Dean criticizes GOP courting of black voters ("(GOP) should not pretend")

[truthpusher]

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/11879792.htm

Posted on Sun, Jun. 12, 2005
------------------------------
Dean criticizes GOP courting of black voters
------------------------------
BY BRENDAN MCCARTHY AND JEFF ZELENY
Chicago Tribune
------------------------------
CHICAGO - (KRT) - Until President Bush and top Republicans reaffirm their support for the Voting Rights Act, they should stop courting black voters and showing up in black churches, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said Sunday.

Dean, speaking in Chicago at a Rainbow PUSH Coalition conference, also labeled the Fox News Channel a propaganda machine and sharply criticized the Republican Party, which he said has yet to support re-authorizing certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act that expire in 2007.

"I think it's hypocritical for the Republicans to pretend to reach out to the African-American community unless they say they are going to reauthorize what gave the African-American community political power," Dean said in an interview. "I'd love to have the president say whether he's going to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act."

(snip)

Dean said Republicans should not "pretend" to be genuinely interested in courting African-American voters until the party makes a clear statement on the act.

"The chairman of the Republican Party as you know has made a big deal about attracting African-American voters," Dean said to conference attendees. "And this is a litmus test. If you aren't going to support the extension of the Voting Rights Act, I don't know what right you have to go to a black church and show your face."

complete story: http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/11879792.htm

[Catch22Dem]

1. Right on!

Keep saying things like this. Even when the news whores criticize him, they have to repeat what he said, then it's out there.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Repubs - STFU unless you support the Voting Rights Act and Faux

is a propaganda channel.

I LOVE IT!!!!

"Asked by a reporter Sunday to reply to Cheney's criticisms, Dean said: "My view is that Fox News is a propaganda outlet of the Republican Party and that I don't comment on Fox News." The response drew applause from the room."


I remember reading about this months ago

Bush tells CBC he's 'unfamiliar' with Voting Rights Act
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
January 27, 2005

President George W. Bush met with the Congressional Black Caucus Wednesday for the first time as a group in nearly four years, but what CBC members said stood out the most was the president's declaration that he was "unfamiliar" with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed in the history of the United States.

At the conclusion of yesterday's 40-minute meeting, Bush - who attended along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - was asked by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) whether he would support the re-authorization of a portion of the Voting Rights Act that must be approved every 25 years (It will come up for consideration next year).

"I don't know anything about the 1965 Voting Rights Act," Jackson recalled the president saying in an interview with the Chicago Defender.

He said that a hurried Bush went on to say that "when the legislation comes before me, I'll take a look at it, but I don't know about it to comment any more than that, but we will look at it when it comes to us."

"It was so unbelievable to me that as soon as I walked out, I got Frank (Watkins, Jackson's top legislative aide) on the telephone, put (Congresswomen) Maxine (Waters, D-Calif.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), so that I could confirm what he just said is what I heard," Jackson said.


From left to right, Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, D-Mich., Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., Rep. Charles B. Rangle, D-NY., and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., speak to the media outside the West Wing of the White House following their meeting with President Bush, Wednesday in Washington.


Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, gestures as he answers a question from April Ryan, White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, as he walks out of the West Wing of the White House following the Congressional Black Caucus meeting with President Bush Wednesday. AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=381

[marmar]

Headline: BUSH SHOCKED AT EXISTENCE OF VOTING RIGHTS

I hate to keep beating a really dead horse, but what a dumbass! I can't believe this mental midget is in the White House. How fucking embarrassing!

[ngGale]

62. "Unfamiliar" with the Voting Rights Act of 1965...!?!

It's obvious * is missing a lot more than his National Guard records.

Go Howard - the Rupubs don't have one honest leg to stand on. Just keep pointing that out. :yourock: :popcorn:

[goclark]

90. KKKbush

He showed his true colors on that one.

That should be spread far and wide.

[Whoa_Nelly]

99. Thanks, Pirate Smile, for the article link. I shared it with the DNC.

The more fuel/info Dean the DNC is given to discredit and expose Bush for the GOP puppet idiot he is, the better.

