Last night, we watched Willard Mitt Romney give another lackluster speech following his victory in Arizona and extremely slim win in Michigan. Once again devoid of passion, it was as if he was reading someone else's words without any clear vision of what his platform would be in office. At the same time, you had Rick 'I don't believe in higher education' Santorum give his own speech as if he didn't lose yesterday. And whether it was Romney or Santorum speaking, it's important to note that neither mentioned the other by name last night, indicating therefore that they're in it for the long haul. The truth is, it really doesn't matter who becomes the eventual GOP nominee because all of the contenders and the Republican Party as a whole have proved that they would indeed like to take the country back -- back to a time when systematic maneuvers suppressed the votes of people of color and the marginalized. While they try to regress us back, we must do something today for the sake of our collective future.
From March 4-9th, my organization, National Action Network, will partner with congressional leaders, activists and everyday citizens as we once again make the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. We will begin at the Edmund Pettus Bridge this Sunday, march at least 10 miles per day, stay in tents along Route 80, convene rallies and teach-ins along the way, and finally gather in front of the Alabama State Capitol on Friday, March 9th. After the state of Alabama passed the most draconian anti-immigration legislation, and at least 31 states now have voter ID laws on the books, we must take immediate action if we hope to preserve any notion of progress.
The Selma to Montgomery March consisted of three different marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. Beaten with billy clubs and attacked with tear gas, it was the third march which lasted five days that made it to Montgomery after soldiers from the Army, members of the Alabama National Guard (under federal command), FBI agents and federal marshals eventually protected the demonstrators. It was because of these marches, and the national and international attention they garnered that Congress rushed to enact legislation that would protect voting for all Americans. It was called the Voting Rights Act, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law later that year on August 6, 1965.
It's amazing that almost 50 years after this historic legislation was enacted that we now find ourselves under attack yet again. After countless sacrifices -- including many people of all races that literally gave their lives for equality -- we are watching the very gains we achieved being slowly and covertly stripped away. It's important to remember that our Selma to Montgomery March next week isn't about the past, however -- it's about the future. Your future, my future, our children's future and the future of this very nation. Without any validation, individual states are passing these strict voter ID laws that are clearly designed to disenfranchise the poor, people of color, the elderly and young folks. Instead of allowing utility bills and other items that were used for years as appropriate forms of ID for voting, supporters of these new laws would like nothing more than to discourage people from participating. Rather than making the process easier and open to all, they are working diligently on finding new ways to suppress the vote.
The state of Alabama is where the civil rights movement found its heart. Today, when voter ID laws have crept into dozens of states, and one of the toughest and most reprehensible anti-immigration bills passed in Alabama, we will gather once again in the deep South and march. Congressman John Lewis, who helped lead the march in '65 will join us, as will leaders from across the country. To learn how to participate in the Selma to Montgomery March, please visit nationalactionnetwork.net.
Whether you march along this historic route with us, or help organize buses, or participate in any fashion, make sure you do something. We have fought far too long and sacrificed far too much to allow anyone to repeal justice. Say no to voter suppression and anti-immigration laws. Let's remind the world once again what's at stake here. It's time to go back to the future: all roads lead to Selma on Sunday.
Follow Rev. Al Sharpton on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheRevAl
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 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
In the beginning, in some of these States, there was not a problem with voter ID fraud. Voters, who were Black, White, Red, Green or Yellow, were able to go to the polls without an ID. They cast their ballots and went on their merry way. People in those States had been voting without IDs for numerous of years. But wait. Along comes a man who decides to throw his hat into the game of presidential nominees. ome people (like me) thought he didn’t have a snowball's chance, but he won! He wins and finds favor with SOME of The People.
There never was a problem with voter ID fraud, but some genius stepped in and said, "Let's fix a problem we don't have."
The thought of fixing something that wasn't flawed, was created to stop the newcomer from winning reelection.
Although I receive backlash from some Whites when I post in your favor . . . you're still the man! : )
I support your efforts whatever they may be because you are a sharp thinker on a higher mission.
Next month, I will have been mullato\Negro\colored\black\African American for 75 years (LOL). I was born in rural Missisissippi. The midwife who delivered me and my four siblings was able to get official birth certificates created for each of us. Matter of fact, the birth certificates were required when we entered grade school. I live in Texas now and I strongly support the voter ID requirement.
Whats really funny is that this quote wasn't about Obama.
lol : ) Love that . . . good laugh!
Because there are many people of color and of a certain age who are unable to obtain their birth records because when they were born no records of births for people of color were been kept. That is one reason.
STANDING BY PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2012
United We Stand, Divided We Fail
STANDING BY PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2012
United We Stand, Divided We Fail
open a bank account,
apply for a new credit card,
buy liquor,
buy a smoke,
rent a hotel room,
get married,
buy a house,
rent an apartment,
geez....the list goes on and on.
But it is not ok to ask someone to show ID when they vote?
Who is discriminating against whom?
Anyone can get an identification card for free. But if they are, say, an illegal immigrant, they would perhaps have just that much more reason to want to escape from their ==own== "they're not here" form of (racial, and even human) discrimination.
Let us acknowledge together that the Hispanic people, whose forefathers were here all the time, face discrimination and abuse which is equal to or worse than that faced by the descendents of those who were brought here from Africa! If a march is to be held, let it be held for them also.
Meanwhile: how did laws like Jim Crow get on the books in the first place? Well, they were voted in. Or, more properly, they were voted in by people who were voted in. Or, were they? It is a matter of history that the number of votes that were supposedly cast in those days outnumbered the number of voters by a considerable amount. The boxes were being stuffed. People travelled systematically to every precinct and voted repeatedly in every one. We know this to be true.
Therefore,you =should= be marching for: 100% IDENTIFICATION of, =and= registration of, =and= turnout of, every lawfully registrable voter, especially among the "people of EVERY color." Because IDENTIFICATION, not(!) the lack thereof, is what will protect them.
I am opposed to the restrictive laws, but I would be more in favor of a national voting ID cards as Mexico has. The real benefit of such a card would be that we would get rid of the massive fraud the GOP has going for it since many if not most of their voters vote more than once in multiple states. Unfortunately, such multiple voting fraud can be easily done with the current laws. A national voter ID would make this impossible.
What country do you live in?
Who ever you are you have kept me laughing all morning. : ) You are a sharp thinker! : )
If these goofballs can't keep track of something as important as an id how in the devil do you expect them to keep track of their ballot? Trust me, you are not going to be happy when you realize that some of them pick their candidates using the same thought process that they use when they pick their ponies. "I'm voting for Mitt Romney because my granny knitted me mittens when I was a kid and I loved them mittens"