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Political Hay
Durbin Mischief
Democrat Dick is taking his dog and pony show of cynicism to Tampa this week.
TAMPA – The Republican presidential debate last night in Tampa is not the only political theater here this week.
A much less edifying political event will be Friday’s dog and pony show in the Hillsborough County courthouse, put on by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights. A ton of political mischief can be dealt under these labels. And mischief is all the hearing, chaired by Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin, will be.
The ostensible reason for the hearing is to explore whether new voting laws, adopted by the heavily Republican Florida Legislature last year, are designed to keep Democratic constituencies from the polls. Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson has flatly made this charge, and easily enlisted Durbin to orchestrate the gag. In fact, the purpose of the hearings is to portray Republicans as rich, white racists and all-around meanies and cheats who want to keep Democrats, especially minorities, away from the polls.
In a press release from Nelson, who is running for re-election this year, we get these febrile charges: “The right to vote is, and always has been, at the foundation of our democracy. But this fundamental right is under serious attack right now, in Florida and more than a dozen other states. Many believe a handful of super-rich conservative activists are behind an orchestrated effort to keep millions of seniors, younger voters, and minorities from casting ballots next year.”
Wow. Pretty overwrought stuff, deserving of elaboration. But I could get none from the accusers. Neither Nelson nor Durbin have said how these new laws, and others in other states, operate to keep minorities, et al. away from the polls. I’ve left five detailed messages with Nelson’s office asking for clarification and seeking to learn if Nelson himself believes “a handful of super-rich conservative activists are behind an orchestrated effort to keep millions of seniors, younger voters, and minorities from casting ballots next years.” Sure would like to know the names of these rich rascals. No call back.
I did manage to reach Max Gleischman, Durbin’s communications director, and he answered some questions. Unfortunately, they weren’t the ones I asked. He bobbed and weaved around the question of what triggered the hearings, what specifically would make Senator Nelson believe the new laws would keep minorities and other Democratic constituencies from the polls. Surely they don’t hold hearings on all new election laws on speculation that they might keep people from voting.
Asked what about the Florida laws worried Durbin and Nelson, Gleischman said he would not “get into specifics now,” but said the subcommittee planned to look into Florida’s law and those of about 30 states.
“We’re concerned about several laws that changed existing laws,” Gleischman said. “Some are more restrictive than the previous laws. Some laws have made it more difficult to register.” He would not say how Florida’s new laws make registering or voting difficult, which is manifestly isn’t.
Then followed a charming flute solo on how everyone in America who is qualified to vote should have that opportunity and everyone “regardless of…” and so forth (cue the violins). It would be hard to find anyone, in whatever party, who would argue with these sentiments. But they have nothing to do with Florida’s new voter laws.
In order to save some money and to guard against voter fraud, the Florida Legislature last year reduced the number of early voting days from 14 to eight but increased evening and weekend hours. (How did we get things done just a few years ago when everyone had to vote on Election Day?) The new laws also reduce the amount of time third party registration outfits have to turn in paper work on voters.
It’s hard to imagine how any of this keeps minorities or young people from registering and voting, which are manifestly easy to do in Florida. Hillsborough County (Tampa), as an example, allows qualified citizens to register in four supervisor of elections offices, public libraries, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, et al. Citizens who can’t make their way to one of these many venues in the ample time allotted for registering cannot possibly consider the franchise very important.
Although Nelson’s office remains illusive, I was able to talk to spokesmen in Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Office, the Florida Secretary of State’s office (which administers voting in Florida), and the chief sponsor of the bill in the Florida House. None had any idea on what, other than electoral politics, Nelson and Durbin were getting on about.
Lenny Curry of Jacksonville, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said the charges in the hearings are just “Democrats trying to stir the pot and create resentments because they have nothing to say on the important issues.” He calls the whole business “straight politics and nothing else.”
Curry said the issue of voter fraud is an important one and fraud has taken place in Florida. He said the changes in Florida’s voting laws don’t stop anyone from voting, or even inconvenience them.
“No amount of voter fraud is acceptable,” Curry said. “You have to be able to trust the vote. We’re only getting stuff like this because hope and change didn’t work out.”
