Who Votes Against The Voting Rights Act? Racists And Only Racists

On Friday, the House passed another crucial piece of legislation, H.R.4-- the Voting Rights Advancement Act-- 4 that MoscowMitch intends to bury in his fetid Senate crypt. In the end, every Democrat (+ one Republican, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania) voted for it and every Republican but Fitzpatrick voted against it.) The bill is meant to restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act to guarantee local bigots can't prevent groups from exercising their right to vote, creating a new coverage formula that hinges on a finding of repeated voting rights violations in the preceding 25 years. Pramila Jayapal was up on the floor of the House before the vote yesterday, telling her colleagues that "When Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it was a recognition that systemic discrimination based on race continued to deny people the right to vote. As an organizer, I understand the VRA as a victory hard fought by Black activists like Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and of course our esteemed colleague, Representative John Lewis, who devoted their lives to fighting for the right to vote; by a movement that recognized that this right to vote is absolutely fundamental to our concept of and our actualization of democracy. But unfortunately, we have not followed with the same courage. Instead, since 2013, states have enacted laws that are suppressing voting rights across the country. And today, half the country faces stricter voting rights as a result. If we want a true democracy, we must protect the right to vote for all. This is bill is critical to getting there."

Before it passed, however, the Republicans tried pulling a little fast one to kill it with a motion to recommit. That failed, but by only 15 votes. Why so close? Can you say "Blue Dogs and their fellow travelers are racists?" 11 conservative Democrats crossed the aisle and voted with the KKK to kill H.R. 4. And here they are, hoping no one noticed when their hoods slipped off:

• Cindy Axne (New Dem-IA)
• Anthony Brindisi (Blue Dog-NY)
• Joe Cunningham (Blue Dog-SC)
• Abby Finkenauer (IA)
• Josh Gottheimer (Blue Dog-NJ)
• Kendra Horn (Blue Dog-OK)
• Ben McAdams (Blue Dog-UT)
• Elisa Slotkin (New Dem-MI)
• Abigail Spanberger (Blue Dog-VA)
• Xochitl Torres Small (Blue Dog-NM)
• Jefferson Van Drew (Blue Dog-NJ)

After passage, Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP remarked that "This crucial piece of legislation modernizes the Voting Rights Act, protecting voters from the types of voting changes most likely to discriminate against people of color. Passage of this bill in the House today is an important first step to ensuring equal participation for all in our democracy. We call upon the Senate to immediately take up this legislation. The NAACP will keep fighting until this bill is signed into law."

Liam O'Mara is the progressive Democrat taking on corrupt Riverside County Trumpist, Ken Calvert, a notorious racist who voted against the Voting Rights Act yesterday "Let's not mince words," said O'Mara, "The Republicans just voted to back voter-suppression on the basis of race and class. They will call it a principled defence of states rights, and conveniently leave out that the right they're defending is to systemic racism and classism. Courts have repeatedly shown that GOP gerrymandering is done with partisan and racist intent, but since a Republican-dominated SCOTUS thinks that's a-okay, it falls to Congress to defend the very foundation of democracy: the franchise. It seems our incumbent, and all but one Republican House member, think that it's perfectly okay for states flagrantly to deny voting rights to lawful citizens. The House bill impacts only states with many proven instances of voting-rights violations, but as that's a problem almost unique to red states, we know where the GOP's priorities lie. Big hint: it's not defending the Constitution or the rights of the people."

Kathy Ellis and Kara Eastman are both progressives running for Congress Republican-held districts-- and both of their opponents, respectively Jason Smith (R-MO) and Donald Bacon (R-NE), voted against the Voting Rights Act. After the vote yesterday Ellis told us that "The right to vote is the most fundamental right of our Democracy. All Americans, regardless of Party, should do whatever they can to protect this right. Representative Smith should be ashamed of himself. It’s clear that it’s time for new leadership in Missouri’s 8th." Eastman was also disturbed that Bacon voted against H.R.4. "The fact is," she told us, "Republicans like Don Bacon benefit when fewer people vote. HR 4 would turn the tide back to a full and fair democracy, so it’s no surprise he voted no."