OBAMA ADMINISTRATION REBUKED
A three-judge panel has upheld South Carolina’s controverisal voter ID law … at least for now … ruling against the U.S. Department of Justice and in favor of the Palmetto State.
The ruling will permit the S.C. Election Commission (SCEC) to implement South Carolina’s new law – which requires voters to present a valid photo ID prior to casting their ballot – beginning in 2013 over the objections of those who believe the law to be racist.
South Carolina’s voter ID law was blocked by the U.S. Justice Department (USDOJ) – which retains the right to “pre-clear” such changes before they take effect given South Carolina’s less-than-stellar record of enfranchising minorities. Justice Department lawyers reportedly didn’t find anything discriminatory or unconstitutional about the legislation – but the agency’s political appointees decided to move forward with the case anyway.
The ruling is a major political victory for S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, who argued the case before the U.S. District Court.
“Today’s ruling by the three judge panel is a major victory for South Carolina and its election process,” Wilson said in a statement. “It affirms our voter ID law is valid and constitutional under the Voting Rights Act. The fact remains, voter ID laws do not discriminate or disenfranchise; they ensure integrity at the ballot box.”
The victory wasn’t complete, though, as the panel ruled that the Palmetto State could not implement the law during the current election cycle.
“Given the short time left before the 2012 elections, and given the numerous steps necessary to properly implement the law … we do not grant pre-clearance for the 2012 elections,” U.S. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh wrote.
South Carolina lawmakers have appropriated more than $1 million to pay for these IDs (including a recurring cost of $100,000 each year) … but that appropriation won’t necessarily solve the problem. You see, to obtain a photo ID in South Carolina you must first obtain a copy of your birth certificate, which the S.C. Department of Vital Statistics won’t give you unless you show them … wait for it … your photo ID.
Funny how that works, isn’t it?
FITS opposed the voter ID law on the grounds that it addressed a nonexistent problem. We also objected to the way certain politicians – led by S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – fabricated information in an effort to support the law.
Having said that we didn’t expend much capitol opposing the measure … merely arguing that the state had plenty of real problems lawmakers should be addressing as opposed to wasting time on such partisan legislation.
While the voter ID issue itself appears to be headed toward a resolution, no word yet on whether S.C. Rep. Alan Clemmons – the author of the bill – will face perjury charges in the wake of his testimony before the three-judge panel. Clemmons has been accused of deliberately misrepresenting his proximity to the author of a racist email sent in support of the new law.
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59 comments
I’m Very Proud of South Carolina for its Voter ID Law.
Get your ID ready…or be ready to GO TO Jail if you run a polling location, and do not REQUIRE an ID….
SLED needs to get patrols on the scene, w/ the National Guard to enforce.
We MUST enforce the Law…not even Obama and Holder can cheat and steal elections…
in the last twelve years there have been 38 people charged with voter fraud nationally..or roughly .08 per state over a TEN year period..not .08 per year..but less than one individual per state over ten years..yeah call out the national guard, SEALs and Delta..its obviously a huge problem.
Big idioT, you do realize that an ID has ALWAYS been required to vote. The new requirement is for a PHOTO id. Not everyone was born in a hospital and therefore they do not have a birth certificate.
This is voter suppression, pure and simple. Supporting it is to spit on the graves of the men and women who died for our rights.
HEY STUPID! This law doesn’t take affect until 2013!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
Idiot. It does not even apply to the upcoming election.
LMAO @ Vic: he said: “an ID has ALWAYS been required to vote”…
Then he Breaks his neck Denouncing it…
Obvioulsy: These people are not the Sharpest knives in the drawer…
Vic: You are a TRUE Obama (well-earned title) Obama disciple…Hahahaha…thanks for that laugh…
once again shows his utter incapability to comprehend anything he reads..(one hint dim witted one: PHOTO id..)its hysterical how ignorant and thick skulled our little Sarah is..try rereading vics comments idiot boy wonder than maybe comment..lol.
So you are saying you can CHEAT one last time…
Nice break…But I don’t think Obama has a chance regardless…
Dude, I don’t “cheat” when I vote. I show up, I vote. Period. I don’t knwo anybody who DOES cheat, or who tries to. I DO know of some cheating in Horry County on the part of elections officials, which is still being looked into, but that is another story.
This time I will show up and vote for Gary Johnson for POTUS, Dr. Gloria Bromell Tinubu for US Congress from this district, and certain Dems and Repubs for other seats.
A very mixed-ticket ballot, as is my right as a citizen. But NO cheating. Don’t try to hang that shit on me. Ya big dummy
You’re voting for Tinubu? That’s only going to make T madder, you know…
Not to jump on the Big t hatewagon, but buddy, SLED don’t got no patrols. And you want the national guard patrolling polling stations? Retarded.
