Guest Blogged by Congressman John Conyers, Cross-Posted at ConyersBlog
I have spent my more than 40 years in public service fighting for voting rights and a better democracy. Today, I am sad to say, there are proposals being made that would set us back in that struggle. A privately funded, unaccountable Commission organized by former Bush-Cheney campaign lawyer James Baker, III, and former President Jimmy Carter issued a report today that includes policy proposals that will disenfranchise over ten percent of eligible voters — a national ID requirement to vote. I need your help to fight this 21st Century poll tax today.
The simple fact is that many minority and poor voters do not have the time, money or need to purchase a drivers license. In fact, over ten percent of eligible voters in the last election did not have a photo ID. They vote by presenting other means of identification (a voter registration card, utility bill, or affidavit). This Commission is now asking Congress to deny the franchise to those voters unless they get a national ID card. The Commission makes the implausible claim that, in these times of a multibillion dollar war in Iraq and multibillion dollar restoration of the Gulf Coast, the Congress will pay for ID cards for those who cannot afford to buy them. We know this is not going to happen.
Even if you are not among these vulnerable populations, this affects you. The institution of a National ID card has throughout our history been the tool of every despotic regime the world has known. This recommendation, coupled with the Commission’s recommendation of interoperable data bases of voters, is the first step toward data bases of American citizens.
Make no mistake about it, this national ID voting card is more of the same old Ken Blackwell-style Republican electoral dirty tricks, where Democratic voters are deliberately disenfranchised so that Republicans can win elections. Remember the lack of voting machines in Ohio for Democratic voters? Remember the machines that broke down or registered strange numbers of votes for George Bush or unknown third party candidates? Remember Ken Blackwell’s paper weight requirements for voter registration cards?
Imagine if the Republican party can, in one fell swoop, legally prohibit more than ten percent of voters, most of them poor, minority and elderly voters, most of them Democratic voters, from being able to vote.
Please help me today. I have made the front page of my website into an action center on this issue. It will be constantly updated with actions you can take to help and up to the minute news on this issue. Thanks for your help and your continued stand for a better democracy.
Yeah, we will need a 10%+ lead just to break even
It sucks, he who has the most money wins in this shit eaten outfit (formerly USA)
This pisses me off but it DOES NOT SURPRISE!
John Conyers is THE man!! Thanks for having the courage to speak truth to power! We’re so lucky your local California constituents, I don’t the particular district, have elected you to Congress.
When employed again (hopefully soon) I will be adding more than my good wishes to your patriotic efforts.
Thank you.
LAWMAN
Dear Congressman Conyers,
I am asking you to declare your candidacy for President of the United States of America.
I am asking you to do it on September 24, 2005.
Why?
Because you have proven yourself the leader "We The People …." need.
The short-term consequence of your declaring your candidacy now is the intense focus that can be brought to the fact that We The People have no reason to trust that we will have a valid Congressional election in 2006.
Because of your wisdom and expertise on the matters of voter suppression and vote manipulation (via proprietary software in voting machines and central tabulation systems) you can bring much attention, in every precinct, county and state to ensure that by November, 2006, each eligible voter has equivalent access to cast their ballot and full confidence that their vote will be tallied as they intend.
Because of your wisdom and expertise in the matters of how the Bush government deceived Americans and the world in launching an un-Constitutional and otherwise illegal war of aggression on Iraq, your announcing your candidacy now could expand awareness of these facts to all Americans.
Because of your wisdom and passion for America, you would energize all those who are now have no sense of hope that America can be restored to the status of a just Nation, a beacon of inspiration.
Because of your extraordinary record of serving the people, not the corporations, you would catalyze productive dialogue and give every Democratic candidate the opportunity to espouse an agenda that places the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the needs of the poor and oppressed, the need for fiscal sanity and sound education and communications infrastructure and the environment at the forefront of their Congressional campaigns in 2006 and in Presidential campaign of 2008.
