Washington (CNN) – Former President Bill Clinton compared efforts by Republicans to change voting laws across the country to Jim Crow laws and poll taxes that historically disenfranchised African American voters.
Speaking before a group of liberal youth activists Wednesday, Clinton said laws in states like Florida and New Hampshire are aimed at limiting voter turnout and keeping young people from the ballot box.
"There has never been in my lifetime, since we got rid of the poll tax and all the voter Jim Crow burdens on voting, the determined effort to limit a franchise that we see today," Clinton said at Campus Progress's annual conference in Washington.
Jim Crow laws, enacted between 1876 and 1965, included fees and laws historically used to keep African-Americans from voting. Clinton said Republican governors and legislators are now trying to "keep most of you [young people] from voting next time."
"They [Republicans] are trying to make the 2012 electorate look more like the 2010 electorate than the 2008 electorate," Clinton added, referencing the dip in youth voter turnout in the 2010 elections. "Are you fighting? You should be fighting it."
Younger voters turned out at historic levels during the 2008 election helping propel Obama to the White House, but dropped off considerably in 2010.
Clinton was critical of regulations preventing same-day registration and specifically referenced Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott's move in March to overturn a law that allowed convicted felons to vote after they completed their probation.
"Why should we disenfranchise people forever once they've paid their price?" Clinton said. "Because most of them in Florida were African Americans and Hispanics and would tend to vote for Democrats, that's why."
He also referred to a proposal in New Hampshire that would prevent college students from registering to vote where they attend school, instead of where they are from originally.
Democratic Committee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz made similar comments in June, calling attention to the Sunshine State effort. The Florida congresswoman told CNN contributor Roland Martin Republicans "want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws" and block Democratic voters from the polls.
Schultz later said "Jim Crow was the wrong analogy to use."
Chris Jankowski, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, said Clinton was using Schutlz's talking and points “owes an apology to Republican legislators that are seeking sensible steps to protect the integrity of elections in our country.”
“Maybe it was an attempt to distract from the Democrats’ abysmal record of tax hikes and shutdowns over spending cuts, or perhaps he was simply trying to be provocative while speaking to a super-liberal audience,” Jankowski said in a statement. “Either way, such rhetoric is out of bounds.”
– CNN's Rebecca Stewart contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Systemic racism is still alive and well in this country and the Republicans are all for furthering legislation to continue the trend that we thought had been dealt with in the past. There is a direct effort to keep minorities and young people from voting because most of that group tend to vote Democratic!
They are unconscionable racists taking this country backwards and need to be called out on it very loudly!
Chris Jankowski is a traitor to the United States Of America as is all republicans and conservatives.
Out of bounds? Doesn't requiring government-issued ID to vote (albeit not accepting school ID's) specifically disenfranchise the young and people who don't drive? If you don't know anyone without a government-issued ID, I suggest you get out more. Search the internet for proven cases of voter fraud... They don't actually exist. This is all about making it more difficult to have a voice in this country.
The Republican line is this: "Young people are too stupid to vote effectively. They don't make enough money, they don't own homes... They don't know what's good for them." Ask yourself whether or not you want a party that has this as their stated belief to be a significant force in governing YOU.
Once a person has paid their debt to society they should be allowed to vote. Denying them the right to vote can be viewed as cruel and unusual punishment. They are being given a life sentence for minor crimes.
Boys you can fight it all you want, but the demographics are going to change! It's just that simple. And, you'd better believe "people" will remember when you tried to deny them their right to vote as American citizens.
President Clinton is right on the button. Tax hikes are only going back to before the "temporary" tax rates introduced by President Bush, and the taxes only apply to those making moola. The Republican is trying to scare everyone about taxes. Already, from what i have read, the redistricting is favoring the Republicans for elections.
Republican legislators in NC are trying to do the same thing. They are also redrawing Congresional and Legislative districts to favor Republicans. Our Governor can not veto district redrawing. We have a great Governor who is a Democrat that has vetoed many bills. Go to our website and read some of the ridiculous bills they passed. CNN please send a team to NC and let the country know what Republicans here are doing.
He is telling the truth
Just read the Kerner Commission Report back in the 60's to see how evil the Jim Crow voting laws were.
Simple sounding measures like "requiring a photo id to vote" sound good but what about those who do not have a driver's license? What provisions do the state provide to make it easy to get the equivalent ID? I remember reading of one state that only issues the ID's at county offices that are open only a few hours each week.
Such talk is not "out of bounds" when it's pretty obvious that President Clinton is right. He owes no apologies to anyone. Jankowski is trying to distract from the blatant attempts to keep the young, the poor, and the minorities away from the ballot box. in 2012.
Here in MN the Republicans tried to enact a "Voter ID" law aimed at keeping young people and poor people from voting. Thankfully, we have a Democrat for a Governor and he vetoed it. The Republicans didn't want to give up on their voter surpression efforts and threatened to put it on the ballot for 2012. Now they are distracted by our budget battle (which they should have been working on in the first place instead of voter surpression, anti-abortion rules, and anti-gay marriage actions). Hopefully they won't take it up again. "Voter ID" SOUNDS like it would be a good thing, but the way the GOP arranges it all it does is keep young people and poor people from being able to vote. There are many homeless veterans (a travesty in itself) and these people who have served their country would be unable to vote simply because they are homeless. It is disgusting. We should be encouraging people to vote, not keeping people who want to vote from voting. The MN Republicans claim they "must" do this to prevent voter fraud, but when asked for examples of the type of fraud they want to prevent they cannot find any. We do not have a fraud problem. They are doing it for one reason only - to keep people who generally do not vote for them from voting. All Americans should stand up against this and think twice about voting Republican since the GOP supports voter supression.
Why do the Democrats always play the race card? Governor Scott's intentions in no way are pointed at a particular minority. Has ex-President Clinton looked at how many convicted felons there are that are white versus the two minority groups he singled out? And how does Florida's law relate to college age youth? He is reinitiating the use of race, as he did in 2008, to energize the Democratic base for 2012. Why can't he suggest that potential voters educate themselves on the issues instead of resorting to the dirt and divisiveness?
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo true
Clinton playing the race card – what a surprise.
This is one time Bill Clinton is 100% correct. The current day neo-cons that have conquered the republican party will do anything to get elected in 2012, no matter who's rights are taken away. African Americans, American Workers, Women, Policemen, Firemen, Teachers, and the list goes on and is growing every day.
Thank you, Bill, it is way past time for someone to call out these GOP governors as the racists they really are.
You go Bill! It's about time that these republican governors got called out on the mat. These are indeed Jim Crow type laws. the GOP is doing everything and I mean everything possible to try to defeat President Obama. These laws will be taken to the Supreme Court and even with the court divided how it is, these laws will be struck down. The GOP wants to take the country back to the 1940's or 50's. To the GOP, it won't happen and the GOP is also going to have a rude awakening in 2012 when the House goes back to the democrats who will also hold the Senate. The extreme policies of the GOP is far too right for the American people.
President Clinton's comparison is accurate. They are laws meant only to disenfranchise a certain block of voters. Its just that now its classified as other names instead of black, its now felons, or young voters.
They either don't know or don't remember that every attempt to block voters only made the turnout against them rise even more.
Clinton is right and we'd better wake up! It may not be you that is disenfranchised this time, but it just may be the next.
"Chris Jankowski, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, said Clinton was using Schutlz's talking and points “owes an apology to Republican legislators that are seeking sensible steps to protect the integrity of elections in our country.”
