Months after issuing a brain-dead promise to drive any South Carolinian without a photo ID to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to pick one up, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley is finally attempting to make good on that pledge.
Or rather South Carolina taxpayers will be making good on it … writing a check that Haley’s mouth couldn’t cash (imagine that).
On September 28, Haley’s administration will hold “State Identification Card Day,” on which date people without photo IDs will be provided with taxpayer-funded transportation to and from the DMV to obtain these licenses.
How much will this boondoggle cost? Who knows … it’s just money, right? Haley’s DMV director said the costs would be “minimal,” although last time we checked there were nearly 180,000 South Carolinians who lack a valid photo ID.
“Minimal?”
We doubt it …
Per the SCGOP’s new voter ID law, anyone wishing to cast a ballot in South Carolina must present a valid form of photo identification at the polls. Democrats have decried the legislation as racist – and the U.S. Justice Department is currently examining its legality.
In an ill-advised effort to defend the measure, Haley recently told FOX Carolina (one of the few local affiliates that she doesn’t consider to be a “tabloid” site) that she would personally drive any citizen who felt discriminated against to the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) so that they could pick up their shiny new taxpayer-funded ID cards.
“Find me those people who think that this is invading their rights — find — and I will go take them to the DMV myself and help them get that picture ID,” Haley said in the interview.
Of course the governor – whose own ID lists her as “white” – obviously wasn’t chomping at the bit to make good on that promise, at least not until she discovered that there were also uneducated crackers (i.e. her people) who needed rides, too.
Sheesh …
Democrats bashed Haley’s move as a “political stunt.”
“It’s a taxpayer funded public relations stunt designed to distract attention from the real issue – this law suppresses people’s right to vote,” S.C. Sen. John Land said in a statement. “No government funded taxi service will change that.”
Meanwhile a Republican blog blasted Haley for “giving a free ride” to South Carolina Democrats.
“Our Republican governor is going to give free-loading Democrats a free-ride to get a voter ID,” the website SC Hotline noted. “Of course, you and I know there is nothing free about the SCDMV ID cards … or the free rides.”
This law is ridiculous. Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for 180,000 new ID cards, nor should we be paying to defend this totally unnecessary legislation in court.
Finally, we shouldn’t be paying to bail Haley out of an ill-advised promise …
Once again, South Carolina is running a goat show when we should be running a government.
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By Rarely do I say this August 31, 2011 at 3:55 pm
But amen, Fits.
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By Torch August 31, 2011 at 4:03 pm
She is such a ditz. Who voted for this airhead?
By Lynn August 31, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I certainly hope the DMV staff tasked to conduct these ID photo pick ups have access to GPS in their state cars along with state funded cell phones so they can call for help if they get lost looking for folks who don’t normally deal with “govmint.”
I also hope she is putting this on her facebook page so we’ll all be informed…..
By Gen. Longstreet August 31, 2011 at 4:19 pm
The lass looks a tad like Sigourney Weaver in that picture, or is that just the foolish musings of an old war horse? Lord, we’ve been on the march for so long. I yearn to cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees, Thomas Jackson.
By cash August 31, 2011 at 4:20 pm
This is being used as a distraction from the real story.
By Cancerman August 31, 2011 at 4:46 pm
This is abuse of power and taxpayer money for politcal gain. This really pisses me the fuck off. Bitch!!
By Cancerman August 31, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I want to see a goddamn bill when this shit is over.
By Cid August 31, 2011 at 4:50 pm
There was never any seriousness to this legislation anyway
It addressed a non existent problem
And served to rile up all these Right Wingers who have convinced themselves on the basis of NO evidence whatsoever that massive voting fraud is occurring in one of the most Republican states in the union
And in this they have succeeded
Newspaper comment pages are rife with these loons babbling on and on about these nefarious conspiracies to overwhelm the polling places with all these unqualified voters
Pure lunacy of course
But who cares?
By matt August 31, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Nimrata has Michele Bachmann eyes in that picture…maybe that will be her Newsweek cover photo!
By Skidmarks August 31, 2011 at 5:00 pm
So, the DMV will process 180,000 IDs in one day. Right.
And this has nothing to do with the Justice Dept.’s review of possible racial discrimination in SC redistricting. Right.
By jimlewis,owb August 31, 2011 at 5:07 pm
The Czarina is showing muscle again.
She took highly trained, lean mean, fightin machine SLED Agents and turned them into fucking Water Boys.
Now she is taking highly trained specialized License Examiners and turning them into fucking cab drivers.
