Yo Haters, You Don't Have A Right To Vote To Take Away My Rights

The right to vote should never include the power to eliminate the rights of one's neighbor; rather, 'equal protection' means each of us is bound to treat our neighbors as we would be treated ourselves, at least when voting on the scope of legal rights." Lambda Legal

Saw that in conjunction with a tweet following the Prop 8 trial and it is so dead on target.

But since the conservafools hate on Lambda Legal, let's see what the Constitution has to say about that issue: 

14th AMENDMENT
No State shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

There it is, people.   It's past time that we as a community did something about the arrogant right wing propensity to use the referenda process to take away people's civil rights.    It's morally wrong, it's probably unconstitutional and it needed to be shut down a long time ago.

Failing that, let's propose some progressive ballot initiates of our own.   They ain't the only people that can get organized to put initiatives together and get them on the ballot     Let's start proposing and putting some on the ballot that reflect our values, will bring progressive voters to the polls, and enhance people's civil rights, not take them away   

There's one thing we as liberal-progressive people  need to do a better job of in the upcoming year and beyond, and that's working to put initiatives on the ballot that reflect the type of country we'd like to live in.   

It also has the added beneficial effect of making them look like the fools they while making them spend their time, money and energy fighting them.

It also reminds the haters that we outnumber them, not the other way around.  

It also reminds them that they don't have the right to take away via referendum our civil rights.

Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Republican!

Step away from the Fox News fembots.    Turn away from the crazy man with the chalkboard and turn off the right wing talk radio . Run to your nearest polling place today and cast your votes to keep the Tea Klux Klan out of Congress.

Time to do our civic duty and go vote.

Remember, friends don't let friends vote Republican
.

Tea Klux Klan Already Trying To Intimidate POC Voters in Harris County

Early voting started yesterday in the Lone Star State, and the Tea Klux Klan and their Republican auxiliaries are already up to their election politricks.

Operatives reportedly paid by the Tea Party have swarmed minority early voting locations throughout Harris County, appointed as “poll watchers” by the local Republican Party and Republican candidates.

Once inside, they try any means necessary to disrupt voting and intimidate voters.  They attempt to block access to polling places and hover over voters trying to vote, even positioning themselves to watch the minority voters while they are casting ballots. They try to talk to voters and election workers and are confrontational and hostile.  

Their mission that they have freely accepted is to DISCOURAGE AND INTIMIDATE MINORITY VOTERS AND KEEP THEM FROM VOTING!

My question to the GOP-Tea Klux Klan is this.   If you are so certain that your GOTea Klux Klan candidates are going to win, why try to suppress the minority vote?    

You're doing it because you know that you not only AREN'T the majority of the American people, you are an Astroturfed corporate top-down movement that the people who aren't swayed by your Faux News propaganda arm reject.

Most of the conduct reported so far is clearly illegal.  But that's par for the course for Republicans and why they are so hated by POC voters.   These Tea Klux Klan poll watchers are not only enemies of democracy who don’t want people to vote, they are lawbreakers!

But don't just take Moni's word for it.   Here’s what the Texas Election Code says:

“A watcher may not be present at the voting station when a voter is preparing the voter’s ballot or is being assisted by a person of the voter’s choice.” Texas Election Code section 33.057(b)

“While on duty, a watcher may not converse with a voter or communicate in any manner with a voter regarding the election.” Texas Election Code section 33.058(a)(2).

The only conversation which can occur between an election officer and a poll watcher is “to call attention to an irregularity or violation of law.” Texas Election Code section 33.058(a)(1).

They are breaking these laws for one reason only – to try to intimidate minority voters into not voting.

Harris County Democratic Party chair Gerry Birnberg stated in a letter released today:

'We cannot let them get away with this.  We fought too hard for the right to vote to let a bunch of bigots and thugs take it away from us now. The best way to fight this effort to take away people’s voting is to VOTE! Show them it won’t work! Show them nobody is going to disrupt or intimidate or harass us into not voting!'

Chairman Birnberg's letter also gave tips on how to report the poll watchers and the shady electoral behavior.

If you witness any of this illegal activity at the polls, try to get the name of the “poll watcher” who engaged in it and if they’re too afraid to give it to you, record a physical description.

Then fill out an Election Incident Report Form or email headquarters (hcdp@hcdp.org) a complete description of what happened, and please include your name and telephone number so we can get in touch with you to ask more questions if we have to. If you don’t have access to email, call us at 713-802-0085, but our telephone lines are so busy right now, we’d really much prefer an email if you can do so.

It’s time to stand up to people who don’t want you to vote.

Damn right, Gerry..   Especially misguided low information thugs who want to take this country back to the 18th Century..