Oh, Bull! Republicans are trying to make it extremely hard for students and others to vote – and that's a FACT! Why? Because Republicans have NOTHING to offer our country – no record of accomplishments, no new ideas, no desire to help the Middle Class, no plan for moving our country forward.
This effort to suppress voting is just another in a long line of actions on the part of the GOP to ruin our country and turn us into a third-world nation where the top 2% own and control everything.
We need to fight this, folks! Because voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders.
sure that's what they're doing... they really just want to prevent minorities from voting. It has nothing to do with making sure only citizens are voting. It's all about making youth not want to vote.
Bill Clinton is just another db in the long line of idiots in Washington. Why shouldn't someone have to show they are who they say they are? Why should illegals be able to commit fraud by voting when they are not allowed to? Why should people be allowed to walk into the polls, with no id and vote for others? I am NOT a republican but the democrats using the race card is getting really old. A lot of you need to wake up and realize BOTH sides are holding this country back with bs like this.
Clinton is just trying to stay in the spotlight. It is ludricous to compare picture ID with a poll tax. Let's be honest. Democrats want illegals to be able to vote.
Chris Janowski speaks with the same forked-tongue of many of his Republicn contemporaries. President Clinton's direct comments and reference to Jim Crow were quite appropiate for the reality of a trend that is gaining momentum around the country. It is the shameful, self-serving and sore loser mindset of today's Republican leadership that is out of bounds and off the leash to say the least. It is time for Congress to act, voting is a right, not a privilege for the privileged only. Every American has the inherent right to register and vote for the candidate of their choice in local, state and national elections. A uniform Voter Eligibility and Reinstatement Act that would be applied nationwide would solve the problem once and for all. It won't happen because both sides thinks it will give the other side an unfair advantage (whatever that is).
chris jankowski- shut your mouth. boo hoo...he said the words "jim crow"...what? we can't use examples in our past to educate and prevent it from happening again?
How long does it take?
Personally, I'd limit the franchise to people who have at least graduated high school, who either support themselves or are an adult member of a family that supports itself, and who pay more in taxes than they receive in direct benefits. Letting parasites vote who live off other peoples' taxes is outrageous.
In NY a military dependent whose parent is on active duty, even if born in the state and graduated from high school in that state has to pay out of state tuition if the parents home of residency is not NY. Why should an out of state student paying out of state tuition be allowed to vote in the state they go to school. They can get an absentte ballot for their home state and still vote. I and my wife did it for my 20 years in the military. Just because you go to school in another state for 4-6 years your tuitipn is not going to be lowered to in state tuition rates.
Pure race-baiting garbage by the convicted perjurer, Bill Clinton! If producing a valid I.D. in order to vote disenfranchises potential Dimwit voters, then so does buying alcohol, producing a driver's license when pulled by the cops, and producing some sort of identification in order to apply for government entitlement programs! Perhaps Clinton missed that part about voting "irregularities" in the past? Oh wait, those "irregularities" HELPED the Dimwits candidates!
Problem is that the Repubs cannot stand in the light of the truth. Traditionally the GOP has stood for limiting enfranchiement caue when only the select few can vote the select few will vote Republican. The former Dixiecrats now loyal Republicans did that with Blacks and now when they tand to face the largest rejection of their misguided and failed policies, they want to limit so that only "the people in the know" will vote and the peasants stay away.
This isn't Jim Crow like. It is Jim Crow, just another version. Jankowski is out of his mind to say what he said. He owes [us] an apology! This isn't the Jim Crow era. I'm sure the response won't be the same.
The GOP is all about stealing elections. They are immoral and irrelevant. Time to end their party for good. How about a new one totally committed to the protection of the middle class?
He is so right on this one. Between the changes in the voting laws and gerrymandering clearly demonstrates the short comings to the basic principle of voting. This is because the of the rapid change in the demographics withn the USA and the fact that more people are becoming educated than any other time in American history. This is the cancer that is currently eating at the core of American politics. Just look at all of the ignorance that has been demonstrated since the election of our current President. American still has a long way to go!
This is outrageous the youth has much right to have more say on how they vote after all this is their future. The Republicans are always decrying about the founding fathers and the constitution but they're the first one to go against it. i hope it backfires on them like everything they carelessly and selfishly do. They always act irrationally and stupidly without thinking of the outcome.
President Clinton is right. These are advantages to stop voters from voting. And what does the GOP and Tea Party know about stopping the government. They tried it on Bill, and he crushed them. Plus he and Newt were paying off the debt. Only to Bush come in and wreck it all to hell borrowing for two wars and more.
President Clinton is right. Repubs are up to their dirty tricks again. They will do ANYTHING to eliminate Democratic voters. We also need to watch for Voting Maching tampering. (e.g.: Florida 2000 redux)
He is absolutely right.
We actually have a GOPer Governor in my state who told the NAACP to "kiss his butt" Not ony racist but quite un-classy as well.
Is it desenfranchising when clerks have to see ID to purchase alcohol or tobacco? What's the problem then, requiring ID at the polls to ensure only eligible voters are voting? Spare us the demagoguing. You're only looking to protect your illegal voter base. The Democrat Party: Masters of voter fraud.
Bill has it spot on, Jim Crow.
The great republican party-tea contol, when will they start removing people from their homes in the night.
Everything the reps. say and do looks and sound like Germany 1928. Who will be their Hilter, will he be the next President?
Hilter was taking his country back also!!!!!
Clinton is telling the truth
Institutionalized discrimination has always been a tool for those who cannot or will not face the realization that we are all Americans. If you do not have policies or practices that attract those who may oppose you, then you resort to legal or other tactics that prohibit freedoms that we are all guaranteed by the Constitution. It has been done throughout our history by Republican and Democrats alike. Perhaps it is true that great civilizations are usually destroyed from within...
Frank Tillery – One of U.S.
Out of bounds? I think not. If the shoe fits wear it.
If the majority of ex-felons were older white males it is a given that the republicans would make sure they could vote. This is clearly just racist partisanship.
Gee, what a shock! Ever since a black man was elected POTUS, some people in this country have slipped a cog. Hate to tell you this, but one day there will be another black POTUS and one day a Hispanic POTUS. Best get ya' mind right.
Why should we be afraid to call it what it is. The Republicans do not want a fair playing field, they want the advantage and the best way to do that is to keep the masses down.
Clinton, as always is bang on in his assessment of what the Republicans are trying to do. Once again, their interests are not the American people, all of the American people. Their actions are often repulisvely un-American.
Clinton – Obama – and all the rest of the progressive liberals – REALLY need to give this racial bomb throwing a rest. If you look at the record – Republicans have done more regarding breakthrough initiatives and laws for black people than the Democrats....
Martin Luther King Jr was a Republican.
Our voter registration and election laws are flawed – and need to be corrected....
Only living authentic US citizens are allowed to vote in US elections......Period.
Playing the race card... the last refuge of a scoundrel. Democrats are committed to undermining the integrity of our elections any way they can. With elections getting closer andcloser, they are clearly hoping to steal some of them with voter fraud. Could this be any clearer?
Clinton is correct. These racist Governors and AG like the pea-brained radical pair we have in Virginia are pushing religious and social bigotry with their policies of corporate greed are suppressing votes of the middle class and working families under the GOP lie of voter fraud.
As usual in Virginia McDonnell and Cuccinelli campaigned that they were moderates who were going to fix our state's economy and increase employment but all they have done is take away the rights and civil liberties of Virginians and anyone who passes through what used to be a free state.
edbonflo wrote:
Has ex-President Clinton looked at how many convicted felons there are that are white versus the two minority groups he singled out?
--------------Have you bothered to look? If you had you would not be asking that question, nor make some of your other statements.
College students typically vote on their college campuses, using their college IDs. Laws are being passed that say that college IDs are not state issued, therefore invalid. Other laws state that the students cannot vote in precinct where their school is located because they are not residents.
Younger voters aren't interested in mid-term elections and that's why they dropped away in 2010. They will be back. Even w/out, GOP doesn't stand a chance. Truth hurts for some. Deal with it.
Man, I just don't understand how there can be middle class Republicans when this stuff goes on.
Areas where i.d. is required to vote have shown just as high of a minority turnout during elections as those places without i.d. requirements. For something as important as voting, why shouldn't a person have to prove his/her own identity and/legal status for voting? If no i.d. is required, how do we stop illegal aliens from voting? I guarantee that if the overwhelming trend of illegal alien voting favored conservatives, the media and liberal legislators would be up in arms over stolen and invalid elections. But, since the illegal voting is always overwhelmingly in favor of liberal politicians, Democrats and the media could care less over legal or illegal voting.
My God! For this I spent 12 years in the Navy! So State Legislatures could come with means to PREVENT people from voting? All to combat alleged voter fraud? Get real! The worst examples of Voter Fraud in recent history were Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004! And guess who won those states in those years? The Republican Governor of Florida and the Republican Secretary of State of Florida approved a ballot format for Palm Beach County that was specifically prohibited by Florida Election law causing these ballots to be individually hand counted to see who was actually voted for.
In Ohio, the chairman of Diebold (also a principal in W's reelection campaign) provided voting machines for the state that recorded more Republican votes in some counties than they had actual people living in them!
And Republicans are worried that illegal immigrants may try to vote. Like I said, gimme a break!
And I forgot – Ms. Schultz called it like it is. Jim Crow laws!
The voter ID laws are 100 percent Jim Crow, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, no convictions, nothing.
The statesman President Clinton is right on!!! The south led by that old man of the FreedomWorks chairman, the former House Majority Leader and recently-retired lobbyist extraordinaire, Dick Armey. Formerly employed by as lobbyist by leading international “consulting firm” DLA Piper from 2005 to 2009, Armey promoted the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, otherwise known as Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), which the State Department has branded a terrorist group. Armey lobbied his former colleagues on behalf of legislation that would have provided taxpayer support to the MEK. This is the same guy! who said “People who could not even spell the word 'vote,' or say it in English." Now the Republican Governors are implementing the idea!!! people time to stop them on their track!! don't wait for another month or week the time is now!!!
It is quite easy to get a state issued ID. I went with my 15 yr old daughter to get hers for some air travel we had planned and it took less than 30 minutes and only cost $10. Don't try to say that the $10 is "disenfranchising" the poor since all it means is giving up a couple packs of cigarettes, a 12-pack of beer or trip to fast-food land to pay for it, if voting is something that individual values.
I think it's fine to require a thinking individual, who desires to express their voice through voting, to register in advance, at their county of residence and then to provide some proof (read I.D.) that you are the registered voter on the list when you show up. How is disenfranchising anyone that is taking this responsibility seriously?
i.e. it will be much much harder for democrats to commit massive unchecked voter fraud as they have in many states in the past couple elections. Well, we certainly can't have that can we?
There was massive young voters in 2008 because a black man was running for President and it was "hip" to vote for the black guy.
He wasn't on the ballot in 2010 so those same "I want to be with the "IN" crowd" voters failed to show up.
It had nothing to do with being disenfranchised. As the experts. They all agreed, whether Fox, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN, that not having Obama on the ballot cost the Democrats more than any other single factor.
The Dems have no platform whatsoever to run on. They've run this country into the ground faster than Bush did and now they want to continue to blame Republicans for everything. Just like a liberal to blame their woes on someone else.
It is time people in this country take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming everyone else.
If you are required to register in advance than do so! If you are required to have a valid ID than get one!
If you want to vote then it shouldn't be such a burden on you to do what the law requires.
If we don't have some pretty tough voting laws it makes it almost impossible to not prevent illegals from voting. That is what ACORN did by the thousands. Yet you liberals seem to not want to discuss all the voter fraud being done by your party and it's affiliates because that benefits you.
You're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.
If the right to vote is sacred, then shouldn't it be protected against fraud? Shouldn't a citizen be required to at least prove, in some resanable manner, that they are actually a citizen and registrant of the district they are voting in? At least require that the voter show their Social security card, and a current utility bill from an address in the voting district.
What about asking for a 'finger-dip' in dye to at least prevent anyone from trying to vote multiple times? What happens to people who DO vote fradulently? Shouldn't they be punished in some fashion (lose voting rights for 8 years, etc)? "trust me" doesn't work in any other form of our government, so why should it work here?
Also, the requirement for voters to be property owners wasn't established with the 'Jim Crow' laws (which have their origin in Pennsylvania, not the south), but by the original framers of the Constitution. From the beginning of our nation's founding, voting was limited to male property owners. So it isn't 'racist' to ask a voter to prove their identity.
Clinton is becoming the new Carter. He is saying provocative things to stir the pot and cause a lot of unnecessary anger. He is very, very irrelevant at this point.
If someone has to prove who they are to vote . . . then it is racism?? Why is everything about racism? Because that is the only way the democrats think. If they don't like something, call it racism. If you have to show an ID to vote, call it racism. It does not matter who you are voting for or what color you skin is, it must be racism. The democrats always use the race card when they can't explain anything. We must show an ID to purchase alcohol, to buy cigarettes, to drive a car but for some reason if you require it to vote then you are a racist?? The democratic party continue to rely on illegal votes to support their views and we the legal citizens are tired of it.
Clinton might be a "no-good, lying cheating adulterer", but he is usually correct when it comes to policy and politics.
twiddly wrote @ 8:30am: "If the majority of ex-felons were older white males it is a given that the republicans would make sure they could vote. This is clearly just racist partisanship."
Hate to break it to you twiddly, the majority ARE white males. A larger % of the overall African American male population is classified as felon or ex-felon, but the actual headcount is larger withing the Caucasian population. So, your uneducated post is nullified.
I tend to agree that if someone has paid their debt, and proven to be a solid citizen, they should be given a second chance. However, with a 41.3% recidivism rate after only 3 years and a 59.4% recidivism rate after 10 years, the sad fact is that a significant portion of released ex-felons do not "change" and end up back in prison. So, maybe have a 5 year post-probation vesting period to earn back your right to vote? I could support that.
President Clinton is shameless in this comparison. But in the same spirit of shamelessness, might we consider that young voters don't have a clue? That they are largely more interested in Kim Kardashian then in issues that really matter? Perhaps President Obama's appeal to the young vote speaks more to his lack of depth than anything else.
It is always the Democrats who cry racism every time something goes against their wishes. Like the child who cries wolf, this is becoming less and less "shocking" or "outrageous" each time the race card is used.
It is about time we start using the proper terms.
Voter fraud is as rare as an honest republican.
