WTF - Carter endorses national ID card in order to vote???!!!!!

[paineinthearse]

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000246.htm

Blogged by JC on 09.19.05 @ 01:52 PM ET

Five Pillars Without Any Legs

I just received a report about a rather strange gathering of the Baker Carter election reform commission. In a small, cramped room in the Capitol, President Jimmy Carter, James A. Baker, III, and more than a dozen other commissioners discussed the Report of the Baker-Carter Commission on Federal Election Reform in advance of the press conference scheduled for 1:30pm today. During the meeting, President Carter assailed the recent passage of the Georgia state voter ID law, which requires voters to pay out-of-pocket for an identification card in order to vote, and like a proud father, applauded his Commission for coming up with what he considers a viable solution. President Carter naively argued that he supported the idea of a federally mandated voter ID requirement because the federal government would incur the costs for voters to obtain the necessary identification--he takes an "everybody wins" approach. Carter's assessment of the Commission's proposed "solution" is way off the mark. Just as many provisions of Republican sponsored legislation have gone unfunded, this voter ID requirement will meet the same sticky feet and the voters will have to pick up the tab at the end of the day--and that's only if they're lucky. If they're not lucky, they will not get to vote at all--this is the more likely result of a federally mandated voter ID system.

Although most of the commissioners danced around the contentious issues in the report, tip-toeing as if they were walking on eggshells, George Washington University Law Professor Spencer Overton, in a brave act of defiance, stated the case for his dissent, remarking that the identification requirement suggested by the report made it impossible for him to side with some of his friends on the Commission. Professor Overton stressed that no evidence was ever presented that voter fraud is rampant in the electoral system--that one or two incidents does not equate to rampancy. He stated rather poignantly that this was "a solution in search of a problem" and that rather than addressing the unsubstantiated problem of fraud, an identification requirement would disenfranchise minority, poor, and elderly voters, and would set America back 40 years. Unfortunately, his statements seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, as former Washington Secretary of State, Ralph Munro retorted in exasperation that regardless of what one person may think about one small part of the report, this is a report that will advance our country for years to come.

One question left unanswered by this Commission: How do we expect to move forward when 10 million voters are left behind?

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Sign Rep. Conyers' letter to congressional leadership demanding No Voter ID in Any Voting Rights Legislation - http://johnconyers.com/index.asp?Type=SUPERFORMS&SEC=%7B99FFEEE4-D8DC-4CD8-992B-9EB3A4F0123A%7D

==============================

See related post - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2102385&mesg_id=2102385

[otohara]

1. Carter Was on PBS Lastnight w/ Slime Baker

Oh we like each other, respect yada, yada, yada -

How he could agree with the man who was put in charge of making sure the "theft 2000" stuck, made me ill.

It's a terrible idea - the cost of the cards are outrageous.

[papau]

2. Cards are free - and the compromise gets paper trail and registration

lists that are uniform and testable.

Conyors assumes the GOP promise to fund the cost of the cards is bull-shit and that it will be another unfunder mandate that the statesFeds will end up forcing a payment so as to cover the cost.

The disenfranchise minority, poor, and elderly voters is all plausible - but not a necessary outcome.

Assuming good faith on the part of the GOP, the package looks like a good compromise - IMHO.

:toast:

:-)

[papau]

6. dupe

dupe

[KoKo]

9. At this point you can "assume" the GOP has Good Faith?

:rofl: :eyes: :crazy:
Sorry Papao but your comment just sent me over....

Do you know how hard it will be for millions of Americans to stand in line for a photo I.D.? Have you renewed your drivers license lately....

Oy Vey....Carter has lost his mind supporting this. But, then again, his judgement often had lapses when he was President. S

[FreedomAngel82]

14. We're doomed

*sigh* :( Goodbye democracy. I've only known you for one vote. *sigh*

[Rose Siding]

3. The DNC statement mentions that it was imposed over objections

Doesn't mention Carter specifically, tho...

snip>
"The DNC is concerned and disappointed that the Baker-Carter
Commission on Federal Election Reform, over the strong dissent of some
of its most distinguished members, has seen fit to support a 'national
ID card' that threatens to deny the right to vote to millions of
citizens who are lawfully registered and eligible to do so. The
commission's recommendations create additional bureaucratic barriers
to the ballot box, despite the fact - as the Commission itself concedes
- that there is simply no evidence of the kind of widespread
impersonation fraud that could remotely justify imposing such a new
obstacle. In Ohio, the League of Women Voters found only four instances
of impersonation out of 9 million votes, and the Secretary of State of
Georgia reported that there was not a single instance of voter fraud
during her tenure.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2100623

[papau]

5. Daschle and two others opposed the ID card

but if implemented without destroying the system, it would take away the GOP's justification for all the fraud they are committing.

[SteppingRazor]

4. But the commission also wants paper trails of electronic voting...

I'll take that any way I can get it.

[faithnotgreed]

11. im confused - it does seem to plainly say here that conyers etc do not

believe that the government will actually provide voter id and thus the poor will have another burden if they want to vote

but it seems very odd that we get paper trails (though probably shouldnt trust it even if its included) and the federals will pay for voter id cards
i dont love the voter id cards but that this includes paper trails is incredible

i trust john conyers so there must be more to this than i know
he wouldnt reject the act that includes paper trails without important cause

and i know i dont trust james baker
ever

[FreedomAngel82]

15. All you have to do

is think about who is stating the things. It's BAKER. A Bush loyalist and a Carlyle Group member. Who would you trust? John Conyers or Jim Baker?

