Obama: Apathy, not Voter ID, keeps minorities from polls

I agree.

"Controversial voter identification laws are not the primary reason minority voters are failing to cast their ballots, President Obama said in a radio interview airing Tuesday.

"Most of these laws are not preventing the overwhelming majority of folks who don't vote from voting," Obama said during an interview with Rev. Al Sharpton. "Most people do have an ID. Most people do have a driver's license. Most people can get to the polls. It may not be as convenient, it may be a little more difficult."

The Justice Department has challenged new voter identification laws in Texas and North Carolina. Those pieces of legislation passed shortly after the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, which had required pre-approval of state voting law changes by the federal government.
The administration has argued that the laws are politically motivated and intended to prevent poor and minority voters — who tend to vote Democratic — from casting their ballots. Under this theory, those voters they are less likely to have identification and the costs associated with getting such a card are likely to hurt them more than more affluent sections of the public. Republicans have said the efforts are intended to prevent voter fraud.

Over the weekend, the Supreme Court decided to uphold Texas's new voter ID law. Attorney General Holder has said the government will also challenge new voting laws in Ohio and Wisconsin.

But according to Obama, apathy is the prime factor that mutes minority voices.

"The bottom line is, if less than half of our folks vote, these laws aren't preventing the other half from not voting," Obama said. "The reason we don't vote is because people have been fed this notion that somehow it's not going to make a difference. And it makes a huge difference."

The president added that if Democrats have high turnout from their base, they could prevail in tossup states crucial to holding Senate control.

"If we have high turnout in North Carolina then we will win. If we have high turnout in Georgia, we will win. If we have high turnout in Colorado, we will win. So, across the board, it is important for us to take responsibility and not give away our power," Obama said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/221446-obama-apathy-not-voter-id-keeps-minorities-from-polls

gatorfan wrote:I agree.

"Controversial voter identification laws are not the primary reason minority voters are failing to cast their ballots, President Obama said in a radio interview airing Tuesday.

"Most of these laws are not preventing the overwhelming majority of folks who don't vote from voting," Obama said during an interview with Rev. Al Sharpton. "Most people do have an ID. Most people do have a driver's license. Most people can get to the polls. It may not be as convenient, it may be a little more difficult."

The Justice Department has challenged new voter identification laws in Texas and North Carolina. Those pieces of legislation passed shortly after the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, which had required pre-approval of state voting law changes by the federal government.
The administration has argued that the laws are politically motivated and intended to prevent poor and minority voters — who tend to vote Democratic — from casting their ballots. Under this theory, those voters they are less likely to have identification and the costs associated with getting such a card are likely to hurt them more than more affluent sections of the public. Republicans have said the efforts are intended to prevent voter fraud.

Over the weekend, the Supreme Court decided to uphold Texas's new voter ID law. Attorney General Holder has said the government will also challenge new voting laws in Ohio and Wisconsin.

But according to Obama, apathy is the prime factor that mutes minority voices.

"The bottom line is, if less than half of our folks vote, these laws aren't preventing the other half from not voting," Obama said. "The reason we don't vote is because people have been fed this notion that somehow it's not going to make a difference. And it makes a huge difference."

The president added that if Democrats have high turnout from their base, they could prevail in tossup states crucial to holding Senate control.

"If we have high turnout in North Carolina then we will win. If we have high turnout in Georgia, we will win. If we have high turnout in Colorado, we will win. So, across the board, it is important for us to take responsibility and not give away our power," Obama said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/221446-obama-apathy-not-voter-id-keeps-minorities-from-polls

Progressives consider asking a voters name to be obstructing voters rights.

We can spend money for 34
Million green cards, but we cannot provide an ID for voters in this country.

ASS BACKWARDS

Poll taxes and literacy tests were administered to voters in my lifetime. They also made slight of hand arguments denying the real purpose. If apathy was the biggest restriction to going to the polls, why the need for the new restrictive voter id laws. I could make a lucky guess, but heck......I will allow the Republican house majority leader in PA make the case.

If people are really concerned about this issue it is simple to solve. When you get your voters registration card it has a photo. Done. People could register people take their picture and print the ID, instanter. Cost effective and no problem, because at the poll if a voter has lost their id, there will be a photo of the voter in the database. Done. No suppression. No loss of voting rights on election day......foolproof.................but we all know that is not what is wanted........they want people to show up and challenge their identification and disenfranchise those voters. You cannot disenfranchise a voter registration database. Simple answer to a non problem.

No durrrrr Seaoat. If we can afford to purchase 34
Million green cards extra we can surely
Afford to buy an id for the poor who say they don't have enough
Money to buy one