Rep. John Lewis: 'Make Some Noise' on New Voting Restrictions

[babylonsister]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/08/rep-john-lewis-make-some-noise-on-new-voting-restrictions/261549/

Rep. John Lewis: 'Make Some Noise' on New Voting Restrictions
By Andrew Cohen

Aug 26 2012, 3:03 PM ET 66

The civil rights icon issues a call—"All of us should be up on our feet"—to protest partisan voting restrictions this election season.

snip//

On photo ID, what's your reaction when you read about the Pennsylvania House Majority Leader, a Republican named Mike Turzai, who said in June that the state's new restrictive voting laws were "gonna allow Gov. Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania."

I was astonished, almost shocked to hear that the Pennsylvania House Majority Leader would be so direct and bold as to admit that the purpose of these laws is to steer the election toward Gov. Romney. It is unbelievable. But it verifies what many of us have been saying about the voter ID laws from the beginning. In so many instances, that is what the rush to pass photo ID laws has been all about. It has been targeted at limiting the number of minority, seniors, disabled and rural voters from casting a vote. In the state of Pennsylvania , these limitations could affect nearly one million voters. I think Turzai just spoke what he felt and in doing so he probably told the unsavory truth.

It seems the national media by and large is not covering with much passion or consistency the partisan effort to restrict voting rights. Do you agree with that assessment?

I do agree with your assessment that the national media is not covering or reporting with much passion or any degree of consistency this deliberate, systematic, partisan effort to block participation in the democratic process. It is a shame. It is a disgrace that the truth and the urgency of this issue have not been made clear through solid reporting. These violations are an affront to all the people who were beaten, struggled and died for the right to vote. I knew some of those people. Some of them were journalists. And when reporters fail to tell the story, the whole story, about how these restrictive voting procedures can impact the outcome of this election, the fourth estate is not serving a central function in our democracy. The press is supposed to serve as a check on government. It has not in this case.

The Civil Rights movement in part was about securing the right to vote. Today, the fight is over the means of voting. Are you surprised or disappointed that there isn't more public protest or condemnation over what's happening?

I am surprised, shocked and deeply disappointed that there isn't more public protest or condemnation of what has happened in America. People are not being beaten and trampled by horses or tear gassed, people are not being shot and killed. The obstructions are not as obvious, but the effect of what state legislatures and party officials are doing will damage the integrity of our political process for generations to come, if it is not corrected. As a people and as a nation, we are too quiet. All of us should be up on our feet. There should be public outcry. There should be a sense of righteous indignation over what is happening during this election season. We should not just roll over and allow it to happen. Lawyers, political scientists, scholars, activists, teachers, ministers, seniors, farmers and ordinary citizens should be speaking up, speaking out and making some noise about what is happening in America.

[riverbendviewgal]

1. where is the rest of DU on this

is this not important?

[babylonsister]

2. It's pissing me right the hell off. nt

[Kolesar]

3. Early voting was a solution to long lines as seen in 2000 and 2004

Government addressed the voting problems with the Help America Vote Act and other means. Now the repukes are acting like it is just black people demanding a privilege.

[Scuba]

4. A great reason to hit the streets.

[Cha]

5. We know the corporatemediaWHORE$$$$

want Voter Suppression for Democrats. They will not help. It has to rise up from the People ON THE STREETS!