Speaking as someone from NH (one of the states referenced) these issues are not always to elect Republicans. I voted for Obama in 2008, and will probably do so again in 2012. However, I live in a town of 6,000 that is host to a university holding 13,000 students. These students are here for very short periods of time, and they have very short-term concerns. If our local gov't was run by the students the vast majority of the town would be set up like a walking strip mall of fraternity houses and bars. They would me only nominally concerned with things like education, historical and ecological preservation, and basic infrastructure.
I'm all for students voting. However it should be in a context where they have a stake in the outcome and an understanding of the context. In this case that would most likely be the state from which they originally come. They know the neighbors and the neighborhoods, they are aware of the schools, the industry, the crime levels, etc. For better or worse, the majority of out-of-state students just don't connect to the local community quickly enough to properly inform them.
Historically, voting was tied to property and thus to taxation. The whole "taxation without representation" bit. In NH, with no state sales or income tax, many university students do not pay tax (tax is paid on property, but state universities are exempt from property tax). From that purely historical perspective, these students have not "earned" the right to vote in the state.
So, is it an attempt to return to Jim Crow when you are asked to show your ID at the ticket counter at the airport?
Lefties never think about what they say. They just FEEL it.
The country is in deep trouble. Obeying the already in-place laws is being a raciest. Hey Wet Cigar Bill, you perjured yourself to all Americans, are you a raciest also?
OK, so what I take away from this is a large majority of felons are Democrats? Next we should reinstate a felon's right to acquire a handgun, I mean, he's paid his debt so let's not have any consequences for his actions, that would make waaaaaay too much sense. Does Clinton ever listen to himself? I see why he made such a great team with Al Gore. Speak first, engage brain later. I'm not sure an effort to prevent voter fraud is automatically racist. This whole flow of reasoning blows my mind. Most criminals are minorities so therefore they are Democrats therefore they are being denied voting because they are Democrats. Geez guys, get real.
Republicans won't be happy until only white wealthy male adults can vote. Until then their base will continue to erode until they go the way of the dodo (or should I say dough-dough).
He's 100% correct. Studies show that such laws have a discriminatory and DISPARATE EFFECT on minorities and the poor. When it comes to helping people who suffer the massive power imbalance their economic policies have created, the GOP doesn't want one red cent of taxpayer money to be spent...but when it comes to screwing them further, they'll gladly and maluiciously pour millions upon millions into the legal battles they've manufactured in hopes that their handpicked lackies on the SCOTUS will eventually just hand them politically motivated, legally ignorant victories.
If the republicans are influencing election outcomes, and I'm not at all saying they are, then at least they do so in the full llight of day rather than in some dark liberal bastion courtroom like democrats do.
'If we don't have some pretty tough voting laws it makes it almost impossible to not prevent illegals from voting. That is what ACORN did by the thousands. Yet you liberals seem to not want to discuss all the voter fraud being done by your party and it's affiliates because that benefits you.'
Such as what? All ACORN has ever been found guilty of is paying people based on the amount of signatures they got. It was stupid of course because people being people will mean they will fill the forms in with any old crap, but that result is not ACORN trying to committ fraud. The idea that someone filling in Mickey Mouse on a form will mean that someone using that name will actually try to vote it just stupid.
"might we consider that young voters don't have a clue?"
Does the same go for adults who absolutely refuse to accept facts, evidence, science, historical record, etc., showing such wonderous abominations as "trickle down" economics and blind adherence to "free market" theory have massively redistributed all the wealth in this county to the already extremely wealthy and corporate interests, away from teh middle-class and poor and caused the current economic crisis, which at root, is almost entirely a crisis of demand caused by the skyrocketing average household debt of the middle-class, their salaries remaining stagnant for almost 4 decades and their current inability to spend in order to infuse the ecnomy with cash flow? That man has not contributed to climate change or that evolution is a myth? Can we also apply it to people who believe in invisible sky magicians who spend all their time watching our bedrooms and declaring their true-believers to be superior to everyone else? That Jefferson and Madison and the rest of the founding fathers didn't write all those letters and books and treatises explaining that there was to be a "wall of separation" between church and state in this country? Can we apply it to all those people too?
Fact is, once again, studies often show that young people are actually quite informed about the issues we face and NOBODY has a greater stake in the direction of the country's future than they do.
If you give convicts a right to vote, then give them all their rights back. That sounds good. Let’s let them legally own guns just too. A convicted felon should never have the right to vote. They gave up all but the right to live when they broke the law no matter what the felon.
this sets an unhealthy precedent where down the road, someone may use these tricks to disenfranchise right wingers.
lets disenfranchise right wingers and laugh when they cry foul
The party that stole an election now cares about voting integrity. Has the irony of the fellow who murdered his parents and now asks for leniency because he's an orphan.
Mike, you need to give some examples before you throw that accusation around. I'm sick of some conservatives accusing liberals of using the courtroom to further a liberal agenda – give us some proof of that where what is at stake isn't civil rights (and was correctly decided in the courts).
@Too Smart to Vote Republican: When were you born? The 2008 elections were riddled with voter fraud. Did you ever hear of ACORN?
Why does this guy still carry any influence. Guess only with the young and naive.
We wouldn't need new voter ID requirements if the democrats would stop registering dead people to vote.
The task was overwhelming. With 1.9 million voters and 886 voting precincts, Houston’s Harris County is the second largest county in the country - and the key to Texas elections.
The group called for help and quickly got 30 donated computers and “tens of thousands of hours” of volunteer work. And then the questions started to arise.
“Vacant lots had several voters registered on them. An eight-bed halfway house had more than 40 voters registered at its address,” Engelbrecht said. “We then decided to look at who was registering the voters."
Their work paid off. Two weeks ago the Harris County voter registrar took their work and the findings of his own investigation and handed them over to both the Texas secretary of state’s office and the Harris County district attorney.
Most of the findings focused on a group called Houston Votes, a voter registration group headed by Sean Caddle, who also worked for the Service Employees International Union before coming to Houston. Among the findings were that only 1,793 of the 25,000 registrations the group submitted appeared to be valid.
The other registrations included one of a woman who registered six times in the same day; registrations of non-citizens; so many applications from one Houston Voters collector in one day that it was deemed to be beyond human capability; and 1,597 registrations that named the same person multiple times, often with different signatures.
Really? College students should only be allowed to vote in the state in which they reside. They will affect the college town/city in which they will live for only a couple of months....very few a couple of years. As far as racism? Come on. Poor, poor pityful me. Clinton is an idiot. Anyone who gives credence to anything that he says follows suit. The only backwards thinking is your own. Man up and stop jumping on coat tails!
Republican politicians, using the disguise of "protecting elections", are manufacturing laws that deliberately and blatantly target the poor by discouraging or restricting their ability to vote.
In addition to these attempts to eliminate voters, Republicans are also blatantly gerrymandering election districts to eliminate fair elections.
But the real treason being played out in these disgusting actions is the Republicans claim that they are doing all of this to "protect" America's democracy.
..
Our corrupt GOP legislature is doing the same crap here in KS. Of course it's all in the name of preventing "voter fraud". Right. There have been a handful of cases of fraud over the millions of votes cast. This simply can't be legal. Not everyone has a gov't ID. And you know the process of getting one won't be easy, regardless of the GOP claims. Besides, how is the GOP going to pay for all these programs? Aren't they the ones wanting to cut and slash budgets, yet find time for this junk?
While this (especially the Florida law) is a measure of disenfranchisement. It can't be compared to Jim Crow without the intimidation that was going on in that time period. Nobody is threatening to harm New Hampshire college kids for showing up at the polls.
