AG Eric Holder, Rep. Lewis Blast Republican Efforts To 'Steal' 2012 Elections

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also:

May 30, 2012

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder told African-American clergy leaders Wednesday that a wave of new state laws on voting and legal challenges to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 may jeopardize rights they helped fight for in the civil rights era.

“Despite our nation’s long tradition of extending voting rights … a growing number of our fellow citizens are worried about the same disparities, divisions and problems that — nearly five decades ago — so many fought to address,” Holder told a meeting of the Conference of National Black Churches convened by the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss the laws.

“In my travels across the country, I’ve heard a consistent drumbeat of concern from citizens, who — often for the first time in their lives — now have reason to believe that we are failing to live up to one of our nation’s most noble ideals. And some of the achievements that defined the civil rights movement now hang in the balance.”

. . . Holder told the clergy leaders Wednesday that at least nine lawsuits have been filed over the last two years challenging the constitutionality of Section 5 of the act — which requires states with a history of racial discrimination to get federal approval for changes in their voting procedures — and arguing that it’s no longer needed because the states under it have made great strides in ensuring that voting access is fair and nondiscriminatory.

“I wish this were the case,” Holder said. “But the reality is that, in jurisdictions across the country, both overt and subtle forms of discrimination remain all too common — and have not yet been relegated to the pages of history.”

read more: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/CONGRESS-VOTING_8131232/CONGRESS-VOTING_8131232/


One of those cases was filed by Shelby County and is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court to settle whether Section 5 -- which puts elections in certain parts of the country under especially strict supervision - remains Constitutional.

Congress renewed the Voting Rights Act in 2006 for another 25 years, prompting multiple lawsuits by those who believe local and state governments in the South should no longer be punished for past sins of discrimination against minority voters.

Holder, in prepared remarks to the National Conference of Black Churches Annual Consultation in Washington D.C., disputed that view.

"Each of these challenges to Section 5 claims that we've attained a new era of electoral equality, that America in 2012 has moved beyond the challenges of 1965, and that Section 5 is no longer necessary," Holder said in remarks provided by the DOJ. "I wish this were the case. But the reality is that, in jurisdictions across the country, both overt and subtle forms of discrimination remain all too common - and have not yet been relegated to the pages of history."

Shelby County just recently lost its case, again, with a 2-1 decision by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia upholding key sections of the Voting Rights Act. Holder mentioned the ruling in his speech, too.

"As we've seen over the years, the Voting Rights Act - including Section 5 - consistently has been upheld in court," Holder said. "In fact, several days ago, the D.C. Circuit rejected one of the latest challenges to Section 5, reaffirming its continued relevance as a cornerstone of civil rights law, and underscoring the fact that it remains critical in combating discrimination - and safeguarding essential voting rights that, for many Americans, now are at risk."

read more: http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2012/05/us_attorney_general_eric_holde.html

[CanonRay]

1. Talk is cheap, Eric

Hows about getting an injunction to stop the shit going on in Florida?

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2. you really believe he's isn't working a legal challenge to what Florida is doing

It's inconceivable to me that the Obama administration isn't actively fighting this. I know it's fun, though, to run around here on DU with our hair on fire and pretend we're the only ones with any concern or care to fight back. Maybe when it finally comes out that he's filed his injunction or whatever course he eventually chooses to challenge Florida's governor, we can pretend that we actually made it happen.

[frylock]

5. perhaps you can point us in the direction of some quotes from mr holder..

that would indicate that they are indeed challenging such actions? would it really be so difficult to make a definitive statement in order to set people's minds at ease? it's not like the dems don't have a history of sitting on their collective nuts in regard to election fraud.

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6. perhaps you can bother to go look for yourself

it's not hard . . .

in the op:

Holder told the clergy leaders Wednesday that at least nine lawsuits have been filed over the last two years . . .

Did you miss these?

Dept. of Justice Rejects South Carolina 'Discriminatory' Voter ID Law
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/justice-department-rejects-sc-voter-id-law-says-it-makes-it-harder-for-minorities-to-vote/2011/12/23/gIQAqDpDEP_print.html

Obama Administration Blocks Texas' New Voter ID Law
http://www.kxnet.com/story/17136671/justice-dept-opposes-texas-voter-id-law

Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/May/12-crt-677.html

[frylock]

7. those nine lawsuits were filed by states arguing the constitutionality of section 5..

of the voters rights act. in other words, they want to be able to change voting procedures without federal approval.

no, i didn't miss those. and while encouraging, none of the links you've posted mention anything about what's happening in florida.

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8. why would you assume that Holder is doing nothing? It makes no sense

. . . that he would be so proactive in pursuing these abuses and not the ones in Florida; especially since it's his own administration and president at risk. What a stretch you have to make to assume that the Justice Dept. is blithe about what's going on in Florida. I'll admit it's not a stretch for some folks here who can't imagine that Holder does anything at all, because they haven't bothered to read a wit of what's available.

More baffling is how anyone can make such judgments about the Attorney General and not take his efforts so far in pursuing cases of voter obstruction into consideration. Little cutesy insults and hyper-inflated righteousness is enough for some. Amazing to me that they actually care a bit about the issues they're bleating about when they have literally no idea what the Justice Dept, the Democratic party, and the President are doing and have done on voter protection.

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10. kick

[Tippy]

12. This is only the tip of the iceburg....

TN is now purging voters in Memphis...not sure how long it has been going on...Every state the the Rethugs control will follow the leader..U can take that to the bank.

[spanone]

13. nine lawsuits, what do you want?

[Webster Green]

3. A sternly worded letter should put a stop to this crap.

Get on it, Eric!

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4. he's probably reading your post right now

. . . shocked into action by your exclamation point and sarcastic smilie. Shocked, I tell ya!

[DCKit]

9. Voting challenges to black Americans lets us know we, in fact, have an AG.

Everything else was water under the bridge.

[Tippy]

11. Holder should have begun the investigation as soon as he took the job

This all began in 2000 everyone with a lick of commen sense should have known We would be addressing this problem again...

However after saying that I m greatfull it is being addressed now just hope it isnot to little to late oncce again.

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14. he did begin when he took the job

anyone who followed what his dept. was doing knew full well that Justice was gearing up to defend against these challenges and abuses of voter rights and protections.

Of course, DU like to think we invented fighting back.

Your post is a good example of the nonsense that goes on on this board. Self righteous demands that the administration act; and when they do, the bar is raised to some ridiculous point. It stinks of uninformed criticism and I've had my fill of the ignorance. Glad that you appreciate the action; disgusted to find yet another criticism bracketing it.