[faithnotgreed]

21. yes - that was essentially what i did

i dont trust baker and i do trust conyers

though it does give direction it doesnt leave it any clearer
we do know nothing that is supposed to be good that comes from this cabal is ever clearly stated
its all propaganda

guess thats my answer

[KoKo]

12. Some states have already put in legislation requiring paper trails...so

having this come from the Fed Level forcing folks to wait in lines and the elderly and young and folks who live in small communities to be compromised by having to have this Fed phot I.D. will cause more voters to not bother.

It wasn't a compromise. It was a way to suck us into a National I.D.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Exactly!

[LittleClarkie]

7. He IS the election expert

isn't he.

[AX10]

17. He is? Now we need ID cards to vote?

:wtf:? I have a drivers license. That is enough.

[LittleClarkie]

19. He has been an election observer all over the world. As such his opinion

is at least worth listening to, if not following. I have enough respect for him to give him that courtesy at least, even if I tend to disagree.

[dajoki]

8. i just posted a thread on that...

and would like you're opinion heard. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2102383

[paineinthearse]

10. "Proposed Voter ID Could Be New Poll Tax"

Proposed Voter ID Could Be New Poll Tax

by email

Stop James Baker III from Doing it Again

I have spent more than 40 years in public service fighting for voting rights and a better democracy. Today, I am sad to say, there are proposals being readied that would set us back in that struggle. A privately funded, unaccountable Commission organized by former Bush-Cheney campaign lawyer James Baker, III, and former President Jimmy Carter issued a report today that includes policy proposals that will disenfranchise over ten percent of eligible voters –– a national ID requirement to vote. This national voter ID proposal is essentially a poll tax that will disenfranchise Americans of all backgrounds, but the poor, the disabled, the elderly, students, and people of color would bear the greatest burden. The Katrina victims – those without the means to escape the storm – typify the population that the Commission's ID proposal will most likely leave out of our democracy.


Petition
http://johnconyers.com/petition


Donate
http://johnconyers.com/donate


Join With Me in Fighting Against This New Poll Tax Proposal
http://johnconyers.com

The simple fact is that many minority and poor voters do not have the time, money or need to purchase a drivers license. In fact, over ten percent of eligible voters in the last election did not have a photo ID. They vote by presenting other means of identification (a voter registration card, utility bill, or affidavit). This Commission is now asking Congress to deny the franchise to those voters unless they obtain a national ID card.

The implausible claim is made that Congress will pay for ID cards for those who cannot afford to buy them. Yet, given the shortfalls in funding and implementation of the Help America Vote Act, combined with the multibillion-dollar costs for restoration of the Gulf Coast and the ongoing war in Iraq, we know this is not going to happen.
Join With Me in Fighting Against This New Poll Tax Proposal
http://johnconyers.com

Even those who would not be directly affected by this provision have expressed concern about its potential threat to personal privacy. The institution of a National ID card has throughout world history been a tool of repression. This recommendation, coupled with the Commission's recommendation of interoperable databases of voters, would mark the first step toward the creation of national registries of American citizens.

Make no mistake about it, this national ID voting card will result in the disenfranchisement of poor and minority voters and make us susceptible to the same old Ken Blackwell-style Republican electoral dirty tricks that cost Senator Kerry the election in Ohio. Remember the lack of voting machines in Ohio for Democratic voters? Remember the machines that broke down or registered strange numbers of votes for George Bush or unknown third party candidates? Remember Ken Blackwell's paper weight requirements for voter registration cards?

Imagine if the Republican party can, in one fell swoop, apply new legal obstacles to more than ten percent of voters, most of them poor, minority and elderly voters, most of them Democratic voters, from being able to vote.

I am challenging you to get involved and fight this poll tax. Visit my website, http://johnconyers.com, to sign my petition to House Leadership and write a letter to the editor demanding that this proposal not be enacted. I have converted this website into a voting rights action center to address this issue. It will be constantly updated with up-to-the-minute news on this issue and actions you can take to help.

Thank you for your help and your continued stand for a better democracy.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.

[KoKo]

13. Baker got what he wanted. He forced that Commission so that other

elections can be stolen. Having a "paper trail" is not the same as a "Verifiable Paper Ballot."

It's just disgusting...that whole Commission. I have no idea why Carter ever signed on to it.

[AX10]

18. kick

[rhett o rick]

20. Another famous Democratic compromise like the filibuster. They get

national id cards and a Republican promise to have an honest paper trail. Compromising with a Repub is like believing Lucy won't pull the ball out one more time on old Charlie Brown.

[paineinthearse]

22. Read Larisa Alexandrovna’s article in HuffPo

Read Larisa Alexandrovna’s article in HuffPo - Baked-Cooked Election Reform
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4829315&mesg_id=4829315

[GayCanuck]

23. Is it really a big deal?

I mean is it any secret to your government as to who you are? You have your passports, social security cards, driver's licenses, credit cards, tax ids etc.. why not consolidate the information?

What am I missing here?

[paineinthearse]

27. Have you heard of "smart identification"?

Search archives here, or google "rfid".

Holding a piece of "smart id" will allow those with readers to determine who is in the area, or worse.

Want to ready something really scary, search for "cubcutaneous rfid".

[genius]

24. If Carter were smart, he would have seen that he was set up in Iran.

People he let go from the CIA formed a underground government that committed treason in order to get rid of Carter.

[TankLV]

25. No "national ID card" - EVER! In any way shape or form.

I am opposed to the very idea.
It's bad enough we have pic id's on our drivers licenses.

This just plain stinks - and is EXACTLY what they had in NAZI Germany and Russia.

This is a bad BAD idea.

[paineinthearse]

29. Your papers, please

What's next, mandatory retinal scans?

[paineinthearse]

26. .

evening :kick:

[meow2u3]

28. Jimmy Carter, what are you thinking?

:wtf:

[paineinthearse]

30. .

morning :kick: