* * *
"You wanna know why I left the Republican Party as it exists
today? Here it is; this was the last straw: I was in the closed Senate
Republican Caucus when the final round of multiple Voter ID bills were
being discussed. A handful of the GOP Senators were giddy about the
ramifications and literally singled out the prospects of suppressing
minority and college voters."Think about that for a minute. Elected officials planning and happy to help deny a fellow American's constitutional right to vote in order to increase their own chances to hang onto power. A vigorous debate on the ideas wasn't good enough. Inspiring the electorate and relying on their agenda being better to get people to vote for them wasn't good enough. No, they had to take the coward's way out and come up with a plan to suppress the vote under the guise of 'voter fraud.'
"The truth? There was almost none. Oh wait, GOP Speaker Voss' estranged wife voted twice in both Idaho and WI, and a GOP staffer was caught voting twice. But it was good rhetoric. Yesterday, one of my employees, born in California went to get his WI ID. He was told he couldn't use his CA ID to get a WI ID without his birth certificate which is back in CA. The result? He's not able to vote today. Here's a young man in his early 20's, who is taking part and interested in voting for the first time in his life. He was excited to go to the polls. What kind of a state, a legislature, a political party is it that denies this young man his right?
"The GOP was born out of greater opportunity and equality. Wisconsin, yes the Wisconsin Republican Party, under the leadership of Republican Governor Robert M. 'Fighting Bob' La Follette lead the country in creating greater voting access to its citizens. The WI GOP was seen as a shining example of equality. THAT was the party I joined in the 80's and fought for. That party no longer exists. I don't belong to any party now. I don't think the Dems have all the answers either. But my God, to watch a party I once fought for deny a young man his voting rights...it boils my blood, leaves a pit in my stomach. It's time for a GOP implosion."
* * *
And here's the really sad thing. This is not in the least surprising. We've long known that's what they're doing. The Republican strategy has nothing to do with policy or ideas. It's all about trying to control the voters -- (1) by suppressing our voters and (2) by brain-washing their own voters.
Here's an example of the latter, which is not in the least surprising either. It came in a letter to the New York Times yesterday from Democratic New Hampshipre state legislator Len Disesa. He wrote about meeting an elderly, disabled woman on the campaign trail, who "gushed" to him in praise for the medical benefits she was receiving since Obamacare went into effect. The senator, sensing she would be a sure vote for him and the Democrats, told her he hoped he could count on her vote in November. But she replied, "Oh no, dearie. I will be voting Republican. I always vote Republican." Disesa told her that, "if the Republicans had their way, they would repeal Obamacare in an instant." She eyed him in disbelief and said, 'Oh, they wouldn't do that . . . would they?'"
Of course, this only amplifies the bon mot that's made the rounds for years -- about the crotchety older man, who rails against the socialism and "government control" that those devil Democrats force upon people, but then hastens to add: "But don't you dare touch my Social Security!"
With Fox News and right wing talk radio backing them up, Republicans have been brilliant at convincing people to vote against their own interests, that black is white, and Republicans are going to take care of them and get government off their backs. And all that wealth from the tax cuts for the rich will trickle down to them . . . some day . . . maybe . . . (not).
It works . . . way too often. We let them beat us in the message game. Our politics, both sides . . . how small we have become.
Ralph
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