Voter suppression—mainly through the use of voter "purges" and onerous voter ID requirements—is occurring in states across the country, as Republicans move to crack down on voting rights in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
And in Michigan, it looks like they're rolling out a new tactic. During the state's primary election yesterday, voters were asked on their applications for ballots to confirm their status as U.S. citizens. The state's Republican governor, Rick Snyder, had actually opposed adding this citizenship question when it was offered as legislation, saying it was likely to cause confusion. But GOP Secretary of State Ruth Johnson insisted on placing the question on ballot applications, even though voters must certify their U.S. citizenship when they register to vote in the first place.
By midday, Rachel Maddow recounted Wednesday on The Rachel Maddow Show, so many voters had been turned away from Michigan polling places for not answering the question that Johnson ordered local election officials not to enforce the measure. She told poll workers to instead simply read off the citizenship requirement. But by then, the confusion sown by the requirement, predicted by Snyder, couldn't be undone.
"Why do we have to have an ID?," Michigan voter Michael Moore asked Maddow . Moore went on to explain that he didn't mark the citizenship box but was handed a ballot anyway by a gracious poll worker.
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Sometimes I think I chose the wrong side of the law to stand on; obviously, BREAKING IT, like the GOPigs are doing, doesn't have a single consequence.....
Oh yeah, I forgot for a second -- I have a conscience, and ethics.
off topic, but this is the first time I have seen Michael Moore without his hat
I know this sounds crazy, but, what in politics today doesn't. Here goes...Is it possible, even in some alternate bizarro universe, isn't it remotely possible that the GOP and the rest of the repugnicans secretly want President Obama re-elected? Seriously, think about it. Even in some alternate, bizzaro universe, NO ONE can be as stupid, and as dishonest as Twitt and the rest of those "people" on that side of the isle. All of these obvious lies, all of these obvious gaffs, all of this OBVIOUS STUPIDITY~ Or is it. Maybe, just maybe, they realize that they have absolutely NO ONE that could hold a candle to President Obamam, so they are secretely, behind the curtain, doing whatever it takes to get him re-elected. Maybe....???
Naaaahhhh, they really are that stupid! In Every universe!
The voter suppression has to stop!
this will also confuse all the white hair republicans as much as demarcates as there not real smart either.
Personally, I feel President Obama has done a poor job leading our Nation. I also feel both political parties “spin” facts and figures to support their own agendas – do your own research to distinguish fact from fiction. Finally, I have no problem with any requirement to certify or verify citizenship.
Sure, you have no problem with certifying or verifying citizenship. It is already a part of the voting law.
But, do you have a problem with the frailty of the argument being made for the changes? Requiring a photo ID is being touted as a means of reducing voter fraud. Check the facts... In the entire country in the last election cycle there were fewer than 400 cases of in-person voter fraud. In the last election in Michigan over 1,500 people were turned away at the poll.
Is this a solution looking for a problem? Or, is it a solution to an unstated problem, and the motives are other than expressed?
Michael Moore jumped out in front of the Wisconsin recall parade, along with
Ed Schultz. That didn't work out so well. Hopefully Dems. have learned our lesson, and won't repeat the mistake of letting Moore or Schultz jump in front of any Democratic parade ever again. . . Gobama 2012!
Personally, I feel President Obama has done a poor job leading our Nation. I also feel both political parties “spin” facts and figures to support their own agendas – do your own research to distinguish fact from fiction. Finally, I have no problem with any requirement to certify or verify citizenship.