Oh, my... I think I have a letter to write, comments?

[hootinholler]

From the local paper:

Bartlett explains stance on new voting rights bill

An Aug. 9 letter to the editor questioned my vote on the Voting Rights Act. Readers may not know that the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization of 2006 includes a mandate to print ballots in languages other than English and provide language assistance to voters who cannot speak English.

Since only citizens can vote and you must demonstrate proficiency in English to become a citizen, this might be construed as an invitation by the government for non-citizens, including illegal aliens, to vote. --This, and constitutional protections, were more than adequate justification to vote against this unnecessary bill.

How is an English only ballot not a poll test? I can easily imagine communities in New York or any other large city that it is possible to have non-English speaking citizens otherwise eligible to vote.

Since you broached the subject of supporting voting rights, I have a question for you: What pressure did you put on Bob Ney to quit sitting on the paper ballot initiatives that he was obstructing in committee? Maybe we can find him some old coins to help things along. {I need a better coin-gate pun}

On Feb. 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to our Constitution was ratified. It states: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act to enforce the Constitution's 15th Amendment.-- It was powerful and necessary medicine that imposed temporary federal regulation of elections on nine southern states to eliminate pervasive, systematic, institutional discrimination that was a cancer denying African American citizens their right to vote.

Forty-one years later, there are individuals who are racist, but I am grateful that the cancer of institutional discrimination no longer plagues our country or these states.

Institutional discrimination? Really? How many religions receive 'Faith based initiative" dollars? Why are you allowing things to be stacked against the middle class and poor?

Oh, and judging from the 2004 election you should have added a number of states to it, Ohio comes to mind, and a double dose for Florida. Why not take it nationwide? Why not pass a comprehensive voting rights enforcement with teeth?

Do cancer patients need to continue chemotherapy after their cancer has been cured? Continuing federal regulation of elections for another 25 years under the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization of 2006 is not the appropriate medicine to prevent a reoccurrence of institutional discrimination.--

Who said this is cured? Have you even been paying attention?

I want only American citizens to vote. I rely upon our Constitution to guarantee that all American citizens will enjoy the right to vote.

Rep. ROSCOE G. BARTLETT

6th Congressional District

I'm kind of guessing here, but I think you only want republicans to vote.

I prefer to have open elections as a safeguard of voting rights. The Contsitution meerly provides the mandate to establish and enforce actually fair and openly witnessed elections. Why do I suffer under the shrouds of secrecy in elections as long as we vote without paper ballots. I don't understand your record. You of all people should understand every vote must be counted accurately and provision for recounts must be made. Please correct my recolection that you have done little within you power to effect change even though your personal vote is counted on diebold machines that have been decertified in a number of states.

So, comments please.

-Hoot

[nashville_brook]

1. his cancer mataphor is LAME -- ripe for ridicule

here's something that might be useful -- landshark's zogby post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x446445

[hootinholler]

5. Thanks for that link...

I haven't been hanging in ERD lately.

Some help picking apart the cancer metaphor would be nice, I had trouble and the NCI is here in this district.

-Hoot

[lisby]

2. Duck the Goose!

Hey--another Frederick local! :hi:

Roscoe Bartlett is such an asshat. Here's to better times under Duck.

:toast:

Lisby

[alarimer]

3. How does he feel about ballots in Braille?

Or is he opposed to blind people voting? We make accomodations to help people exercise the right to vote all the time. We should make it easier to vote, not harder. Besides the last time I checked, not a lot of non-citizens were trying to vote. THAT is not the voter fraud we should be concerned with.

[hootinholler]

4. Would you happen to have any stats of attempts by non citizens?

That would be a great angle to show he's chasing clouds.

-Hoot

[alarimer]

6. No stats- just a gut feeling really

Because I cannot imagine why people who are not citizens (especially those who are illegal) would try to vote. Unless some Republican was bribing them to or something like that.

[hootinholler]

7. No one else? n/t