John Amato and Rachel Maddow talk about Indiana's Voter ID case
I was interviewed by the wonderful Rachel Maddow on Air America yesterday to talk about one of the most important cases that the Supreme Court is going to rule on in JUNE which could quite possibly change the course of the 2008 election and many more to follow. The Indiana Voter ID case. I tried to stay out of the weeds and focus on the impact it will have in the future.
Take a listen...
Download | play
I understand that the primaries have taken up most of the space for our media, but we need to see this for what it is. A massive attempt of voter suppression by the right-wing elites that will hurt the Democratic Party for decades.
The Scotus Blog is covering it....Rockridge Nation: "This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a critical voting rights case, and gave indications that it might allow states to impose barriers to voting that would disproportionately harm voters who are poor, elderly, disabled, or racial or linguistic minorities...read on"
Digby on "Caging Conservatives":
If there was any evidence of massive voter fraud, perhaps such a thing could be arguably necessary. But there isn't. In fact, after all the efforts of the Ashcroft and Gonzales Justice Departments --- even the firing of US Attorneys for failing to bring voter fraud cases against Democratic politicians --- they simply couldn't make a case that there is any kind of systemic fraud requiring that the state disenfranchise large numbers of people who might not have photo ID or other documentation. It just isn't happening. The conservatives have institutionalized electoral cheating...read on"
Sorry can't read the post due to staring at the picture of the male. John, is that you? Is that a recent photo? Dude!
Two nice looking guys there.
Voter tricks over and over,let's all work to stop all this neocon crap that henders voters that they don't want,that will vote them out. (Rachel Maddow is hot). Mr.Wisedup said that.
OK ladies... lick up the DROOL... and VOTE EARLY AND VOTE OFTEN!
John Amato, YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN.
Rachel Maddow, YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN.
Yes, that's me...lol...
Cowboy Bob from Austin @ 4:
No drool here but my heart is warm and smiling.
In addition to being a great American, John is a handsome guy.
John Amato @ 5:
You office looks about like mine.
A mess.
John Amato @ 5:
I have a whole new respect for Crooks & Liars, as of this post. Little bit of a crush too.
L.A. Confidential @ 8:
Thats all I do these days. Look around thinking, how in the hell did I accumulate all this junk and what do I do with it?
L.A. Confidential @ 2:
Thats mean, but i couldn't help it. I LOL'd
poll taxers get the bozack. Great segment like when Tony Trupiano interviews John
John face it I'm better looking then you dude.
http://tinyurl.com/2uqp7p
I was wondering which one was John Amato.
John, you surprised all of us.
Great work!
Frank @ 11:
Yep, you owe Rachel an apology.
Somehow Crooks and Liars will have a little extra something as of today.
Thanks, John.
Wow! Rachel would make a nice looking dude!
Frank @ 11:
If you couldn't help it then it's time for misogynists anonymous . Rachel can analyse my politics anytime she wants .
pissed off patricia @ 15:
Okay then I'm sorry.
iraqconcilable @ 18:
Hey I'd snuggle up with her. Lighten up already!
LOL
Back off of Rachel! I only wish she were running for President versus Hilary. She's a helluva lot smarter!
Concerned American @ 21:
She's to smart to run for President is correct. No one in their right minds wants that job. Especially after Bush Jr.
Americans need a sense of humor.
You should see my office area. It's insane with the primary coverage. But I'm one of those guys that knows where everything is even under the piles of paper....lol...Rachel is the best..
Why isn't anyone talking about the substance of the interview? I listened yesterday and it was very interesting.
pissed off patricia @ 9:
Thanks POP...right back at ya...
John Amato @ 24:
I'm jealous now. I have to go through the pile once, twice, three times, and still can't find it even though I know what I'm looking for is in there somewhere.
Ron @ 25:
This is such an important issue. I'm organizing now. I didn't have time to get a transcript made yet...They know the only way to win is to suppress the vote. Also hidden in all of this is the fact that Latino voters will be intimidated too...
Ron @ 25:
I've been watching it but this just came up.
Supreme Court denies Kucinich ballot bid AP - Fri Jan 18, 2:50 PM ET
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Texas to print presidential primary ballots without Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich's name.
L.A. Confidential @ 20:
All of those comments Rachel would probably appreciate.
Hey John,
How about an 8x10 glossy..............