Maybe the Czarina can order baby blue beanie caps with the little propellers on top to go along with the Examiners’ uniforms, badges and flip top ID’s.
That way if a taxpayer see a state car, bus, van or dump truck go by and the driver has on a fucking propeller beanie cap then they can feel better knowing that another taxpaying citizens is going to get to vote.
Damn, ain’t it great to wake up in Carolina!
By CNSYD August 31, 2011 at 5:14 pm
This will work. Inform everyone who wants a ride to get an ID that while they are at the DMV a check will be run on them for outstanding warrants, unpaid child support, etc. I bet the phone will hardly ever ring.
By Register Dem Voters! August 31, 2011 at 6:18 pm
CNSYD, Yep except that won’t work, hear SCDEM’s are already hard at work and going to take advantage of this F-ck up by Haley to register dem voters big-time!
By Henry August 31, 2011 at 6:20 pm
She will never stop spending our money for her political advantage. This of course is stupid. But then again, so is she.
By CID B Right August 31, 2011 at 6:21 pm
But we dims r gonna take advantage of this special day :)
By jackie August 31, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Get over it! 51.3% of the people have spoken.
By Nikki's Twitter August 31, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Get Excited. New ID holder’s are invited to the mansion pool, filled with chilled bottled Pierre by the SCDOT contractors we aren’t paying.
By BD01 August 31, 2011 at 8:05 pm
“I so despises huh.”
By Robert August 31, 2011 at 8:10 pm
The voter ID is unnecessary, and I’m not sure it would hold up constitutionally. I know of no mass voter fraud. You have a voter registration card, and that is good enough. If you let someone else vote for you, shame on you, but your vote is still only one vote.
There is more to this desire for voter ID than is being told. I’m not sure what it is though. SC is already a red state. Voter ID isn’t gonna make it any more red.
By eggaday August 31, 2011 at 9:33 pm
“find” “find” hahahahaaa
By HoneyDo August 31, 2011 at 9:37 pm
WAIT!!!!! I thought she said that SHE would PERSONALLY transport people herself…She should be doing exactly what she said, and on HER dime, not the taxpayers AGAIN!
By Tank August 31, 2011 at 9:40 pm
I’ll say it again: the original was a cute little soundbite in support of her policy–it was totally harmless. There are so many ACTUAL things for which Haley can be criticized…let’s stick to those.
By Old Bike Dude August 31, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Don’t blame me I voted American.
By Billy Bob August 31, 2011 at 10:22 pm
OK, we’re going to get 180K people to DMV on Sept. 28th, if they even get this news. Serious??
Instead, just show us one, just one, instance of voter fraud in South Carolina. Can’t do it can you. How stupid do you think the US Justice Dept. is??
By James the Foot Soldier August 31, 2011 at 10:24 pm
I’ll go for a ride with Nikki….
By Perry Mason September 1, 2011 at 7:46 am
Me too, look at the fringe benefits……
http://tosh.comedycentral.com/blog/2011/08/31/cop-caught-having-sex-on-car-hood/?xrs=synd_facebook
The proper attribution goes to D&D69 of the Sex, Lies, Mainstream article concerning Col. Big Cock Kenny Lancaster. Video allegedly by Mark The Peeper Keel.
By Ohmaar September 1, 2011 at 7:51 am
“How stupid do you think the US Justice Dept. is??”
LOL! Do you REALLY want me to answer that?
By Nikki's Twitter September 1, 2011 at 8:10 am
Get Excited. I’ll bring the lube, if you bring the beer and toys.
By Mike at the Beach September 1, 2011 at 8:42 am
The whole premise is silly, but not for the reason most folks believe…
Let’s take Will’s number at face value and assume that there are 180,000 voting age (non-incarecerated) people without any form of valid gov’t issued ID here in SC. Although that’s less than 1/2 of 1% of our total population, my actual common-sense question is this- do you know a single, serious minded, normal person who votes (or has any interest in voting), yet doesn’t even possess an ID? I’m sure anecdotal examples exist, but everyone knows that a solid ID is a customary part of normal day to day life out here in the real world.
It’s no grand conspiracy. Our statehouse folks (Republicans and Dems alike) are too stupid to organize and implement anything even remotely resembling a conspiracy or “racist” concerted effort to suppress the minority vote.
By Michael's strap-on September 1, 2011 at 9:51 am
I can help.
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By Brewster September 1, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Lynn;
You can bet 99% of the people we are talking about deal with the government more than the average working citizen!
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