What I'm about to present has been vetted by Alan Blinder, a Princeton economist, with an outstanding reputation, who served as Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Blinder draws on the work of economic historian Larry Bartels. Bartels studied the rising income inequality divide over hte last 30 years in the US. Furthermore, Bartels is one economist who does not advise political candidates.Blinder calls Bartels's discovery the The Great Partisan Inequality Divide (GPID). It makes for great talking points when you're meeting with voters.
Here's what Bartels found in his studying the last 60 years of economic incomes as reported by Blinder:
1. Income inequality trended substantially upward under Republican Presidents.
2. It trended slightly downward under Democratic Presidents. Remember how Clinton promoted the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that benefitted the working poor. That's one major illustration of why Democrats are fairer than Republicans.
3. GPID is not limited to the poor. At the 20th percentile--that is 20% of all families have less income and 80% have more-- and the Democrats were fairer. That's also true at the 40th, 60th, 80th and 95th percentiles.
4. The 95th percentile divides the rich from the non-rich. It means a family earns about $180,000.That includes two wage earners combining their income. (Remember McCain defined the rich at $5 million dollars, thereby confirming he knows nothing about how American families live or economics as an informed layperson.)
5. All percentiles, except the 95th, families fare better under Democratic presidents than Republican ones. At the 95th percentile there is not much difference.
6. Under President Reagan the growth rate fell and the income transfers benfitted the rich. This fits Republicans favoring tax cuts to the rich that Democrats oppose. In addition Democrats, more than Republicans, favor raising the minimum wage and supporting unions to bargain wage increases for its members. Republicans oppose the minimum wage increase and are hostile to unions.
7. Conclusion: If history is a guide an Obama presidency leads to greater economic growth, less economic inequality and more equity. A McCain presidency means slower growth and far greater economic inequality and therefore more inequity.
Republicans are always trumpeting about how we progressive Democrats are waging class war. A just and fair society is not in the Republican lexicon. But they wage all out class war to protect their very wealthy contributors.
On October 16, McCain is holding a fund raiser in New York by shaking down Wall St. fat cats--yes, they may be poorer but as Fitzgerald said the rich are different from you and me. So they've lost some money. They still have lots and some of it is going to the Republican National Committee (RNC) for its TV, newspaper and internet ads. We know that some of these ads have a sub text to cast Obama out of the USA mainstream. They're ugly and it's not paranoid to recognize that they play on racial fear.
Yes, it wasn't easy for the Republicans to raise the dollars. They did it by waging class war, by appealing to people's fears that the rich would have to pay a fair share for making our country great again.. 1,000 people coughed up $1,000.00 each and 200 gave $25,000.00 each. Said one fundraiser to the Wall St. Journal: "Reality set in. Donors realized they could face an Obama Administration next month." They are plainly "petrified", said the Wall St. Journal, "they will face steep increases in personal and corporate tax rates." The fund raisers went after all resisters by saying that "Obama will be a disaster for you."
These multi-millionaires want the government to subsidize them without paying any increase, let alone a fair share. The McCain tax cut benefits the richest people who have already benefitted from the Bush- tax policies. McCain, on tax policy, is a Bush clone.
When speaking with Independents, it's effective to trumpet the lifelong Republicans who support Obama for President. In a courageous act they have broken with their party. They are ready to take the consequences of political opprobrium from their erstwhile colleagues.
These are some of the Republicans behind Obama:
Lincoln Chafee-- former Senator from Rhode Island and a candidate for Governor
Susan Eisenhower-- national security expert and grand-daughter of President Eisenhower.
Lilibet Hagel--an indpendent woman's voice from the Nebraska heartland and wife of Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebr.).
Linwood Holton--former Republican Governor of Virginia
Jim Leach--Long serving House member from Iowa and National Chairman of Common Cause.
A stpry worth telling: Susan Eisnehower received a call from Senator Obama in 2007. He had already announced for President. He asked her for her ideas on national security matters. She told him she is a life long Republican and was not prepared to support him. He said that didn't matter. He wanted her ideas. Only later did she decide to support Obama after watching him in action, studying his national security views and comparing those views to his opposition. She admired the process of how Obama came to his public judgments. Only then did she break with her life long support of the Republican Party. This story was told to me by a voter who heard Susan Eisenhower tell it at a public meeting in Virginia.
Finishing a canvassing that was very positive iwth Virgina voters, and really energized, I hear a hotel doorman chant a refrain. Here it is:
"No drama with Obama, no trauma with Obama."
Let's listen to this authentic voice and weave his wisdom into our talking with people including when we canvas.
August can be the cruelest month for Democrats. But take heart. In spite of all the nervous making headlines on polls Obama shows real strength among Hispanic voters. That adds to his exisiting strength in many age groups and population sectors.
For McCain to be competitive in the November election political analysts believe he has to get 35% of the Hispanic vote. That's not where McCain is headed. That 35% is necessary in states such as Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and southern states with growing Latin voters and that are competitive: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
Right now the thoroughly reliable and dispassionate Pew Hispanic Center reported that the Hispanic vote is 66% to 23% for Obama over McCain.
The Center also reported that 3/4 of the Hispanic voters who voted for Clinton in the primaries are inclined to vote for Obama.Only 8% of Clinton voters support McCain. Added to the mix is an increasing identification by Hispanics with the Democratic Party.
We all know the challenges of registration, getting people to the polls, overcoming the harassment and obstacles to voting faced by Hispanics and African Americans in too many polling places. Organized efforts everywhere will challenge and overcome these obstacles.
More than any campaign in my living memory-- I go back a long way, working precincts for Stevenson in 1952-- this organized political effort shows this election is a beginning not an ending. In my own organizing and advocacy work, I know the importance of organized issue activity between elections. That is well understood by the Mexican and Central American communities. These participants bring their cuture of particpation to the USA world. It's refreshing and energizing for all of us.
Even if the margin doesn't stay at 66-23, McCain is not likely to get close to the 35%overall that he needs. What's more the voter turnout by Hispanics will likely be substantially greater than in the past. These represent hopeful signs. They are based on organized action.
Obama set a simple and direct standard for fair play: families are off limits for being attacked personally. Specifically Obama said he would not attack McCain's wife Cindy McCain period and expected the same from fellow Obama supporters. Obama challenged McCain to follow suit and hold himself (McCain) and his suppporters to the same standard of fair play.In no way does the Obama standard interefer with robust public debate on the election issues.
McCain refused to disown the various right wing attacks on Michele Obama from Hannity and other talk radio hate spewers. McCain claimed that Obama failed to disown the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) criticism of Cindy McCain's initial and repreated refusal to disclose her federal tax returns (since disclosed). The Obamas made disclosures that included the time before Obama was elected to the US Senate.
As the non-partisan Salon News documented, the DNC attack was on Senator McCain and not on Cindy McCain. Senator McCain had to take responsibility for not disclosing his tax returns. McCain, un-chialrously, used his wife as a shield against his being transparent.
Now McCain's behavior leads to the next expisode: approve attacks on Michele Obama by his supporters. By McCain's behavior he violates fair play, acts hypocritically and aids and abets uncivil political discourse.
Obama demonstrated strong leadership in speaking directly to a predominantly African-American Church worshippers on Father's Day. He challenged the audience to live an alternative parenting practise to AWOL fathers. The challenge of overcoming the absent parent applies to two-parent families as well. Obama set a standard for why fathers have the responsibility to be loving, caring, providers and present for their children. Absence is desertion and unacceptable.
At this Church audience Obama did what he is comfortable doing: he made the references to Jesus sing. In the substance of his sermon he effectively drew on a Torah teaching: Moses is a "nursing father." Moses obeyed God's command and carried the children in his bosom as a "nursing father" carried his sucking child.
Obama's talent, more than ever, demonstrates that he is a "tough liberal" who challenges people to face up to their challenges even if they often would like to avoid the hard truths--truths that Obama articulates as he prepares himself to act on the multiple challenges we face as a society and as a people.
The Supreme Court decision ruled that foreign prisoners at Guanatanamo have the right to challenge their detentions. The Court again reversed Bush Administration policies that violate our Constitution. Habeas corpus stands protected thanks to an independent judiciary with a precarious narrow majority.
