Meet the new GOP bugaboo in Pennsylvania: Voters who are just too lazy to deserve the right to vote. Pennsylvania State Rep. Daryl Metcalf, a Republican, said he agrees with Mitt Romney's controversial 47% remarks, and is excusing criticisms of his state's voter ID laws by blaming voter laziness.
He told KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh that low-income earners are "living off the public dole" and described as indolent those who cannot obtain the ID required to vote under Pennsylvania's voter ID laws.
"We have a lot of people out there that are too lazy to get up and get out there and get the ID they need. If individuals are too lazy, the state can’t fix that," said Metcalf.
"What a generalization" said MSNBC host Chris Matthews on Thursday's Hardball. He pointed out that the elderly, those with disabilities, and men and women serving in the military may also find it difficult to get an ID before Election Day.
"It shows how far, Chris, the Republican party has fallen," Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Jim Burns told Matthews. He noted Metcalf authored his state's voter ID legislation, which says the state government has an obligation to get identification to residents who don't have them.
Metcalf is now "saying these folks are lazy and the government has to do nothing," said Burns.
Ron Reagan, the son of former president Ronald Reagan, said the Democrats can use the GOP's "laziness" dodge as an opportunity. The left can say, he said, "I'll see your bogus voter fraud issue and your voter ID, but I'll raise you this: By the next presidential election every eligible voter in America is registered to vote and has a voter ID. We will make it impossible not to register to vote. Everywhere you go — schools, hospitals, the DMVs. ... What do you think the Republicans will think about that?"
Pennsylvania's voter ID legislation is the subject of a lengthy court battle, and opponents of the law say they are optimistic it won't survive through Election Day. Recently, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court asked the state's lower Commonwealth Court to revisit the law with a higher standard for what would constitute voter suppression.
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If every voter the Republicans would still say the Democrats did something to steal the vote, sounds a little like the GOP.
I think the Republicans would still say the Democrats stole the election if everybody had a voter ID.
My dad is 81 years old and can't drive anymore. He has no ID and he is in poor health so I don't see how I can get him to the place to get a voter photo ID unless they come to my house and take his picture. He has proof of who he is his birth certificate. This is just plain crazy. What if my father wanted to vote for Mitt he couldn't. Of course he doesn't but the GOP is also suppressing their own party. Wonder if they ever thought about that. I am sure there are older Republicans that are in similar situations like my father.
Beth - There may be a few with the disabled (as you say). They do say the older crowd is the only majority Republicans have going for them.
But, the majority of Democratic voters are effected. The younger students who might vote where the are going to college, those who live in cities and take mass transit.. If poorer, they can't risk loosing a job by taking a day off to go to get the id, may have no means to get to the place that issues the ID (I hear they are not placed in the city, but you need a vehical to reach them.).. Also if they don't have their birth certificate, they may need to spend money they don't have and figure out how to obtain the other proof.. I also hear there is long waiting lines and offices may only be open one or two days a week.
Where I live which is rural and you need to drive to get anywhere. My intitial reaction was "What's the big deal?".. But, when you hear all the "extra" games played. It is a big deal..
I would say anyone without ID who was going to vote Republican, would probably be a staunch Democrat by the time they went through the wringer to obtain the ID they needed..
I also suspect, the games in Ohio with voter suppression, may be part of the reason the Democrats are leading big time there.. People do not like cheaters ! Maybe the cheaters do, but for Independents these games will stink to high heavens!
You can't cash a check or conduct any business at your bank, you can't buy alcohol, cigarettes, or sinus medication, you can't check into a hotel, you can't visit your congressman, you can't even legally work in many states without a photo id. So what is the issue with requiring one to vote? I still don't get it, the more whining I hear the more suspicious I get.
There has been NO voter fraud found in Pa. and the incompetant governor should be impeached! These republicriers are making all this up to, as the majority leader of the Pa. House of Representatives said, help Romney win. Why try to shove this through for this year?! Wait 2 years and do it right! But that's not good enough for the republiliars. They are all such frauds. Anyone voting for them should have their head examined. What is worse than voter fraud is the bigger problem of uninformed voters. There should be a basic test all voters should take which asks basic questions about our government. If you cannot pass you cannot vote!
Is that dangerously inbred Pa. rep. Daryl, his brother Daryl, or his other brother Daryl?
I have no problem with this law...many states do this, But the timing seems very very suspicious or obvious what ever way you wanna look at it. I really feel for the elderly who will not be able to get an ID & even the DOT says there is NOT enough time even IF everyone took the trip to get the ID's they do not have the resources to get all those ID's done up in time. An old saying seems fitting here..."Cheaters never prosper"
Pennsylvania Republican State Rep. Daryl Metcalf is another GOP lunatic!!!
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