John Amato @ 28:
As I watch softball, Chris Matthews and Joe Scarborough try to make McCain and Huckalberry look worse than the rest of the repugs, I'm more than concerned about how these bozos manipulate who should be the nominees.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2008
Contact: Zach Goldberg
202-225-5801 (office)
HOLT INTRODUCES EMERGENCY BILL TO HELP
ENSURE ACCURACY, INTEGRITY OF 2008 ELECTION
Legislation Would Reimburse State and Local Jurisdictions
That Opt in for Paper Ballots and/or Audits
(Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today introduced the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008, a plan to allow state and local jurisdictions to opt-in to receive reimbursements from the federal government if they convert to a paper ballot voting system, offer emergency paper ballots, and/or conduct audits by hand counts.
Snip
“The right to vote is the most fundamental right of our democracy as it is the right through which we secure all others,” Holt said. “Voters should never have to leave their polling places wondering if their legitimate vote will be counted. This bill would give local and state officials the resources to protect citizens’ right to vote. Time is of the essence. I hope for House consideration and passage as soon as possible.”
[Deleted for brevity. Please shorten it up, St. Cyrly Me2. Provide a link instead of posting entire articles. Thank you. Site Monitor]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between this very important issues that Rachel is presenting to us and this very important legislation the good Congressman Rush Holt is trying to get passed and this disgusting administration and the right wing spin machine are going to simply kill us as a viable country. These people are sick with the greed of power and money. They are going to stop at nothing but good swift ass kicking.
It would be hard to fathom any Democrat that would not support this bill, yet I really worry about some of them and where their true allegiance is.
They know they are not going to win if the American people have to vote for any of them so we need to be aware of all this cheap tricks they are using our media to sway our attention to these cheap racial issues against Senator Obama, the one they know can beat the hell out of Senator Clinton.
I am not talking about any of the ones that many of us think should beat her but the one we know can and will in a fair election, because if they get her in their, they are going to simply destroy her in the final and anyone that does not believe that can only look at all the dirt and trash they are waiting in the wings to pounce on at her arrival to run against any of the trash they present to us as Republicans.
I hope that we all get on our phones and emails next week and make contact with our officials to let them know we want ALL of them behind this legislation and we want them to press to this disgusting media how important it is to put this issue of requiring votes to have this voter ID, as just another cheap tool, to again attempt to disenfranchise people of color, which will desegregate the Democratic party.
This is a time that we really need each other to think smart and connect the dots.
L.A. Confidential @ 13:
I can't help it if I've packed 200 years into 30.
I have been making sure every teenager I know soon to be 18, has proper ID and is registered to vote. No I do not support this crap, but why wait? It took months for us to get an ID for my son, because we had lost his SS card. Everyone should "adopt" someone who needs help to get all their "papers in order", they might need it later "to be processed".
StCyrlyMe2 @ 33:
Saving our Democracy is going to be hard work.
lilorphant @ 35:
There are also those new Drivers License rules. Real ID that need to be questioned.
John Amato @ 24:
My office is the same way............that is until my wife gets tired of my "unique" filing system, then I can't find anything!
So what can we do about this voter ID BS? Can public opinion influence the Supreme Court decisions? How does one voice their opinions to them?
L.A. Confidential @ 29:
There is a hidden message to all of us folks and that is this election is going to be a huge mess and I worry so much of what the outcome is going to be, especially with these people still in office and running everything.
I worry so much of the true allegiance of the Democratic power structure, standing up, out and in the face of these people.
It is really sad.
StCyrlyMe2 @ 40:
Well we have to deal with reality or reality will deal with us.
John, I had no idea you were so hot! purrrrrrrrrrrr
Good conversation. Here we are in the 21st Century and we are no closer to fairand honest elections than we were at the beginning of the 20th century.
The amazing thing about the Indiana voter I.D. controversy is that there has never been a conviction in Indiana for someone trying to use someone else' I.D. to cast a vote...???
How can Repugs say that this pole tax is necessary?
Indiana is a RED state smack in the middle of "stupidstan". Their voter ID will eventually cost the Republican party in Indiana. Let's just keep their crap out of the other States.
John Amato @ 24:
My office looks the same way, John. Anything that is important has to be visible otherwise, out of sight, out of mind. If things get put away then they don't exist in my world.
Nice to have you around John.
Ah Via Musicom...
Cats r Flyfishn @ 44:
Can you say un-funded mandate?..........I think you can.............
The thing that really worries me is that these people who engage in vote "caging" and other means to win elections apparently do not have any moral or ethical standards. Or, they try to justify their actions on non-existent claims, which is, regardless of their beliefs, lies. They should be locked up somewhere safe as they are a danger to all of us who are sane.
There are 20 states that have this stuff on the books and are looking for a Supreme court decision to use to back them up. That's why it's a huge problem. It will spread like wildfire. And ordinary voters won't see a problem with it...