The Supreme Court ruling gives us added insight into how high the stakes are in this election. Obama embraced the decision. McCain attacked it. Justice Kennedy, no liberal by any stretch of the imagination, in his opinion pointed out that "some of these petitioners have been in custody for six years with no definitive legal determination as to the legality of their determination." As Kennedy wrote, "The laws and Constitution are designed to survive and remain in force in extraordinary times."
McCain chooses to reject what constitutional democracy is about or even recognize the centuries old habeas corpus protections which stand the test of time for protecting our liberty. His opposition to torture now lacks credibility.
Here's what Obama said about the Supreme Court decision: "This is an important step toward reestablishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus. Our courts have employed habeas corpus with rigor and fairness for more than two centuries, and we must continue to do so as we defend the freedom that violent extremists seek to destroy."
What is at stake is who sits on the Supreme Court flows from Kennedy's pithy comment that "few exercises of judicial power are as legitimate or as necessary as the responsibility to hear challenges to the authority of the Executive to imprison a person."
McCain will be on a path to give the judicial extremists--Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito--an absolute majority. To maintain historic protections Obama needs to be the person appointing all our Federal judges including the Supreme Court where vacancies are likely to occur.
Before cheering Steeleworkers Obama showed the recklessness of the Clinton-McCain gas tax holiday. Obama said, "Our roads, our bridges-- that is the steel that puts people to work." Yes, steel workers, construction crews, maintenance workers and the hundreds of thousands that support these workers. The Clinton-McCain solution represents the road to more unemployment.
Peter Schwartz, the head of the company Global Business Network, pithily stripped the Clinton-McCain policy bare: "Maximize demand, minimize supply and buy the rest from the people who hate us the most."
Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist wrote on April 30, "The McCain-Clinton proposal is a reminder to me that the biggest energy crisis we have in the country today is the energy to be serious--the energy to do things in a sustained, focused and intelligent way. We are in the midst of a national political brownout." Sustained, focused and intelligent is what Obama is all about.
The message must go forth: Obama stands up to the old and sick Washington game of gimmicks and bait and switch schemes in place of doing what actions we need to take as a people, The steelworkers in Indiana get it and so should we.
Obama has showed again the stuff of Presidential leadership in the midst of the difficult and close Indiana and North Carolina primaries. He's done it by opposing forthrightly the so called gas tax holiday that Clinton and McCain have been trumpeting.
Clinton and McCain play their cynical Washington game of bait and switch with their summer gas tax holiday. They are fooling people with an average saving of 30 cents a day on federal gas tax payments. Meanwhile their reckless policy would further put our roads into into disrepair and damage the maintenance of our bridges. Repair and maintenance of our roads and bridges is what the federal gas tax pays for. To add to the irresponsibility of Clinton and McCain it would cost people needed jobs--work that benefits us all.
Obama knows we have a broken system and the only way we can stand up to the oil companies, and their price gouging, is to not surrender to them. They are not entitled to the easy pass that Clinton and McCain give the plundering oil companies.
Obama's leadership is what the country needs and what his campaign is about. Obama will not be deterred from telling people what they need to know and hear. He does it, as he has in Indiana and North Carolina, by listening to people and helping them understand what it takes to deal with our big problems..
Obama respects the voters. That is so different from Clinton and McCain who disrespect people by pandering to them.
Walking in Washington a person near my age--early 70s--stopped me to tell me it is a beautiful spring day. It is and she and I began to talk. It didn't take long to say why Bush was our worst President. She asked me if I had a candidate. Isaid Obama!!!. She smiled. She voted for him.
She worked for President Clinton in protocol and events related matters. My light bulb lit up. Let's list all the Clinton Administratyion officials we know who supportg Obama: Robert Reich, Governor Richardson, Anthony Lake, Joe Stiglitz, Richard Danzig and countless others.
There is a reason so many former officials, including other White House staff members I know, support Obama. That tells a powerful story. let's get it out.
Let's show easily and practically ways that older people enthusiastically support Obama. I'm eligible at 71 and so is my wife and many of my friends. We have telephoned, canvassed, worked at the polls, contributed money and are ready to do more. A prime example is my mother-in-law who will be 98 in less than a month.
I bet our younger colleagues will have easy and effective ways we can express our suppport. That's especially important for older voters in Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Oregon. Let's get authentic voices form those states to speak out
Let's get practical steps going and show that an army of older and experienced people who want Obama to be President. Younger folks we want and need your help.