Nevada officials charged ACORN, its regional director and its Las Vegas field director with submitting thousands of fraudulent voter registration forms last year. Larry Lomax, the registrar of voters in Las Vegas, says he believes 48% of Acorn's forms "are clearly fraudulent." On Thursday, prosecutors in Pittsburgh, Pa., also charged seven Acorn employees with filing hundreds of fraudulent voter registrations before last year's general election.
And Republicans are out of line?
We have cases in Milwaukee where high school students under the age of 18 did same day registration w/out ID (all they needed was a friend to vouch for them) and voted in our recent WI supreme court election. This is a documented fact. They were encouraged to do this by their teachers as the teachers were worried about the collective bargaining issue in our state. That is why we need to show ID. In the case of WI, if you can't afford an ID, the state will pay for it.
Race and Class Warfare. That's all they have left. Come on Bill, tell us when Hilary is going to challenge BHO. Are you waiting for his numbers to get below 35 before jumping in?
As a Southerner I am very offended by this jerks comments. To equate what was going on in the South in the 1950's to what race relations are today is just stupid and someone should put some duct tape on Bill Clinton's mouth. In Georgia, we are concerned that non-citizens and people who vote multiple times might affect the outcome of our elections and that is not fair to anyone who legally votes. Showing ID to cast a vote is not Jim Crowe. What a jerk.
Only an experienced liar could equate Jim Crow laws with proving your legitimacy to vote in a particular precinct
By the Bill, tells us again what party enacted those Jim Crow laws.
Thats right, it was the Democrats, the party of lies and deceit.
So what you are saying is that a person should be able to just walk in to the balloting station and say a name, any name. and be allowed to vote. That is Ridiculous. They must have some form of verifiable ID. What would you suggest?
Our youth will not allow themselves to be disinfranchised to vote or exercise their rights because they are a different generation of all races who love and support each other. There ain't no stopping them, no way no how.
You have to show an ID to open a bank account, to cash a check, to board an airplane, to rent equipment or furniture, to borrow certain items from the library.......are these acts of racism? Is it that difficult to get an ID? Why would you NOT want to get an ID? Perhaps Clinton can convince his friend Obama to free up some of that unspent stimulus money to pay for ID's for everyone whop needs them. Nah...it's easier to call anyone who disagrees with them a racist for polictial gain.
A new voter ID requirement was just signed into law by Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Caffee after it passed the Democrat controlled House and Democrat controlled senate. The bill was introduce by a democrat and had co-sponsors of both parties If we listen to Mr. Clinton and Ms Wasserman, we must believe the Rhode Island democrats are racists. Interesting how CNN missed this story.
Can a democrat make a speech with use the word race or the under of race. I mean really have to show an ID to vote is racist? Then, when you cash a check, or produce your license to a police officer, show an ID to get on a plane, show an ID to purchase a house is also racist. Come on!
With all the fraud and corruption that ACORN inflicted on voter rolls all over the country it is ridiculous that the voter rolls cannot be cleaned up, cleared of dead people and proper ID must be required to register and vote. Most states offer a free picture ID so people without drivers licenses can vote. This is not racist at all. If you maintain that it is, then minorities should start suing that it is racist to present ID to cash checks, to get Social security, welfare, etc. Surely voting is more important than all those things. Society will continue to break down if that were to happen.
Dems just want to increase the numbers of fraudulent voters. That's why they want Puerto Rico to be a state, why they want amnesty for illegal aliens and why they want felons to regain their vote. It is also why George Soros and his fellow demons have the SOS project to help elect progressive Secretaries of State in every state to swing any close elections to the democrats/progressives. (See Al Franken senate election!!!) Dems scream racist so much they have emptied the word of all meaning. They are devious underhanded scumbags. The RINOS are not much better. 2012 will prove the conservative age is here. Thank GOD cause it's not a second too soon!!!
Voter fraud disenfranchises LEGAL VOTERS. Democrats have been supporting voter fraud through their support of ACORN over the years. MILLIONS was funneled to this crime organization by the Democrats to steal elections. When an illegal votes, YOUR VOTE is NEGATED. YOU LOSE YOUR VOTE!! Wake up America!!!
Civic minded people will register when they become eligible to vote and not want to do it on their way to vote. Proper id should be required for registering to vote and for voting (unless you live in Chicago).
You should have to register in the district where your id says you live.
Ummm, did anyone notice that the state of Rhode Island just enacted into law this very same kind of bill? Look it up. It was Rhode Island's Democratic legislature that passed a law requiring an ID to vote beginning next year and a photo ID in 2014. The bill's Senate sponsor was an African American Democrat, who said it was prompted by reported incidents of voter fraud. The measure was signed by Independent Governor Lincoln Chafee. So, Bubba, it ain't just Republicans after all.
The system worked, Acorn was caught and they will be punished. The comment was made, "Why don't some of these people study the issues instead of just voting?" This is a free country, you don't have to study the issues. You can vote with your heart or just vote for whatever reason. A valid ID is required. Republicans think they are this higher class of individuals and are just so intellectual. They would love to make it so that lower class citizens and young adults could not vote.
Since elected officials determine where taxes are spent perhaps we should limit voting to only those who pay taxes and don't live off the government teat.
Bet we could have a balanced budget then.
@ Jeff:
As an American, I'm offended by your comments. In order to vote, you need to sign in at a polling station and prove with our signature that you are who you say you are. You cannot vote twice, and non-citzens cannot register, period. People are already showing ID when they vote because they have to sign their name, so this is a non-starter. All the instances of so-called voter fraud the GOP keeps screaming about have never survived close examniation because they are FALSE ACCUSATIONS, I would love to see evidence to the contracry that is not linked to FOX News, Andrew Breitbart, or the rest of the Right-wing propaganda Cabal. Its obvious to me that many people on here have either never voted, or vote so rarely they don't even know you have to sign in, and your signature is checked by the workers at the polling station: NO ONE is suggesting, as Snakew is, that just anyone can stroll in, lie about who they are, and vote. Ae for Mr. Clinton's comments, he's simply making an observation that this is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise young voters by creating bureaucratic obstacles. Funny, I always thought the GOP was for getting government out of our lives, and here they are, yet again, interfering with a citizen's right to vote.
President Clinton and Debbie Shultz are both right! These are efforts by Repudican Governors and Legislatures to go back to Jim Crow laws in this country. But I don't fault them, I fault we the American people if we sit idlely by and allow them to do it. I am 51 and I have never seen this country this bad before, all because we elected a Black President! Well get over it, like it or not he is President and he's uses his head for more than a HAT RACK!
Why not invoke Jim Crow if you're a frail ex-prez looking for mindless applause from the old base? Yep, if you want attention, just raise the white-sheeted poltergeist of an extreme past, and yell scary words! We all know about the veracity and personal integrity of Mr. Clinton. Genuinely politically effective, yes. Genuine integrity and veracity, well... that's a completely different matter.
"Sniffit
I don't have a driver's license and I can still drive all I want anyway. Why can't I keep voting in as many places as I want?"
