Ruth Bader Ginsburg Pens Scathing Dissent On Texas Voter ID Law

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/18/ruth-bader-ginsburg-voter-id-dissent_n_6007612.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Pens Scathing Dissent On Texas Voter ID Law
The Huffington Post | By Braden Goyette

Posted: 10/18/2014 10:09 am EDT Updated: 33 minutes ago


Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg issued a six-page dissent early Saturday morning, blasting the court's decision to allow Texas to use its new voter ID law in the November elections. She was joined in the dissent by Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.

"The greatest threat to public confidence in elections in this case is the prospect of enforcing a purposefully discriminatory law, one that likely imposes an unconstitutional poll tax and risks denying the right to vote to hundreds of thousands of eligible voters," Ginsburg wrote.

snip//

District Court Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos struck down the law earlier this month on the grounds that it would serve as a deterrent to a large number of registered voters, most of them black or Hispanic. "Based on the testimony and numerous statistical analyses provided at trial, this Court finds that approximately 608,470 registered voters in Texas, representing approximately 4.5% of all registered voters, lack qualified SB 14 ID and of these, 534,512 voters do not qualify for a disability exemption," Gonzalez Ramos wrote.

Ginsburg echoed these findings in her dissent, though Texas officials dispute these figures. "The potential magnitude of racially discriminatory voter disenfranchisement counseled hesitation before disturbing the District Court’s findings and final judgment," Ginsburg wrote. "Senate Bill 14 may prevent more than 600,000 registered Texas voters (about 4.5% of all registered voters) from voting in person for lack of compliant identification. Id., at 50–51, 54. A sharply disproportionate percentage of those voters are African-American or Hispanic."

Ginsburg pointedly added that "racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights Act in every redistricting cycle from and after 1970."

[etherealtruth]

1. The Supreme Psycho's fearless in promoting their agenda

Ginsburg pointedly added that "racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights Act in every redistricting cycle from and after 1970."

[Scuba]

42. +1

[onecaliberal]

2. SCOTUS men put their naked racism

On display with this ruling. There is NO democracy in this country.

[RussBLib]

3. and the racists and bigots let out a big cheer

Texas pushes through a discriminatory voting law after the SCOTUS struck down much of the Voting Rights Act. Why, it almost looks like a conspiracy.

It's to the point that I want to see white people (and I am one) hurry up and become a small minority so some justice can be put back into the system.

[redruddyred]

39. white people already are a minority in texas.

but those are the only ones who they let vote.

and out-of-control police force throughout many of the major cities as well as disenfranchisement of "criminals" doesn't help either.

[BlueCaliDem]

4. I hope every Liberal on DU rec's this post and comments on the discriminatory decision

by our corrupt SCOTUS.

Dare I hope they'll be just as passionate in their righteous anger that the poor, minorities, elderly, and other fellow Americans are being denied their right to vote as they are about drones and the NSA?

[freshwest]

6. K&R! from me, anyway.

[BlueCaliDem]

5. If ever we need a reason to vote straight Democratic Party in 2014 and 2016,

even though there are a few Democratic Reps and Senators - and presidential candidate - we can't really stomach, that reason is NOW given by this SCOTUS decision. We need to neuter Chief Justice Roberts' power and the Koch Bros' influence in the highest court in the land, and we can't do that with a Republican Senate, House, and White House.

[freshwest]

7. +1

[pansypoo53219]

8. they killed voter ID in wi/the north, but it is a-OK for the south. dred scott indeed.

[forthemiddle]

41. They didn't kill it in Wisconsin, just put it on hold.

The difference was that Wisconsin had already sent some absentee ballots out without the instructions that ID was needed.
Most experts expect the hold to be lifted after the election. This will be Wisconsins last election that ID is not required.

[TNNurse]

9. She is the true American on the court.

My admiration for her grows every time she makes a statement.

She actually works for justice.

[SoapBox]

11. I SO agree with what you said.

[UTUSN]

10. R#37 & K for, thank you, Justice GINSBURG n/t

[SoapBox]

12. K & R'ed

Because it needs to be.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

13. Jim Crow 2.0! Raw right-wing racists no longer have any shame nor do

they feel compelled to hide their evilness any longer.

The lunatics are in charge now.

[DhhD]

21. Greg Abbott Attorney General of Texas is running for Governor. He appeals the decisions

each time a judge makes a ruling unless it will effect the number of people voting. People coming to vote with their usual registration card, having, let's say voted for the past 30 years this way, will be turned away. The State or County government did not send them notice of what the AG has been doing as their representative. Abbott should resign. People will be angry.

[2banon]

14. K&R.. Every Male SCOTUS including THOMAS support Racists Disenfranchisement

Deeply institutionalized Racism SANCTIONED by the SCOTUS. Majority.