I am not against voter ID. Only question I have is why has this come up during the past 4 years? yes, some states had it before then.
You have always had to have either a voter card or a picture ID. Now, you must have picture ID.
Again, I’m not seeing the end of the world, but I’m just curious why we think this is so necessary. Where is all this corruption?
Voter ID laws are opposed by those who depend on votes from the most irresponsible segment of society to maintain their own lofty (and lucrative) political perches. All the while assuring these generally gullible, and childlike people that they are looking out for their best interests. How horrified they must be that ANYTHING, no matter how routine, could deter their charges from making it to the polls to cast a vote(for them). It’s the ultimate scam.
Voter ID laws are not about corruption per-se. Democrats are scared to death that if their “always reliable” minority voting block is held to certain registration standards, they will most likely not “jump through the hoops”. Minorities tend to rent more often and thus are transient by nature. This creates mass confusion as to which precinct in which to vote, and if a driver’s license address doesn’t match a registered voting address, then one would have to reregister every time one moves. THAT is what Democrats are worried about, NOT the 95 year old lady in the wheel chair with no way to get to the DMV. That’s just a cover. They know their core constituency is too irresponsible, and apathetic to make the effort to keep their voting information correct and up to date, if it requires any effort at all.
This law is worthless before it is ever implemented. Didn’t anyone read all the excuses for not having a photo ID that the federal judges forced SC to write into the law? Almost anyone could get past with one of those excuses! It’s a sham.
Our masters in DC have spoken and allowed the SC bureaucracy the freedom to regulate its voting process.
Oh yay; now those voting for different smelling turds can do so with more integrity.
I feel more free already.
When will Nikki be on TV taking credit for suppressing the Black vote ?
I hear it will be a joint press release with Harpo, who will follow her by announcing he no longer seeks to rent the black vote.
The reason they don’t have a date yet is due to scheduling conflicts.
Not only one press release, they will take the state plane to every backwoods airport to hold a press conference.
I hear there will be 5 min rides in the state plane for $10, if you have a photo ID.
lol, thanks for the correction. I’m not an insider.
You can almost chart the Direction of the presidential campaign (Exactly) by what FITS ignores and/or highlights…
When the polls trended to Obama, FITS was wallowing in surveys. Now Obama is exploiting Big Bird, and FITS puts Big Bird front and center for Obama….
This Libyan Ambassador Scandal is En Fuego..A Raging Inferno…it (by itself) could Take down Obama (who has been LYING his Ugly face off) …and it may take out Hillary 2016…
Yet FITS is Mum about it…But that SILENCE Speaks a Million Words…and they are all voices of DEEP trouble for FITS’ god Obama….
I think the election is all-but OVER…Obama is Gone…I know the media has an October Suprise or 2…that FITS will Vehmently promote…
But I don’t think there is anything that can change it now…
Big T(urd), you want to hope they don’t decide to make an I.Q. test a requirement to vote. If they do, you’re screwed!
Looking forward to hearing how Haley characterizes herself on this one.
I hope she pats herself on the back.
She deserves it…She did a good job.
I don’t think she’s going to pat herself there. Probably someplace else.
She will take credit. No way she will let Clemmons and Wilson hog that.
Just one more step on our path to becoming the center of the redneck racist universe. It will all come back to haunt those of us who live here in the end, as we cement our reputation around the country and the world.
Jan: It’s democrats like you who perpetuate the Corridor of Shame…and you vote on Race-hate, too…
I think you owe us an apology for bringing by the state…
Big T, I am an independent, you are a redneck racist.
While I am getting a little too old to make it, one of my life goals is to live long enough to see the last of your species go extinct.
Jan, you must be delusional.
There is nothing redneck or racist about the voter ID law.
Maybe you’re one of those liberal hacks who see a racist behind every bush.
It would be great if the rest of us could hope to live long enough to see the last of your species go extinct, but alas, I believe y’all are like cockroaches; even able to survive nuclear holocaust.
Or maybe not. Don’t be so down on South Carolina… we are not NEARLY so bad as you seem to like to paint us.
Really, we aren’t.
Get over yourself. Get out in the sunshine once in awhile. Take a pen and pad with you. Report back with the percentage of obvious racists you come across. I think you might be surprised how few there actually are out there.
CM, my SC roots are very deep. I know everything their is to know about this state and the people who live here. I get out plenty. I encounter many people. My family is large. They all live in SC and have for generations. Its amazing what people will say, and the jokes they tell when they think you agree with them. Something I never dissuade them from believing.
SC’s national reputation is one of a state of dumb rednecks and racists. We have done nothing voluntarily to change that perception. It hurts us. It hurts our people. But we have brought that on ourselves. When you have our history, you must work twice as hard to overcome being stereotyped. We have done nothing but cement the beliefs about our state. I travel a lot with my business. I use to try to defend SC. But I just finally gave up. We seem content with our reputation and maybe we should be. Maybe for now that’s who we are.