Very cute...did I strike a nerve for you, crybaby? As soon as you guys can produce the FACTS, EVIDENCE AND HISTORICAL RECORDS indicating that it is a rampant, pervasive problem that people are voting who (a) do not have some form of an identification card AND (b) were not supposed to be voting in the first place (not a citizen, etc.), then you'll have a legitimate basis for demanding that voter ID laws, despite them having been proven to have a disparate, vote-suppressing effect on the poor and minorities. Fact is, that evidence and historical record DOES NOT EXIST. This has been throoughly debunked. The voter ID laws have no RATIONAL RELATION to a COMPELLING PUBLIC INTEREST because the bogeyman against which they are supposedly intended to defend DOES NOT EXIST...it is a fabrication, a spectre feared due to the purposeful dissemination of minsinformation and demagoguery...and yet these laws still have a negative impact on society by suppressing legitimate votes. The supposed good is outweighted by the negative impact because the former is the product of fevered imaginations while the latter is real, measured and proven.
How about we make voting machines more accurate and uniform across the board instead of denying or making it increasingly difficult for people to vote? Just a suggestion.
The race card will always be played until racists no longer exists. Get used to it...
No need to play the race card and anyone can see what is going on......he is right. . Seems like we are going back to the days when............It's all about making Obama a one TERM president and this is wrong. This is racism and people true feelings are coming out. Nobama you can't think outside the box. this is racist for gain. But all of this will back fire.....DEVILS get behind us...... You just can't contiune doing people like this......
It only hurts because it's true! Democrat Class Warfare you need to stop watching Fox news and start watching a variety of new shows.....there is actually very little voter fraud out there!!!! Try thinking for your self...use some critical thinking skills and stop being a fox news sheep for one!
"The 2008 elections were riddled with voter fraud. Did you ever hear of ACORN?"
No they weren't. Many REGISTRATIONS wsere found to be fraudulent and ACORN had several levels of protection against that which helped sort them out and point out which REGISTRATIONS were likely to be fraudulent. See, when ACORN hired people to obtain REGISTRATIONS, they sent them out to do so, but then ALSO had an obligation, WHICH THEY MET, to identify registrations that were likely fraudulent and then sort them away from the ones that were OK...i.e., registrations that were all in the same handwriting, registrations for Mickey Mouse, etc. Those got sorted into piles basically marked "likely fraud." On the other hand, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ACORN'S WORK RESULTED IN ANY FRAUDULENT VOTES BEING CAST. NONE. Several red states tried to prove it and bring suits and they ALL FAILED MISERABLY.
It is quite refreshing to see how blindly racist liberals are when reading comments here. Jim Crow? Really? Its called LAWS. For a country to function they must be followed. If you can't abide by them then you don't get the benefits of normal citizens. Felons getting the right to vote? What? You're 8 and you want to drive a car? Sure give this kid a license! What's that? You're blind but want to fly an airplane full of people? Sure, get this get certified to fly we can't let regulations get in the way of being ignorantly tolerant!! Thats insane. There is a reason its a FELONY. Same day registration? Thats nuts. How can a person register to vote and vote in the same day and actually know what they are doing? That is open to so much fraud its insane. Liberalism hasn't become about being more tolerant, its become about being insane. And liberals wonder why they are broke, not advancing in life, etc etc. Its not a republicans fault (psst it is your own). Responsibility, the evil racist arch enemy of Liberals.
Another example of the GOP trying to take away American's rights. Keep the minorities and young out of the voting process and you have a lot of grumpy old people (GOP) voting for their candidates.
The last time Bill played the race card was in 2008 in South Carolina where he cost Hillary the Presidency. Why listen to him playing the race card now?
I did 21 years in the military. I had to register to vote at my "home of record" (where I lived at the time I joined the service). I voted absentee. There was no problem. It was so convenient that I still vote absentee. The only things keeping the allegedly "young, poor, and monorities" from voting are the "young, poor, and minorities." I suggest all you "young, poor, and minorites" find out what the voting laws really are iand how they pertain to you instead of listening to someone who's just trying to stir the bee hive. America has become the land of the free, and the home of the whiners. Very sad.
Same day registration , ex-cons given the right to vote , no ID requirements to vote ? Don't these kind of ideas just add to the probability that the process will be corrupted ? Opposing them is not only far from Jim Crow policies , but the sensible ,common sense thing to do . I don't want my vote negated by the vote of someone who is not properly registered , or has not provided proof that he is who he says he is . I am however still undecided about allowing ex -felons to re-acquire their right to vote . I'll have to get back to you on that one .
Nobody is keeping them from the polls, what a joke, some people just always think they're the victim.
Don't you love how he tries to flip it on Clinton with the comment about the Democrat's "Abysmal record of tax hikes"? Those tax hikes are on owners of corporate jets and people who make over $500,000 a year!
The likening to Jim Crowe is over-the-top and totally unnecessary.
College students – what's to stop them from voting at the college and voting absentee wherever their residency is? It makes no sense for an out-of-state student to vote in local elections. That's like letting any New Yorker that happens to be in California for some time on a job to vote in California elections and New York elections.
Convicted felons – I think it's interesting that Clinton is essentially saying that more convicted felons are Democrat. Boy, a lot of mileage can be made with a statement like that.
Same Day registration – I don't see any problem with it as long as the person in question can establish their bonafides on the spot and they can be verified.
ID at the polling place – Seriously, what is wrong with establishing the identity of the person that's voting? If a person can go to the trouble of registering to vote, they can go to the trouble of getting id.
Al Gore should have been elected President after Bill Clinton, what happened the election was stolen by the Republican's. Then the election in 2010 a lot of you voted for the Republicans, and look what happened to the teachers with there rights in collective bargining rights. Wake up people.
The proposals that are mentioned are very reasonable and certainly not "Jim Crow" type laws. For instance it's mentioned, "a proposal in New Hampshire that would prevent college students from registering to vote where they attend school, instead of where they are from originally." This should be done. Otherwise, you have college towns that can have their councils loaded with student protesters who have no concern with the community, only the current fad in politics. Who cares, they will be gone in a couple of years.
Next is "regulations preventing same-day registration and specifically referenced Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott's move to overturn a law that allowed convicted felons to vote after they completed their probation." Again, common sense should prevail. Same day registration would lead to the potential of very serious fraud. I'm not as concerned with the felons being able to vote after they complete their probation. They have done their time and served their punishment, so perhaps they should be allowed to vote.
The bottom line is this uproar is a political stunt by many Democrats to smear their opponents. Just the same o' same o' that they keep doing. I wish they would try to represent the people's best interest instead of their own political interests. Of course, the same could be said for all of the politicians.
How does making sure one is a citizen and therefore eligible to vote, somehow constitute racism? Is it because democrats want to bolster their votes with dead people, illegal immigrants, and felons (all of which they have been proved to do before?)
There is nothing wrong with making sure a person doesn;t vote 800 times in one day! There is nothing wrong with making sure only live people vote. There is nothing wrong with making sure people vote in only ONE state!
And yes republicans are setting themselves up to rig the coming elections , because in all reality they know they can't when in a fair election ....so what do they do ? Convince the Supreme Court to allow corporations to donate unlimited amounts of monies to our election process , enact laws to prevent minorities from voting , attack unions because they know thats a democratic voting block..........................if anyone can't see what the republican party is doing , then you are truely living in a bubble or your part of this racist grand scheme to keep the RACIST republican party............and if the show fit's wear it.......................
Sniffit
"The 2008 elections were riddled with voter fraud. Did you ever hear of ACORN?"
You are foolish.......this is not true this was a game the the REP was playing and they won. ACORN had their problems but not like you say......another way to stop voter from voting. When will the game stop and some people stop believing everthing the hear.
Sniffit
you got to much time on your hands
You tell 'em Bill. Darn Rethuglicans will stop at nothing to capture the White House in 2012! If they do, God help the poor and middle class. This has nothing to do with voter fraud. They can't win any other way. The people have their hypocritical number. Obama 2012!!
@MIke: "If the republicans are influencing election outcomes, and I'm not at all saying they are, then at least they do so in the full llight of day rather than in some dark liberal bastion courtroom like democrats do."
Riiiight, Republicans are paragons of virtue and goodness ...
@ZiggyOfAk
The intimidation is there: voter registration laws have penalties, and other than being turned away (which was the primary result of the Jim Crow laws), they could be jailed for "attempted voter fraud" if they show up and try to use "unacceptable" identification. Might be safer to just stay at home, Hmm?
While it might have been true years ago that the more marginal people could be discouraged from voting by making it less convenient, it remains to be seen whether this applies to Democrats today. Republicans may find that it is their own supporters, the demented elderly, the ignorant, the hyperreligious, the bigots, who can't be bothered to vote, since they hate the country anyway.
To eliminate voter fraud, a government ID is required. Get off their lazy butts and get one. Every state issues a non-driving state issued ID if you don't drive and don't have a driver's license. Get over it.
Republicans have zero morals, this is just classic republicanism: “Either way, such rhetoric is out of bounds.” This coming from the party who calls our president a nazi and communist. Please give me a break, when will those who blindly follow republicans get tired of this?
Florida is a pit of GOP corruption.
If you go there, bring weapons and bribe money.
Funny how the folks on the right love to cite ACORN as an example of "voter fraud," thereby proving their ignorance beyond a shadow of a doubt regarding how elections work in this country.
Groups like ACORN register voters; those registrations are then turned over to the state's Secretary of State for verification, which has the authority to put (or not) those voters on the rolls.
If a registration is fraudulent, then the voter never makes it to the roll and therefore cannot vote.
So a group can gather all the registrations it wants; that doesn't necessarily result in all those registrants being able to vote.
Make sense? If it doesn't, I suggest you spend some of your computer time going to your state's Secretary of State Web site and do a little research.
I'm from Illinois where the Dead outvote the living and I'm totally in support of moves to curb voter fraud. Voter fraud disenfranchises me by giving Party stooges the ability to nullify my vote.
It doesn't take much effort at all to get the credentials to vote. The same people who have no difficulty signing up for Social Security Benefits, Welfare Benefits, Food Stamps, Heating Assistance should not be able to complain that it is too hard to sign up to vote.
We are decades past Jim Crow and I think it is irresponsible of our retired President to suggest that by making sure people demonstrate that they are voting only once and in the right district that somehow that equates with Jim Crow.
In the 1870's & 80's we had the likes of the James Gang , Dalton Gang , Billy the Kid etc., in the 1920's & 30's we had Al Copone , Baby Face Nelson , Bonnie & Clyde etc., today we have the republican pary , all in the same boat.
Showing a valid ID is somehow disenfranchising blacks, poor whites & latinos? Wow, I didn't know these groups were too stupid to go down to the DMV and get an ID, but apparently they are.
The GOP is targeting students for voter disenfranchisement ... guess they're afraid of people who can actually think. Makes sense, given that you have to really be brain-dead to still believe that "trickle-down" economics works; that giving more tax cuts to the rich will result in job growth here in the US; that de-regulation results in a healthier economy; etc., etc., etc.
All of Republican economic, military and foreign policies are PROVEN FAILURES. Yep, you don't want to think about THAT too long ....
Bravo sniffit! I can't say more, although I will add that, ACORN was disbanded on dubious charges got on false pretex, infact the ACORN people were wrongly treated and the real culprit took credit for destroying them. Look, if the media didn't stand with Shirley Sherood she could have been treated the same way. Wake up America and say NO to Karl Rove,Breitbart's and co they are selling democracy through the back door and ushering in plutocracy through the main!!! Ladies and gentlemen before long we will be singing loyalty pledge to Dick Armey, Karl Rove, and the Koch brothers!!
Clinton is taking on the issues related to eligibility of individuals to vote which, while seemingly simple, can be complex. Creating unnecessary barriers to make it more complex for certain voters was the (successful) goal of Jim Crow laws. All laws that mandate administrative rules for voting eligibility need to be evaluated to make sure they are not intentionally or unintentionally disenfranchising any voter group.
In the meantime, if the Republicans really are concerned about the integrity of elections, they should sponsor legislation to limit corporate and union funding of campaigns.
Okay, let me get this straight; requiring voters to register prior to election day and supplying data to insure they are legal citizens is a BURDEN? Why? Regarding "young" voters, I'll bet they have no problems getting to the mall or the latest night club or parties. As for the "economically disadvantaged", I imagine they find a way down to the local social services to apply for whatever benefits for which they are eligible. Sounds like a pile of crap to me. On the other hand, registering and voting at the same time encourages fraud. I don't care what race (including white) you are, or your gender, sexual preference, religion, or political views you have, if you're too stupid or lazy to register prior to election day, you shouldn't be ALLOWED to vote.
Convicted felons who have completed all conditions of their sentence should not be denied the right to vote. provided their right to vote has been restored.
In regards to students, they should vote in the district where they hold a legal residence. If that means traveling back home to vote in person so be it. They always have the option of filling out an absentee ballot.
Very typical of the Dem party. I'm surprised he also didn't mention throwing grandma off of a cliff. That seems to be another favorite scare and hate tactic.
.
Thank goodness some attention is being paid to this , I have read some about what the GOP has done since the 2010 elections , the voting laws , education and womens rights are being drug through the dirt and no one seems to notice. We are going backwards not forward and it is being done on the down low by the GOP . Dems are known as progressive for a reason and now the GOP slogan 'take out country back" we know what they meant....back to the dark ages!
Anyone too stupid to have any type of photo id shouldn't be voting. They should be rounded up and shot.
He isn't called Slick Willie for no reason. Clinton is just trying to fire up the youngsters because he knows every vote is needed to keep his cronies afloat. I hope these young voters realize, by now, that they made a huge mistake when they followed the pied piper and voted for the hopey-changey Marxist Obama. Hitler loved using the youth for his wacko cause, also.
Stop comparing voting to buying alcohal. One is a right and one is a priveledge. If you are a registered voter then you are registered, end of story. As far as illegal immigrants voting and voter fraud, show me one example of proven voter fraud or illegal immigrants voting! You can't because it either doesn't happen at all, or in such a limiteded capacity that it makes little to no difference what so ever. The facts are the Republican party has a long history of manipulating who can vote and where and how to disenfranchise voters asnd areas that would traditionally vote democrat to make themselves more successful. Both sides gerrymander and that should stop as well, but it is republicans that talk about further restictions on the voting "population" that are Jim Crow esque in their ability to hit a certain group the hardest.
EdG;
You were making a valid point until you slipped into the lazy young people-going-to-the-mall, and the standard welfare slam. you also don't say how registering and voting at the same time encourages fraud: any examples that don't involve ACORN ( which were disproven)? Ideally, people would register to vote when the turn 18 and use absentee ballots when out of the district, but we know that does not always happen. You just sound like someone who believes whatever pile of crap is flung at you by FOX because its the easiest to swallow.
Why doesn't Bill Clinton just go away? And take Hilary with him. America is tired of the both of them.
aw.. the good old stand by if you want to use the race card, the Jim Crow law.
the degree in which the left have deluted the meaning of the word "racism" is sickening and shameful.
