This Associated Press story purports to be an objective analysis of the pros and cons of Indiana's "toughest in the nation" voter ID law, now before the Supreme Court. But here's the way it starts:
There's the poor, 32-year-old mother of seven who says it would cost her at least $50 to vote in person. There's also the 92-year-old woman who's voted for decades in the same polling place, but now can't vote there because she let her driver's license expire when her eyesight began to fail.
And here's the way it ends:
"What matters is the burden it places on the right to vote," said Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center. "It's a two-tier voting system that makes it easier for better-off citizens to vote. And it's a very circuitous route for poor and elderly citizens to get past the hurdles, and to have their vote counted. People don't want to swear an affidavit saying they're indigent."
Gee, do you think the AP might have chosen sides on this story? Its stuff appears in most newspapers in the country, which means its importance in setting the national agenda can't be discounted.
Comments
MSM driveby journalism. No agenda here, just straightforward reporting on the facts.
sarc/off
They could've at least reported on the many, many cases of voter impersonation this law was designed to put an end to. Like the case of . . . and, um, the case of . . .
Oh, right.
How could it possibly cost 50 USD to get an ID? That figure is just ridiculous and is an unsubstantiated factoid in the article which should have been edited out by the AP! Oh, but of course, that's right this isn't a news story it's a propaganda piece which someone will probably get a nice commission check over when it hits every newspaper without edit or complaint.
Mr. Morris,
How does some one write a letter to editor of the AP to complain about this miscarriage of journalism?
Doug, even you would have to admit, it's a common sense step in the right direction wouldn't you? I agree, the absentee fraud problem is a greater threat to voter manipulation but that's not a valid reason to NOT put in place a common sense preventative measure, is it? Regardless the perception of priority, this is already in place, so why shouldn't it stand while judicious democrats draft legislation to attack the absentee ballot problem they cite incessantly? Shouldn't they be doing that as we speak??
It can cost $50 to get an Indiana State Issued ID. If you read the AP story, an Indiana woman, who was born in Michigan, need to get a certified copy of her birth certificate- at a cost of $50-$60.
They also list ANOTHER hoosier who was born at home and does not know if she even has a birth certificate.
Shouldn't EVERYONE have a right to vote?
Kevin, correct me if I'm wrong, but...
When you owned the video store I assume you required a photo i.d. to rent a movie for 99 cents??
How many people were disenfranchised and discriminated against by your ghastly i.d. requirements?
Ohhhh the humanity
Aftertought, Shouldn't EVERYONE have a right to see Weekend at Bernies?
I'd love a weekend at Bernies...I could use the PEACE and QUIET.
(where is that sarcasm button again...help me out here, Tim)
;)
B.G.
(and I KNOW it's not ctl-alt-del)
Tim,
Renting a video or driving a car are priviledges. Not rights.
And no....I did not require a photo ID. I also accepted utility bills or other forms of identification.
Hmm...I wonder how the ID for WELFARE ASSISTANCE works???
Around MY neighborhood, it seems more a (God-given) RIGHT than a priviledge to BE on welfare (and sponge off of everyone else).
But what do WE know...we WORK for a living.
;)
B.G.
Poll taxes and literacy tests worked extremely well for years in the southern states. Photo ID's are only a small step in returning to sensible voter control. If one can't afford a photo ID, do we really want them to vote? Of course not! Even more stringent controls are needed! Prehaps IRS forms showing you actually paid taxes as a requirement for voting priviledges.
For the life of me I can't understand how anyone with any common sense can object to a photo I.D. being mandatory to cast a vote. The only imposition this creates is simply one more stop for democrats on election day.
1.Gas up the bus.
2.Troll the alleys and street corners.
3.Stop at the liquor store.
4.Stop at the license bureau. (added step)
5.On to the polls!
One extra stop on election day, is that asking too much??
Wow Tim,
That post shows just how "reasonable" you are.
Just an observer of history Kevin. Neither side can claim purity on voter fraud, I'm just pointing out the fact that democrats have been known to be a tad too helpful in the past.
Not as helpful as the Supreme Court.
Lee Atwater is alive and well