Democrats Overcome GOP Amendments To Pass Voting Rights Act Extension

[ProSense]

Thursday :: Jul 13, 2006

Democrats Overcome GOP Amendments To Pass Voting Rights Act Extension

by Steve Soto

Democrats scored a major victory in the House this afternoon when they pushed back and defeated several "cracker" amendments to weaken the 1965 Voting Rights Act. By a large margin, the House decided to allow the Act to be extended for 25 years rather than the ten-year extension called for by southern GOP conservatives. And by a smaller margin, the House also defeated an amendment that would have removed requirements for multilingual ballots in districts with a high level of non English-speaking voters.

After the crackers lost these votes, most of them caved and allowed the Voting Rights Act extension to pass by 390-33 and go on to the Senate. Note the White House's lame support of the "intent" of the extension, but they can't bring themselves to support the extension itself. They don't want to piss off that cracker base. I suspect that Rahm Emanuel can use that in swing districts this fall.

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/008207.php

House OKs renewing 1965 Voting Rights Act

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
18 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The House voted Thursday to renew the 1965 Voting Rights Act, rejecting efforts by Southern conservatives to relax federal oversight of their states in a debate haunted by the ghosts of the civil rights movement.

The 390-33 vote sent to the Senate a bill that represented a Republican appeal to minority voters who doubt the GOP's "big-tent" image.

All of the "no" votes came from Republicans, in defiance of their own leaders.

Snip...

"What unites us? It's our language, the English language," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif. Without the amendment, the act is "hurting America by making it easier not to learn English."

[IndyOp]

1. Thank You! Thank You!

Everyone who wrote & called & fought the good fight!

I am so relieved - :cry:

[saltpoint]

2. Police dogs lunged at civil rights protestors in this country in part

to dissuade them from insisting on basic civil rights.

The Voting Rights Act was a triumph of politics and human spirit.

This summer the GOP tried to undo it. Like loosening the bolts on Noah's Ark.

The Democratic Party held to its tenets and preserved the Act.

Democrats.

Democrats.

Democrats.

[mom cat]

5. It could not have passed without the votes of quite a few Repubs,

many of whom are nervous about November.

[saltpoint]

8. That's so, but the initiative to undo the thing was a Republican

initiative.

Democrats fought to preserve it.

[mom cat]

17. I so agree with you. I just like to note division in their ranks

where ever I can.

[IndyOp]

6. Worse. Lynchings.

I was just reading a condensation of Deliver the Vote: A History of Election Fraud, an American Political Tradition--1742-2004 and gather that a lot of lynchings occurred just before elections (as warnings) and after elections (as punishments).

Scroll down to #5 on this page http://www.bloomingtonwilpf.org/agenda.html to access the PDF file. It is a *really* enlightening read.

[saltpoint]

9. O god. Both Jefferson AND Washington liquoring up voters.

Well, ok, there it is. Election fraud isn't brand new. But I celebrate the rebirth of this Act today because it is landmark legislation and the sweet fruit of much bitter sacrifice.

Thank you for that link. I will be browsing through the other links to it also a little later on, IndyOp. Much appreciated.

[OzarkDem]

11. Good Post n/t

[saltpoint]

16. Hi, OzarkDem. Nice to see ya today. 'Hope things are well with

you heading into the fall midterms.

Go, Democrats!

[stepnw1f]

3. Democracy is being Attacked by the GOP

This vote today, was one of many deliberate attempts by the far right to destroy what keeps them from creating a theocracy/fascist dictatorship.

[INdemo]

13. There is one simple amendment that could have been added to

this bill that would have settled any question about voters rights?That would be to ban the requirement by states to require a voter ID..

[bobbieinok]

4. who voted against?????

[calico1]

12. Here:

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

[bobbieinok]

15. I just get outline with no names.. what am I doing wrong????

[AX10]

7. 390 is a LANDSLIDE!

Who are the 33 who voted against the extension? They need to be removed from office!

[LittleClarkie]

10. Actually, I caught my Congressman trying to get it passed with amendment

he must have been bucking the GOP establishment on that one when he said "Let's make the country proud and pass this thing without amendment."

One of the few times lately I've been proud to the bastard.

Sensenbrenner gets a cookie. But only one.

[Totally Committed]

14. This is truly great news!

Thank you for posting!

TC