"Registering Poor To Vote 'Like Handing Out Burglary Tools To Criminals'"

[Empowerer]

At least this one isn't pretending it's about voter fraud - he makes plain that it's about voter suppression, plain and simple.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/columnist_registering_poor_to_vote_like_handing_out_burglary_tools_to_criminals.php

<snip>
Conservative columnist Matthew Vadum is just going to come right out and say it: registering the poor to vote is un-American and "like handing out burglary tools to criminals."

"It is profoundly antisocial and un-American to empower the nonproductive segments of the population to destroy the country -- which is precisely why Barack Obama zealously supports registering welfare recipients to vote," Vadum, the author of a book published by World Net Daily that attacks the now-defunct community organizing group ACORN, writes in a column for the American Thinker.

"Encouraging those who burden society to participate in elections isn't about helping the poor," Vadum writes. "It's about helping the poor to help themselves to others' money. It's about raw so-called social justice. It's about moving America ever farther away from the small-government ideals of the Founding Fathers."

Most conservative criticism of voter registration drives aimed at poor and minority communities has been under the guise of worries about voter fraud. Vadum's column is notable because he isn't just pretending to be worried about the nearly non-existent threat of in-person voter fraud -- he just doesn't think poor people should be voting.

[3waygeek]

1. I've seen this kind of stuff before...

I get lots of e-mail glurge from my reich-wing Dad, and he's sent me several pieces arguing that those receiving government benefits not be allowed to vote, citing Vadum's argument, amongst others.

Somehow, I suspect they don't count Social Security or Medicare in those "government benefits". Dad doesn't seem to mind that Medicare picks up a good portion of the $5000 or so per month costs for his & Mom's meds.

[LiberalFighter]

9. How about all those in the military receiving govt benefits?

Might that shut him up?

[wilt the stilt]

16. Whenever they say that ask them

if they took the mortgage deduction.

[Cosmocat]

2. Cause, you know, there is NO difference ...

between Ds and Rs ...

Ds are not great shakes at times for sure, but ...

As a side note, like ANYTHING ELSE with the right wing and "liberal media," 6 years ago, when voting machine fraud was an issue, the right wing said, BAH, all is well with elections, it is just hyperbole. And, the "liberal media" advanced the notation that "well, things SEEM to be going well, what is the big deal?"

Now, with no real examples of any kind of actual fraud, these lunatics are getting all kinds of new voter laws passed in the sake of ... Fighting against voter fraud ...

[Bluenorthwest]

3. So, Thrid Way folks, what is the proper compromise to offer

those who feel the poor should not vote? We MUST compromise, MUST find a way between theirs and 'ours' that 'Third Way'. Please describe specifically what would be the proper handling of this, centrist style. Thanks.

[Supersedeas]

18. the Third Way appears to be a movement toward Voter ID's and

taxing government benefits in exchange for the right to Vote.

The Right has staked out a position.

If pressed between no voting rights and a middle ground of Voter ID's and some taxes, do you think that there might be room to compromise and compromise again to the Right.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Scary that it is now "ok" to be loudly public with that kind of thinking.

And that this is a planned carefully constructed message to be fed to the public.
the old, the poor, women, "non-christians", the educated, unions, all are under unceasing attack, do you see the pattern?
Do you hear the history?

[randr]

5. I feel the same about the illiterate

There is no way the dumb ass teabaggers that can not spell should have the right to vote!
I say give a spelling test at all polling places.

[OHdem10]

6. Aristoracy--only the moneyed, and educated should vote.

Nothing new--this comes up every election.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. It is new,actually, in one way. I do not remember this talk until the last 10 years.

Historically, it is not new.
Greece's "democracy" was actually a plutocracy, as was the USA originally.
And now the plutocrats are trying very hard to move us backwards.

[treestar]

7. Too bad for him

Every citizen has the right to vote, and so registering everyone eligible is not wrong. Too bad for him that this country does not have his values.

[rhett o rick]

10. Where do you draw the line when defining "nonproductive segments"?

Is Paris Hilton productive? How about George Hapless Bush?

[treestar]

12. True, challenge them with the question of how are

those who inherited the wealth productive?

Bet they have no answer.

[otohara]

11. Race To The Bottom

endless pit of hate and intolerance.

[bemildred]

13. So "class war" against people with no money is OK. nt

[OswegoAtheist]

14. Weirdly...

...I'm not as upset as I probably should be right now. Which is not to say that I'm alright with the article or its arguments; but let's face it, as reprehensible as the author's opinions are, at least s/he is honest enough to lay the cards on the table. It's the dogwhistles, the argument of 'that's not what I meant', the arguments seeking a justification, etc., that really piss me off. I find the author's candor... refreshing, somehow.

Oswego "now let's make sure that s/he never gets hir way, ever" Atheist

[ThoughtCriminal]

15. Better analogies

Corporate Personhood
Citizens United
No-Bid Contracts

And who are the least productive members of society? Conservative pundits. They produce nothing but bad, awful and immoral ideas.

[demgrrrll]

17. I do not wish this person any ill will but I wonder if he would

write the same words if he were to find himself suddenly completely without funds and options.