House Rejects Changes to Voting Rights Act

[cal04]

The House on Thursday rejected efforts by Southern Republicans to relax restrictions on their states in the 1965 Voting Rights Act after a debate haunted by the ghosts of the civil rights movement.

Simply renewing the act would wrongly punish states with racist histories that lawmakers said have been overcome, said the amendments' authors. "By passing this rewrite of the Voting Rights Act, Congress is declaring from on high that states with voting problems 40 years ago can simply never be forgiven," said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga.

Nonetheless, by 288-134 the House rejected a change that would have extended the act for 10 years, rather than the quarter-century in the original bill. The chamber also rejected 238-185 an amendment that would have struck provisions in the law requiring districts with large numbers of non-English speakers to print ballots in several languages.

Supporters of renewing the law without change said the pain of racial struggle — and racist voting practices — still stung.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060713/ap_on_go_co/voting_rights_13

[Joanne98]

1. Georgia gave us DIEBOLD! Never forget THAT!

[Greeby]

2. Roll call

Gohmert "Pyle" amendment (134-288) http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll371.xml

King of Iowa amendment (185-238) http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll372.xml

Renewal of the Voting Rights Act: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll374.xml

[GrantDem]

3. House extends Voting Rights Act

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13841124/

[Greeby]

4. With 33 Pukes voting no

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll374.xml

:eyes:

[bobbieinok]

15. what am I doing wrong?? can get outline but no names

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Seems everyone trying to bogart it was a Republican

although no breakdown of the votes is to be found in the OP article. Is one available? Ooops - it is. Post above.

[librechik]

6. good news!

& no stinky CYA Southern Guilt Amendments!

[Joanne98]

7. "By passing this rewrite of the Voting Rights Act,

But how did they REWRITE IT?

[eggbeater]

8. Some things must be made dramatic.

"The sad truth is, discrimination still exists. That's why we still need the Voting Rights Act and we must not go back to the dark past."

now, I know that there is still some racial tension in this country on both sides of the color spectrum, but I have to ask this question.

does anybody really think that the day could come when the blacks in this country would not be allowed to vote?

Regardless of what perception one has of the racial climate today, it is not a valid consideration that this could happen.

the blacks just wouldnt stand for it. and either would 90% of the whites.

[buff2]

9. With the repukes in power?

HELL YES!!!! Whatever is the right thing to do for the American people........THEY are against it. It's sad and pathetic.

[SensibleAmerican]

10. Outright voter prohibition, yes

However, there are many other ways to disenfranchise the voters without having coppers arrest blacks trying to vote.

[zonkers]

13. Was under the impression that there were lots of details to the VRA, that

were at stake like monitoring of polling places, provisions for multi lingual voting materials and all sorts of other goodies. Were these made part of the new VRA.

[eggbeater]

16. I have to admit to my most likely demise here.

But, first, I can not in my mind imagine that not passing this would have allowed for any less access to voting for the minorities.

and, Im sure I will be most unpopular for this but,
I fail to see how having bi-linqual ballots is of any importance.
The reason for the above statement is that the only language in question is spanish, do we care about those that dont speak spanish or english? how about the germans that come in, or the indians, or iranians? what if they come here and dont speak english, is their voice as a new American any less needed than the voices of the spanish?
I will agree to bi-linqual when it is a fair and just amendment that covers every one in this country. not just those to be considered to be members of the biggest voting blocks.

equality for all means ALL in my book. ALL

[faithnotgreed]

17. hi eggbeater - i think that if you want equality for ALL as you said

then you should not be anticipating your "demise" here
we are right there with you if equality and justice for every person is your measure

welcome to the fun

[asthmaticeog]

18. Ask your question in Franklin County, Ohio. nt

[1monster]

30. And in Florida. Jacksonville comes to mind for the 2000 election...

rate of spoilage for ballots in mostly black precincts was extremely high.

And somewhere in south Florida during the 2000 election, there were road blocks by the polling areas in black precincts where deputies were checking licenses and cars for things like broken tail lights. Intimidation tactics.

And, of course, the infamous purge the felons list for 2000 and 2004... of which a very high percentage were black people who had similar names to convicted felons.

[Misunderestimator]

19. "the blacks" ???

Something off about the way you wrote that. As for whether or not a country who denies gay Americans equality would deny black Americans the right to vote? Um... nope, it's entirely in the realm of possibility.

[eggbeater]

20. Sorry, didnt mean any offense

with blacks.
But I was trying to seperate them from the rest of the minorities in this country.

[eggbeater]

21. And I have to disagree with you

I do not think that in this country today the right to vote can or will be taken from the Black Americans, regardless how much those 40 remaining skin heads want it.

[Misunderestimator]

23. 40 skin heads, huh?

You really think racism is that small a problem in this country?

[eggbeater]

24. ok, so maybe 40 is a low number

But face it, racism is not the major cause of worry in this country today.
and what racism there is, is festering in both sides of the equation.

yes there is still racism today, but it is not to an extent that it is causeing any mass harm to any one group by itself.

Im pretty sure that there has not been a lynching in many many years.
Im also willing to bet that nobody has heard the words that we dont hire the coloreds around here, in also a very long time.

in another 20 or so years, the current race baiters on both sides should be either planted or so old that they are of no damage anymore, and if they are not replaced by new career race baiters, the country will see a massive change in the way all groups view each other.

but to say that without some written legislation the white people are going to go on back to the slave days or even go back to restricting what another race can do is more harmful than good.

I honestly do not think that specific legistlation has to be worded to make me treat somebody else with respect.

Im sure that the legislation wont hurt anything, but realistically, how much time was wasted on it that could have been spent on something more current to our problmes today?