RBK_4_Dennis_Kucinich @ 39:
Not anything WE can do w/respect to this case in Indiana. What troubles me is that
as many as 20 other(perhaps more) have similiar leg. proposals up for enactment, and
assuming(as I have rumors) that the Court votes 5 to 4 to uphold Indians law, then
we are all in deep, deep doo-doo...Just another BIG Gov. intervention into States
rights as to photo ID's, so be prepared, this thing is going to affect millions of voters
come Nov. 08...Of course, it will not affect the well-to-do, affluent, but will have an
impact of the elderly and low income families. I am still wondering how this photo
ID crapolo is going to impact those of us who vote absentee each and every Gen.
Election. Will there be a different standard of ID's for absentee voters???
the groundwork for the voter ID fraud including blowing up the immigration issue for that purpose has been and is being done from your local right wing talk radio station. that is the center of power of the GOP. this crap will end quick when progressives take their signs and boycotts to their local talk radio stations and their local sponsors.
Watching the primary system a voter can explode with anger. Anybody can walk in and raise their hand say here and choose a candidate ? Do they have ID’s for primaries ?
Better yet as I was watching the news MSNBC good old Chris Mathews and the controversy about the legal stuff for the Culinary Union in Nevada were the court is to rule on was interesting. Words are exchanged between Bill Clinton and the news caster. My point is not one effort to detail the law its meaning and the effect to be explained to the cable news audience was made.
All these years these news casters have played the electorate for suckers and dopes. Mathews made no effort to report on the rules and the ruling of the court. All easily a public record where these Journalist have a mission and public responsibility, more over given a license in the public spectrum to address and bring forward important and timely access to information like the rule change and what it will do. Here, exactly is an example of what the public service of broadcasting was meant to do supply the average person like my self with substance and truth in the activities of our election system.
Instead, I witnessed a horrendous failure of the responsibility to do the job right, but no plus I had to endure the snickering, snit, and snide remarks of Chris Mathews all typical of that range of reporting across the system. America is failed system of media hacks and tricks that are IMUS contractors with no consensus or value. A totally complete unpatriotic dysfunctional system thats centered for profiteering and power subsidized by the judicial system.
pissed off patricia @ 1:
I have to concur. Who chose the photos? Male DUDE, Hi-Test, hanging all over his closet ready to prove himself? vs Rachel Maddow in the only picture she actually looks average?
Bag News needs to look at this compilation !
i really like listening to rachel maddow, but her apparent support of clinton is really disappointing.
c'mon, rach, it's the mind, the soul, not the reproductive organs. you of all people should understand this.
zorro @ 52:
That is just one of the BIG, BIG problems with Photo ID's. This "Indiana" law will
NOT be applicable in it's Primary(nor in other States) since the Supreme Court will
not render a ruling until June or July...After most primaries have been held. Should
this become the law of the land(in Indiana and other States) in June/July, it is very
possible that persons who voted in the Primaries will NOT be allowed to vote in the
Gen. Election in Nov. 08. This is a sad, sad day should S/C uphold law, which I've
heard is pretty well guaranteed by a 5 to 4 vote.
Hey John,
Great to hear you on with Rachel last night, however, in the future could you please remind the wonderful Ms. Maddow that the Democratic Party hasn't won a presidential election since the Yankees won a Worlds Series. She constantly runs a teaser saying the Soxs have won 2 since her show came on.
L.A. Confidential @ 29:
This was a foregone conclusion, tho I do not agree w/ultimate ruling. Dennis K.
refused to sign a "Democrat Oath" wherein he would have had to agree/guarantee
that he'd vote for whichever Dem. candidate won in Texas. Piss poor way of
Democrate Party getting ALL to follow the lead. What I want to find out, and
intend to pursue, is will we Texans be allowed/permitted to "write-in" Dennis's
name on our ballots? Seems that by using computer now, this may not be
permitted, but hoping otherwise..
Chuck @ 56:
Just a remider- The Democrats took back both houses of Congress the last time the Tigers went to the World Series. The way I see it, when the Tigers win it all this year, we'll have Congress and the White House.
So put that in yer pinstripes and smoke it! :D
Andy K @ 58:
Andy, please we're supposed to be the part of reason, not blind faith.
All this angst about voter ID and no one mentions absentee ballots. If I wanted to create massive voter fraud, that is where I would focus my efforts. What are they gonna do? Make you swipe your ID at the mail box?
John Amato @ 26:
;)
You can't trust absentee ballots either because it's all in who controls the actual collecting of those ballots...
Robin @ 53:
Stop with conspiracies. I did a quick search and found both pics. You think I have time to waste on that?
