Lawmaker Claims Voting is Not a Right

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/04/23/lawmaker_claims_voting_is_not_a_right.html

Lawmaker Claims Voting is Not a Right


Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R) claimed that voting is "a privilege, it's not a right," according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Said Zellers: "When you go to even a Burger King or a McDonalds and use your debit card, they'll ask you to see your ID. Should we have to do that when we vote, something that is one of the most sacred -- I think it's a privilege, it's not a right. Everybody doesn't get it, because if you go to jail or if you commit some heinous crime your rights are taken away. This is a privilege."

Zellers later backed off the comment recognizing the right to vote is explicitly protected by several constitutional provisions, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

[malaise]

1. Does he say anything about a paper trail after people vote

After all they have that right at the ATM.

[rfranklin]

3. You even get a receipt at McDonald's or Burger King...

Oh, oh, but that's not the important part of the transaction, sez he.

[Chorophyll]

4. +100,000,000

[rfranklin]

2. Next, reinstatement of poll taxes!

The regressives just can't help themselves.

[Thunderstruck]

5. I have never once been asked by a fast-food joint to show ID when

I use my debit card. Not McDonald's. Not Burger King. Not Jack in the Box.

That is a bald-faced lie.

[sarge43]

22. I've never been asked by any business to show ID when I use my debit.

Of course it's a lie; that's their MO.

[1monster]

25. I use my debit card all the time. I like using the debit card because I chose the PIN. Disturbingly

more and more, I am not allowed to use the PIN. The merchant treats the card like a credit transaction and does not ask for ID making fraud much, much easier for those using my debit card number fraudulently.

As for voting, I have been required to show my ID when voting since the 1980s. One can vote without ID in Floria, however, the vote will be put aside and not counted unless the election is so close that the counters decide to verify. Oh, and those voted registrations cards that were supposed to be all one needed to vote? They are not accepted.

[Faygo Kid]

6. What an idiot. And he's the Speaker?

Where does the GOP come up with these assclowns?

[Exilednight]

What fast food joint does he eat at where they ask to see your ID? I use my debit card

all the time and have never once been asked for ID. That's what your PIN is for.

[Skidmore]

7. Does he know that holding office is not a right?

[jpak]

8. Moran

yup

[NYC_SKP]

9. I support that a test must be administered and a passing grade acheived before any man or woman....

...be allowed in office.

That would eliminate this asshole and I don't know how many other bad players.

Wuttadik.

[sarge43]

23. Maybe the same test given to individuals applying for US citizenship.

I doubt many of the players and assholes could get anything resembling a passing mark.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. It cannot manage a non-contradictory statement on the subject.

"because if you go to jail or if you commit some heinous crime your rights are taken away. This is a privilege."

Word salads of the apocalypse.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

11. Probably Claims to be a "Strict Constructionist"

No doubt runs for office screaming about the original intent of the founding fathers. Oh, yeah, except for the part about your right to vote.

[Buzz Clik]

12. It is amazing how poorly versed these people are about rights versus privileges.

Language is important. Words have specific definitions and applications. "Hey -- you know what I mean" doesn't cut it.

[Cant trust em]

16. +1.

[elleng]

13. Its not a right, its an imperative.

[Angry Dragon]

14. He does a comb-over like trump

[Bluenorthwest]

15. If someone asked for my id with a debit card, I'd assume bad

intent, and never return there. My pin is my id. No random employee is going to see my information to buy a lunch with an ATM card. No way in hell.

[tavalon]

17. Bless his heart, this guy isn't very bright, is he?

[fascisthunter]

18. fascists are anti-democratic and their agenda was always to attack democracy

[northoftheborder]

19. Minnesota has more than it's fair share of idiots. But a few shining souls stand out.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. If your RIGHTS "are taken away" then they can't be privileges, they are ...RIGHTS.

Jeez..do they not even listen to what comes out of their ...uh..."brain"?

By his logic, losing the "right" to vote, per penal code, still leaves you with the "privilege" to vote, I guess.

[glinda]

21. Wish they would give more press to the retractions than original blather.

[bullimiami]

24. Because rightwing corpororate imperialists can seldom win in a real democratic election.

They need to reduce the lesser classes from part of the process in any way possible.

[ejpoeta]

26. is it a right or a privilege?

if you go to jail or if you commit some heinous crime your rights are taken away

he just said that if you go to jail your rights are taken away. so is it a right or a privilege? i believe it is a RIGHT! asshole. i think what he means is it's a right for the privileged and the rest of us should just consider ourselves lucky to be allowed to keep breathing every day...

[corpseratemedia]

27. dog whistle for the fascists: voting next on the chopping block

[raging_moderate]

28. holding office is a privilege...

Holding office should be treated as a privilege and responsibility to the greater good for those you represent, it is not a right. Those who treat it as such deserve our admiration and respect. Anyone who feels like this asshat does has the right, however, to experience the metaphorical "screen door hit ya where the good Lord split ya" as they are "privileged" straight out of office.

[quaker bill]

29. I have not been asked to produce ID

to use a debit card in decades. Your pin is your ID.

I don't ask for ID when I take debit cards either.

I don't think this guy actually buys his own lunch very often. Alternately, he is just lying.

[Thumper79]

30. This guy is also a liar...what else is new.

I use my debit card all the time, not once have I've ever been asked for an I.D. In fact, on the back of my debit card, I have "Ask for I.d." and I've only been asked for I.D. maybe 5 times.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. They said that in Kansas while they argued for voter ID

Just another repulsive talking point from the right wingnuts who hate America because they don't remember its history.