Fattah: public should "remember" who backed Voter ID
Congressman Chaka Fattah seems to be urging a political consequence, telling voters to "remember those who attempted to block access to our precious vote."
Fattah: public should "remember" who backed Voter ID
Critics of Pennsylvania's voter ID law have long said it was a political gimmick intended to swing this year's election. Now Congressman Chaka Fattah seems to be urging a political consequence, telling voters to "remember those who attempted to block access to our precious vote."
In a statement released this afternoon, the Philadelphia Democrat called the voter ID law "ill-advised and anti-democratic" and hailed the judge's ruling blocking it from taking full effect in November. (Angela Couloumbis has the full details of the decision here).
"Pennsylvanians should always remember those who attempted to block that access to our precious vote and who have sought to disenfranchise large numbers of voters,” Fattah said, not-so-subtly encouraging voters to hold the law against the GOP.
From across state lines, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons also jumped into the fray, issuing a statement calling the law "a transparent attempt to keep these voters out of the voting booth," referring to seniors, minorities, the poor and the young.
The Democrat said the law would have the "collateral damage" of excluding "hundreds of thousands" of qualified voters.
“Pennsylvania’s voter ID law is a step backward on our nation’s road toward equality," Coons said.
So far, none of the Republican members of our regional delegation in Washington have issued statements on the ruling, but the Pennsylvania GOP called voter ID a "commonsense reform."
"We will work to encourage voters to bring their photo identification with them to the polls," said PA GOP chairman Rob Gleason. “Poll after poll has shown that Pennsylvanians from both political parties overwhelmingly support Voter ID legislation because, despite the empty rhetoric to the contrary, this legislation is still about ensuring one person, one vote. Our Party remains committed to the citizens of the Commonwealth and we will do all that we can to ensure free and fair elections.”
No Chaka, I will continue to remember who is sinking this country further into debt. I will remember those who want to raise taxes to pay for their failed liberal social programs. I will never forget those who voted to shove Obamacare down our throats. I will not forget those who want to bankrupt our medicare to pay for Obamacare. I will never forget what the misguided Democrats/Liberals have done to ruin our city, our State and our Country.— psyrus- No one cared about the Reagan Deficit
No one cared about the Clinton Surplus
No one cared about the (Bain/GM) Jobs
No one cared about the (Obama Stimulus) Tax Cuts
Now everyone wants to ID the bad guy.
PS: Bring Back Bush, or any second generation connected ex-governor rich guy.
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"Deficits don't matter"...Dick Cheney, Haliburton CEO, 2002.
— Cuddles - If Sharky makes a comment without resorting to childish name calling it would be his first. — jfar86
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- NOw Chaka will have to start digging up all the DEAD Philly taxpayers who will have to vote in the next election for King Obama. It is a tough job but somebody has to do it. Chaka hasn't worked a day in his life since he got the Job in Washington. Digging up the voters will be good exercise for him.
— rduexpress - The Republican Attorney General had to admit that there is NO EVIDENCE of voter fraud, but apparently the facts won't stop the Republicans from lying and claiming that they are losing elections because of dead people and not because they started two wars, destroyed the economy and turned a budget surplus into a deficit. — Blanketman
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- amen psyrus!— jstash
- Lots to remember. Voting against the legislators and governor who tried to rob votes in a crucial election. Supporting Judge Simpson and the Supreme Court justices for re-election, even though it would have been better to kabosh the law entirely. Not forgetting how important our liberties are. And thanking the Inquirer for its coverage.— JohnHerald
- There already was a resentment in Urban PA over this law and there was a good chance that Urban turnout was (and is) going to increase over this attempt at disenfranchisement as it was in Indiana and Georgia I believe.
Perhaps the real post-decision analysis is the lack of imagination among Democrats who can barely articulate why they are Democrats.
— Cuddles - Next Fattah will be utilizing the "new" Black Panthers as a consulting group, or maybe poll administrators. Laughable.— dogman5
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- Yeah, and for the whole FIVE MINUTES that they stood in front of an polling station four years ago before leaving IMMEDIATELY when asked to leave. Oh, and let's not forget the white Republican "pollwatcher" who was illegally harassing voters in line for over an hour at that mostly African-American polling station before those two dudes appeared after being called about the GOP thug. — Blanketman
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Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s correspondent in Washington, where he follows the Philadelphia area’s interests and representatives. Tamari comes to D.C. after two years as a beat writer reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL (where, a political source once told him, there are at least rules against hitting below the knees). He previously wrote about politics and government from Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government.Jersey born and bred, Tamari now lives in the capital city, where he is looking for stories, places to run, soccer bars and good meals.
Reach him at jtamari@phillynews.com.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanTamari.
