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Forum Post: A little Republican Racism AND Voter suppression info

Posted 11 years ago on Aug. 29, 2012, 9:42 p.m. EST by VQkag2 (16478)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/alan-clemmons-voter-id-law_n_1839375.html?ref=topbar

luke.johnson@huffingtonpost.com

Alan Clemmons, South Carolina Rep, Admits 'Poorly Considered' Reply To Racist Email On Voter ID Law

Posted: 08/29/2012 12:24 pm Updated: 08/29/2012 12:32 pm

WASHINGTON -- The principal sponsor for South Carolina's voter ID law expressed regret on Tuesday in federal court that he thanked a supporter for a racist email about the state's ID law.

Garrard Beeney, an attorney representing civil rights groups including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU, read Alan Clemmons, a South Carolina state representative who authored the state's voter ID law, an email sent from a supporter regarding the law in federal court on Tuesday. Clemmons acknowledged his somewhat positive response to what he called an email that "certainly" included "a shade of racism."

The email sent to Clemmons said, "I don't buy that garbage that if a poor black person or an elderly one, that these people won't be able to get one. You listen to that big racist (Jim) Clyburn and Harpootlian talk and they make it sound like these people are too stupid to get one." It was sent by Ed Koziol and referring to African-American Rep. James Clyburn and the Democratic Party Chariman for South Carolina, Dick Harpootlian.

The email continued, saying that all the state legislature would have to do is give "a hundred dollar bill away if you came down with a voter ID card, and you would see how fast they got voter ID cards with their picture."

"It would be like a swarm of bees going after a watermelon," read the email.

In response to the email, Clemmons acknowledged that he wrote, "Amen, Ed. Thank you for your support of voter ID." Clemmons said his words were a "poorly considered response," written from an iPhone. When asked if he should have considered getting into a debate over the "swarm of bees" comment, Clemmons said, "I didn't think it was the time nor the place" to do so.

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU are joining the U.S. Justice Department to challenge the legality of South Carolina's 2011 voter ID law, which requires voters to show one of five forms of ID and which some believe is targeted at African-American and minority voters. The law is currently under examination in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which will determine if it violates the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

During the cross-examination on Tuesday, Beeney read several of Clemmons' email exchanges. In a response to a Tea Party leader's email, Clemmons allegedly wrote, "We thought we saw a great deal of bused liberals and fraudulent early votes in the 2008 election."

Clemmons said he has "no objection" to anyone riding a bus to the polls, but rather was against "homogeneous groups that all decide that they are going to vote with an excuse that they can't be there on election day."

Clemmons later admitted he had no proof of anyone riding a bus to the polls and or casting ballots fraudulently.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) signed the voter ID law, requires voters to show a driver's license, passport, military ID, DMV-issued photo ID, or photo ID issued by the local board of elections. Under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department reviews election laws in states with a history of racism. South Carolina voters without ID are 20 percent more likely to be black, and one-third of registered minority voters do not have a driver's license, according to the DOJ.

Paul Clement, former President George W. Bush's solicitor general who is defending the law, maintains that it doesn't place a burden on minority voters. Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has dismissed concerns that voters without ID will be harmed. “Find me those people that think that this is invading their rights,” she said in November 2011, “and I will go take them to the DMV myself and help them get that picture ID.” Haley assailed President Barack Obama for the DOJ decision in her convention speech Wednesday night.

Beeney later asked Clemmons if he remembered handing out a bag of peanuts with a card attached that read, "Stop Obama’s nutty agenda and support voter ID." Clemmons said he didn't recall the event, but Beeney read a June deposition in which he did.

Beeney also read a tweet Clemmons sent after the U.S. Justice Department denied preclearance to the voter ID law that read, "Are you surprised Obama justice/Eric Holder/Jesse Jackson ignore U.S. Supreme Court in killing voter ID." Clemmons eventually admitted that he doubted Jackson had any role in the denial of preclearance.

Clemmons said the notion that the purpose of the law was to make it more difficult for African Americans and Democrats to vote was "offensive."

