McDonnell In Hot Water Over Nonviolent Felons' (Voting) Rights - WaPo

[WillyT]

McDonnell in hot water over nonviolent felons' rights
By Anita Kumar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 11, 2010

<snip>

RICHMOND -- For the second time in a week, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has angered black leaders and civil rights groups, this time when they learned of his plans to add another step for nonviolent felons to have their voting rights restored.

McDonnell (R) will require the offenders to submit an essay outlining their contributions to society since their release, turning a nearly automatic process into a subjective one that some say may prevent poor, less-educated or minority residents from being allowed to vote.

"It's another roadblock," Sen. Yvonne B. Miller (D-Norfolk), a member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, said when she was told of the change.

Miller has repeatedly introduced unsuccessful bills to allow nonviolent offenders to have their rights restored automatically. "This is designed to suppress the rights of poor people," she said.

<snip>

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/10/AR2010041001268.html?hpid=sec-metro

:kick:

[GodlessBiker]

1. A literacy test to vote?

[nc4bo]

2. He wants to ride the time machine backwards. What an asshat. nt

[Catshrink]

3. Can we give a literacy test to the teabaggers?

[Dinger]

6. I Like That Idea : )

:patriot:

[Dinger]

4. My Opinion

Once you have paid your debt to society, it is paid. Restrictions on voting, where you live, etc., are simply ways to re-incarcerate the felon outside of a prison setting. As long as your debt is paid (incarceration/probation/parole), and you are a U.S. citizen who is of age, your rights are restored, period. That would have saved a lot of bullshit in 2000, 2002, 2004 (ex: Florida, Ohio). Nothing but modern day Jim Crow laws if you ask me.

[countingbluecars]

5. Ok, Shelia Johnson and Doug Wilder,

you supported this guy. Now what?

[LiberalFighter]

9. Shows their judgement needs to be ignored and suspect.

[saltpoint]

7. Regarding McDonnell, it seems that the difference between being an

antebellum racist and a modern-day racist is, well, I guess there isn't a difference at all.

[LiberalFighter]

8. It appears that this Governor requires felons to be participate in church and community activities.

If they have a chance at their voting rights restored.

Of course, if it is a known Republican he will probably waive that requirement.

[autorank]

10. Blame Tim Kaine and Mark Warner k*r

Either of them could have lifted the voting restrictions on EX felons by decree. I wrote Warner as Kaine was transitioning into the governorship in Virginia suggesting that he do that. I got a letter back from Kaine saying Virginia had this great ex felon voting restoration program. BULL SHIT There are about 250,000 ex felons in Virginia who can't vote. They're poor, most likely black or Latino.

McDonnell is just doing what anyone with a brain knew he'd do - act like a guy who gladly took money from outright racists in his 2005 attorney general campaign. But Kaine and Warner knew better. Both could have done this - JUST LIKE CHARLIE CRIST DID IN FLORIDA.

Florida Gov. Crist Makes History with Plan to end felon disenfranchisement Mar. 8, 2007

But they didn't. Why? They're cowards, that's why.

[Duppers]

11. POLL: Rate Gov. Bob McDonnell's first 90 days

"What grade would you assign to Gov. Bob McDonnell's first three months in office?"

58% of conservative Hampton Roads say (at the time of this posting):

"F - Failing - He's embarrassing Virginia with gay discrimination, Confederate History Month and lawsuits against the federal government."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/newsletter/local_90-days-poll_0411,0,629277,post.poll

[theHandpuppet]

12. Thanks for the link

I was more than happy to contribute my two cents' worth!

[my2sense]

13. k&R

Unbelievable. He basically exchanged his robe and hood for a suit.

[saltpoint]

14. McDonnell certainly has made a sparkling debut as a public servant as

Virginia's chief executive.

Or so you might think if you were an antebellum troglodyte.