GOP Congressman Jokes About Pro-Obama Vote Suppression

As the McCain campaign and allied Republicans protest loudly over voter registration efforts by groups like ACORN, it is important to note the subtext of their remonstration.

The allegation of widespread "voter fraud" is a fraud itself -- such activity is "actually less likely to occur than lightning striking a person, according to data compiled by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice."

Indeed, the current Fox News/talk radio hysterics are as much about distracting voters and enraging the conservative base as anything.

Sometimes those intentions aren't even that well disguised. During an event at the National Press Club just last week, Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia was asked whether the Republican Party had any strategy for trying "to keep those new voters who might be voting for Obama from in fact continuing on down the ballot." His seemingly tongue-in-cheek answer - "Well you're talking about voter suppression and we would never do anything along that line" - actually engendered hearty laughs.

It is, to some extent, difficult to determine how much Davis was trying to make light of the question as opposed to sarcastically riffing on GOP strategy. But his follow up line seems equally telling: "I think it's fair to say we're not going to spend any money educating them on what they need to do, but that's what you do in these kind of elections."

It is a perfectly fair take but one that seems at odds with the McCain's stated position on the need to protect and help people vote.

Comments

[testerwebbdemocrat]

Shut up & sit down, porky. Youre in the minority for the rest of our lives.

Republican - its whats for dinner = 19 days

[jubal8]

Why do these Republicans dishonor our military men and women, past and present, who have fought, bled and died to protect our freedoms, our democracy and our right to vote?

[FuturePrez]

Aren't these usually the same districts in which a greater percentage of our military professionals come from?

[shanefish]

After watching it the second time, I kinda got what he was trying to say, but man did any of these people read their talking points this election? I swear it's like they're "shooting from the hip".

[StillIRise]

Republicans literally believe that our democracy relies on minimal voter participation, and I have no doubt that they believe that voter suppression is their moral responsibility for the good of our nation.

They also fail to recognize that voter REGISTRATION fraud - which ACORN has voluntarily brought to light - is not the same as voter/election fraud, the kind of fraud Republicans have mastered to steal elections on election day. Such as denying legitimate voters the right to vote, throwing legitimate votes out, fixing machines, creating situations in which broken machines and long lines discourage voters, etc. I'm sure that it was this kind of fraud that the Republican audience at the Press Club were laughing about when Rep. Davis made his joke.

[catzoned]

Because of voter apathy elections result in the minority setting governmental agendas and outcomes of the majority.

[UnderdogSRD]

Ha, ha, ha, yes we stole the last two elections isn't that funny. It's not like the guy complete screwed up the country or anything..... ignore all the illegal activity, the constitution, gas prices, and the economy...

It will be very interesting to see the results. Compare the number of down ticket democratic votes with the votes for Obama and we'll be able to see where Repugs and their cronies stole votes. If the numbers don't add up and McCain is the 'winner' it will be another coup d'etat.

[NJmikeV]

Like Dubya said "Fool me once shame on you. Fool me again .....er...umm....We won't get fooled again" America is tired of this Rovian crap.

Contribute (no matter how small). Volunteer. Write your editor. Call your TV and radio stations. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Get out the vote.

[feo]

Just show the clip in which McCain tells ACORN that they are what America is all about.

[maxfax]

I'm suprised that more people are not outraged about Republicans working to suppress the votes of Americans. This thread should have triple the posts.

[catzoned]

It should be a headline and topic along with solutions on how to deal with it if one encounters it on election day.

[ENOS]

At least in the last two elections the Dems waited until after there was an actual reason to call a recount!

[TheAlchemist]

I don't get it. Last presidential election it was the Dems railing about election fraud. This election the Repubs are railing about voter fraud.

It seems to me that Both Parties should have an interest in eliminating both Election & Voter Fraud in EVERY election.

And Both Parties should have a great interest in fostering more participation in every election.

Democracy Requires Participation.

[doctordoubt]

It does seem they can't stand the idea of a Gentleman President. We'v ehad cowboy bob for so long, and they like being able to manipulate him.

[Emlyn]

The Republicans are screaming about voter fraud because they are losing.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Different kind of voter fraud.
GOPper fraud is preventing voters from voting.
Dem fraud is registering voters who are dead, or fictional, or the same one several times.

In the GOP case, it increases the per cent of GOPpers voting.

In the Dem case, it does nothing to increase the Dem vote. Dead people and fictional people will not show up to vote. And it most places, multiple same names at the same address are caught by the poll workers.

[soithoni]

Third sentence: "Dem fraud is registering voters who are dead, fictional... etc."

It's not to be blamed on the Democrats. And it's not registering voters. It's TRYING to register voters who are fraudulent. Besides that, ACORN reports attempted registration fraud that they find. This wouldn't have come up at all if ACORN wasn't honest and reported what they've seen. Nobody fraudulent is getting registered to vote, because county clerks are verifying each voter by name and address before an actual registration occurs. Nobody fraudulent will vote (not any more than in any other state - it's a very low percentage, and can't be helped - it's like 1 in 1000 registrations).

It's all a smoke screen of the Republicans, making an issue out of absolutely nothing. Fake outrage. Fake story.

[Passenger57]

Here it is,Alchemi­st...what'­s going on with ACORN now is just Repubs blowing smoke and laying the foundation for their whining when Obama wins : "ACORN did it!". "Obama has a connection to ACORN!" "Womp-womp­wompWOMPwo­mp!"
Registration fraud doesn't affect the vote - Mickey Mouse isn't having his vote taken away.
Election fraud is the scary one ; this is what the Repubs do when ,as in the last election,when someone pushed the button for Kerry and the machine registered a vote for Bush.Or when all the busted machines end up in Democratic-voting areas of a city,long lines develop,and then those in line are told to go home because the polling place is closed.Or when someone goes to vote and they're told that they're on some "list" and can't vote at all.
The Republicans DEFINITELY have an interest in supressing the vote - because their man can't win without it.
"If [they] talk about the issues, [they're] going to lose".

[lagumbo]

Thugs won't tell you their methods of cheating.Davis proved that. But he will see who gets the last laugh.

[catzoned]

(reposting for those who missed it) Used in past elections by the Republican Party to disenfranchise poorer citizens, minorities, college students away at school, or servicemen and women away at war, "voter caging" entails sending mass mailings to certain (unwanted or Democratic) voters and then using the undelivered letters as evidence to take them off the official voter rolls or to compile lists of voters for eligibility challenges.
For more info go to:
http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2007/12/voter_caging_reprehensible_une.html

There are many links on Google search and the PBS show, Now, has done several shows about voter suppression/caging. “…the Republicans don’t deny they were assembling “caging” lists. They just say it wasn’t illegal.” From: http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/330.html

More shows on voter suppression/caging:
http://www.pbs.org/search/search_results.html?q=voter+caging

[fireW]

Of course republicans consider undermining the democratic process to be worthy of a joke. Their "values" are even more of a joke, but the fact that they continue to masquerade as the true defenders of the faith is the biggest joke of all . . . .

[RRonin]

In a REAL Democracy citizens would automatically be registered voters and the burden of proof that anyone was NOT qualified to vote would be on the government, not the other way around!

[yhgtup]

Wow!! That little short, chunky lady had the nerve to suggest cheating! Listen people, Repubs are called "Rethugs' for a reason. D-U-H!! If Barack is leading through-out the night on Nov 4, Rethugs & MSM will already begin to talk about voter fraud. If Barack wins, you had better believe there is going to be some "shiggerty" by Rethugs. If the race is close, Rethugs are going to 'steal it', AGAIN!! You think they won't?? They stole the presidency from a white man ------ what in the he** do you think they'll do to a black man??

Anyway, you folks need to be participating in early voter registration rallies in your cities this weekend & next. Volunteer with the campaign to haul people to the polls for early voting or on election day.

DO YOUR PART!!!!!!!! Don't get caught with your head up your as* on Nov 5, wondering what more you could have done to help, if, for some bizarre reason, Barack doesn't win.