[eggbeater]

25. and of those problems

"how much time was wasted on it that could have been spent on something more current to our problmes today?"


for instance, how about some legislation that would find a way to improve my spelling and typing skills.

[Misunderestimator]

26. I'm astounded that you don't consider racism to be causing any harm

to any one group. I suppose you also consider Affirmative Action to be outdated and unnecessary.

[alfredo]

32. It seems that a couple years ago a black guy was beaten to death and

then dragged by a chain along the road until his flesh was torn off. I do remember an Ethiopian was killed by some skin heads. There were other incidents, though not lynchings, they were racially motivated killings.

There is a thin veneer of civility here in the US, and any of our leaders that sends a message that discrimination is OK is doing a disservice. Remember Reagan launched his presidential campaign in Philadelphia Mississippi, the site of the killing of three civil rights activist. It wasn't an accident that he spoke there, it was a clear message to us in the south. We knew what he was saying there, just by launching his campaign there.

Republicans use code words like welfare mothers. We know they are talking about blacks on assistance. We see them send challengers to predominantly black precincts on election day.

Remember, GHW Bush got his first recognition by his aggressive intimidation of black voters.

Trent Lott was associated with the Council of Conservative Citizens, (the Klan with a suit and tie). At one time his picture was displayed on his site. One of Hannity's site had neo Nazi and Christian symbolism. I remember showing the site here, but that was years ago and the site is not around anymore.

the Neo confederates have some sway with the Republican party.

http://www.cofcc.org/

You need to read "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips.

[eggbeater]

33. Seems like Ive ruffled some feathers

"You need to read "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips."

I will. I have not ever heard of it but I will look for it at the bookstore the next time I am there.

It seems that once again I have put down words in such a way as to give the reader the option of forming his/her own opinion of my thoughts. Forgive me, I am not well schooled in the art of writing, else I would be a writer making millions of dollars.

Instead, I have to work for just under 40k per year and try to support a family and pay for college at the same time. Not an easy task. Though, Im sure that I am ahead of the game compared to others.

So to answer questions that I have caused.
No, I do not think that a repeal of civil rights laws would be in order, the job is not yet completed, I do realize that there are some "some" individuals still running around the country that would have no problem watching their black brothers drinking from the fountain on the other side of the street. I have not doubt that there are people out there that would take joy in hanging a black man.
I have no doubt that there are still people out there that would jump at the chance to stop the black vote in this country.

Yet I also see the good people that would step up and stop any of these injustices with or without a law covering them.

I can not focus on only the bad when there is so much good to replace it. I work with minorities hand in hand during the day, at night we might play some pool and drink a beer, we might bring our families to their house or they to ours for dinner. I assure you that they are allowed to enter through my front door in plain view of my neighbors.

I choose to look at the good, and the people behind that good, and they now far outweigh the assholes that might wish to move us back to the 40s or 50s as far as race goes.
They are a dying breed, I think that the more attention they are given, the longer they will act as they do.

The sooner the rest of us move on and live our lives in a respectful manner, giving respect and concern to those around us without being forced by law, the sooner this country will honestly be the land of the free for all.

and, I must say that I have not had to fight like this to fit into a group since the third grade when that redheaded girl whooped my but for trying to sit next to her. She is now my wife some 45 years later,,, still whooping my butt, but my wife none the same.


you all are really going to keep me on my toes, I can see that now.

[alfredo]

35. We have problems with disruptors from a right wing

site, so we kind of watch new members. I was probably questioned at first.


Some of us are more wary than others. I'd rather engage the ones who are sincere, but if they are here to be abusive I have no qualms about having them tombstoned. I have reported one or two abusers in the five years I've been here.

When you get up to several hundred posts, people have a better idea of where you are coming from. That doesn't mean you won't be challenged. I've had to defend my positions more than once.

[redqueen]

28. Did you miss the whole Choice Point thing in FL in 2000?

If you think they're going to just keep black people from voting en masse, you're naive.

No, they're very creative in the methods they use to supress minority turnout.

Do a little research. You'll be shocked and disgusted.

[drm604]

27. You're kidding right?

"does anybody really think that the day could come when the blacks in this country would not be allowed to vote?"

Ask the black voters in Florida and Ohio.

[bobbieinok]

11. remember when some blacks were worried abt this act + whites said

'oh, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will never be repealed/attacked; the country has moved beyond that sort of thing?'

NO ONE UNDERSTOOD THE DESIRE/DRIVE OF SOME TO DELETE THE PROGRESSOF THE CIVIL RIGHTS/WOMEN'S LIBERATION ERA

[Greeby]

12. (VIDEO) John Lewis fiery speech from today

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll374.xml

:patriot:

[Vidar]

14. Thank God for this anyway.

[Moderator]

22. k

[FreeStateDemocrat]

29. The rightwing psychopath "representing" my MD 6th voted against it.

Despite having no respect or expectations of this neocon lunatic he still manages to slither under even the most ignominious level of base human conduct. The truly obscene fact is this right wingnut will be overwhelmingly reelected by the genetic defects that populate Western Maryland, a slice of backwoods redneck Georgia in blue Maryland.

[theHandpuppet]

34. I have to say there are parts of western MD that truly scare me

They make those of us in the WV panhandle look downright progressive.

[Judi Lynn]

31. Sen. Coburn wants changes in Voting Rights Act

Sen. Coburn wants changes in Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn is one of several senators saying they're concerned about the renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Critics say Southern states are still being punished for their racist past despite changes made in the past 40 years.

Coburn says he would like to see changes made and says the law doesn't expire for another year.

Much of the opposition is coming from conservatives who want the change the bill and reduce federal oversight of their states, but those proposed amendments failed in the House.
(snip/...)

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5151046



Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn