Bill Keller, Former NYTimes Editor, Says Voter ID Laws Only About 'Disenfranchising' Democrats
On Thursday's edition of the New York Times's daily TimesCast, liberal columnists Charles Blow and Bill Keller discussed Mitt Romney's appearance at the NAACP convention (which Keller, the paper's former executive editor, found condescending).
They took on the issue of voter ID laws in various states. Over a montage of still photos of blacks in line to vote, Keller called voter fraud "kind of a tiny problem comapred to voter participation." Blow one-upped Keller, saying "not just a tiny problem I mean, it's minuscule."
Nineteen minutes in, Keller responded to a Blow query on how a new voter ID law will play in Pennsylvania. Keller saw only a sinister disenfranchisement strategy on the part of Republicans, and Blow agreed.
Keller: "Well I think what you're getting at is this is not about voter fraud. It's about disenfranchising specific constituencies who tend to vote Democratic. Nobody's going to say that who supports it, but that what it's really about."
Blow: "Right, right, right."
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Comments
Because only democrats don't have ID?
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:15pm.
Or is it only democrats that attempt voter fraud?
It's one or the other based on their arguments.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
This two system comment
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:22pm.
This two system comment section is disconcerting. I don't know which to post where. I like the NB system because it has all new comments and I can skip to them directly. The disqus system has likes which is minor but fun.
Well, Dan
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 2:21pm.
We are going to lose the "old" comment system eventually.
Plus, you can add photos and youtube videos at the bottom. On the minus side, there is no Rich Text editor, but if you use FireFox, I understand there's an ad-in for that (see my Forum regarding FF).
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
So Keller supports jackass voter fraud
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:35pm.
What a shocker.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
All of these Democrats without ID? How do they bank? Travel?
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:36pm.
Drive? Cash a check at a place other than a bank? Obtain benefits? Use even a preloaded Visa debit card? Identify themselves otherwise?
If they are senior citizens, most states and communities will provide transportation and reduced fees for photo identifications. If younger, they have to have identification for school and to show that ID for school security upon request.
The hypocrisy is not only staggering, but now seems to be an endemic part of every Democrat.
Sam....
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 2:22pm.
See my post in the Disqus section for the specifics in Florida.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Then they all have Medicaid, Medicaid or EBT cards.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 2:32pm.
So what's the beef (Wagyu, of course for Oblahblah) that idiot Holder has for the Texas law?
Dunno, Sam
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 3:43pm.
You're the Texan....what are the statutes there?
It would be interesting to see exactly what is acceptable for ID in Texas.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
From the Texas Secretary of State voting website:
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 5:19pm.
Acceptable identification means one of the following:
*a driver's license or personal identification card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to the person by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;
*a form of identification containing the person's photograph that establishes the person's identity;
*a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person's identity;
*United States citizenship papers issued to the person;
*a United States passport issued to the person;
*official mail addressed to the person by name from a governmental entity;
*a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter; or
*any other form of identification prescribed by the Secretary of State
Sourced at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/largepamp.shtml
Based on this, anyone who receives a letter from the state, city, county or from the federal government has sufficient identification to vote. Hardly a barrier to anyone voting.
The Good Lord knows these leftists are getting more desperate by the minute.
Ohio Has Strict Non-Photo Law
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 11:06pm.
Ohio voter ID law. Since no photo is required on the document, and a wide variety of documents are acceptable as proof, this should not be an onerous burden for any adult in Ohio that is capable of voting. In fact, I hear or read nothing about the voter ID law in Cuyahoga County, which includes the Greater Cleveland area with plenty of poor and minorities and immigrants from all over the world, or even disenfranchisment in Ohio in general. The voter ID law is a non-issue in Cleveland, a Democrat town!
The whole Voter ID argument is BS. If it works in Ohio, particularly in Cleveland, then it should work everywhere in the USA. No excuse.
Besides, I thought Conservatives were stupid rednecks who don't know their elbows from their rearends and no match for the thoughtful Democrat every man. All BS.
Like so much the Right fail to do to combat Democrat garbage, Republicans should have long been all over this ridiculous manufactured controversy, pointing out the non-problems in states that have voter ID laws and the corruption that goes on in Democrat states that shut out voting safeguards. republican politicians should be able to site from memory some facts, at least 1 or 2 points, about voter ID laws.
There are 33 states with some kind of voter ID law, although there are several states whose laws are awaiting final approval or approved but not enacted yet.. Seventeen states, DC, and the Territories/Protectorates do not have any voter ID law. Seventeen states require a photo ID of some kind. Sixteen states require ID that does not need to have a photo. Then there are "strict' vs "Non-Strict" in how the states approach what constitues valid ID whether with or without photo. It's a hodgepodge, but every state has an alternate plan for those who show up to vote without an acceptable form of ID. Usually this is a provisional ballot or the voter signs an affidavit stating they are who they say they are. Some states allow an election official to vouch for the voter. Only Missouri, a Non-Strict / Non-Photo ID state, has a requirement that 2 election judges must vouch or no voting without proper ID, making Missouri the only state where no provisional ballot or other means to vote exist as temporary solution at the poll.
How do the Democrats buy...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:42pm.
...their booze and ciggies without some type of ID? How do they get on a plane, or cash a checque, or get into a Baracko campaign event???
This is more about denying the vote to illegal aliens and the deceased...
If Democrats are getting
Submitted by LinTaylor on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:44pm.
If Democrats are getting disenfranchised by the idea of voter ID laws, it's only because they're doing it to themselves with their paranoid, tinfoil hat assumptions that it's the first step for Republicans who want to turn the country into Naz-whoops, almost Godwin'd myself.
Hey, the Alpha Democrat has no ID.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:48pm.
What's so shocking about this?
Democrats are too stupid to
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 2:05pm.
Democrats are too stupid to get photo id's?
That would make them to stupid to make an informed decision on which candidate bests represents their interests.
That's what we need more of, STUPID voters.....
Maybe that's what the democrat party needs to stay in power?
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
Mr. Keller, are you saying
Submitted by MikeB on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 2:47pm.
Mr. Keller, are you saying that convicted felons, dead people, and alien residents, legal and illegal, all vote Democrat? Who knew? And, you are upset because not one member of these groups are legally allowed to vote, but because they vote Democrat the states should ignore their own laws and ignore federa laws? Are you saying that Democrats could not win a fair, 100% legal election? Is that what you are saying?
Or, are you trying to say that black people are too stupid or lazy to get photo IDs to vote, when they are not too stupid or lazy to get photo IDs to open checking or savings accounts, to drive a car, to board a plane, to buy a firearm, or to get a job? Is that what you are trying to tell us?
DOJ, wants to go with 1964 ID laws...Era of no food stamps...
Submitted by upcountrywater on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 3:03pm.
Pre-great society....
My mom told me and my brother a story, that when she was young no one had an ID... My younger brother didn't believer her. She was also driving when she was 13.
Ahh the good old days...the DOJ wants to expose us to. yea riiight...
You Didn't Build That.
upcountrywater*
Submitted by cajun2 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 3:29pm.
Those were different people and not just different times. Kids had two parents. A dad who taught you how to drive, even if it was on a tractor. Kids could walk to the park for baseball games and not worry about perverts hanging around. You had to behave because mom's best friend was at the park with her kids and she would TELL your mom you misbehaved. Doors were often left unlocked because no fear that a neighbor would break into your house. Going to Church was an ordinary thing, not evil. Flags flew on the porch daily, not once a year. Kids NEVER cursed or talked back to a teacher.
Yeah, those were the days.
Keller called . . .
Submitted by rickbren on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 5:38pm.
. . . "voter fraud kind of a tiny problem comapred to voter participation."
Anyone who remembers LBJ knows that voter participation was not a problem. A record number of dead people voted for him. . .
Keller called . . .
Submitted by rickbren on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 5:38pm.
. . . "voter fraud kind of a tiny problem comapred to voter participation."
Anyone who remembers LBJ knows that voter participation was not a problem. A record number of dead people voted for him. . .
He's right.
Submitted by proudamerican1990 on Sat, 07/14/2012 - 12:14am.
Illegals and dead people...
Two groups that consistently swing democrat.
Forgot The Other Disenfranchised Group
Submitted by stratman on Sat, 07/14/2012 - 12:46am.
The incarcerated.