We have talked a lot about the voter ID issue in here – mostly about how poll after poll shows a large majority of the country agrees there should be a voter ID requirement, and that saying voter ID\’s suppress the Black voter is overtly racist, because it implicitly also says that Black people are less capable than White people of getting a voter ID.
But, nonetheless, Democrats think this is a key issue (is that because they disbelieve every poll, or because the Democrat Party benefits if people can vote without showing they are who they say they are? I\’ll leave you to your own conclusions).
In any event, Donna Brazile, long-time Democrat operative, Deputy Field Director for the Michael Dukakis campaign (how\’d that turn out?) and Al Gore\’s campaign manager, has just issued an email – this one expanding the “issue” to early voting as well.
I thought you would like to see it And I sort of hope you\’d like to see my reaction to it as well. So here\’s the email – in rust, with my comments in blue:
Donna Brazile
Today at 5:56 PM
Democrats Join us.
XXXXXX (Name),
Last week, the Supreme Court voted to leave the Ohio GOP\’s early voting restrictions in place for this election and made it harder and more confusing for people in Ohio to vote. FYI: the “restrictions” Ms. Brazile is talking about reduce the early voting period from 35 days….to 28 days. And eliminate “same day” registration (i.e. register and immediately vote). This leaves four full weeks. And also leaves in place the fact that early votes can be mailed in at any time during that four week period. Do you consider this restrictive?
It\’s shameful – a victory for the underhanded tactics Republicans are using to keep Democrats away from the polls. Democrats? Knocking a week off of early voting only affects Democrats? Can someone explain how that works? Because I can\’t. And, in any event, I can\’t see how giving four full weeks to early-vote stops anyone of any party from voting.
I\’ve been frustrated before, XXXXXX, but not like this – so here\’s what we\’re going to do about it: With your help, we\’re going to fully fund our voter protection and expansion programs to respond to these recent court actions and make sure that every vote counts in this election. Which votes would not count if Ohioans have four weeks to early-vote? There\’s a question you won\’t ever see answered.
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Voting is the most fundamental right in our democracy, so you might wonder why an entire political party would be hell-bent on making it harder to exercise that right. Harder? Having almost an entire month to vote whenever you feel like doing so makes it difficult? Poor Donna: getting a library book back in two weeks must be absolute hell for her.
XXXXXX, I\’ll tell you why: When more people vote, Democrats win – and the Republican Party will use any trick, run any scheme, and pervert any part of our electoral process to make sure that doesn\’t happen. But we are NOT going to let them get away with it – and that starts right now. Asking again: How does a four week early-voting period, with unlimited opportunity to mail in a ballot during those four weeks, reduce anyone\’s ability to vote? And, if it does, how does it affect only Democrats and no one else?
Your contribution of $3 or more will go a long way toward cutting through the confusion and making sure that every eligible voter who wants to cast their ballot – no matter who they\’re voting for – has their vote counted: Whoa? What happened? Suddenly, at the end, Ms. Brazile owns up to the fact that changes in voter laws affect everyone, not just Democrats – i.e. she herself is debunking the central premise of this entire email. You can\’t make this stuff up.
https://my.democrats.org/Elect-Democrats-2014
I need you to fight for this with me, XXXXXX. Thanks for your help.
Donna Brazile
Uh….thecheck is in the mail, Donna. Honest.
Through either laughing or gnashing your teeth (maybe both) yet?
Ok, good. Here\’s another reason to. The Supreme Court\’s decision overturned a ruling by a three-judge panel of the 6th court of appeals, which would have reinstated the fifth week and same-day registration. And what was the basis for that now-overturned ruling? According to the New York Times:
LastWednesday, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appealsfor the Sixth Circuit, in Cincinnati, orderedofficials in Ohio to let voters start casting ballots on Tuesday. Thepanel reasoned that cutting back on early voting at polling placesplaced a disproportionate burden on poor and black voters.
Remember, at the beginning of this blog, when I noted that claims like this state, in so many words, that Black (and, in the 6th circuit ruling, poor) voters are, somehow, inferior to Whites?
Well, let me note it again.
Saying that Black and poor people are incapable of voting over a four week period – they need more – is saying, in so many words, that Black and poor people are inferior to Whites; they need an extra week to figure out how to vote for a few candidates and decide a few referendum issues.
You want racism and elitism? You can\’t get more of them than that.
