A political news story that puts a smile on my face? Every once in a while. The Pennsylvania judge suspending the new voter ID law did just that.
When you look at the law requiring identification to vote, it seems like a good idea. They use the argument, “Hey, you need ID to buy booze, why not to vote?” Makes sense, right?
Not when you really think about it.
One of the most accepted forms of identification is a drivers license. And not everyone has one. Poor people who don’t drive usually don’t. The elderly who stopped driving a long time ago don’t either. And last time I checked, poor people and the elderly still have the right to vote.
The PA law allowed for people to get special ID cards so they could vote in this election. The judged ruled that the law shouldn’t be enforced for the November election. It is just five weeks away – which isn’t enough time for people to get their ID cards.
I hope that GOP Pennsylvania State Representative, Mike Turzai, is crying into his beer tonight. He was shameless when talking about the success of voter suppression. Watch for yourself:
The GOP has made it perfectly clear with their voter suppression laws that they don’t want those who usually vote Democrat to be able to vote.
Daryl Metcalfe, the GOP Pennsylvania State Representative who sponsored the bill before it became law said,
Justice Simpson’s final decision is out of bounds with the rule of law, constitutional checks and balances for the individual branches of state government, and most importantly, the will of the people. Rather than making a ruling based on the constitution and the law, this judicial activist decision is skewed in favor of the lazy who refuse to exercise the necessary work ethic to meet the commonsense requirements to obtain an acceptable photo ID…Justice Simpson and the Corbett administration have chosen to openly enable and fully embrace the ever-increasing entitlement mentality of those individuals who have no problem living off the fruits of their neighbors’ labor.
Dang, don’t hold back now! Tell us how you really feel. I could dissect all that and show how he’s mistaken, but I don’t feel like it tonight.
So, on to happy things. I liked the statement from the Obama campaign:
“Today’s decision means one thing for Pennsylvanians: eligible voters can vote on Election Day, just like they have in previous elections in the state. The right to vote and choose our leaders is at the heart of what it means to be an American. The President and his campaign are committed to making sure that every eligible voter, regardless of party, has the ability to make their voices heard and participate in the electoral process.”
If you are eligible to vote and choose to exercise that right, nothing should stop you. You might be a PBR-guzzling, NASCAR-watching, gun show-attending Conservative. Or you might be a Chai tea-sipping, circle drumming, non meat-eating Liberal. Or anything in between those two stereotypical extremes. Bottom line:
You have the right to be heard.
Spinny Liberal 