Mitch McConnell drafts plan to prevent poor, black, and elderly from voting in 2008
Matt Gunterman May 24th, 2007
Senator Mitch McConnell is so frightened by the thumping that Republicans are going to get at the hands of voters in 2008 that he’s willing to disenfranchise major sections of the American electorate just to prevent people he considers to be “undesirables” from voting (those undesirables would be anyone who votes for Democrats).
The oversight of the Bush administration that Democrats are providing in the Congress these days has all but paralyzed Karl Rove’s agenda to disenfranchise these same people, so McConnell has undoubtedly agreed to take up the Republicans’ broader plan to limit their electoral losses by limiting who can vote in 2008.
Here’s what the president of the National League of Women Voters in a press release had to say about McConnell’s tragic effort to undermine democracy.
PRESS RELEASE
League of Women Voters President Denounces Voter ID Amendment
WASHINGTON, May 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — National League president Mary G. Wilson today strongly denounced an amendment proposed by Senator Mitch McConnell (R KY) that would require all voters to show photo ID at the polls beginning January 1, 2008.
“Senator McConnell’s amendment represents a cheap political trick to keep legal, eligible voters out of the electoral process. Photo ID requirements disproportionately stifle the voices of people of color, the elderly, young people, and others. By tying a photo ID requirement to an already-contentious immigration bill, Senator McConnell is merely attempting to rouse the fears of the American people right before the beginning of one of the most patriotic American holiday weekends.”
“This type of political manipulation has absolutely no place in American democracy.”
“This amendment demonstrates that some lawmakers have become shameless in their efforts to manipulate the election process AND the hearts and souls of the American people for political gain. Our nation has spent most of the last century breaking down barriers to citizen voter participation and the right to vote,” concluded Wilson. “League members will continue to do what it takes to protect eligible voters from new, discriminatory obstacles in the 21st Century and we hope that the silent majority in this country will join us in denouncing tactics such as this.”
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages.
League of Women Voters
CONTACT: Maggie Duncan of League of Women Voters, +1-202-263-1332, mduncan@lwv.org Web site: http://www.lwv.org/