Kent, your comment makes me realize that a lot of people have no idea how the election process works -- or is supposed to work.
I can't speak for every voting district or county board, naturally, but I'm the Minority Inspector of Elections for my district. In PA, there is actually a process in place that - when used - weeds out absentee ballots cast by a) unregistered voters or b) voters who came in to the polls or c) ballots cast by voters not in the district. If your election board does its job, no one can cast a fraudulent absentee ballot.
In our district, we check the names on the absentee ballots against the records. If they aren't in our book of registered voters, they're put in a separate pile to be checked against the master list for that district at the County board of elections. If they are in our records, and they voted in person, their ballot is cast out at the district level. If they aren't registered on the master list, their ballot is cast out on the county level.
As for ID laws, here in PA, if you come in to vote and have to show ID or some proof of residence (first time voters and random voters selected by computer) but have none, you're given a provisional ballot. The provisionals are then checked the same way as the absentees. (This is why it takes so long to process absentee and provisional ballots, by the way.)
If people want to help prevent voter fraud and election fraud or simply want to be a part of the process, volunteer as poll observers or -- better yet -- run for an elected poll-worker position.
John,
sorry but officially hot in the gay book.
Is that a closet you're coming out of?
(Just kidding!)
John Amato @ 62:
Too true. Which is why I suggested we get more of "us" on the boards. It's very hard for an election board to throw an election if someone - could be you -- is throwing a monkey wrench in the operation. And the more of "us" there are, the more fair our elections process will be.
Instead of bitching and moaning why don't we look at this as a positive I think it is evident that it is going to be necessary and also very prudent to begin organizing where ever necessary to get good ID's for voters. Yes, it is a huge job but it would be very smart to start now and also it is a GREAT way to approach people and have an opportunity to talk Progressive to them, to educate them about the MSM and it's bias. It is a GREAT "get out the vote" opportunity.
John Amato @ 62:
Yeah we had a hell of a time here in King Co. with absentee ballots being lost, mislaid, and the Thugs went batshit crazy. Some incompetent running the show was shitcanned, then sued for wrongful dismissal. And the Dem gov won by 125 votes, after all was said and done.
As a result, I DID have to come back home and get ID to show at my precinct, because of some Thug action. Luckily, I'm the kind of person who'll go vote between rounds of vomiting during chemo. Getting my ID on a day I felt fine was not a biggy. But I was pissed. I've voted there for 25 years and even did the poll work a few times in the past.
Excellent job, John. Your points were well taken. Congratulations.
miss_kitty @ 68:
"did the poll work" Heh my browser bugged out, I was distracted, and I worded that-erm-not so well. You know, sat at that table with a bunch of wrinklies for 12 hours on election day.
:P
Just out of curiosity - Are we now officially at a point where, if SCOTUS approves this law, it will be easier to get a weapon and commit a crime in a polling area than to actually vote in one?
Jonnan
miss_kitty @ 68:
As a result, I DID have to come back home and get ID to show at my precinct, because of some Thug action. Luckily, I'm the kind of person who'll go vote between rounds of vomiting during chemo. Getting my ID on a day I felt fine was not a biggy. But I was pissed. I've voted there for 25 years and even did the poll work a few times in the past.
We had a hell of a time with the Repub. observers last Nov. Of our 1400+/- voters, they challenged about 400 or so - all Democrats, of course. They were extremely annoyed about our handing out of provisional ballots to those who couldn't prove their address and were literally harassing our judge of elections, trying to tell her she couldn't do that.
I think it is obvious (or should be to most people) that the Repubs have thought out long-term strategies to make their "permanent majority" prediction for the Repub party come true.
From trying to change California's electoral vote laws, to preventing the Democratic constituency from voting, to controlling the media, to infiltrating the Democratic Party (or so I suspect, via Blue Dogs), this is one cancer that is going to be very difficult to eradicate.
miss_kitty @ 70:
"did the poll work" Heh my browser bugged out, I was distracted, and I worded that-erm-not so well. You know, sat at that table with a bunch of wrinklies for 12 hours on election day.
:P
Hey now! :D
Actually I'm the youngest elected poll worker in our county - 15-20 years younger than most of 'em and by 37 years in one case. And I only got the job because my mother wrote my name in. :)
miss_kitty @ 70:
What is up with the wrinklies, and why are they always women? I've never seen a man, young or old working the tables on election days.
Also, we were missing one or two of the old gals this Tuesday. There was a wrinkly in training, though. She must have been 50. I guess that's close enough to be considered wrinkly and/or musty, right? ;)
Go ahead, kick me in the nads for that last one. Don't use 'em much anymore, anyhow.
Andy K @ 75:
Some of us wrinklies-in-training aren't even 40 yet. LOL
Frank @ 11:
why is that mean? - I mean, its clear she wants to look like a dude..so why would it be mean to suggest just so?
Otay @ 73:
..and all that "right to bear arms" stuff the Rethugs fought long and hard for is going to bite them in the ass big time one day...
I'm going to do a post and as for suggestions soon...I have some ideas, but we need help for sure...
PA lady, How do you check your registrations? In California, you can register by mail and with a little effort, can register hundreds of questionable voters. Just say they all live in some assisted living facility. California doesn't have the resources to check out all registrations. All you need is a mailing address. It may be found out later, but as we have seen, the results won't change. Unless, a Democrat wins. ;)
Tooting my own horn a bit, I'd just like to mention that I didn't have to be lobbied to post about the Indiana voter ID case.
Such laws are based on the idea that all voters are assumed guilty of fraud. ALL voters, ALL citizens are assumed guilty, so prove you are not trying to defraud the electoral system by showing state issued identification. This is absurd.
Kent in Tehachapi @ 81:
I have no idea, Kent. I've never worked that end, so I couldn't tell you off-hand how they verify registrations. To be honest, I doubt they've encountered much of a problem here. This is such a rural area, it's unlikely we'd see that level of fraud; it'd simply be too noticeable.
I do agree there has to be some way to verify voter registrations, but I'm not nearly as worried about voter fraud as I am about wholesale election fraud due to machines. In the old days, we hand counted ballots that were filled in w/ #2 pencil. Easy enough to see where the votes were. And if you had more ballots than voters, you knew there was a problem. Now? Hah.
As I told my judge of elections, my signature on the ballot reports (which is all we get, no paper trail for voters here!) means nothing. I can only verify that the total number of ballots cast matched the total number of voters and that no outside programming touched the machine while the election was in progress. Period. I don't know what programming is on the memory cards when we insert them in the machines, I have no idea what programming is on the machines used to count those votes, and the day our machines go online is the day I quit as a poll-worker.
pissed off patricia @ 1:
It's a shot of him coming out of the closet! Simmer down!
LEAVE RACHEL ALONE!!! Bawawawawwawwwawaa! BTW I think she's hot.
I wish Rachel Maddow had her own TV show. She is smart, informed, honest and can talk to anyone with ease. She is the best. She really annoys Chris Matthews and that's a bonus. ... HA!
Kent in Tehachapi @ 81:
They will purge the rolls. It's a numbers game. They know some repubs will be kicked off but the vast majority will be Dems so that's fine by them...1 or 2 % can turn an election...
Uh, John?
Could you do more TV appearances, or at least post your photo more often?
Kthxbai!
[/shallow]
#87 - Right on spot. What is MSNBC waiting for? Tank Tucker and put on Rachael. What a sure bet that would be and a blessed change.
Keep up the excellent work, John, Rachael!!!!
I'd like to know why requiring voter's to pay for a photo ID would not be a poll tax.
Honestly I wasn't paying much attention to this because it appeared to be a local State matter.
From Indiana Sec. State Rokita on why this is not a poll tax:
With respect to Judge Barker's opinion. Unduly burden is not the same as equally burdened. Reasonable alternatives is not the same as equal alternatives. And if votes aren't equal then democracy has been subverted.
And any non-Hoosier still viewing this as a State matter should know that Rokita's title for this view of his is "Indiana Voting Reform as a National Model"
Sorry if I'm repeating what's been already been noted before.
Obama will probably be on the ticket one way or another, and a lot of blacks are going to be surging to the polls and colliding with these GOP efforts to keep them away. Could and should get nasty.
The Scotus Blog is covering it….Rockridge Nation: “This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a critical voting rights case, and gave indications that it might allow states to impose barriers to voting that would disproportionately harm voters who are poor, elderly, disabled, or racial or linguistic minorities…read on“
Of course they will, and they'll support anything else Cheney/Bush want. Otherwise, what was the use of packing the Court with right-wing, neo-con loving "judges??"
Anybody stupid enough not to be able to acquire a photo ID will likely vote democrat. Interesting arugment!
It wont stream or download for me... I wanna hear your voice John. Make it happen.
Joe @ 96:
Yes the blind and crippled are stupid... And are you suggesting that photo ID will be provided without charge and equally? And before you knee-jerk out your "their stupid" argument perhaps you should bone up on the Constitution.
Article I - section 9: No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
Or do you view the Constitution as something meant for stupid people?
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