The invite list for the hearing has not been made pubic yet. But we expect it will be the usual suspects – left ideological groups and various indignatos eager to make baseless charges the mainstream media will act as megaphones for. Look also for well-intentioned but easily excitable groups like The League of Women Voters. We can hope a majority of Florida voters are smart enough to see through this, even if the state’s editorial writers aren’t.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Richard Baker| 1.24.12 @ 7:05AM
And Durbin's and Nelson's net worth IS? Rich guys incense them? I guess George Soros and his destructo-efforts to destroy and emasculatate the country are peachy-keen with them. How can that be? I thought both of them were on the side of right and virtue.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 7:11AM
More irony.
When Durbin was a Democratic congressman he also kited checks at the House Bank. When he was caught he simply paid the House Bank a little over $200 to compensate on overdraft fees.
Durbin is a crook but the public who elects him is the real problem.
Durbin has trashed the U.S. military and appears to be anti-American in many other ways. Illinois deserves him.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.24.12 @ 10:52AM
Irony? Okay. But it's not JUST irony.
It's: What you would expect. It's: "For Thee, but not for Me". It's: "Let them Eat Cake" and it's: "Some Pigs are more Equal than others". It's: "Do as I say, not as I do". It's as old as Civilization itself. And it's in everyone of these MFers' DNA.
If this was a coupla hundred years ago, he'd a been run out on a rail, a long time ago. Or, looking up at his body, from inside of a Basket.
Happy Tuesday.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 10:59AM
I said he was a crook.
But many on the Hill are, and that's the real irony.
We are a country led by criminals.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.24.12 @ 11:10AM
Agrred.
Harvey Mallory| 1.24.12 @ 11:49AM
The late, great Mark Twain remarked on this reality. ;)
markenoff| 1.25.12 @ 12:47AM
America has no native criminal class....except for Congress of course. - Mark Twain
Ultimately all governments are kleptocracies. That is why our Founding Fathers, steeped in history and political philosophy, created a limited government with checks and balances to keep the crooks working against each other and limiting the damage they can do to the rest of us. Unfortunately since FDR threatened to pack the court and the SCOTUS rolled over and OK'd the massive expansion of federal power the opportunity to plunder the American people under the guise of being a "public servant" has attracted the unscrupulous to both political parties.
Drunken Sailor| 1.24.12 @ 3:33PM
Hey now. Some of downstaters wish he would get lost in Lake Michigan. We can't stand Turbin Durbin
Richard Baker| 1.24.12 @ 7:31AM
Emasculate not emasculatate.
Appleby| 1.24.12 @ 7:32AM
I suspect their real concern is that it's getting harder for illegals and felons to vote, which is cutting down their base. And until someone invents a Voting App that will reward the babies for their finger-twitch, young people will consider themselves "disenfranchised" (although they could not define that word with a gun to their heads.)
Michael Tomlinson| 1.24.12 @ 8:11AM
Durbin reminds of a 21st century Herman Goering.
SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 12:24PM
America need not fear so much the enemy at the gates, but High Vigilance must be paid to the enemys from within..........
markenoff| 1.25.12 @ 12:51AM
At least Goering was an authentic war hero.
sjccoach| 1.24.12 @ 8:16AM
There is only one reason for these hearings. If the Democrats can't commit voter fraud they lose elections.
Indy| 1.24.12 @ 8:20AM
I'm so tired of attacks on states that passed laws protecting the integrity of the vote as being "racist" or disenfranching anyone. Voters have the responsibility to register, be informed and vote. There is no need to prolong the voting process, 8 days of early voting is plenty, if you cannot get to the polls within that time frame then vote absentee. A photo ID requirement does not disenfranchise anyone, it protects the integrity of the voting process.
Moe Blotz| 1.24.12 @ 9:23AM
With a finite election opportunity, the number of ballots cast will be minimised. With infinite opportunity as in the eight day early voting, think of how many ballots you could cast. (Even they were for one candidate)
Louis Jenkins| 1.24.12 @ 8:55AM
A photo ID? Omg!! Long dead grandpa and grandma won't be able to vote Democrat!!
Remember the Demcrat motto; "Democrats, vote early and often in each election!"
markenoff| 1.25.12 @ 12:54AM
Don't count every vote. Only count the legally cast ones.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.24.12 @ 9:03AM
Does Bill Nelson love this Country? Does he? Does Dick Durbin? Do they love the Constitution, and the Declaration? Do they Revere the Founding Fathers, and do they CHERISH, a Free and FAIR Election?
They do not.
They TALK about "Fairness" all the time. What they DO, is something different, all together.
"What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and lose his immortal soul?" JESUS CHRIST.