This is what I wrote to the DNC:

Sirs:

As I read in today's news that DNC Chairman Dr.Howard Dean stated in an interview: "I'd love to have the president say whether he's going to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act."

In regard to that issue, it was noted in an article dated January 27, 2005, (Link to article: http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=381)

regarding George W. Bush in meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus. When questioned if he would reauthorize this civil liberties voting act in 2006, he responded, "I don't know anything about the 1965 Voting Rights Act," Bush went on to say that "...when the legislation comes before me, I'll take a look at it, but I don't know about it to comment any more than that, but we will look at it when it comes to us." Not surprisingly, during a follow-up press conference, White House spokesman Allen Abney put out the usual noncommittal, "Guard Bush Mistakes At All Costs" response of, "...there is a section of the Act that is up for re-authorization in 2006, and the president is firmly committed to protecting voting rights. He indicated today that he would be looking closely at the Act as it comes up for re-authorization and certainly take their concerns into consideration."

I commend Howard Dean for being vocally and physically prominent to the people and the press. I have sent you this email with the hopes that this information regarding Bush's lack of interest and knowledge will further assist Dr. Dean in expanding his message regarding the misuse/abuse of Black churches, and subsequent voters, by the GOP.

[Barkley]

116. The Party of Lincoln

Lincoln to a group of free blacks at the White House in 1862:

"Your race suffers greatly, many of them by living among us, while ours
suffer from your presence. In a word, we suffer on each side. If this is
admitted, it affords a reason why we should be separated."

- Abraham Lincoln, 1862
U.S. President

[ldf]

3. keep it up, dean!

:thumbsup:

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Go Dean Go

I just love this man.

:woohoo:

[Democrats_win]

5. Yep, show the hypocrisy. Support the voting act first!

[rzemanfl]

6. Faux News a propaganda machine? Gee, do ya think? Good

for you Howard! Now, how about CNN?

[99Pancakes]

65. We "fix" the "news"

[mod mom]

81. Great tee any bumperstickers? nt

[Stirk]

86. "Fox! When news breaks, we fix it!".

[Cha]

112. We've seen Dean on cnn

telling judy that he doesn't respond to unknown sources..I forget the exact words he used.

But judy moved on.

[countingbluecars]

7. Go Dean!

[Tomee450]

8. Good for Dean

Other democrats instead of attacking Dean, should be saying the same thing. Dean has a lot of courage.

[I Have A Dream]

9. Recommended. n/t

[candy331]

10. Dang I just can't seem to keep up with all these Dean posts, the man is

truly a lightning rod and he is striking with high voltage. Go Dean!

[demnan]

11. Absolutely right on

When I was campaigning for Kerry last fall it was very clear to me that some right wing group had gotten a handle on Conservative black churches in the area and acutally had blacks coming out to campaign for the Republicans. It's hard to believe, I know, but it's true. I saw them at the grocery, at the polling area, etc. Kerry never had a clue as to how to relate to black working class (or white working class, for that matter) but these Republicans did.

Thankfully Dean recognizes what happened in the last election and is trying to remedy the problems.

[Cha]

12. Let the msmw spread that across

the airwaves and the telly!

I notice the article didn't say that cheney questioned Dean's mom's love for him..

[Gloria]

13. Perfecto, Dr. Dean! Keep hitting the Repugs upside the head!

eom

[mandyky]

19. Do I hear the Rocky theme song queing up?

The GOP is getting hammered by one man of courage, while many other Dems keep telling him to shush. We got your back Dean!

[XemaSab]

36. Someone gifted at photoshop

needs to make an image of Dean as Stallone.

It's time.

[Eloriel]

42. There is already a poster of him as

the main hero character (name?) from LOTR. It's pretty cool.

[XemaSab]

47. Here it is

I want him stripped to the waist and ready to KICK ASS!





Like that, only with WRATH at the DAMAGE done to our once-great nation!

Hey, haven't seen this one before:



More Dean beefcake:

http://www.crushiesfordean.com/photo-gallery.html

[Eloriel]

58. OMG. Ask and ye shall receive -- and receive -- and receive

I LOVE it. And I'm ROTFL at the Obi_Wan Deanobi. Toooooo coooool. The crushie's site is simply fab. My screen saver is Dean pix, so I've added a bunch of new ones. Some of those are simply wonderful. Heartbreaking, actually. What a time we had, eh?