Another witness, South Carolina Election Commission Executive Director Marci Andino, admitted that the voter ID law could not prevent voter fraud, and that she had never seen a case of credible in-person fraud.

She also said that it was "possible" that every voter would have a "reasonable impediment" -- an exception built into the law -- to vote without an ID, since if the law is implemented there will be such a short time to acquire IDs before Election Day

68 Comments

68 Comments


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[-] 4 points by ogoj11 (263) 11 years ago

My sources down here in Carolina tell me a compromise is in the works on Voter ID. Voters who show up without proper ID will be allowed to cast their votes if they're on the rolls, but.....such votes will only count as 3/5 of a vote.

Both parties are endorsing this historic compromise which honors the wisdom of the founding fathers.

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[-] 3 points by ogoj11 (263) 11 years ago

Sigh....VQ, chill dude, dems are allowed to have a sense of humor. My joke is in support of your campaign against the racism of voter ID laws.

Look... I promise to laugh at your jokes. Please laugh at mine. And, if you're feeling conciliatory, post some of your comments on Occupy Raleigh's forum. You'd be reaching a new audience (he said encouragingly).

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

My bad.

Ha Ha!

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Republican racists?

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[-] 4 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Repubs are avoiding bumping this up!

Thanks

[-] 1 points by throaway (57) 11 years ago

Au Contraire, VQ....I've stumbled into a plethora of articles tonite that refute your nonsense....

We all know how open-minded the left is, right? I mean, they're all for equality. Certainly no one among them is a racist, right?

And yet they seem perennially obsessed about skin color. And religion.

That is, if the candidate is conservative.

Check out this Wolf Blitzer interview with Mia Love.

Ms. Love talks about limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Blitzer acts like he's deaf and talks about abortion.

Ms. Love talks about the common values we share as Americans, not as splintered demographic groups. Blitzer talks about how she'll have two colleagues in Congress. Why two? Because there are two other black Republican congressmen? In Blitzer's world, only they will get to be her colleagues. Talk about patronizing and insulting.

And of course, what interview could go by, even among the briefest of interviews, without zeroing in on religion. Mormonism to be precise. Because we all know the media did not and will not delve into black liberation theology or how our president spent his formative years informed by the tenets of Islam.

The liberal media remains frozen in time, consumed by skin color, selectively concerned about religion, and strangely focused on gender. And per the latter, why is it (as evidenced in this interview and so many others) that the media harps about how Romney has captured less of the female vote compared to Obama, yet pay no attention to the fact that Obama captures less of the male vote?

Wait! Let me guess! Because men are evil. Whereas women are precious victims whose vote is more valuable because of their special status.

Let's win in November and watch the media spin that.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/08/the_open-minded_left.html#ixzz256aIalxc

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/08/the_open-minded_left.html#ixzz256a0t0XP

[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

You make a great argument against the MSM and Wolf Blitzer.

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[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Oh well. I guess I can't please everyone.

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[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Agreed! And I think whether they are repelicans or Anarchists their positions on the issues is what matters to me.

Repelicans never have the position that benefits the 99%, They always support the 1%.

Anarchists I believe supportthe 99% and do not support the 1%. I can't say I can tell you WHO an anarchist is here, or exactly what position they hold. Since they aren't very clear on who they are and what the support I don't pay them much mind.

I'm gonna keep pushing the issues I think should be pushed, And challenging the lies when I see them.

Peace. Zenster

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[-] -1 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

If porn, which hurts no one, gets rated X and is restricted from minors, why in the hell do hate-mongering RW propagandists, who incite all sorts of violent acts societal ignorance, get to broadcast freely with no restrictions and total impunity?? Wake up people!! Rush belongs with Wally George and Morton Downey Jr!!

[-] 4 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Talk radio is mostly owned by right wing tool clear channel. Time to break up all media conglomerates!

[-] -1 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

And apply fair rating and restrictions. What do you think the RW would do if we had LW hate radio inciting murders, terrorism and ignorance??

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

They'de be sqealin like stuck pigs

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[-] 5 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

LoL. That would be a sight.