Who WOULDN'T want Fair Elections? "One Man, One Vote." Isn't that what they SAY they want? It is. That's what they SAY. In truth, they seek One Man, One Vote, ONE TIME. And, they know that there is No Way to get that in a Fair Election.
Let's look around at where the Democrat's Power is at its' peak. California. The oozing sore, of the Lower 48. (Or, 55, if you happen to be the Smartest President ever) "As California goes, so goes the Country." (God help us)
Detroit. The, "Bulldozing of Neighborhoods" Capit0l of the world.
Philly, Baltimore, Milwaukee. The Flash Mob/Murder/Get beaten in to a COMA at McDonalds, Capitol of the world.
Michigan is California Jr. Illinois is Michigan Jr.
All of them, Liberal Strongholds. All of them, fighting Proper Identification at the Voting Booth.
The Party of the Freaks. The Gays and the Lesbians, and the Trans genders, The Party of the Rapists, and the Robbers, and the Child Molesters (FELONS). The Party of Open Borders and Infanticide. The Party of "There is no God" and Blame America First. The Party of "The Joy of Anal Sex and, Masturbation", in our Children's 3rd Grade Classrooms. The Party who VILIFIES our Military Men and Women, and hauls them up on Charges, at every turn, while Fighting, breathlessly, to insure that our ENEMY gets every benefit of the Doubt, and every Constitutional Protection, whether they are ELIGIBLE for them, or not.
I'm not gonna go in to the litany of all of the instances that one is REQUIRED to show I.D. Everybody knows what they are.
Our Elections are what make us Free. They can just as easily, become the vessel that enslaves us all.
You don't believe me?
Hitler was Elected, before he was Appointed Chancellor. Chavez was Elected. I'mahandajob was Elected. Castro was Elected. Saddam was Elected.
Why do men do, the things they do? And, how does Dick Durbin look at HIS OWN STATE, and still get to sleep at night?
Machiavelli must have had the Democrats, in mind, when he put pen to paper, and wrote the things that he did.
russel| 1.24.12 @ 10:47AM
These careerist's were simply crooks before the American Socialist Party started making serious inroads . Now I call them enablers of that party . Reid is one . Pelosi , well she's the Queen . In short , their whole party wouldn't have been recognized fifty years ago , but the likes of my uncle still vote for them , regardless what they've become .
Marc Jeric| 1.24.12 @ 11:06AM
Sir - you forgot to add that the "democrats" are also the party of pedophiles, eco-nazis, printed money, reverse discrimination, ...
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.24.12 @ 11:11AM
You know what they say: " So Many _____ So little time."
SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 12:28PM
Adolph Hitler..."What luck for rulers that men do not think".
hardcard| 1.24.12 @ 9:36AM
You forgot putin of the newly democratic workers paradise russia. durbin is rostenkowski without the orange jumd-suit.
hardcard| 1.24.12 @ 9:37AM
jump-suit pardon my typo
RJ| 1.24.12 @ 10:07AM
I really wish the GOP would hit the issue of voter fraud very hard. Of course efforts to prevent voter id are simply motivated to continue to make illegal voting easy. John Fund's book "Stealing Elections" provides ample evidence of how loose the American voting system. Two friends of mine who are immigrant Americans have told me they were shocked that they weren't asked for an id when they voted.
On the night of the 1976 election, a close relative of mine was a guest of a prominent Democrat at the Democratic Party's celebration in Washington, D.C. and said that part of the discussion was their surprise that Jimmy Carter did not win Illinois because the Chicago machine was so good at voter fraud. Some third world countries have more integrity in their voting process than we do in ours. We must demand honest elections.
TrueBlue | 1.24.12 @ 5:33PM
The Right has a hard time hitting the voter fraud issue because in order to ensure more integrity you need essentially a national ID (driver's license is nearly at that point, but you'd be surprised how many people don't have one), there are a lot of people afraid of what the government could, and most likely would, do if they had every citizen registered.
It's a very steep cliff to balance over, and one that would have to be done nearly perfect (with oversight by moral and ethical individuals) to prevent abuse. Best way I can think to do it would be to have everyone assigned a completely random number that is NOT related to their SSN, birth date, state of residence, or even sequentially assigned. Both would have to match with the picture on file and that information would have to be limited to use for the picture ID. It could not be disseminated to law enforcement, or attached to any other aspect of the person's life after initial creation (sadly SSN and Birth Certificate would be the only way to verify when the system is first brought online).