The saddest words of tongue and pen are simply these: it might have been.

Big Sigh.

Thanks again!

[XemaSab]

82. You're welcome!

Yeah, I hear ya.

I hear ya.

[Hatalles]

14. Impressive. Dean commands the attention of the press every time he speaks.

eom

[Straight Shooter]

15. "Now that I've got your attention with the 'white Christian' remark ..."

FOX NEWS CHANNEL IS A PROPAGANDA MACHINE

Oh, and what a smooth move to reference the Voting Rights Act. Isn't this the one that bush knew nothing about?

[Cha]

24. Yeah, like we said..Dean knows

what he's doing and I thought he would be vindicated ..just not tonight. lol!

[IChing]

38. exactly, he got their attention and

now they will say: Is howard dean saying too much about the truth?
We report you decide

Give em HELL Howard.:headbang: :headbang:

[dave29]

16. jab jab jab

someone's getting a bloody lip

[mandyky]

17. A Macon Georgia paper posted this?!?!!???

Wow, Macon used to be a bastion of right wing racism years ago. Good to see at least the paper has changed.

[chomskysright]

40. they picked it up from the Chicago Tribune:

2005, Chicago Tribune.

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com

[LoZoccolo]

18. Now this is the kind of Dean offensive I would say is effective.

Much better than leaving yourself open to people spinning your words as being against white Christians.

[Jim Sagle]

21. Relax, it's all good.

:beer:

[Cha]

25. :)

:toast:

[janx]

35. Yes it is.

:toast:

[KittyWampus]

51. Yes, This Is A Homerun!

[mondo joe]

92. But if he wasn't in the news for the Christian thing there'd be no

coverage to begin with.

Howard is going to be controversial. It's okay - it helps in the long run.

[LoZoccolo]

96. I'm pretty sure he could have found another way to do that. n/t

[Gregorian]

20. Could Dean be reading Bartcop?

I'm so thrilled that someone is speaking common sense to the bastard people. YAY! Dean rules!

[Cha]

26. Was bartcop talking

about this very subject?

[Gregorian]

52. He just has that same common sense approach

Like I'm certain Bartcop would use.
I just hope it has momentum. Sort of like a crescendo. A yell, of sorts. Haha.

[sweetheart]

22. YES YES YES!!!

Keep rollin' it up. They want to deflect attention from their racism
so keep pointing at it, not 100 years old pardons, but todays GOP
racists and their white patronage.

:-)

Dean, clearly you've got the right advisors to win things back for the
dems... and i'm so happy to see your pacing of media spin out-framing
the criminals. Clearly your mother loved us all by giving us such
a blessing. God bless her. :-)

Cheney's trying to make it personal because you hit paydirt. I
support you... and it makes me so damn happy to hear the leader of
the dems come out against racism... :-) YES!

[Eloriel]

59. Yeah, isn't it ABOUT time?

and it makes me so damn happy to hear the leader of
the dems come out against racism...

Did you hear what he said Saturday morning? He said (paraphrasing) that we are NOT going to take the black vote for granted any longer -- show up a few weeks before an election and just expect their vote. We're going to "be there" all along.

I love that man, absolutely love him.

That speech was great, btw. If anyone didn't see it and has a chance (will C-Span re-run it??), it's definitely worth seeing. In it he showed me a vision of the Democratic Party that I've been yearning for for several decades now. It'll come to pass if Dean has anything to do about it.

[ckramer]

23. "(GOP) should not pretend"

Nail in the head!

There were lots pretending going on since 2000, look at Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Various black and yellow faces in Bush's cabinet...look at the recent district/appeal court judge nominees... What a make-belief that GOP is a party of colors and poor....booooooo!

These pretendings are as sick and gushing as that TV ad from the Bank of America featuring a 'proud' black banker who proclaimed his check-processing system with the sound-byte of "one error in a million is simply unacceptable." boooooooo!

Go Howard Dean! I want to hear more truths from you!

[NWHarkness]

27. Go Howard!

[Rose Siding]

28. "Dean sparred with reporters and drew laughs" -link to a news video

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/061205_ns_howard_dean.html

[XemaSab]

43. Not a negative story

but who the fuck was that asshole saying that we're insulting republicans by calling them white christians?

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH...BURN...he just called you a WHITE CHRISTIAN, and you're just going to stand there and take it? I heard he called YOUR MOM a WHITE CHRISTIAN too! I'll hold your jacket while you pound him!"

[Pacifist Patriot]

100. I find that visual amusing myself.

I can just imagine my Southern Baptist Republican as the day is long Caucasian as all hell relatives wincing at being called White Christians. The nerve!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

107. exactly

hay he called me a waaht kerstchun!!!

[Rainscents]

45. Thanks for Video link!!! Wow... Dean wasn't playing around with media!

Go Dean Go!!! I love this man!!! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[bling bling]

79. Did you hear the comment from the "Democratic Strategist"??

"They're (talking about repub voters) not going to come to the Democratic Party if Dean....."

Look, the Dem Party needs to stop worrying about getting Repubs to "come to our party." The Dems need to start worrying about the people IN the Dem party for a change.

What is wrong with these people??

[Whoa_Nelly]

101. Write to the DNC and tell them what you think!

You can contact them at
http://www.democrats.org/contact/

If the above link doesn't work, you can simply go to the main page:
http://www.dnc.org

and scroll to bottom of page for the "Contact Us" link.

[JNelson6563]

94. Great stuff Rose!

Thanks for posting! :toast:

Julie

[realFedUp]

29. Being on the offense seems so refreshing.

yyyeeeeaaaahhhhhhhhh!

[burrowowl]

31. Yes it is!

:kick: :bounce: :kick:

[kodi]

30. Give 'Em Hell, Howard! Show the GOP Borg that resistance is not futile.

shall we recall what the father of jc watts said about blacks and the GOP?

"a black man voting for republican is like a chicken voting for colonel sanders."

[deacon2]

69. A minority member joining the GOP is like a deer joining the NRA n/t

[yurbud]

32. GO HOWARD!!!!!

Hillbilly Hitler art:



Blog:

[leQ]

33. i'm beginning to wonder if i shouldn't start deanwatch.us back up

he's sure been in the news a lot lately.

and frankly, i'm elated.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

34. Nice one! Keep it coming!

[sellitman]

37. It's about time we got a leader with balls at the DNC!!!!!!!

"Yeeeeeeeearrrrrrhhhhh!"

[chomskysright]

39. YES! sent to jerry meek: chair of DNC in NC

[Triana]

41. I'm just lovin this...

..Heheeheheeeeeeee! He's givin 'em Hell out there! Bwhahaaaaaaa!

Dean has the Repukes all in a hissy-fit!

[gumby]

44. To borrow a phrase,

"It's the racism, stupid."

What excellent timing and pacing. I'm impressed!!

[NVMojo]

46. right on, especially since the repukes disenfranchised so many black

voters in the last two presidential elections ....they really don't care about the blacks and minorities in this nation ...along with anyone without the ability to donate large sums of money to their cause!

[Cha]

54. Absolutely! Dean is pointing

out their HYPOCRISY!

bush wouldn't have won(dirty)if they hadn't "disenfranchised so many Blacks"!!

[NVMojo]

60. they are evildoers!!!

[Adelante]

48. Excellent!!

Tied to pending legislation -- perfecto!

[On Par]

49. Go Howard Go ! Power To The People !!!

[Robeson]

50. Full frontal assault. I love it.....

...looks like Dean isn't going into the good night, gently....

[Catchawave]

53. I LOVE THIS MAN !

I hear DNC donations are pouring in too :kick:

[spanone]

55. Doctor Howard, Doctor Dean, Doctor Howard.....Kickin' Ass.

[digno dave]

56. This is the Dean that i am willing to support

booty up boots in

[NVMojo]

57. I like your water cyrstal logo, truthpusher! you are cool!

What the Bleep!!!

[Maestro]

61. Excellent!

I love the reference to Faux News. Beautiful! :applause:

[DeepModem Mom]

63. SING IT, Howard!!! nt

[NuttyFluffers]

64. There is a Jeebus! Keep fightin' Howard!

african americans should never have to tolerate disenfranchisement and in the same breath be courted for support.

go howard, go!

[newyorican]

66. Howard has the nads...

that have been sorely lacking in the democratic leadership.

His actions will give some room for others to grow a set, if they are so inclined.

[LightningFlash]

67. Hahaha Dean you are awesome!!!! Great truth telling.

:hi:

[deacon2]

68. Politics 101 - started with Reid's "Bush is a loser" remark

The Democrats appear to have regained some of their missing political acumen. Reid is an old school boxer. I didn't get him at first, but now I believe he can feign and jab with the best of them - when he wants to. Dean is a plain old bruiser - so why have him pretend otherwise? He can say what we all know to be true and cause controversy, which is about the only way to break through in the U.S. media - then the other "adult" Dems can either express genuine outrage (the whimps) or feign it ala' Reid. Akin to the judge admonishing the jury to "pay no attention to the prosecutor's outburst wherein he called the defendant a no-good, lying, murdering son of a bitch." Do I like it? Hell, no.

I LOVE IT! GO HOWARD!

[warrens]

70. Dean is perfect for this job

His job is not to be nice to nazis. His job is to motivate the base. That is what he is doing. And he is doing great.

[killbotfactory]

71. I wonder if Fox will be outraged at being called propaganda

that will be hilarious.

[TheDonkey]

72. This is what we should be hopping on, very good!

Republicans need to be called out.
Democrats need to make their positions clear.

Very good.

[lakeguy]

73. oh yeah, i am lovin this guy, lovin him i tell ya!!!

i don't care if some of the dems are pissed. it's about damn time someone stands up and tells it like it is. you can only take sucker punches for so long before you have to start fighting back!

[GettysbergII]

74. My wife and I were at there at the Sunday morning Rainbow PUSH Town Hall

Meeting and while Dean certainly did make those witty statements there was a lot more 'meat' to the meeting than just Dean cracking wise to Faux News ass lickers. Here's a few other nuggats that went unreported.

Jesse Jackson Jr did a wonderful job of historically framing the case and the need to not only renew the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but to also enact a constitutional amendment legalizing our right to vote so there will be legal grounds to contest future elections as he pointed out there surely will be a need to and that this will be a battle that will go on every election year. He also stated he was sick of hearing "old folks" recalling the hard fought civil rights battles won in the past when they needed to get off their asses and start fighting the ones in the present. Eternal vigilance is what's called for. He also stated it time to stop supporting Democrats that vote like Republicans. He was actually the most commanding speaker there.

Jesse Jackson Sr came up with a delightful metaphor about the two party system comparing it to the two tracks of L ( Chicago subway) but that its the third rail that we're always told to watch out for that provides the juice to run the train. In keeping with this the next ten PUSH programs will deal with constitutional issues. Of course at the start of the press conference he lapsed into his used car salesman persona, shamelessly waving his son's new book at the cameras (with a big picture of of Jr on the cover) throughout his introductory speech.

The most important statement I believe Dean made was to tell us to be prepared for a bombshell of a report the Democrats should be releasing in the next 10 days or so that documents the widespread voter suppression and fraud last November in Ohio particularly and the country in general.

Many other very astute voter rights advocates participated on the panel pretty much echoing the complaints and remedies you'd find here at DU in the 2004 Election Results and Discussion section (sans the Exit Poll stuff) including castgating Kerry for not challenging the vote ('pre-emptive surrender'as Penda Hair of the Advancement Project called it)and outrage at the paperless trail and rightwing owned voting machines. Dean assured everyone that the Democrats will be ready for a serious legal tussle if necesary in 2006.

[Rose Siding]

80. Wow! Thanks for the details- looking forward to the vote fraud rpt

The most important statement I believe Dean made was to tell us to be prepared for a bombshell of a report the Democrats should be releasing in the next 10 days or so that documents the widespread voter suppression and fraud last November in Ohio particularly and the country in general.