This has been a real concern of mine for several months after watching the 2010 elections , we have several GOP governors that are striping states of voting rights, union rights, and womens rights and people seem to be oblivious to it. They wanted to take out country back and they are , back to the dark ages.....wake up America , Dems are known as a progressive party for a reason.. Read some of the new voting laws and some new laws about controling womens rights and any normal person would have a great concern... This is not just a Democrat talking point , this is about freedoms we all are suppose to have!
The Tea Party would appear to be, at best, Libertarian–minimal government. At worst the Tea Party is the Confederacy Rising all over the Country with their States Rights vs. Federalist leanings. Maybe 42nd President Clinton's bringing forward Jim Crow will place the real focus on not only the disenfranchisement of the young but of any not of some wealth. This is a return to Jeffersonian politics of the landed. THIS is why studying history in school is important.
Typical liberal scare tactic. Democrats will are terrified that they will no longer be able to bring convicted felons and illegal aliens to the polling places to vote for their candidates.
I have no problem identifying myself as a registered voter. If you do have a problem with this, perhaps you should go back to where you came from.
what is wrong with asking for an ID before you can vote?
OK for all you smart people. How do you recommend the government ensure that only those who are legally eligible to vote get to cast a ballot.
So Bill Clintion gets a pass for saying convicted felons are mostly African American and Hispanic? Why? Dems are not progressive unless progressive means skirting the law and general kaos. I wish I were a dem so I could vote in different states in the same election
Leave it to a liberal to whine about Jim Crow laws that were enacted in the 1800's. Geez.
John K.
Typical liberal scare tactic. Democrats will are terrified that they will no longer be able to bring convicted felons and illegal aliens to the polling places to vote for their candidates.
I have no problem identifying myself as a registered voter. If you do have a problem with this, perhaps you should go back to where you came from.
@ John K.:
Right, convicted felons and illegal aliens are such a big voter bloc. Can we include Duke Cunningham, Tom DeLay, Bob Ney and Rupert "Hacker" Murdoch in that group? I have no problem representing myself as a registered voter, either: what do you suggest as further proof, DNA? Patdowns? Body-cavity searches? After all, you know how clever those liberals are, since they all eat, breathe and sleep voter registration fraud.
Idiot.
We wouldn't want to keep the illegals from voting now would we.
Just another Democrat attempt to demonize Republicans.
So it seems that liberals would rather win votes dishonestly through voter fraud, than insist that all voters produce photo ID. Maybe that's because they know they can't win any other way.
"to overturn a law that allowed convicted felons to vote after they completed their probation...Because most of them in Florida were African Americans and Hispanics and would tend to vote for Democrats, that's why."
Wow, that is a blatant racist comment right there. If a Republican EVER said that, you liberals on this board would be going out of your mind. Instead, posters like B somehow interpret that Republicans are the racists from this article. Amazing! I don't always agree with Republicans but they are right on this issue. There's nothing wrong with ensuring people have the proper identification and are registered in the right state to vote.
While Bill Clinton is capable of making important contributions to many discussions. Let us not forget his abilities also include very effective hyperbole. I can speak to the issue of where college students vote. Not all elections are national, there are important local issues that, that out of fairness, should be left to the permanent residents. This distinction is especially important in small college towns, where the student population is large, compared to that of the town. Students can register and cast absentee ballots where they legally reside, so they are not prevented from voting. This is a non issue, and injecting race into a discussion that includes in, is a red herring...and he knows it. Bill is a very smart guy, which is why he should be not cut any slack when he does things like this. It is no accident. He is simply being partisan, and I think, knowingly inaccurate.
He's an idiot. So we only want US citizens to vote- what is wrong with that?
I was driving before I could vote, I had served in the military before I could vote, both huge resonsibilities. Even then there was the outcry that if we were old enough to die for our country we ought to be old enough to vote. There are other hard to solve problems with the voting system. I think that the homeless should be allowed to vote, but how are they to be leglally registered? As for felons, we need a reclassification of felons. [1st, 2nd and 3rd degree]There are some really stupid offences classified as felonies that should be only a distamenor (spelled wrong) For instance: if a law officer caught you relieving yourself in a public place, even though you took efforts to conceal yourself, it is a felony. Believe it or not, it is classified as $exual crime} With very few exceptions, treason being one, voting rights should be restored to some felons that have paid their dues.
I don't necesarily agree that there should be "same day registration" that sounds like a potential red flag for ballot box stuffing and fraud. However, registration should be available for anyone with a legitmate ID of some kind or social security. A veteran homeless or not would have some kind of social security number and could use that. Not everyone should just walk off the street and be allowed to vote though. As for the felons, they committed the crime their right to vote is forfeited they shouldn't have done the crime. They should have taken their government classes more seriously.
Funny how they never want to be reminded of the oppression that black minorities suffered under. The only way to avoid history repeating itself is to NOT FORGET.
Asking someone to prove his or her identity before voting is completely reasonable and should be a requirement in all states. The practice has been upheld by the Supreme Court. What is really objectionable is letting in millions of illegal aliens and giving them a path to citizenship and lots of free services so that they can become future members of the Democratic party.
@Jamesnyc so it's okay to punish someone twice for the same mistake?
Bravo !!!Paul1st
"Clinton is taking on the issues related to eligibility of individuals to vote which, while seemingly simple, can be complex. Creating unnecessary barriers to make it more complex for certain voters was the (successful) goal of Jim Crow laws. All laws that mandate administrative rules for voting eligibility need to be evaluated to make sure they are not intentionally or unintentionally disenfranchising any voter group.
In the meantime, if the Republicans really are concerned about the integrity of elections, they should sponsor legislation to limit corporate and union funding of campaigns." YOU ROCKS Brilliant thoughts
Hmmm...Anyone care to look up the history of Jim Crow Laws? Which party supported and implemented them?
Are there any states that don't require you to show some sort of identification when you go vote? I don't believe there are. So what is wrong with having to show a state issued identification at the polling place? People are more than welcome to claim this is disenfranchising a certain age group or ethnicity but can you actually show HOW exactly they are being disenfranchised by this process? I have yet to hear a valid argument against this. Just wild claims by people such as Bill Clinton.
Clinton is absolutely correct on this. These laws are an explicit attempt to limit their opponents supporters from voting by targeting specific groups (like African or Mexican Americans). It's been going on for quite awhile and any supporter of these laws deserves to be labeled a bigot and a traitor.
My experience in absentee voting during my college years is that it is exceptionally easy if you put a slight amount of effort into it a couple weeks in advance of the election, something a very small percentage of my fellow students felt was important. My experience with it now is that it's even easier. Certainly someone who can graduate high school and get into college should be able to handle absentee voting.
Funny, one of the proposals being lofted is the requirment to prove citizenship before being allowed to vote. Note that Bill tap danced around that liitle land mine. He quietly ties those into his point by saying "laws across the country" but never addresses that program. I think many of these other laws are in repsonse to Democrats attempts to manipulate voting. Recall Sarah Slivermans' Great Schlep? She claims, and this is from the website that " And you schlepped on down and sat with Zadie. And because of you hundreds of thousands of Jews voted for Obama in Florida, more than making the difference in that state." Why doesn't anyone criticize efforts like that?
If they are old enough to and American enough to die in war, then they are old enough and American enough to vote. End of discussion!
Why should he apologize for telling the truth? Clinton's messaging needs to be driven home. The Republicans are showing their true colors more and more the closer it comes to election time the more mud they'll sling.