GOP's Sensenbrenner calls for Update of Voting Rights Act

[geek tragedy]

Source: The Hill


A leading House Republican is calling on Congress to update the Voting Rights Act just a day after the Supreme Court neutered its central provision.

Warning that "the threat of discrimination still exists," Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) is urging lawmakers from both parties to cast aside partisanship and restore the law for the sake of protecting voters' rights.



...



"I am disappointed by the Court’s ruling," he added, "but my colleagues and I will work in a bipartisan fashion to update Section 4 to ensure Section 5 can be properly implemented to protect voting rights, especially for minorities."

Sensenbrenner's views found support from at least one other member of the GOP on Capitol Hill: Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio, who also serves on the Judiciary Committee.





Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/307989-gops-sensenbrenner-wants-update-of-voting-rights-act

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Holy living f@ck.

[still_one]

1. That is,actually a smart move, but the republicans are going to shoot it down

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Very smart political move. And if the rest of the Republican Party were smart, they would move ahead

It could win them votes in 2014!!!

[premium]

6. Yeah, that's what worries me also,

repubs getting smart. But, judging by their past history, they'll blow it somehow. (Hopefully)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Yeah, but we all know how they have so many people fooled branding themselves "The Party of Lincoln"

and making people think that they are the same Lincoln Republicans that championed freedom. We all know that that's a lie. The RepubliKKKans of today are nothing like the Lincoln Republicans were.

I fear that they'll put out some kind of narrative that the RepubliKKKans--once again--are the true champions of civil rights. I know a few black Republicans who have totally bought into this false narrative, believing that it is the Democratic Party that is the party of racists, well because, it used to be. But the RepubliKKKans never acknowledge how they fled the Democratic Party and became RepubliKKKans after civil rights legislation was signed into law back in the 60s.

I just fear that too many Americans are easily swayed by RepubliKKKan lies.

[tblue]

21. Right is right. They should all support it.

I don't care about red vs. blue. We need a good strong VRA.

[still_one]

9. I do not know about that because they have screwed themselves big time with the war on women, but

It would not hurt them among the independents for sure

[Voice for Peace]

10. nah.. they need to cheat.

[MrScorpio]

2. Color me amazed

Let's see how he runs with this

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Sensenbrenner is a first-class, gold-plated

asshole. Anything he might do that looks even slightly humane or decent mut be examined for hidden motives.

My bet is that he is simply grandstanding. There are virtually no minority voters in his district, so it's a free show for him.

[Ed Suspicious]

19. Truth is in your post. He is scum and he is in the safest district in the state.

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

20. maybe he's being threatened with exposure...

... to the "relationship" he's having with his chief of staff.

[Jackpine Radical]

25. Exposed by whom?

And do you mean a relationship with Barton Forsyth?

[Orsino]

27. We don't want any hypothetical law that he might hypothetically support. n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

29. Sensenbrenner is not a racist, though.

He just doesn't want ANY Democrats voting.

[Orsino]

31. Heh.

As I like to say, he's not principled enough even to be a racist.

[frazzled]

4. This is not really an Onion piece, is it?

The guy who make the crack about Michelle Obama--"Look at her fat butt"--wants to protect voting rights for minorities?

The guy who voted against the bill to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina?

The guy who wants to criminally prosecute jouralists?

I'm gobsmacked, but not entirely convinced we know exactly what kinds of "updates" he's talking about.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. A Wisconsin Republican finds fault where there is really a problem and wants to help fix it

Hang on to your wallets, everybody.

[truebrit71]

7. Wait, what? Who? Seriously???

[BumRushDaShow]

12. And he promises

there will be no problem! Cross his heart!

[Iliyah]

13. Its like Raul Ryan

caring for poor folks. I know the house gopers are gonna fight it tooth and nail. And Texas just got bitch slapped, gopers don't take rejection too well - LOL

[KamaAina]

15. "Raul Ryan"!!!

He's secretly Latino! I love it!

[jessie04]

24. Thats his brother who was raised in Mexico.

separated at birth.

[KamaAina]

28. A likely story.

I think he changed his name to "Paul" as soon as he figured out Mittwit was going to pick him for VP.

[KamaAina]

14. Isn't Wisconsin one of the states with brand new ALEC-backed voter ID laws?

I say we add them, and Ohio and Pa., to the list.

[red dog 1]

16. This could be good....if enough other Repubs agree with Sensenbrenner & Chabot

[meow2u3]

17. Senselessbrenner's broken clock moment

As much as I think of him as a grade A jerk, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[konnie]

18. John Lewis Section 4

John Lewis should author a new all encompassing 50 state replacement sec 4.

He is the only congressman with the authority and gravitas to present it

and dare boner to kill it in committee and vote against it to his face,

in front of the nation. He deserves it and the nation is crying out for

it.

[rpannier]

22. Wonder which cuts to the safety net he'll demand for this nt

[jessie04]

23. It would really be refreshing if he stepped up and really did the correct thing

I'm just not going to hold my breath.

[Arkana]

26. Wow, apparently Sensenbrenner didn't get the memo from his bosses.

[hughee99]

30. It appears the repukes are finally getting a little smarter.

Why not actively and publicly encourage all Americans to have equal access to the polls since you control the means to count the votes anyway? Why deal with the time and energy (and bad publicity) that goes with any voter suppression efforts when it doesn't matter who or how many people actually show up to vote?

[mysuzuki2]

32. Sensenbrenner?

Is this opposite day?