Please call upon all Democratic Members of Congress, on Howard Dean and President Clinton and Gore, on reasonable and patriotic Republicans and all others to join in supporting your campaign and invite them to be with you on September 24, 2005 when you elevate a statement against the horrific, catastrophic Bush occupation of Iraq into a statement for the future of America — a statement that "We The People…" have begun to shape a future of hope, of respect for one another and for our Constitution.
You have been the beacon, you have been the hope and the inspiration, you have spoken truth to illegitimate power – already. Please now do so from the position of candidate for President of the United States and just watch how many millions of Americans you will mobilize to do good and avoid the chaos and despair that are quickly consuming the Nation.
Thank you for your exceptional leadership.
Peace,
UL
Some evidence of support:
LINK
John Conyers: One of less than 10 honest politicians from either party.
John Conyers running for president doesn’t matter with the 1% Corporate America and elites running elections on the machines they made. I sound like a broken record, but that’s all that really matters. Polls don’t matter, either. DailyKOS loves to run polls about how Dems are leading all the races. But the final count on DIEBOLD & ES&S machines is all that counts. Why even run campaigns?
Representative Conyers,
It’s not right at all. Nothing done anymore is right. Welcome to the United Corporations of America.
I was one of the half million people who signed on your petition, months ago, trying to obtain some answers to DSM. I’m sorry to see it never got us a foot into the door, didn’t even draw the middle finger, although it wasn’t from your lack of trying. Thank you, honestly. The silence says everything to all of us, I’m sure. I watched most of your hearing, held in the basement (pathetic behavior, I was just sick to see and hear them getting away with their attitudes and out of bounds playing). What happened to follow-up hearings? Nothing else happened, I was disappointed. You had some ummmph going there.
This is just another attempt to control the voting. Whether poor people (black, brown or white) can vote or not, however, is absolutely MOOT until something is done with the election process. Are you addressing this in any way? Hopefully you read Brad’s article on Diebold? A lot of us are pretty much giving up on anything, due to ALL of our "representatives" not doing much of anything about anything these days.
Hopefully you can address the voting bullpuckies. IF, and I do mean IF, our "representatives" care about the founding freedoms of voting, you will just simply (so painless, so easy peasy) give us printed receipts (in duplicate, one to drop in a box and one for us to take home). IF that, or something close, begins to become a reality, then we can talk about IDs and other barriers. Until then, it’s useless.
Sorry, I guess we’re all about at the boiling point. We’re ALL in the toilet together. At least you are willing to talk to us common folk, and give us a ray of hope. I truely appreciate that. I visit your site often.
Everything done, not done, still not being done, in the Katrina horror and aftermath, is shameful. Wakes us all up. Lot’s of government…..yet none. Lot’s of tax dollars…..yet nothing in return. We’ve been sold out, we know it, and we’re powerless. Everyone seems powerless, cept you-know-who. Why are you the only one to try?
come on guys…you wanna drive…get a card…how many of you guys that have responded here have a CC???…whats wrong with a voter card…dems can help anyone sign up,with transportation,go door to door,propose ideas also…we need to stop such close minded thinking…learn to use this idea to the advantage…
genecrain — KGB ok with you?
Thank you Mr. Conyers. If you ran for president, I would vote for you. I also signed the petition to our criminal president. I am not a registered democrat but I would be if there were more like you and your colleagues and Howard Dean.
I deeply appreciate, support and follow all you do.
I second the nomination for President. If we had you, our country might have a chance to become good again.
Lew #3
Hay Lawman you are ‘right on’!
But a slight correction, John is elected in that other California–the one inside of the Great Lakes. Some call it Michigan, I’m happy to just call it the other California.
KIRA
GIMME A BREAK…PLEASE EXPAND ON HOW THIS RELATES TO KGB PRINCIPLES…GET A F,IN CLUE…AGAIN, LEARN HOW TO USE THIS TO AN ADVANTAGE!!!
