State legislators who support voter ID laws are motivated in no small part by racial bias, according to a new study from the University of Southern California. The study finds strong evidence that "discriminatory intent underlies legislative support for voter identification laws."Immediate source Washington Post.
The findings raise questions about the constitutionality of voter ID laws, which the Supreme Court affirmed in 2007 on the basis that Indiana's strict law represented a "generally applicable, nondiscriminatory voting regulation." For quick background, these laws require registered voters to show some sort of government-issued ID before they vote -- supporters say they're necessary to prevent voter fraud, while opponents counter that they disproportionately affect elderly, minority and low-income groups. For more, see ProPublica's excellent backgrounder on the topic.
The important point of the 2007 decision is that the SCOTUS that year would have been the culmination of Reagan-Bush 41-43 control of the White House (still mostly in effect, but with a possibility of change before Obama leaves office if the Democrats do not lose control of the Senate)
The Reagan-Bushco majority of the SCOTUS is one the most racist ones we've seen in many decades. Yes, I'd say that Chief Justice Roberts seems to be a decent fellow even for a conservative, but the gang of racists in Scalia, Alito, Thomas, and uncaring Kennedy, is unsurmountable without Roberts breaking the mold he's apparently cast himself in. I find it hard to believe he's as inflexible as he acts.
I'm guessing he knows no one is un-expendable on that court, and accidents can happen (though with the two young liberals now on it, mainstream media is finally calling for end of lifetime tenure, I'm sure spurred on by their fat cat sponsors).
And so much money bolsters the right wing/racist side of politics, that, of course, every sleazy candidate runs to the GOP. Keep those white males happy, Daddy, and sell their rights to the Koch bros. It's the perfect gig!
Somehow we have to figure something out.
First of all though, we have to break the racist Voter ID laws and cutbacks in voting opportunities, because the battle will be won city by city, state by state of it will be lost.
But something we can do every election is to make sure friends and family have the IDs, are informed on the issues, and get to the polls, including helping people wait in line, dropping off food, water to those in districts that have long waits. It's our very future.
The picture above has a sign that shows a wonderful white fascist stimulation message. Telling us over privileged majorities that things will be taken away and we'll be facing "slavery" is tactic that for keeping minorities in their places goes back centuries, okay millennia.
Picture above of post Obama election Teaparty rally clipped to remove faces and used via Creative Commons License Attribution (CC by 2.0) thanks to flickr user cometstarmoon at Flickr.com.