But we don't actually need "to stoop so low, to reach so high"

[-] -1 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

People often can't appreciate a problem until it smacks them personally right square in the face... or ass!

[-] 4 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Yeah. you're right. Things usually have to get bad for many people before they are awoken from their hotdog/tv slumber.

"bread & circuses" man, The Romans knew how to control the masses 2000 years ago.

[-] 0 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

...and religion before that.

[-] 4 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Oh repubs excel at misusing religion to control some masses. There should be a law against it.

[-] 0 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

They're getting quite a run out of it. Religion should be banned from all forms of government.

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Y'know! I thought it was. Start putting some of these dishonest politicians when they misuse it.

And I think it is time that churches started paying property tax at least.

I mean enough already! Greedy,selfish, bastards!

[-] 2 points by bensdad (8977) 11 years ago

I do not like censorship, but do we really need to envision violence to make our point?

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[-] 2 points by bensdad (8977) 11 years ago

I'm really not a fan of censorship
But if we severed the jugular that pumps money from wall street to washington,
we could elect a government that WILL break up what ruppert paid politicians forl

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[-] 1 points by bensdad (8977) 11 years ago

dont insult morton!

[-] -2 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

Ah but, the term "racist" really seems to bother them, like holy water on a vampire!! The delight from their pain is exquisite!! We should tattoo it on their foreheads or lock it around their necks like a burning tire, and watch'em run around like headless chickens!! Did you see all those racists at the Racist CONvention? Amazing!!

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[-] 2 points by werone (-37) 11 years ago

...why we got to get'em registered and Voting!

Better vote, people, the Racists are coming! The Racists are coming!

[-] 1 points by throaway (57) 11 years ago

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh attacked MSNBC on his program today after listing a series of words that the cable news network has determined to be racially coded defamations of President Barack Obama. “You know what we call people obsessed with race? Racists,” said Limbaugh. “Really what we have here is blatant bigotry and racism on this network of holier-than-thou liberals.”

You didn't enjoy the video I posted in this thread, but you can read Rush's full analysis of your pathetic, baseless charges here:

http://nation.foxnews.com/rush-limbaugh/2012/08/30/rush-slams-msnbc-you-know-what-we-call-people-obsessed-race-racists

[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

pointing out racism is not racism!

Rush Limbaugh is just a drug addict, sexist, racist, bad entertainer.

Why anyone listens to him seriously is a mystery

[-] 2 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

Liberals ..keeping racism alive. They wallow in it...shriek it, and promote it on a daily basis

[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Pointing out racism is not racism.

I know all republicans aren't racists, but aren't all racists republicans?

[-] 2 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

Exactly... I am pointing out liberal racism.... which makes you a racist

[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Please. Give it a rest. You're not kiddin anyone with that twisted logic.

[-] 1 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

Liberal Racists always react like that. It's your motto.

"Keep racism alive"

[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Racists keep racism alive. Are you a racist?

[-] -3 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

http://occupywallst.org/forum/its-not-about-race/

It's more about (R)epelican'ts keeping it alive.

[-] 0 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

Quit the lame excuse .... everyone is equal in the workplace. It's a fucking lie.

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

What lame excuse?

Could you be more specific?

What do you mean by everyone is equal in the workplace, and what workplace are you talking about?

[-] -1 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

There is NO institutional racism in corporate America. It does NOT exist. Liberals just use it as an excuse for people who can't do the job.

[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

You are delusional!

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

There are of course, many who would disagree with that observation.

In particular, those on the receiving end of the racism.

http://worldwideinterweb.com/contact/item/264-25-shocking-examples-of-corporate-racism.html

[-] 0 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

Oh yea. In boardrooms around the country....CEO's always tell their managers..."don't hire any of those no good negroes. And please try and fire as many as possible, so we can hire more white people."

You fucking idiots. it's YOU who wish to keep racism alive, because it empowers you. Jessie and Rev Al are nothing more that Extortionists, looking another incident to protest while shrieking ..."no justice ...no peace".

