which don't require photo ID.— Talking point sleuth - So I guess the solution is to just let everyone in this country register and vote. Are we really accomplishing anything if all you have to do on the application is to swear that you are eligible to vote?
Why do illegals in this country have to prove anything to anyone? As everyone knows asking for proof of ID is the most vile, racist thing you can ask a person.
Where does it end?— Wiseman6 - If you can march you can stand in line...make the effort to get an ID if it is so important to you. The pursuit of happiness starts at the information desk...lazy, lazy, lazy.— 2ndNlong
- Philly hasd been exclusively controlled by democrats for 60 years. What have they done to improve the lives of minorities? How are those Philly public schools? How is that crime rate? Wait, Mayor Peanut Nutter is spending several million on Ray-Z's concert. Aint Philly a great place to live?— CD75
- I thought that was Condoleeza Rice who called education the Civil Rights issue of our time. You must have been watching MSNBC. Did they relegate Rice to the level of respect shown Mia Love and Artur Davis? Apparently Bunch did. Because the quote plays Bunch's narrative so much better when allegedly delivered by a white man. Way to go, Will.— MayorMayNot
- Not for long. Texas is appealing (YES!) and should win in appeal.
— rudytbone - Hmmm, lets do a little math here, Its 2012 and the act was passed in 1965, that would add up to 47 years. these people still after 47 years still have not beeen able to get ID? Makes sense to me.— Phishface
- Why is this even a concern in Philly, really you should be doing something about those "New Black Panther" dudes at the polling places who will beat you if you don't vote for Barry, oh I get it that's no big deal, push it under the rug!!! FYI- That's how Libs run the show...it does make a better country???..LOL!!!— sarah89
- Ditto — philly2flag
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU
"Bunch of B.S.": 1)do you think IDs matter to these guys? 2)wouldn't you be all over this if it were white guys with 10 gallon hats?...you Libs are truly sick hypocrites!— sarah89 
A man sits in the middle of a corn field in Iowa with a rifle. A second man walking by asks him what he is doing. The man says "I'm protecting us from little green men from Mars". The second man says "There are no little green men from Mars" and the man with the rifle says "See how well it works!".
Spending millions to fix a non-problem and creating more problems in doing so is the kind of governating that only a Republican can do. Between the "your papers, please" laws in Arizona and the new voter ID laws, the GOP is quickly becoming the party of petty, annoying and useless bureaucracy.
— wokmaster- The GOP is the party of useless bueaucracy? As TPS would say: hilarious! — philly2flag
The Chicago boys won't be able to steal Texas.....they still have high hopes for PA.
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