LINK Russian Intelligence Analysts are reporting today that American Warships have taken up positions in the coastal waters off of Venezuela and that war between these two countries appears imminent, and to which the Venezuelan President is prepared for, and as we can read as reported by the Australian AAP News Service in their article titled “US planning to invade Venezuela: Chavez" and which says:
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has documentary evidence the United States plans to invade his country. He said US soldiers recently went to Curacao, an island off Venezuela’s north-west coast. He described as a "lie" the official US explanation that they visited Curacao for rest and recreation. "They were doing movements. They were doing manoeuvres," Chavez said, speaking through a translator. He added: "We are coming up with the counter-Balboa plan. That is to say if the government of the United States attempts to commit the foolhardy enterprise of attacking us, it would be embarked on a 100-year war. We are prepared."
But as Venezuela is preparing for war so are the American Military Leaders, and who have begun moving massive amounts of material and United States Military forces into the South American country of Paraguay, and as we can read as reported by the Toward Freedom Magazine News Service in their article titled "U.S. Military in Paraguay Prepares to "Spread Democracy" and which says:
"Controversy is raging in Paraguay, where the U.S. military is conducting secretive operations. 500 U.S. troops arrived in the country on July 1st with planes, weapons and ammunition. Eyewitness reports prove that an airbase exists in Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay, which is 200 kilometers from the border with Bolivia and may be utilized by the U.S. military. Officials in Paraguay claim the military operations are routine humanitarian efforts and deny that any plans are underway for a U.S. base. Yet human rights groups in the area are deeply worried. White House officials are using rhetoric about terrorist threats in the tri-border region (where Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet) in order to build their case for military operations, in many ways reminiscent to the build up to the invasion of Iraq."
{ed note: Comment shortened, due to copy and paste of entire article. Thanks for providing a few paragraphs and a link to the story.}
KIRA
you gotta passport???you file taxes???you register to vote???why not help the 10% to vote…AGAIN LETS USE THIS TO AN ADVANTAGE TO EMPOWER PEOPLE…
You can start here, genecrain:
Statement by Ron Paul — Hearing on National Identifiers — Sept. 17, 1998
KIRA
That senario already exist in this country, jesus are you blind or what…AGAIN USE THIS TO AN ADVANTAGE!!!
This is the biggest bullshit I’ve ever seen, bunch of fascists requiring NATIONAL IDS now for voting!??!??
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE IDIOTS!!!!
Oh great, yeah we’ll have "verified paper ballots" but now we’ll all be required to use IDs.
After all that "voter fraud" is a real, real PROBLEM…And then they don’t really need Diebold, hell at all. They can use Accenture instead and DISENFRANCHISE EVERYBODY WHO CAN’T GET A ID……
Nice….Nice bastards. We’re going to have another revolution and Conyers, you need to spearhead this. Voting rights march movement and picket riot!!!!!
IN FRONT OF THE CAPITAL BUILDING, DECLARE YOUR CANDIDACY!!!!!!! WE MARCH!!!!!!!!!
Oh and by the way…..
GO HUGO CHAVEZ, KICK THEIR FUCKING IMPERIAL ASSES!!!!!!!!!! ITS ABOUT TIME THE BUSH LIARS GET SPANKED, LIKE THE MOTHER GANGSTERS THEY ARE!!!!!!!!! ROCK IT!!!!!
>8-)
Doug
OT
But cool none the less.
LINK
Genecrain – you know my views — what are yours?
Dear Congressman Conyers You and your ilk are one of the reasons I am proud to be an American.
Our forefathers wrote a beautiful document of hope, our Constitution, at a time fellow americans were slaves. And fellow american women were near the same.
I think they expressed a hope that we could free ourselves from such mental, emotional, and spiritual wrong.
And they provided a way to do so. And we have all been working together ever since to move in the direction of freedom. The slaves were freed and the women were emancipated too.