Do you have anything more than anecdotal evidence to support your grandiose claim that “SC’s national reputation is one of a state of dumb rednecks and racists”?
Because you know you WOULD need more in order to legitimately make that claim, right?
CM,
You do understand the Irony of asking for evidence of my opinion in this case, don’t you? I can certainly produce more evidence of SC’s Reputation than you can of voter fraud.
Suppressing the black vote…hogwash.
In order to apply for Social Security, you have to have a Social Security card. In order to get a Social Security card you have to have proof of citizenship, age and identity. In order to show identity only one of three things are accepted:
U.S. driver’s license;
State-issued non driver identification card; or
U.S. passport.
So anyone negatively effected by this law is also negatively effected in that they cannot apply for a Social Security card.
No given that most people who detest this law say it discriminates against poor, black old people who were not born in the hospital, and obviously cannot drive because they don’t have a driver’s license, shouldn’t the real concern be over their inability to certify for Social Security?
No, I think the real problem is that Democrats don’t want to have a certain type of voting inhibited, that being when 20 black voters get on a bus with 100 voter registrations and each votes 5 times, once in five districts. That is what voter drive means to Democrats.
There. I said it. That is what we want stopped: The Party Bus!!!
Ah! Ladies and Gentlmen of the juryI rest my case.
The redneck racists who live in a state dominated by Republicans for over a decade, imagine in their mind the state would be more dominated by Republicans if it were not for all the black people voting. Never mind the lack of evidence. It must be true.
No, Jan. You don’t get it. You cannot prove it hasn’t happened, we know it has.
This way, we will ALL be able to say it won’t.
It is NOT racist to want rules to apply across the board. It IS racist to want deny the ability to have non repudiation in voting.
How does it feel to be a racist, Jan?
can you prove it did happen?
Several Universities have studied the voting machines we have in SC. They all have determined they can easily be hacked or manipulated. Should we not immediately fix this known provable problem with the integrity of our election process? The answer is you do not care about that, because the integrity of the vote is not your real concern.
Your goals and opinions are transparent. Only the intentionally blind cannot see them. That is why SC continues to cement its reputation among the states and the world as the redneck racist capital.
At title that will dog our state and our economic development efforts for decades.
Bob, just noting that you were the one that specified the 20 people in the bus with 100 voter registrations going to vote in 5 separate counties as being black.
If we have all this voter corruption, otherwise known as blacks voting twice or while they are dead, then why aren’t there more democrats elected?
The proof is in the elections. We do not have the fraud that is being shouted about.
What we have is a voter ID law that may help in future redistricting.
Jan,
Your point about computerized voting machines are well taken. As a software developer, I know all too well how easy it is to tamper with the data. And what’s next? Internet voting! That will be even more susceptible to tampering. I am extremely distrustful of electronic voting.
I’m a firm believer in the tried and true paper ballot system. I also think that any ballots that are inconclusive should be tossed, to prevent a recurrence of the Florida recount fiasco. If a voter can’t make the effort to properly mark/punch the ballot, then that ballot should be disqualified. We shouldn’t have a bunch of people looking at them trying to figure out how they intended to vote.
Further, I’m a fan of the “purple finger” system used by Iraq to enforce the one voter – one vote rule.
Some fraction of those eligible even bother to register to vote. Some fraction of those registered bother to vote.
There is no possibility of a return on in-person voting fraud.
ALEC provided draft legislation for voter ID requirements and made it a legislative priority.
Republicans around the country clamored for its passage.
The Governor (R) of PA touted that state’s passage of voter ID as paving the path for a Romney win in that state.
All more than a bit unseemly.
Well! Congratulations goes to AG Wilson and while I am at it, to then Senate Pro Tempore McConnell in his redistricting plan which also passed muster.
One gripe, though. Are our military fighting men and women having any difficulty in having their voices heard in this election?
They shouldn’t as they all have ids.
They are though because the anti military left is trying to suppress their vote in some states.
Mitt Romney wrongly suggests the Obama campaign is trying to “undermine” the voting rights of military members through a lawsuit filed in Ohio. The suit seeks to block state legislation that limited early voting times for nonmilitary members; it doesn’t seek to impose restrictions on service members.
usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-08-07/fact-check-obama-ohio-military-voting/56859922/1
A series of laws passed in the past year by Ohio’s Republican state legislature and Gov. John Kasich have waived the last three days of in-person early voting before Election Day for all but members of the military. Civilians now have until Friday, Nov. 2,to cast those ballots and must arrive at the booth before 6 p.m.
abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/romney-says-obama-lawsuit-blocks-ohio-military-voters/
Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from implementing or enforcing the HB 224 and SB 295 changes to Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.03, thereby restoring in-person absentee voting on the three days immediately preceding Election Day for all Ohio voters.
factcheck.org/2012/08/obama-not-trying-to-curb-military-early-voting/
Will the state train the poll workers on spotting fake IDs?
This won’t reduce voter fraud at all, not that the type of voter fraud this is supposed to combat happens on a large scale to begin with.
T- you idiot. Polls released yesterday and today still show Obama winning in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Hampshire.
Last time I checked that list includes three or four states Mitterand has to carry. But hey, next year if there’s an election in SC we can keep all those illegals from voting – should really dampen excitement in the PeeDee.
Then why is Obama making such a fool of himself…trying to catch Romney…
Keep tellin’ yourself that…
Great now the republicans will win by a 78 percent margin rather than a 62 percent margin.
Are you saying the dems will put Alvin Green in all of their races??….Hahahahaha…
I would not be surprised in the least, if Obama’s goons have created a different software to use in electronic voter machines in states with lots of electoral votes.
I trust nothing this administration says or does.
Here’s an idea. Instead of coming up with new, creative, and obscure ways of keeping Democrats from voting, why don’t you just make any political affiliation other than Republican illegal? Pass a law that says only Republicans can run for office and only Republicans can vote. Add a law that Democratic candidates in national elections are forbidden from being on SC ballots. Worried that more Republican candidates might start saying embarrassing things like “Slavery was good for blacks”? Why worry? Just make dissenting opinions and candidates illegal. That way, if R&R are accidentally caught on tape (yes, I’m an old ****) saying something like they’re going to eliminate medicare, medicaid, social security, family planning, social services of all kinds, establish a national religion, outsource all government jobs to China, double the military budget, start wars everywhere, triple income taxes on the middle class while eliminating upper class taxes altogether, and pocket the profits, you won’t have to worry about them losing SC.
SC is now the 30th state with voter ID laws and more are to come folks. The democratic party has ALWAYS gamed the voting system
This is not voter suppression, it is political payoff for the African American and Hispanic population votes across America. The Liberal Progressive democrats are losing this battle due to our constitution. The democrats have finally ran out of other peoples money.
Finally it is a complete and utter disgrace that Barrack Hussein Obama has lied to the entire nation regarding the cover-up in Libya which resulted in dead Americans, truly disgusting.
In this day, it’s suprising you don’t have to provide a photo ID is to vote when nearly everything else from buying a pack of smokes to being processed for employment to obtaining a social security card (which, a SS Card by the way is needed to obtain governement benefits).
Do those voicing opinions against producing a photo ID when going to the polls realize how suspicious they come across?
First, no you are not required to have a picture ID to get a Social Security Card.
Second, all the things you have named are not constitutional rights. The rule in this country until now has been you do not impose any obstacle to the exercise of a constitutional right without evidence of a substantial need. Speculation has never been enough. I guess that shows us what the current Republican Party really thinks about constitutional rights.
This bill and similar bills were drafted by an arm of the Republican Party, was pressed throughout the country by Republicans who admit they have no significant evidence of voter fraud, and primarily impacts poor people and minorities. Do you realize how suspicious that comes across?
Why do Republicans object to requiring a Photo ID whenever someone buys a gun??? You would admit criminals get guns would you not? Would you go on record as supporting a law that anyone selling a gun to another person must obtain a picture ID from the person so that the Government knows who is buying guns. Because your Republican Congressman or State Representative would not.
Why do Republicans not address provable problems with the voting system? Like machines that can be hacked or manipulated.
Finally, what do goverment benefits have to do with this discussion??? Oh– I get it. That is code for we are only concerned about black people voting?
I do not doubt Republicans will get these types of laws passed in many states. I labor under no illusion that pointing out the obvious hypocrisy and transparent motives of the Republican party will change the minds of people who are willing to sacrifice cherished principals, to obtain a temporary political advantage. I none the less think it is important to make it clear what is happening here, so that minorities and poor people will understand what is at stake, and scale all the road blocks placed in their way; and so that when they do, they will not forget who tried to take their voice away.
BFD. I’ve showed my license at every election or vote I have ever voted in. Simple and easy. There is no one in this country that does not have access to an id card issued by a gubment agency.
The birth certificate argument in this case is BS. You write a letter, provide a few pieces of identifying information about the BC and bingo bango, you got your birth certificate or some semblance of the same in the mail. More than sufficient to satisfy the gubment.
Why do you think stealing someones identity is so easy. Name, address and the above document will get you anything you want.
Frank Pytel :)
Again I say – read the law again – as approved. The federal judges watered it down to the point that anyone could get by without a photo ID by giving one of many excuses they forced SC to include in the law. The law is worthless as now written.
The law was worthless as it was originally written.