They addressed this in some detail at Saturday's mtg on C-SPAN- lots of points made about legal teams and their activity, but I didn't know about a formal report

[Rainscents]

88. Wow... thanks for the info. I can't wait!!!

[dchill]

75. Dean is the right man...

at the right time for the Democratic Party. Biden, Richardson, Obama et al have a lot to learn about politics from this guy - he's "catapulting the propaganda" right back at the Rovians, showing them that propaganda is not necessarily disassembly.

[Gay Green]

113. And he's using a sophisticated catapult...

known as the trebuchet. Take THAT, fascist nazi pigs!

GO HOWARD!!!!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[truthisfreedom]

76. man, Dean is just pushing buttons left and right. watch the thugs squirm

this coming week! watch the mock outrage! watch the false indignation!

[Daphne08]

77. Cheney called Dean "over the top"

and "not the kind of individual you want to have representing your political party..."

Dean has definitely touched a nerve!

Also, if Cheney says day is night, you can be sure that night is day. It's in their playbook... 1984.

:eyes:

[Horse with no Name]

87. Tit for Tat

Cheney isn't the kind of guy I would want representing my next bowel movement.
So it's all good.:)

[bling bling]

78. And he can't and he won't and he don't stop.

These headlines are so refreshing.

THANK YOU DEAN!!!!!!

[Triana]

83. ***GASP!*** You mean Dean told the TRUTH again?!

How DARE him do that! :sarcasm:

[fob]

84. X - L - FUCKING - ENT!

The only thing I would change, and it's petty, and I'm normally NOT petty but I'm sick of those fucking scumbag no morals/honor repukes, that if I could advise Dean I would have him start using "republic" instead of "republican". Just because it's so fucking irritating when those slimy fuckers drop our "ic". I'm sure in no time they would have a natiowide cryfest about it and we could bring up, unce again , their hypocrisy and maybe get some REAL repubs to show some civility/respect.

I have one message for the slimy repukes though, YOU CAN SUCK MY "IC", MOTHERFUCKERS!

Dean ain't "angry", I'M ANGRY!!

[TWiley]

85. GO HOWARD !

It is SO NICE to have a democratic leader with balls.

[depakid]

89. The question is- will the Democratic "leadership" back him up?

Where's Harold Ford, for instance?

Dean's giving these folks issue after issue to hit the Republicans with- yet they continue to cower like battered women. Someone needs to empower the leadership- either that, or we need to put together a sustained national effort to vote them out- even if that means Republicans temporarily take their seats....

I can't see any good reason why every single Dem shouldn't be on top of this-

[confludemocrat]

109. Fuckin right! Where are they, this was a one-punch knockout

of the repub bastard hypocrisy and a cue for an echo chamber of support by other Democrats for the most fundamental achievement legislatively since the New Deal: the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act

[redqueen]

91. Give 'em hell, Howard!

:loveya:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

93. GOP ....Great Old Pretenders!!!!

[Hard_Work]

98. some facts...

I have been trying to stomp out the rumor of Blacks losing the right to vote for a few years now, since I got that stupid e-mail. From the DOJ web site:

U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Voting Section
Voting Rights Act Clarification

The Department of Justice has received numerous inquiries concerning a rumor that has been intermittently circulating around the nation for many months. According to this rumor, the Voting Rights Act will expire in 2007, and as a result African Americans are in danger of
losing the right to vote in that year.

The rumor is false. The voting rights of African Americans are guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Voting Rights Act, and those guarantees are permanent and do not expire.

Here is a summary of relevant provisions of the Voting Rights Act:

* The 15th amendment to the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibit racial discrimination in voting. Under the 15th amendment and the Voting Rights Act no one may be denied the right to vote because of his or her race or color.

* These prohibitions against racial discrimination in voting are permanent; they do not expire.

* The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted at a time when for decades in some areas of the South blacks had not been permitted to vote, and blacks who attempted to register to vote or to organize or assist others to attempt to register to vote risked losing their
jobs, their homes, even their lives.

* To combat this situation Congress included in the Voting Rights Act -- in addition to permanent provisions banning racial discrimination -- special provisions containing extraordinary remedies that applied in certain areas of the nation for a limited time period.

Among these extraordinary remedies are--


* the authorization of the U.S. Attorney General to send federal registrars (examiners) to register voters, in counties where the local registrar refuses to register blacks.

