Today (August 6) marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Not one Republican running for president supports its renewal, despite the fact that every Republican president before now has.
Even W. Bush signed legislation renewing it and pledged that his administration would defend it in court.
That none of the candidates holds this position, including Jeb Bush, tells us all we need to know about how far right the Republican Party has moved.
That Republicans will not pass legislation to renew the Voting Rights Act and bring its provisions in line with the Supreme Court ruling of two years ago is a slap in the face to every person of color.
That Republican controlled state legislatures, including the states of some of the current and former governors running for president (Ohio, Wisconsin, and Texas), have passed laws that are intended to turn back voting rights the 1965 Act guaranteed is anti-American, anti-democratic, and morally disgusting.
You wonder what has happened to the conservative movement in this country when their idea of protecting freedom and democracy is to put obstacles in the way of the right of all Americans to vote.
Of course, the justification for these restrictive laws is that there is widespread voter fraud so let me say what I have said several times: The claim of voter fraud is itself the biggest fraud of all.
Not one shred of evidence has ever been produced to prove widespread voter fraud, which is also one of the reasons most of these laws are being reversed by the courts, as the Texas voting law was this week by a U.S. Appeals Court.
Here is what the facts say. Voter apathy is a far more serious threat to our form of government than voter fraud.
Fifty years ago our nation took a giant step forward in becoming the country many Americans believed at the time we already were. Since then every administration, Republican and Democratic, has stood for ensuring we didn’t go back.
It is nothing short of shameful that Republicans today do not share that commitment.
My question is, if you do not support the right of every American citizen to vote unencumbered by unnecessary and ineffective voting regulations, how can you possibly expect anyone to believe you stand for freedom and justice for all?
It seems to me the only fair conclusion anyone can reach is that you don’t, that, instead, you are standing in the way of our nation continuing to make strides toward becoming the kind of nation many of us believe we can be.
Which leads me to think that before any of these Republicans wanting to become president gets the nomination, they would be well to decide if they are truly committed to the right of all Americans to have a say so in the election they want to win.
linnposts.com 
Jan,
Your spot-on denunciation of those who will not fully support the voting rights of all Americans is timely not only because today is the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Bill, but also because we just saw firsthand evidence at tonight’s debate that all the Republican presidential candidates are “lock-step” ultraconservatives who have nothing to offer other than anti-Obama and anti-Clinton venomous rhetoric.
Bill, I didn’t watch the debate because I knew as you and every thinking person did that they had nothing to offer, and never will.
24 Million people watched it.
Henry,
Facts:
Total Population of the U.S. is 320,000,000
The Adult Population of the U.S. is 250,000,000
Less than 10% of the Adult population watched the debate
Opinion:
Of the 10 candidates on stage, 40% acted like adults > Bush, Christy,
Rubio, Kasich
Of the 10 candidates on stage, 40% can pack-up and go home > Cruz,
Carson, Paul and Huckabee
Aren’t percentages fun?!
Bill B. Agree with your choices there, in reverse: Kasich, Rubio…. Carson great guy not ready.
Rose Bowl, 28 Million
I think that what has been done in several states to restrict voting rights in one way or the other is despicable. I also think it is interesting that every one of those states have a Republican governor and/or legislature. I wonder if this is just a coincidence or what.
And no, I didn’t watch the “debate”.
That these states are run by Republicans is certainly not a coincidence, Wally. What has happened is intentional by them. It is the most egregious example of the disenfranchisement of minorities since Jim Crow days. It is shameful beyond measure.
In the big picture, and at its worst, I fear the assault on voter rights is one of several indicators that our dominant oligarch minority, its wealthy devotees and its political puppets are increasingly seeing the ordinary citizenry as unworthy, unnecessary and disposable people! As automation, robotics and computing continue to explode in capability as servants to the “master” groups worldwide everyone else “can” be viewed as such; superfluous! These groups use democracy as a control tool. How many foreign regimes and governments have been destroyed by this country alone under a banner of helping “them” to create a democracy all the while eroding our own? Democracy, giving a voice to all, stifles the narrow aspirations of plutocrats and oligarchs; power and wealth hungry people. This is a horrible potential for humanity as a dignified moral and spiritual species; being yoked under a renewed worldwide feudal system; a new world order. If there is to be something new under our sun it will have to be fought for from the bottom up. Again! Okay, I’ll step off the soap box now. This kind of crap bothers the hell out of me! 😉
Jan, While I’m often uneasy with what seems like too broad of generalizations about what it means to be conservative or republican I appreciate your sentiment on this subject. The inability of white America, especially white males, to be quiet for a while and just listen to voices of those who have suffered so much at the hands of American policies and institutions leaves me dismayed and not feeling very hopeful about the future. I think history shows how rare it is that those in power freely give up their power or privilege. The struggle for equality is far from over.
I share your less than hopeful view of the future. Power does indeed corrupt.