We are identifying a theme from the Republican Party and we are witnessing the face of the GOP change dramatically. It is unfortunate that the Republican National Committee has failed to view things with foresight as restrictive voting laws continue to be implemented by their own Party lawmakers.
It first began with the state Republican lawmakers who implemented anti-immigrant laws, then the attacks on the 14th amendment came and now voter suppression is coming from the Grand Ol’ Party.
Voter suppression is probably one of the most damaging issues Republicans will have to contend with as Americans will push back on our rights being violated as Americans and American-born citizens.
Can someone please explain to us what Kris Kobach is doing on taxpayers’ dime when he seems to spend more time traveling than doing actual work?
Kris Kobach and the Connection Between Restrictive Voting and Immigration Laws
Brentin Mock on March 21, 2012 – 12:53 PM ETIf you think the metastasizing problem of photo voter ID laws has no connection to anti-immigrant, “illegal alien” paranoia, one need only examine the example of Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach. Not satisfied with the strict photo voter ID bill he helped become law in Kansas last year, Kobach also created a law that would make first-time voter registrants show proof of their citizenship — a law that isn’t slated to kick in until 2013, but which Kobach wants in place by this November’s elections. State senators recently blocked Kobach’s wishes to speed up the proof of citizenship requirement, but it’s clear where the secretary of state is headed with this: a system where anyone who is an immigrant, or even looks like they might be an immigrant, but is eligible to vote will feel discouraged from showing up at the polls to exercise their franchise toward democracy.
As Kobach keeps upping the ante for who can vote in his own state, he’s also traveling around the country kibitzing in conversations around how to make voting and immigration more difficult in other states. Note the recent report from KanVote, which through freedom of information act requests documented Kobach’s calendar and whereabouts for much of the last year. It shows Kobach spending more time lawyering immigration cases in states like Nebraska, California and Pennsylvania than he has been spending time helping Kansas government agencies administer the photo voter ID law he imposed on voters. It also shows him gathering at events sponsored by the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council and with groups that have taken hard stances against immigration.
READ FULL STORY: http://www.thenation.com/blog/167243/kris-kobach-and-connection-between-restrictive-voting-and-immigration-laws
Below is an ooooold opinion I wrote when President George W. Bush tried to push for CIR in his second term as President. I am glad that Dubya is not getting involved in 2012 and wants to be out of the lime-light during the 2012 elections.
Today, Arizona Republicans and far-right wingers are crying about me and claiming I was never a “real” Republican when in all actuality I was a moderate Republican and have pushed back on their extremist and bigotry filled views when GOP state lawmakers were supporting anti-immigrant and anti-Latino legislation. These crazy extremists wanted me to hush up and be a good little Hispanic girl and not say anything about the anti-immigrant laws that Republicans such as Kris Kobach, Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio and Lamar Smith have been for.
Here is proof (in below opionion) of how I used to fight for Bush’s CIR plan when I was a registered Republican voter. The extremists are killing the GOP….keep in mind how they attacked Bush for his pro CIR efforts. You can sense it in this piece I wrote back in 2007. Perhaps this is good thing with regard to the fringe groups…..the light at the end of the tunnel is the rise of the Independents a/k/a The Real American Party that simply wants to get things done without the divisive Party bickering. 2012 is just the year for the Republican Party to be spanked. Wait til we tell more students and our college youth that Republicans are the ones who are suppressing our voting rights. Oh wait … we are already doing that.
I wrote this around June 28, 2007 when I used to be a registered Republican and an activist for the GOP:
Headlines: Bush facing GOP mutiny over immigration
The immigration fight marks yet another low ebb for the White House.
Photo by AP
Why are the GOPers wanting to rebel against Bush? Did he not uphold our platform?
How quickly some of the GOPers forget. Aren’t we the party for Enforcing Trade Agreements and Opening New Markets? The comprehensive immigration reform President Bush was very much in support of would have continued to advance the American economic goals. To achieve this goal, we must put the globalism thinking hat on and approve bills that would continue to put us at the economic forefront in global marketplace we live in.
What else did some of those GOPers forget? They forgot that our nation has been enriched by immigrants seeking a better life. In many cases, immigrants of the past fled violence and oppression searching for peace and freedom. All suffered and sacrificed but hoped for a better future for their children in America. Our nation has been enriched by their determination, energy, and diversity. Ensuring the integrity of our borders is vital to ensuring the safety of our citizens, and we must know the identity of all visitors who enter the United States, and we must knowwhen they leave. We could have accomplished this goal by increasing more work visas as a means to better track the entry and exit of foreign travelers.
What else did some of the GOPers forget? They forgot to create economic policies in terms of the incentives we should have created, rather than the goals they declared. Consequences matter more than intentions. What is going to be the consequence of this bill?
- Millions will continue to live in the shadows of society.
- Businesses will be put out of business affecting their local/state communities.
- Prices of goods and services will increase as a result labor scarcity.
- The republican party will lose more of the Latino swing vote (very important these days).
- The Libertarian Party will grow to name a few.
What else did some of the GOPers forget? They forgot their supposed religious values. It is common knowledge that many in the Republican party are those who are in this party for moral reasons. In fact, many are on this side because of their strong Christian and religious convictions such as pro-life, anti-gay marriage, the ten commandments, keeping God in the Pledge of Allegiance and things of that nature. I think the one thing that I am most let down by is not because we worked for Capitalism ideals and how it related to the immigration issue, nay, it is because several GOP hypocrites have no knowledge nor understanding of their own Christ’s compassion. Do they believe in Jesus, or not? GOPers quote the law but they also forgot that the Slavery Law was once legal, too. The Slave Law needed to be done away with and that vigorous and violent task was championed by our very first Republican President, Abe Lincoln. Many moral GOPers want to turn a blind eye to remember that Christ broke the Sabbath Law to feed the hungry. Ah yes, the hungry. Didn’t Christ instruct to feed the poor and give water to the thirsty? Except in this case, many are too proud to ask for handouts…..they chose to work hard instead.
In conclusion, let it be understood by all that there was one GOPer who did have compassion in his heart — good ol’ President George W. Bush. That is one man I would take a bullet for any day. He is a fine, fine President and will go down in the history books as a legend, and as the person who tried to be the champion for those who continue to live in the Shadows of Society. God Bless George W. Bush, and may he live long.
