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.”
- If it wasn't for Uncle Obama and criminal Holder, these two punks would have been charged, but the "bro's" have to undermine the judicial system. Gutless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Black_Panther_Party_voter_intimidation_case
— dogman5 
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.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Deficits don't matter"...Dick Cheney, Haliburton CEO, 2002
no one cared because everyone had jobs, money, homes, etc.
no one cared because then they would have to give Republicans credit
no one cared except the folks at Staples, Sports Authority, etc.
no one cared because no one knows why it was done because things are worse today
Shouldn't every "bad guy" be IDed...LOL!!!
P.S. don't bring back a community organizer who has so many rich friends he never has trouble raising money, even after 4 years of failure!!
$800 billion deficits DON'T matter...$6 TRILLION in 4 years...different story!!!
— sarah89
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Fattah would like us to remember anything that distracts us from the fact that his son is likely to end up in prison.— jfar86
- Comment removed.
- Chris Coons, did someone wake that guy? Another worthless politican. He is in the mold of Casey, a do-nothing.— junethe4th
- Remember when gas prices for 250%, food 50% all the while wages, hours worked and home prices declined or when they buried the poor and middle class with inflation. But, but, but, but trillions and trillions spent creating nor fixing anything.— phillystarfish
- now all of the irresponsible and lazy people can get rides (without I.D.} from Black Panthers to the polls on election day, just like they did when ol Chaka "Con" ran for the Dems Mayoral nomination. Thankfully he lost.
Reminder: This is NOT a two Party election. Vote for someone who will work for the people instead of special interests.
Gary Johnson 2012!!!!!!!!!!— BothPartiesAreCrooks - Hey Philly how them social science experiments working out for you?
Like 70% of the children being born in the city being born in single parent households? How's that worked out?
Like the revolving door justice system?
Like the horrendous public schools?
Like the 20% unemployment rate?
Don't feel alone, your bankrupt everything they ever touched liberals have bankrupted most of the free world.
Why? So government drones can coolect multiple pensions at age 55yo.— phillystarfish - How is it those having difficulty filling out a voting form have so little trouble filling out forms for anything on the publics dime? Just vote your beloved Obama back in so those working hard can share what we earn.
— 4WelfareReform - Comment removed.
- Who raises prices, rich people. Who hires or doesn't hire new workers, rich people. Who wants more tax breaks, rich people. Seems like rich people do an awful lot.— skolman
- Wow, I guessed "The One Party Rule" of Philadelphia, just saved a whole lot of "street" money, to get the vote out for the election!!! Watch for a low turn out on election day!!!— Dadair1
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.