* the authorization of the U.S. Attorney General to send federal observers to monitor elections, to make sure that blacks who are eligible to vote are actually permitted to vote, and that their votes are actually counted.

* the requirement that specially covered jurisdictions gain the approval of the U.S. Attorney General before implementing new voting practices or procedures, to make sure that any voting changes that they make are not racially discriminatory.

* These special provisions containing extraordinary remedies were intended to be of limited duration. They were originally scheduled to expire in 1970, but they were extended in 1970, and again in 1975 and 1982. They are now scheduled to expire in 2007, if not further extended.

* Even if the special provisions are allowed to expire, they can be reinstated by court order if there is a renewal of discriminatory practices.

* The basic prohibition against discrimination in voting contained in the 15th amendment and in the Voting Rights Act does not expire in 2007 -- it does not expire at all; it is permanent.

I DO love the fact that Rethugs feet are being held to the fire regarding this, though. :)

Dean Rocks!!!

[JohnStreetMyHero]

115. Agreed

I wish race bating would be put to rest. I am surprised that Dean has fallen for this misrepresentation of the truth. Our side will prevail only if we adhere to the truth.


<http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/voting.htm>

[Seabiscuit]

95. Get down with your bad self Dean! Right on!

I'm happy Dean has the balls to tell those mofo's the truth to their faces and its about time! Lets take back the Senate and the House in 2006! And what does the Repubs and Repub wannabe's or DINO's do ..they trip up all over themselves not knowing what to do showing their true essence. So keep shining the lights Dean and let these cockroaches run where they may!

[Orion The Hunter]

97. RE: God Bless You, Howard Dean!!

He is right on point here! Republicans think that they can poke their noses into black churches in times of election, offer up faith-based aid and promise to help with education (would be more helpful to follow through with actual funding) and expect blacks to support them. What a crock! I am glad Howard Dean is willing to point out the utter hypocrisy that spews from the Republican party.

[Generator]

102. Voting Rights!!!!

Also known as Ohio, also know as Florida, also known as fake ass presidency.

Dean is speaking my language. DAMN, does Dean suspect the president's "mandate" was fraudgate? Of course he does. He has a brain, unlike the brainswashed media.

Dare to speak the truth...of course if miniorities voted Repub in large numbers..vote supression would be punishable by death.

[Orion The Hunter]

103. A point of clarification about the Voting Rights Act

Certain provisions of it are set to expire in 2007. While the right to vote is permanent as part of the Act itself, other parts do require re-approval.

<<Although the act is permanent, and the right to vote is protected by the 15th Amendment, certain provisions of the act were extended in 1982 and those parts expire in 2007 unless Congress re-authorizes the measure. These provisions include ones that ensure non-English speaking voters get assistance at polling places and another that requires jurisdictions with segregationist pasts to submit changes in election law to the U.S. Justice Department for approval.>>

[Whoa_Nelly]

104. This thread deserves a

:kick: for the evening crowd.

[Dr Fate]

105. Howard is RIGHT.

I stand behind Dean on this.

[CAcyclist]

106. One-Two Punch!

This is why Dean made the white christian statements - he's setting them up, making the rest of us see how white they are and then knocking them down with this challenge - because THERE IS NOW NO WAY OUT of this trap.

The RNC votes for the VRA and loses its racist base or they refuse to and stand exposed as the racist panderers that they are.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

108. hopefully some of the weak-kneed of our party are taking notes.

this is how it's done. you have to punch these bastards in the face.

[CTLawGuy]

110. Setting my watch

expecting the DLC Wimp Squad to appear any minute to attack Dean...

[Larkspur]

117. And the DLC Wimp Squad emblem is this...

[CTLawGuy]

118. thats great!

it's very fitting :)

[monobrau]

111. Listen up, you DC cowards

The people are talking.
Listen up and get with the program or get out of town.

[KelleyKramer]

114. Harry Truman quote ...

to paraphrase...

'I dont give Republicans hell, I just tell the truth and they think its hell'

So refreshing to finally be able to use that quote regarding a current Dem leader in DC

Go Howard!