Majority opinion were all privileged men but one was Black. Clarence Thomas has been consistently duplicitous throughout his entire tenure on the Bench. Not appointed for his constitutional acumen, but as a shill for the racists white 1% pricks who own the poisonous air the rest of us breath.

[DonCoquixote]

15. When the Nader types say

"gore woulda been bad as Bush"
they can look at this joke of a Scotus...and acknowledge the fruits of their labors.

[rhett o rick]

17. The "Let's blame all our problems on Ralph Nader," meme is getting old. For one thing it gives Nader

way too much credit. There were and are a lot of eligible voters that are dissatisfied with the status quo. Not saying both parties are the same, but saying that both parties represent the American Aristocracy. I think a Princeton study came to the same conclusion.

The conservatives of our party want so badly to blame someone rather than take full responsibility themselves. They are going to try it again. If HRC gets nominated and runs against Jeb the "not-so-dumb" Son, don't blame the consequences on the Left. Conservatives should look in the mirror.

[DonCoquixote]

18. I want a nice, hot primary

and if Hillary chokes again like she did in 2008, so much the better. However, the fact is that the people saying Gore was as bad as Bush have been exposed to be so, so wrong.

[rhett o rick]

23. I too wish a hot primary. It would help teach the public what's going on.

If anyone said that Gore and Bush were the same, it was a very few. Many on the left were disappointed and thought that the Democrats should have chosen someone more progressive, but none of them stayed home and none voted for Bush.

[SunSeeker]

28. But for those in FL who voted for Nader, we would not have gotten Bush in 2000.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/ralph-nader-was-indispens_b_4235065.html

It's a fact.

[rhett o rick]

29. So you've gotten it down to a few people in Florida to blame for Bush. How sad that

you so many other need so desperately to do this. There were lots of pieces that could have made it go the other way. But I think the need to find someone, some specific one to blame is needed to hide the guilt. The guilt of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party that thinks that Gore and HRC will represent the 99% and not the 1%. The Oligarchs own the conservatives of our party.

[SunSeeker]

35. What is sad is that Naderites gave us Bush.

Conservadems didn't vote for Nader. They voted for Gore. They have no "guilt" they need to "hide." Neither do progressives like me who voted for Gore. Naderites on the other hand, know they fucked up. That's why Nader got way fewer votes in 2004; so few that he was not even a factor in 2004.

[rhett o rick]

36. It's sad to use Nader as a scapegoat. What sense does it make to say those people

voting as they saw fit, for their reasons get the blame over those that voted for Bush and those that stayed home? Why did we get Bush? Because a lot of people voted for him. A lot of people didn't think Gore was good enough to be president. A lot of people were pissed at the Clinton administration for things like NAFTA and dumping Glass-Steagall. Jeb Bush gets some credit for giving Florida to his brother. And then there is the SCOTUS, especially Justice O'Connor.

The Conserva-Dems are going to do it again. They will support H. Clinton and if she should lose, blame Sen Sanders.

If you want the Democrats to win in 2016 DO NOT NOMINATE CLINTON-SACHS.

[SunSeeker]

37. Sanders will not pull a Nader. He is not an idiot nor a megalomaniac.

I'd like to see him run in the Dem primary. But he's an Independent, so that won't happen.

One thing's for sure. I will vote for whoever is the Dem nominee. We must have a Dem appoint the next justice.

[rhett o rick]

50. A lot of people chose not to vote for Gore and yet he actually won the election

but the election was stolen. To blame a small group of people that were exercising their right to choose is sad.

If you want to win an election, get more people to vote for your candidate. In 2000 the Democratic Party, often content to stick with the status quo, ran Al Gore. A large number of voters were disappointed in the Clinton/Gore years, but the Party didn't care because they are heavily influenced by conservative donors. IMO a lot of blame rests with the Party leaders that decided to run Gore. But there were lots of factors that gave the Presidency to Bush, a number of the criminal and unconstitutional. But instead of admitting that our system failed, some feel better blaming Nader who was legally running in a free election system.

The two party system has problems that shouldn't be blamed on a third party candidate.

[SunSeeker]

57. The Nader voters made the election stealable.

Want to win an election? Stop bashing your own party.

[rhett o rick]

58. But they were acting legally. Those that stole the election were not.

Gore got enough votes to win in spite of the votes for Nader.

I bash anyone that puts conservative values over Democratic values. I will not blindly follow anyone or any party. I am a strong Democrat and am strongly opposed to conservatives running the Party. The lower classes can't survive another eight years of Wall Street and Neocon dominated government.

[SunSeeker]

59. I agree we can't survive 8 years of a Republican government.

That is why we need to unite behind our Democratic candidates.

[Enthusiast]

46. +1 an entire shit load.