Meanwhile they look the other way while Blacks are murdering blacks by the hundreds everyday. That's okay with them. But let ONE white guy kill a black guy, and it's time for outrage.

[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago
[-] -1 points by oneandone (-67) 11 years ago

You can choke on those articles.. I work in corporate America...I don't have to read about it like public service liberals like you

[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago
[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

Not reading is likely why you seem so predisposed. as to make such asinine statements in the first place.

If you can't, or won't read, please refrain from making such asinine statements.

They are helpful to no one, including yourself.

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[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Pretty ridiculous.

[-] 2 points by throaway (57) 11 years ago

Yup, you liberals sure are! You say all conservatives are racists, and that video makes your ;point!

[-] 0 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Just bad entertainment. nothing honest about it.

Elect progressives, Vote out anti immigrant, anti LGBT, anti minority republicans.

[-] 1 points by DebtNEUTRALITYpetition (647) 11 years ago

"It would be like a swarm of bees going after a watermelon,"

lol, that doesn't even make sense. Do bees go after watermelons?

I can't stand that african americans get all the credit for liking watermelons, I love watermelons and would happily be accused of being a watermelon lover, but I'm not african american (as least not in recent generations) so I never get watermelon love.

I LOVE WATERMELON. And as global warming continues, you will too.

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

"African Americans get all the credit for liking watermelon"? What does that mean.?

[-] 2 points by DebtNEUTRALITYpetition (647) 11 years ago

That was the racist comment of the article that was linked to. I think people who think another race likes something too much should just find something that they like too much and quit worrying about what other races like.

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

I don't think it's about "liking watermellon". but ok I think we've run this thread pretty ragged.

[-] 1 points by DebtNEUTRALITYpetition (647) 11 years ago

That was what made the comment you cited racist, the reference to watermelons.

[-] 3 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Racism is a disease! Is the tea party racist?

[-] 1 points by DebtNEUTRALITYpetition (647) 11 years ago

Have we gotten off point. The quote from the article that apparently was racist was..."It would be like a swarm of bees going after a watermelon,"

[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

So then the tea party is racist? I don't understand.

[-] 1 points by DebtNEUTRALITYpetition (647) 11 years ago

Whomever it was who said it probably does not speak for all tea party members, but rather for themselves. I think making fun of any group for liking something, especially if that thing is legal, is small minded.

I would suggest the person who said the bees after watermelon comment was small minded.

However, as a public service announcement, insects such as bees and ants get thirsty during the summer months, why don't we ever have empathy for their plight?

[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

We should have empathy for all living things.

"we got rats on the west side, bedbugs uptown,

what a mess, this town in taters

I mean shattered"

[-] -1 points by Karlin (350) from Nelson, BC 11 years ago

"voter suppression" and Robocalls is something this Canadian knows about, with our scandal unfolding here but as usual the Canadian experience is so lightweight compared to the election fraud in the USA. Get this - the Harper Conservative party Robocalled voters they knew were not going to vote for them and simply told them their polling station had moved, or gave wrong directions on how to get to their polling stations!! LOLLLL. I don't know if anyone actually fell for it, lots of people caught on right away and hung up.

But the point is that it is pretty blatant. Democracy is dead with Conservatives in power {i.e. "Republicans"}. They are such hypocrits in both Canada and the USA, they talk religion and democratic principles but are totally evil sonsabeeches. Hey, thats the "Satan in Christ Clothing" the bible talks about eh?

[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Sounds about right. I think the difference is that conservatives don't care for anyone but themselves, while progressive consider everyone.

Seems obvious to me.

[-] 1 points by Karlin (350) from Nelson, BC 11 years ago

yup, in fact that is their silly Randroid philosophy - that unbridled greed inspires people to do their best and work hard.

Mindnumbing eh? As if there is no other motivation for doing our best - heck, I find that "doing my best" is it's own reward {read Persig "The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"}

[-] 4 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

That is an interesting source of philosophy. I'm sure valuable. And we need to motivate people with something else certainly.

I agree.

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[-] 2 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

Offensive.

[-] -3 points by repubsRtheprob (1209) 11 years ago

Bastards