I believe an increasing part of the pro-Obama strategy has to show why Obama is the strongest and most effective presidential candidate to defeat McCain. Obama can win. Clinton cannot. Battling McCain effectively is the way to solidify the nomination and the election. That is why I'm writing this particular blog.
A journalist I deeply respect for his good judgment and careful reporting is Leonard Fein who has a weekly column in the Forward, an English language Jewish newspaper. He has documented quotes of Pastor Hagee, an all-out McCain supporter, that are extreme. They are important because Senator McCain actively sought Pastor Hagee's support and allowed himself to be introduced by Pastor Hagee in the all important South Carolina primary. McCain is an initiator in this effort and thus bears responsibility for Hagee's extremism.
It has been over a month since Tim Russert raised the initial questions about Louis Farrakhan's endorsement of Obama. What is worth exploring is the difference between an endorsement that is neither sought nor welcome: Farrakhan endorsing Obama. Obama repudiated and rejected the endorsement and denounced Farrakhan. Contrast that with McCain seeking and standing with Hagee, an endosement that McCain sought and welcomed.
McCain's initiating efforts to obtain the endorsement make him responsible to repudiate and denounce a set of extreme quotes from Hagee.
Fein did the research on the Hagee quotes. More than 3 weeks after they appeared they have not been repudiated by Hagee in the Forward where they first appeared. It reflects Fein's careful journalism. These quotes appeared in the March 14, 2008 Forward and readers received their copy on March 7.
Hagee on Hurricane Katrina: All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were the recipients of the judgment of God for that... I believe that Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.
Hagee on the Catholic Church: Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews.
Hagee on Muslims: Hagee was asked whether he believes that Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews, he replied: "Well the Quran teachees that. Yes, it teaches that very clearly."
Hagee on women: Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist.
Hagee on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process: When the Annapolis Conference (this refers to the Bush 43 effort) was being planned and the topic of Jerusalem came up, one man asked me, 'Where do you stand on this based on the Bible?' I responded that 'the plan of the Anti-Christ is to divide Jerusalem.' If America puts pressure on Israel to divide Jerusalem we are following the blueprint of the Prince of Darkness.
The McCain-Hagee connection is one that McCain has actively promoted and sought. His failure to denounce and repudiate these quotes are fair matters to be raised publicly by those of us who are Obama advocates.
On each of the quotes cited, McCain has so far neither repudiated Hagee nor denounced him. McCain tolerates Hagee's extremism by this failure. McCain should does not deserve a free ride!
South Carolina (SC) showed in a landslide election that Obama's message of problem solving and leadership cut across all communities--urban, suburban, rural-- driven by multi-racial support that draws on more than 2/3 first time voters and 58% of the people aged 18-64. It was no accident that Obama swept SC, winning every county but two.
Senator Harris Wofford, a strong Obama supporter, and a battle scarred veteran of health care reform, wrote in the January 28, Philadelphia Inquirer why Americans have a new chance for universal health care under Obama's leadership. Wofford points out that "all of the Democratic (health care) proposals are designed to reach the goal of universal coverage." Wofford, noting Hillary Clinton's "acrimonios campaign style in the current primaries" rightly wonders whether her old failed approach of 15 years ago on health care is repeating itself. Wofford "would not roll the dice today" with an expectation that Clinton, as president, could exercise the political leadership necessary to overcome the partisanship, and the power of the vested interests who will work overtime, to block universal health care. The Clinton campaign of recent weeks points to a hard edged partisanship by her surrogates and her that calls into question her effectiveness as a leader if she were to be president..
Obama's strength draws on his abundant political skills, and a leadership style that brings people together around real and difficult issues. Obama's experience as a community organizer demonstrates that he can talk with and build agreement with people who are different from him. That is what Obama would do as he advances important goals and policies such as universal health care.
Wofford tested by years of experience in health care, civil rights and many other public issues deserves listening to. We Obama supporters should be echoing his message.
I have just returned form an extensive trip to Israel. My wife and I met with US government officials, an Israeli army intelligence person, Israeli Arabs, Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Israeli Jews engaged in the peace process who advise Israeli government officials including Israeli President Peres, a retired Israeli air force officer, religiously observant and secular Jews and people working to build relationships between American Jews and Israeli Jews with Palestinians, psychologists, teachers, social workers, journalists and people who have retired. We met with many Israeli Jews who want the settlements to come to an end. Against great odds they are working for a peaceful and secure Israel and want to see a functioning Palestinian state that can protect its security and stop suicide bombing and violence internally in Palestine.
In this personal trip we renewed relationships with old friends who in turn generously opened their networks to my wife and me. I have made many trips to Israel. This trip provided a range of deep and intensive discussions unmatched by any of my previous trips.
I return even more determined to nominate and elect Senator Obama, President in 2008. My consistent theme on this blog and elsewhere is that Obama will provide the sustained political leadership to enable us to improve upon and deal with our toughest problems. Obama has consistently told audiences what he thinks they should know and increasingly people have been willing to listen.
There are third rail issues in US politics and on these issues most politicians pander excessively. Israel and Palestine is one of those third rail issues. Obama believes in the deep US consensus that Israel should be free and secure and that there has to be a two state solution--Israel and a Palestinian state. Our difficulties stem from the Bush-Cheney 7 years of active neglect. These policies through their negligence and inaction caused serious harm to Israel, the Palestinian people and US influence in the world.
Obama in 2007 (early in the campaign) made two major speeches on the Israel-Palestine topic to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the premier pro-Israel government lobby, and the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) which consists of Jewish people who are Democrats. (I am a contributor.) This is what he said:
To NJDC: It is in the interest of Israel to establish peace in the Middle East. It cannot be done at the price of compromising Israel's security. An Obama presidency, and the United States government, cannot ask Israel to take risks with its security. But it can ask Israel to say that it is still possible for us to allow more than this status quo of fear, terorism and division. That cannot be our long term aspiration.
To AIPAC: Nobody has suffered more than the Palestinian people from the failure of the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel, to renounce violence and to get serious about negotiating peace and security for the region.
In the context of Israel and Palestine being an electric issue in American politics note that Obama makes it clear that he will work to move Israel past the status quo. Obama expects the same of the Palestinian leadership. He acknowledges the Palestinian people's suffering and is clear about protecting Israel's security.
Obama provides the leadership of "stepping up," of giving us his judgement and not ducking tough political problems. That is as good a reason among many as to why Obama should be our next President.
On November 27, 2007 the Midwest Democracy Institute released its questionnaire on government integrity and accountability. Senator Obama and John Edwards answered the questions forthrightly. Senator Clinton remains silent on these core issues.
While there is no important substantive differences between Obama's and Edwards's answers, it is fair to say tha Obama has in the US Senate and Illinois Senate provided ongoing leadership on issues affecting govenment integrity, ethics, accountability, the abuse of money in politics and voting rights. Senator Edwards Senate record did not emphasize this range of issues.
The Midwest Democracy Institute is supported by 20 membership organizations in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin who focus on the government reform issues covered by the questionnaire.
Obama made it clear that he would work to change the atmosphere and the institutional arrangements in Washington on the plethora of special interest money in election campaigns that pollute our atmosphere with a system of public financing for elections, effective lobby disclosure, an end to the revolving door whereby the special interests move in and out of government, election reform and a comprehensive transparency policy.
What Obama understands and conveys is what the Boston Globe said when it endorsed him: Obama knows and feels "how much people felt locked out of their government." The Globe went on to say "that experience anchors his commitments to transparency and accountability in Washington." Obama connects the "good governance and good government" ideas with their direct relationship to having a goverment that is accessible, effective, repsonsive and accountable to the people not the vested and moneyed interests. He makes the connection of money and special interest power to health, tax, environmental, trade policies. That provides a special quality of leadership.
I have fought these fights in the trenches in Washington for over 40 years, including six as the President and CEO of Common Cause. When Obama is President we will owe it to him to support these efforts because we know as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west the special interests will work overtime to derail Obama's reforms. As Finley Peter Dunne's Mr Dooley said over a century ago, "politics ain't bean bag.".
Meanwhile in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina and all the caucus and primary states Obama's clear cut proposals and ideas to overhaul Washington's broken political system should be trumpeted in meetings and as people canvas door to door. Obama answered the questionnaire because he knows what he believes while Clinton stands mute.
Senator Obama's leadership on tough isues that conventional politicians avoid resonates increasingly with voters. Many voters want a new start grounded in core beliefs and values of creating opportunity in our land--a land blessed with abundance and a chance for all at our best.
Obama steps up and deals with hard issues. He goes beyond dealing with grievances and has remedies. Obama's leadership is visionary and practical. He shuns the apocalyptic. Here are two examples:
1. On social security Obama has been out front on taxing all earned income for social security. This is a simple matter of equity that was recognized by Robert Kennedy as far back as 1967. It's straightforward, simple, doable and therefore practical except for the absence of past political will. Obama wants to change all that. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett earn lots of money. On that earned income they should pay social security taxes on all of it and so should everyone else. Advocating this simple proposal dosn't buy into the scare rhetoric that social security is in trouble. Obama is addressing a basic equity question without ambiguity. He's stepping up with his leadership.
2. On World Trade Obama has shown that trade does have adverse labor and environmental consequences to workers, consumers and these include children. Obama's brilliant answer in the Las Vegas debate that we should do what the Japanese do and send inspectors to China to inspect the potentially dangerous toys, food and other products shows what a country can do when it puts its mind to it. In one swoop Obama got past the free trade/protectionist argument, brought in another critical dimension of the problem (environment and health) and has a practical solution. Obama's very background of moving in diffferent worlds, and keeping his roots, enables him to recognize a distinct foreign contribution and praise the Japanese for it.
So as we enter the gift giving season, as we visit our elderly relatives and friends, These proposals from Obama should be in the drumbeat of public messages. That is among the stuff to take to primary state voters and caucus state participants. It is the stuff of a new politics of hope and getting things done!
David Cohen
James McCain is a real American hero. He was a civil rights warrior. He organized voters to register when there was blatant racial discrimination. This majestic sainted organizer went to the barber shops, beauty shops, pool halls and restaurants and created freedom schools in South Carolina and other southern bastions of hostility to fair play for African-Americans. As an African-American the risks he undertook cannot be measured. He fortunately had a long life and was honored by South Carolinians before his death.
McCain mentored House Majority Whip Clyburn. I had the good fortune to work wth him registering voters in Plaquemine and Baton Rouge Louisiana right after the enactment of the great 1965 Voting Rights Act. McCain taught me much and protected me more from all sorts of risks our team was engaged in.
That's why I am proud of Senator Obama choosing not to wear a replica of the US flag in his lapel. Like many of us--including me-- he did so right after 9/11. But within a few short weeks President Bush began desecrating our unity with his lies, deception and policies that fly in the face of our Constituion and its principles of liberty, equity and fair play. Wearing of the flag became the way of masking and distorting the real issues facing American citizens and immigrants.
In the past few weeks Obama has effectively opposed two Bush Administration officals--Hans von Spakovsky and John Tanner-- who are architects of the Bush/Cheney/Gonzalez Justice Department policy to support the racially discriminatory Georgia voter identification law. It requires a photo identity before people can vote--in practice an act of raw intimidation
This racially harmful law--a throwback to the racial hostility of yesteryear-- requires all voters to have in their possession certain government provided information to vote. Civil servants in the Justice Department saw the law for what it is: keep people of color--African-Americans, Asians and Latinos--from voting. These professionals thought the law clearly hinders the ability of people of color, from voting. The perpetrators and architects of the policy are Hans von Spakovsky and John Tanner.
Obama broke up a deal that would have confirmed von Spakovsky to the Federal Election Commission. How can one hostile to African-Americans exercise their voting rights, interpret the Federal election law fairly. He cannot and should not be confirmed.
Obama called on Tanner to be fired for saying on video that the photo identification law's requirements do not dienfranchise minority voters because: "Our society is such that minorities don't become elderly the way white people do; they die first." This statement comes from the head of the Civil Rights Division--a division that was once a star in government and is now depleted with a demoralized alumni-- demoralized for what has happened to their cherished government agency.
Obama's patriotism is expressed in actions that protect Americans in exercising our treasured rights. It's not about wearing lapel pins. Let us be proud.