[Enthusiast]

45. PLUS ONE, a huge bunch!

[rhett o rick]

51. I must say that I appreciate your enthusiasm, Enthusiast. Just sayin'.

pumpkin: :

[Enthusiast]

55. That's where I get my name.

[rhett o rick]

56. I kinda guessed that. It's inspiring.

[Z_California]

16. Shameful

Our founding fathers would be planning the next revolution about now.

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

31. Exactly!

[Babel_17]

19. Huh, some interesting observations in her opinion

Cost does indeed enter into it. The conditions that are set by Texas are going to have an effect on turn out. If this wasn't, at least in part, a cynical maneuver to hurt turnout then much more would be in place to provide ID's to people.

For a few million dollars, mobile stations could be set up and we could make sure that we got everybody into one. If the State needs to see Birth Certificates then the State can arrange for that to happen - At no cost to the voter.

It seems that part of this is about sending the case back. It's beyond regrettable that voter turnout will be harmed in this year. Imo the standard for any confirmation of identity is that there should be no burden on the voter.

If the States want to go crazy confirming my DNA as being red, white, and blue, have at it. Just don't expect me to bleed out to provide it. And don't expect me to vote back in the officials who waste money.

Texas is not known for its lack of intelligent people. I'll concede that some form of voter ID is the will of the people. I won't concede that their current plan is even close to the best that they can do. Nothing short of the best that can be done is good enough when it comes to the people's right to cast their vote.

[redruddyred]

40. how do you think they get away with it?

too many stupid people not paying attention -- that's how.

not that all texans are stupid... rather, that there are a lot of stupid texans.

[Calista241]

20. It was a 6-3 vote. WTF happened to Breyer?

[blkmusclmachine]

22. My God, SCOTUS has gone completely rightwing activist. No wonder why they felt compelled to severly

ratchet up security to deny commoners access to the Court a year or two ago -- they knew they were going to go full-on, hardcore, rightwing activist. Really, really terrible news. This Court has gone INSANE.

[Gothmog]

24. RBG wrote a great dissent

[Cha]

25. Thank you, Justice Ruth Ginsburg!

[MerryBlooms]

26. It's going to be one hell of a sad day when we lose this woman. r/k n/t

[tecelote]

27. Texas is changing.

Ginsburg pointedly added that "racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights Act in every redistricting cycle from and after 1970."

Texas just may lead the South to blue.

Hey, who wouldn't vote in their own best interest?

Texas had a gold rush and then was ravaged by oil tycoons. That century is over.

[spooky3]

30. This could not be any more clear. Outrageous.

[Kablooie]

32. This will open the door to more and more egregious voter discrimination laws.

We are in for an exciting, and probably extreme right wing, future.

[MrMickeysMom]

33. Poll tax…

Absolutely stated the facts, here.

We have old useless men who don't give a damn how discriminatory the law has become is in one of the biggest states in the union.

[defacto7]

34. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

May you live a thousand years.

[Enthusiast]

47. +1

[redruddyred]

38. don't say it's true, rbg!

To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights Act in every redistricting cycle from and after 1970.

:0

[edhopper]

43. She writes as if

this wasn't the exact intention of the 5 assholes.

[Enthusiast]

48. The Fascistic Five.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[olegramps]

44. I have a question for someone with expertise on the Constitution.

If a person is elected when a substantial number of citizens are denied their right to vote is the election lawful? It appears that the law is unconstitutional and that the Supreme Court Republicans have totally disregarded the constitutional rights of hundreds of thousands citizens.

When viewed by the fact that the law is nothing more than a sham that claims to be protecting the integrity of the vote is solely designed to disenfranchise citizens of their rights. How can the person who is elected claim to have won fairly? Could a suit be brought to challenge the results?

As I have stated several times, I am totally against life time appointments to any judicial position. It has proven to be a total disaster in recent years when Republican on the court have proven to be dishonorable men without a shred of impartiality in the decisions. This latest ruling is similar to that allowing Bush to steal the election by claiming there isn't enough time to make the proper correction. In Bush-Gore case they said okay do the recount but put a time limit on it that they knew would not allow a recount. There has to be some way to hold these bastards accountable. The Republicans on the court actually say screw you, what can you do about it.

[Enthusiast]

49. K&R! The supreme court is just stealing another election.

Ho hum.

[merrily]

52. There was NO excuse for that decision. Zip, nada, zilch, zero, none.

Separation of powers. Congress legislates, not the SCOTUS. The 14 amend. expressly empowered Congress to legislate to make sure states did not discriminate. It is not up to the SCOTUS. They made yet another power grab to help Republicans win elections.

Congress needs to act.

As for Ginsburg, she's one of my heros.

[samsingh]

53. kick

[vkkv]

54. Everything is BIG in Texas..

Especially the SUCK!

To TX, OK, MO, KS, AZ and the entire South,

PLEASE SECEDE!