House delays renewal of Voting Rights Act

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders on Wednesday postponed a vote on renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act after GOP lawmakers complained it unfairly singles out nine Southern states for federal oversight.

"We have time to address their concerns," Republican leaders said in a joint statement. "Therefore, the House Republican Leadership will offer members the time needed to evaluate the legislation."

It was unclear whether the legislation would come up this year. The temporary provisions don't expire until 2007, but leaders of both parties had hoped to pass the act and use it to further their prospects in the fall's midterm elections.

The statement said the GOP leaders are committed to renewing the law "as soon as possible."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060621/ap_on_go_co/voting_rights_act

[iconoclastic cat]

1. They wouldn't possible want to disenfranchise voters, would they?

Gee golly.

[Cyrano]

2. Gosh, the GOP wouldn't try to bring back Jim Crow, would they?

[catmandu57]

3. They've had 41 years

What the fuck is the problem?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

4. And the idiots...

...wonder why blacks don't vote Republican in large numbers.

[rodeodance]

5. and they took the Minimum wage vote off the table ALSO!

[Sadie5]

6. If we do manage to get the GOP out of office

I have a feeling they might never get re-elected again.

[bdamomma]

7. we have to kick their asses out

unless everyone wants to continue to be a doormat for these disgusting people.

[uppityperson]

8. Circular reasoning? Partially true, should be all states, but...

Making sure the southern states that did not and still may not want blacks voting are monitered to make sure they can vote is singling them out? Partially true, however, you moniter where it is needed. If they didn't need it, it wouldn't happen. OK, now for the partially true, all states should be monitered, but those that need more should get more, like the ones that don't want blacks to vote need more monitering and that is why is because they don't want them so they need it so....

[pnwmom]

9. NYT: House Delays Renewal of Voting Rights Act

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/21/washington/21cnd-votes.html?hp&ex=1150948800&en=e4a29f4284cbf696&ei=5094&partner=homepage

House Republican leaders today abruptly canceled a planned vote to renew the Voting Rights Act after a rank-and-file rebellion by lawmakers who say the civil rights measure unfairly singles out Southern states and promotes multi-lingual ballots.

The reversal represented a significant embarrassment for the party leadership, which has promised a vote on the landmark anti-discrimination law and hailed its imminent approval in a rare bipartisan press event on the steps of the Capitol last month.

But lawmakers critical of the bill mutinied in a closed meeting of House Republicans this morning just hours before the vote was expected to occur and several said it was uncertain whether a majority of Republicans would back the legislation at this point.

"A lot of it looks as if these are some old boys from the South who are trying to do away with it," said Representative Lynn A. Westmoreland of Georgia, who said it would be unfair to keep Georgia under the confines of the law when his state has cleaned up its voting rights record. "But these old boys are trying to make it Constitutional enough that it will withstand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court."

SNIP

[wndycty]

10. As usual the GOP sides with bigotry. . .

. . .why am I not surprised?

[AX10]

11. The GOP is appealing to it's "Klandestine" base.

[defiant1]

12. Despicable....

The audacity of these scumbags is unbelievable.

d1

[ruggerson]

13. These people are truly not to be believed

[rodeodance]

14. I am embarrassed because of this House!--they worry about the leader

ship being embarrassed. bunch of crapola.

[monarch]

15. Ah Westmoreland!!

The idiot who can't name the ten commandments--I see another appearance on the list of conservatives idiots for him.

[Up2Late]

17. Did you here the stupid stuff he said on NPR today?

I posted the link just below your post.

[Up2Late]

16. Remember that Diebold idiot from Georgia's 8th, Lynn Westmorland?

You know, the guy who's made a Fool of himself on The Colbert Report? YOU KNOW! Mr. "I co-sponsored the bill to post 10 Commandments in the Court houses, but can't name more than 3 when asked..." Westmorland?

Yep, he's voiced his opposition to the renewal of the Voting Rights Act today on NPR!

Here's the link: <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5504557>

Here's his Colbert Report Video: <http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=70730>

And HEY! Steven posted another Exclusive Video of him dropping another dumb bomb: <http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=70809>