The argument against requiring an ID that it would make it harder for certain people to vote is silly though. They might have to sacrifice one day to get a photo ID, but if voting is actually important to someone is ONE DAY such a big sacrifice?
bob alou| 1.24.12 @ 10:12AM
My policy whenever the subject is Dick Durbin is to always repeat,in case anyone has the slightest doubt, that he is a despicable jackass and, vying with with Schumer to be sure, may be the most integrity deficient Senator of all time.
Gary| 1.24.12 @ 10:53AM
Yeah, Durbin should stay in Illinois where dead voters cast ballots and a series of governors are in jail. The "sacred" right to vote there is a joke to the extent that even when people are allowed to vote they elect crooks.
Marc Jeric| 1.24.12 @ 10:58AM
Mullah Obama's system of local soviets is getting ready to perform a gigantic vote fraud. They still have $8.7 billion from the Abu Hussein al-Mombassa (or whatever Kenyan hellhole that marxist Muslim was born in) "stimulus bill" reserved for them.
Wilmo| 1.24.12 @ 11:37AM
Florida is a treasure trove of deceased American voters which the Democrats intend to mine in November. And there's nobody more experienced than Dick Turban and the army of Chicago political thugs to pull it off.
LindaF | 1.24.12 @ 12:54PM
I'd like to see voter's registration for the new voters ask one question: Did you move from another state? What is your address there? And have them send a dis-registration notice to that Board of Elections, telling them to take that person off the rolls.
Same with college students - take them off the rolls in their home state, if they try registering in their college home.
Also, any absentee ballot that is not going to the address of record, has to undergo extra scrutiny - it might be another one of the many part-time residents, who vote in more than 1 state. It won't stop all of them, but it might slow them down.
No ballots or applications for absentee ballots issued without a photo ID, and a signature matching the voter's record.
RICHARD| 1.24.12 @ 1:53PM
I am amazed by the arrogance and shamelessness of Democrats who claim that reasonable registration laws are "racist". Liberalism really makes people stupid because I am convinced that many Dems actually believe it
Jack London| 1.24.12 @ 1:58PM
'The invite list for the hearing has not been made pubic yet'
You can be sure Newt will turn up when it is. Herman too.
TrueBlue | 1.24.12 @ 5:36PM
Still no proof presented on the Cain allegations... the ones that mysteriously disappeared after he suspended his campaign. Not fishy at all...
Paulie| 1.24.12 @ 1:58PM
Dick Durbin is a lying piece of garbage. Only a cesspool like IL would continue to re-elect a national embarrassment like Dick.
Anthony| 1.24.12 @ 2:00PM
Wanna bet little Dick Durbin and Half Nelson the moderate don't invite a speaker to opine on the effects of illegal voters casting ballots and how that disenfranchises legitimate voters?
Here's hoping after Nov. 2012 there'll be some hanging chads in Washington.
Purp| 1.24.12 @ 2:05PM
The Voter ID laws are a voter suppression tactic, clear and simple. There was no problem with voter fraud to correct : http://www.aclu.org/voter-suppression-america
So why spend the time, the money and the obvious possibility of disenfranchising voters? Don't we need jobs instead? Showing an ID to vote might sound okay, but with estimates of 10% of the public without a picture ID (and it has to have a picture), that amounts to 30 million people that might not get to vote.
And, Republicans support the Constitution. Give me a break. When convenient they do.
The right to vote is fundamental to the Constitution and our Democracy. Passing laws that solve no problem has to have an ulterior motive. Republican Legislators aren't going to tell you the real reason they discuss behind closed doors - but it's clear they are trying to suppress the elderly, young and other voters. Even regarding illegal immigrants - do you really think hordes of illegals are going to try to vote, when they don't exist on the voting rolls and take the chance of being caught and deported. Come on, don't be stupid. They will not. Obama has deported more illegals than Dubya ever dreamed about.
Why is it only Republican Legislatures are doing this? Isn't that strange? At least voters in Maine had the common sense in 2011 to repeal their legislature's attempt to suppress their voting freedom.
Maybe this tactic will backfire in their face just like the Citizen's United is blowing up the Republican Nomination. After all, "In God We Trust" ... and He doesn't like "bearing false witness".
Jack London| 1.24.12 @ 3:05PM
Don't forget too that Florida is one of the states that bans felons from voting for life.
Skippy| 1.24.12 @ 6:29PM
As all 50 should!
Drunken Sailor| 1.24.12 @ 3:39PM
last I checked you can get a state ID card at most DMV's for little to no money. So if your against someone showing they can legally vote, how do you propose to stop voter fraud? And don't even give me that line about it's never happend. Even if that were true doesn't mean it can't or won't. If voting is important (and it is) shouldn't it be protected?
Jack London| 1.24.12 @ 3:51PM
You're missing the point, which is that the reason the Repubs want this isn't because of fraud. That's pretty obvious.
Drunken Sailor| 1.24.12 @ 4:26PM
No I didn't miss his point. I simply said it was BS.
Case in point. William G. Stinson 1993 election for Pennslyvania state Senate.
My point was even if you have no proof it hasn't happend yet, should you not take steps to protect something as important and valuable from manipulation? How just how would it be suppressing a vote if the ID card is so easy to come by?
Jack London| 1.24.12 @ 4:49PM
Sorry but if you really think the motivation for these voting restrictions is about fraud you're very naive.
Drunken Sailor| 1.24.12 @ 5:05PM
And if you think the fraud doesn't exist your even more naive. I live in Illinois and am very familiar with that style politics. You?
Purp| 1.24.12 @ 6:19PM
I too live in Illinois and your full of s*. Nice talking point, but it's not true and YOU know it. Voter fraud has only been proven and resulted in convictions in less than 100 cases nationwide over the past decade. You need a law to stop that? Give it a rest, we know the truth, and you'd say anything the party tells you too.
Skippy| 1.24.12 @ 6:27PM
Democrats don't prosecute voter fraud.
They commit it.
Skippy| 1.24.12 @ 6:22PM
perp and jackoff:
The ONLY reason to object to voter ID laws is to promulgate voter fraud.
The reason Republicans enact these laws is to slow the growth of Dem fraud.
Spare me your poll-tax horseshit.
You are simply another lying, cheating, thieving Democrat.
merlin| 1.24.12 @ 6:46PM
Jack L.,
It is about fraud. Do conservative recognise that the fraud it detrimental to us? Yes. Is 99% of it committed by the left? Yes. Now, why is that? Maybe you do not agree about the 99%. Who wants to make registration easier (motor voter in CA)? Who supports some sort of ID for voters? Not liberals. Who generally benefits from illegal alien voting?
Can you get it thru your head that conservative have no desire to prevent anyone qualified to vote from voting? Democrats and liberals will let anyone vote if it benefits them. Why is there that difference between you and us?
Purp| 1.24.12 @ 6:15PM
They don't need a voter ID law for that - it is already illegal to vote if you are not legally allowed to. THIS is what Republicans waste their time over instead of creating jobs?
Skippy| 1.24.12 @ 6:24PM
Since when has something being illegal stopped those intent on deception from doing so?
Who's the naive one?
markenoff| 1.25.12 @ 1:02AM
First, you expect us to trust data from the ACLU?
Second, you need photo ID to cash a check, buy cigarettes, buy alcohol, drive a car, buy lottery tickets, board an aircraft, enter a government building and to use a credit or debit card, among other things. So their are 30,000,000 in the US who never do any of these things?
Third, getting a phot ID is not that hard. Most states do it for free. You might need a birth certificate. In my state of birth, IN, that will cost you $10. Small price to pay to be able to buy beer, let alone vote.
Stephanie| 1.24.12 @ 2:44PM
Otherwise known as Slick Dick.
Ron| 1.24.12 @ 3:03PM
I am sorry, but isn't Dunce Durbin the Senator from Illinois? Why are his voting public not raising a stink on why he is going to drum up problems for Florida?
Purp| 1.24.12 @ 6:21PM
Because Illinois doesn't have the voting issues FL does and has in the past.
Skippy| 1.24.12 @ 6:25PM
Snort!
Richard Baker| 1.24.12 @ 6:08PM
Ron:
The reason is a mentally comatose electorate.
Mark Grosenbaugh| 1.25.12 @ 6:00AM
Nice column, Larry. You have it right - this is just a dog and pony show, a way for Nelson to grab a headline. Why else would he drag Durbin and the hearing all the way to Tampa.
Marc Jeric| 1.25.12 @ 2:10PM
Mullah Obama's net of local soviets (that's Russian for "community organizations") is getting ready to peform a gigantic vote fraud. He has reserved $8.7 billion unspent from his stimulus bill for that purpose. ACORN, SEIU, AFL-CIO, NEA, AFT, AFSCME, etc. will be charged to do that "work". Voter ID laws are a direct threat to that plan, and that commie-racist Holder is in charge of that effort.