Metcalfe says 'lazy' people don't deserve to vote
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is nothing if not blunt. The Butler County lawmaker lands at the center of almost every controversial issue in the Capitol be it immigration, gun control or voter ID. Now he has inserted himself into the middle of the "47 percent" debate by suggesting, on a Pittsburgh radio broadcast, that Pennsylvania's new voter ID law, which is still being fought over in the courts, will only disenfranchise the "lazy."
Metcalfe says 'lazy' people don't deserve to vote
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is nothing if not blunt. The Butler County Republican positions himself at the center of almost every controversial issue in the Capitol, be it immigration, gun control or voter ID.
Now he's dived into the middle of the hot "47 percent" debate by suggesting, on a Pittsburgh radio broadcast, that Pennsylvania's new voter ID law, will only disenfranchise the "lazy."
Metcalfe on Wednesday told KDKA Radio that the law, which is still being fought in the courts, may exclude those on the "public dole," like the people GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney referred to in the leaked video taken at a private fundraising event - who are too lazy to go get a proper ID.
Metcalfe, the lead sponsor of the voter ID legislation signed by Gov. Corbett in March, said the burden is on the citizenry to get the documents needed to vote.
When asked about the tens of thousands, if not more Pennsylvanians who may not be able to vote on Nov. 6, Metcalfe cited Romney’s mention of the 47% of the country who will never “take personal responsibility and care for their lives” as evidence that some citizens do not deserve to vote.
HOST: Are you absolutely convinced…that the methods to implement this law are effective and will in fact make sure no legitimate voter will be disenfranchised?
METCALFE: I don’t believe any legitimate voter that actually wants to exercise that right and takes on the according responsiblity that goes with that right to secure their photo ID will be disenfranchised. As Mitt Romney said, 47% of the people that are living off the public dole, living off their neighbors’ hard work, and we have a lot of people out there that are too lazy to get up and get out there and get the ID they need. If individuals are too lazy, the state can’t fix that.
(Audio/ Think Progress)
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Hmmm... a republican showing disdain for people with limited resources? A republican who seeks to deny voting rights. I assume this is a Tea Party nut, too. There's a trend here -- and it ain't toward the center and it ain't helping the brand.— Wellwhatdouknow- Writers need to stop it with the whole denying people to right to vote rhetoric. This law was passed months ago and the costs for the voter ID are covered by the state. I got mine and it took maybe an hour to get everything together. Certain people don't what to bother with it, not because their "lazy," but because they don't want to register with the gov't (READ: taxes).
— centard - Um, you ALREADY have to register to vote. There is absolutely NO REASON to further demand voters jump through hoops to exercise their RIGHT (read, NOT A PRIVILAGE like driving) to vote. Unless of course, you're trying to rig the vote against those who are of limited means and even illiterate. This measure is the same as saying "If you have nothing to hide, then you should let the police search your home." The BURDEON is on the government, NOT the citizens for whom they work. — msmame
- Metcalfe is in a district with a huge majority of Republicans so he says what Republicans really think. Yes, if you are retired and receiving Social Security and Medicare, you are a leach on society. You paid for those benefits by working for 40 years? Who cares? You are lazy! Get a job!— MikeP
- But they have their ID and they can vote.. Big difference here... — alcsmith
- Very much the opposite -- many of them no longer drive and have let their licenses expire. At my local retirement homes, many of the folks I've contacted are *shocked* to learn that they're not in a position to vote. They're happy to attempt to jump through the hoops (which are nontrivial if, say, you have an out-of-state or even out-of-country birth certificate, or it's under your maiden name, or...) but may or may not succeed in getting an acceptable ID by Nov. 6. To dismiss this as laziness is really heartless (and thus, I guess, par for the course). — acm_redfox
- ALL of them? Every oldhead there has a driver's license? — OurCity2000
- It doesn't matter where he comes from. People spend all this time b*tching about the possibility of not being to able to vote due to lack of ID, but if they got out there and tried to get their ID it becomes a non-issue. This requirement has been out there for months. If you haven't done anything about it yet you definitely can be labeled as laziness. God forbid someone be insulted or required to do something for my tax dollars.— rfm137
- We have a lot of people out there that are too busy to get up and get out there and get the ID they need. If individuals are too busy, the state can’t fix that.— AreaMan
- Too busy? Are you high AreaMan or just stupid? I think the latter. Anyone that is too busy to get a photo ID must be working. To work, you have to have ID. — antidem
- Metcalfe is in a district with a huge majority of Republicans so he says what Republicans really think. Yes, if you are retired and receiving Social Security and Medicare, you are a leach on society. You paid for those benefits by working for 40 years? Who cares? You are lazy! Get a job!
— MikeP
Are you serious?! How old are you? Are you supposed to work until you die at work? If you paid all your working years and now you collect SS & Medicare you are lazy?! Moron!! Who cares, really? Did you know that McCain is a millionaire, yet he collects SS, because he earned it? Hypocrites!!!— phillyrican48 - metcalfe is a choad.— the juke
- there are some politicians who say things that ought to, in an enlightened society, preclude their continued service in government. this clown would be one of them. i hope his constituents are proud.— RosiesDad
Comment removed.- This comment has been deleted. — hannibal barca
