I see JC Watts is still pimping himself

[CatWoman]

A top lieutenant of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — U.S Rep. John Lewis — boycotted a ceremony today at Georgia's state Capitol to honor the slain civil rights leader in protest of the state Legislature's change to voter standards.

Critics have labeled the Voter ID bill "racist."

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus also opted not to attend the event, which featured Gov. Sonny Perdue and former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, who was the GOP's only black member in the House.

The chairman of Georgia's Legislative Black Caucus — State Rep. Stan Watson — made an appearance to offer a speech praising King's work on the Voting Rights Act which he called, "probably his greatest legacy to America."

The ceremony came the day after Georgia's House passed a bill which continues to require photo IDs in order to vote. The new bill is designed to make those IDs free to those people who need them.

A federal judge had ruled that the state initial Voter ID bill, passed last year, amounted to an unconstitutional poll tax. Supporters say requiring IDs will help prevent voter fraud.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0113lewis.html

[ISUGRADIA]

1. I'm glad JC had time between informercials to attend the event

[0007]

2. J.C. Watts is so yesterday..however he still wears his football cleats

every Saturday afternoon.
:hi:

[CatWoman]

10. Hey, Doll

:hi:

[...of J.Temperance]

3. I've always wanted to ask...why are Voter ID Bills considered racist?

I hope I don't get blasted for this question? I'm just asking an honest question, that perhaps somebody could respond to.

[sandnsea]

4. low income people don't have cars

therefore don't have the need for driver's licenses and won't automatically have picture ID. They will have to pay for ID just for the purpose of voting, which is a form of poll tax and the kind of thing that has been done historically to keep minorities away from the polls.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. That's what I was thinking...however,...

...this bill now provides those IDs for free. So, does that change the nature of it being racist? I think it does. I could see the original bill as being racist, in some respects, however, I see it more as classist.

[CatWoman]

8. they set up a bus to go all over the state to issue IDs

and it has broken down so much to the point that very, very little has been accomplished.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Now that is just sad!

It never ends!

[sandnsea]

11. The historic basis is race

Concocting obstacles to voting is a long tradition in the south and with the group that were once Democrats and now Republicans. As far as I'm concerned, the current attempts to label it all as classism is just another method of denying racism in America. Poor white southerners never faced the blocks to voting or education or jobs that blacks faced. You can't just jump over hundreds of years of institutional racism and try to sweep it all under the rug by calling it classism because it feels better.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. I am quite aware of the history.

I did no sweeping of anything. The laws are a combination of things, linked to past crimes against African-Americans.

"As far as I'm concerned, the current attempts to label it all as classism is just another method of denying racism in America." I did not do this. Was this a statement on society in general?

[sandnsea]

20. Those were your words

"I see it more as classist" I think those who glom on to the "classist" argument tend to deny the power of racism. That's just my opinion. I'm glad to hear you don't do that.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. Yes, those were my words.

"I see it more as classist." Your words said "...the current attempts to label it all as classism..." That was what I took exception to. I have a long history of diversity training, both as a participant and facilitator.

Classism, especially today, is fueled by racism, but it is not always as obvious. Homophobia has roots in misogyny. "Lookism" is also tied into racism and misogyny. What do they all have in common...hate. So, we shouldn't be weighed down by minutia, nor should we ignore it, but work to make sure all people are treated equally.

[...of J.Temperance]

7. I understand and agree with what you're saying, the only confusing part

Is that I always thought that the IDs were made available for free to those people who wouldn't be able to afford them?

[CatWoman]

9. they are trying to get that legislation thru now

[...of J.Temperance]

14. Okay, thanks, I understand better now :) n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

19. So, the free ID legislation...

...hasn't passed?! Or, they just can't deliver the goods (the broken busses you were discussing in another post to me)?

[sandnsea]

16. See #11

and CatWoman's #8. I'm disappointed to learn about the bus, but not surprised.

This is just another tactic to vilify the Democratic Party because WE are the ones who send dead people to vote, doncha know. Never mind the machine problems and peculiarities in Max Cleland's election, that's not important because Democrats are concerned about it. ONLY voting problems that Republicans accuse Democrats of are written into law. That gives me pause as much as the racial overtones.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. JC Watts = ...

...:eyes:

I just don't understand how he keeps getting in office. I know I have voted against him.

[LA lady]

12. he isn't

He isn't in office. he decided not to seek a 4th term in 2002.
Are you in Oklahoma?

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Yes...STILL!

I want OUT!

[oasis]

18. Pre-election 2002, Georgia installed 23,000 Diebold voting machines.

Popular Dems, Sen. Max Cleland and Gov. Barnes bite the dust and Rethugs take over.

Now the state wants to approach the election fraud issue by penalizing the victims.