And yet, unbelievably, some want to go backwards. But NOT US!!!!
We are going forward with you. Even now, as the neoCon NAZIS have a strong hand.
We will take the neoCon bitches and bastards down again no matter what it costs.
Thank you brother for being where you are.
Why are the dems the ones so up set. Do they think the people that are smart and rich enough to get an ID and not lose it would vote for the republicans? or the real reason is it would be harder for them the cheat.
Why are the dems the ones so up set. Do they think the people that are smart and rich enough to get an ID and not lose it would vote for the republicans? or the real reason is it would be harder for them to cheat.
GENECRAIN – What advantage is there to millions of Americans being unable to vote?
HCOCDR – Cheating voters is not a problem. As the League of Women’s Voters showed, there were 4 cases of voter fraud in 9 million votes cast in the last two national elections in Ohio. Even in Washington state, in one of the most closely studied elelections every (due to the conspiracy theories of the Republicans who were unable to come up with *any* charges of fraud) there were but a handful of fraudulent votes.
On the other hand, MILLIONS of Americans have been disenfranchised by the current system, and many more soon will be as well if the Baker/ACVR folks have their way.
Since you claim to be fighting for "democracy" in Iraq (unproven that you have anything to do with Iraq, but I’ll stipulate for now), it’s a shame that you don’t seem to give a damn about democracy in the good old United States of America. It’s your shame.
Don’t know why I take the time to respond to HCOCDR – but maybe these are facts some people who have ears and eyes and brains can use. But … really, Hcocdr … you show yourself to be ignorant. You should spend more time studying and less time bullsh**ting.
Here’s just what’s happening in one state:
Voter ID legislation endangers voting rights
[snip] It’s interesting that state Sen. Bill Stephens, R-Canton, in articulating his reasons for supporting photo identification at the polls (Column, "Voter ID requirements will help eliminate fraud," Aug. 14) neglected to mention valid identification requirements for absentee ballots, where most of the instances of voter fraud emanate. If fraud truly is the issue, then why is there not a requirement that those who vote absentee ballots include a copy of their valid Georgia identification?
…Georgia has 159 counties, but currently there are not more than 50 locations in the state which offer official state ID. This creates a problem of accessibility for senior citizens and many of the state’s poor who depend on public transportation. In many counties in south Georgia, there are no locations where Georgia photo IDs are issued. There is no provision in the legislation to open more locations accessible to each community. Instead, many which previously were open recently have been closed, including one in downtown Atlanta. If supporters of the voter ID law want improved access to free state-issued ID cards, there is a better way than depending on one rickety bus – as the state now plans – which still might not reach a majority of citizens. Why not open more permanent locations for Georgia ID throughout the state?
… Authors of the voter ID law could not give one specific instance of voter fraud at the polls in the state when asked while presenting the bill. It is well known that most voter fraud emanates from absentee ballots, but the legislature expanded the provisions regarding those.
… A valid employee photo ID is not acceptable. If photo identification is the issue, why wouldn’t a person’s official work ID not be acceptable?
… There was nothing lax about the previous Georgia election law, approved by the Justice Department. This new selective and exclusive voter ID law is a partisan attempt to restrict the voting process. If the Senate majority leader and other legislators who support this law feel so strongly about ensuring that every legal vote cast in Georgia is worth something, then why have they not initiated and supported a bill that will make it possible for Georgia voters to get a receipt from the voting machines as proof their vote has been cast for the candidate of their choice?
… Remember your rights are not all stripped away at once. It is a gradual, insidious process. This is the first step backward.
While almost 2,000 American troops have died fighting for freedom and democracy, and to expand access to voting for citizens of Iraq, the state of Georgia is doing just the opposite for its citizens. [snip]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One Rickety Old Republican Bus Rolling to "Give" Out IDs ???
State bus will roll for voter IDs
Nancy Badertscher – Staff
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
[snip] Under attack for Georgia’s new voter ID law, state officials are putting a bus on the road to issue photo identification cards to low-income people.
The bus will roll Sept. 1, with the goal of helping Georgians meet the requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls — and defusing criticism that the law will disenfranchise the poor, elderly and minorities. Georgians who haven’t previously had a valid driver’s license or state identification card can obtain a free ID card if they sign a form saying they can’t afford the $20 fee.
But critics doubt that a single bus can serve thousands of Georgians who don’t have a driver’s license or photo ID, especially those who live in rural areas far from a Department of Driver Services site.
"It’s a public relations gimmick," declared state Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.
It may be a bumpy road getting the bus out into the state. Heather Hedrick, spokeswoman for Gov. Sonny Perdue, said the bus, a hand-me-down from another department, will make its debut close to DDS headquarters in Atlanta because it might need further repairs. [snip]
Another assessment is that the one rickety old bus isn’t enough to even handle the voters in the city of Atlanta, much less the entire state of Georgia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
state officials are selling five-year cards for $20 and 10-year cards for $35, even though the Justice Department had only approved a $10 fee for four-year cards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come on folks. Don’t you see what’s happening here?
Let me explain my "ears and eyes" statement in my comment #24: Let those who have ears, hear and those who have eyes, see. Meaning all who are willing.
(Sorry for delays — my Internet connection has been flaky for the past couple of days.)
1984
The intent is clearly to didenfranchise. It is deliberate ignorance to not consider the facts, to fall for this hook, line and sinker.The ID law is malicious. It won’t help, it will harm many.
re.25 Kira
My Mother was fond of saying "There are none so blind as those who will not see" I don’t know where she heard that, but as a child I thought she said it WAY more often than necessary! :L:
Sorry Nana :L: !! It’s so relevant now!
Nuclear,
The problem isn’t that Voter fraud is real the problem is the law is being mandated to have Photo IDs nationwide. If you want to stop voter fraud, you can put restrictions in at the state level. There is no need for a nationwide Photo ID law when its clear Voter fraud is not as widespread as the lying GOP claim.
In actuality, this is helping the real folks pulling the strings. Like they say the Israelis and Turkish traitors aka the NEOCONS, have a vested interest in destroying out democracy. Enforcing rules that are unconstitutional, doing away with any protective laws, is the road to that result. Prosecuting Diebold/ES&S is serious enough to have to be done. But punishing voters nationwide for what Diebold and cronies did is unconstitutional. Most voters, about over 90% don’t even know how to do fraud.
Keeping a citizens database on them now is a way to destroy outright the right to privacy, and erode everything back to 40 years ago while the U.S. collapses.
ONE FOR ALL
Please don’t give up the Good Fight John Conyers!
I respect your efforts, America needs more men like you!
You stand for ‘Liberty, Justice, and the American Way’
You will always have my support.
How do we Clone a million John Conyers Jr’s ? Great job! TIME FOR THE MARCH FOR PEACE NOW !
Wow, here’s an eye-opening, humbling, very well said, honest, direct, no bullshit assessment of the United States by a Canadian journalist, posted today. I just about cried.
The rest of the world is fed up with us and I don’t blame them. omg what a wake up. You have to read this viewpoint from an outsidesider. So everyone can see the BS TOO? Yet it still continues?
Representative Conyers, PLEASE consider reading this feature article somehow, in a public forum. Or better yet, please make copies and give them to all the represetatives in the house and congress. This is NOT the United States of America we the people want or deserve. Holy crapola, we’ve been asleep for a long time. Thank God for the internet, if it’s not too late.
http://www.vivelecanada.ca/arti...50918204323413
Thank you so much.
ummm….
outsidesider = outsider
Good thing I rely on math for a living……
This is a travesty!! Jimmy Carter needs to get his name off this post haste. He needs to join the dessent. How can we get him to come out against this? :angry: