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The People's Republic
Spears Defends Her Voter ID Position
Lee Nichols
Wed Feb 13, 11:45am
, 2008
Spears' defense of her Voter ID position isn't likely to lower those raised eyebrows among county Democrats.
Among the highlights: "As he has done throughout this campaign, Glen Maxey misrepresents the truth in order to trick voters into supporting him. … I believe we Democrats must also show voters that we support reasonable safeguards to keep our elections honest. A public servant understands this; a demagogue does not care about election fraud."
Spears, who is African-American, writes, "I resent the suggestion that such a reasonable requirement keeps minorities and seniors from voting. Such patronizing attitudes are improper."
She goes on to say, "I did not say it was a 'great idea' nor did I say it was something 'we needed.'" As for supporting Craddick, she calls Maxey "a blatant liar."
She is correct on the former: I recorded the conversation, and she did not make those exact statements.
However, some Democrats may be puzzled by her application of the term "demagogue" to Maxey on this issue – his arguments against Voter ID line up squarely with the leadership of the party, including the likes of Reps. Rafael Anchia and Jim Dunnam and Sen. John Whitmire, who fought a fierce battle against the requirements at the Capitol last session. (See the previous post for the particulars of why Democrats believe requiring an ID to either register or vote would disenfranchise many poor, minority, elderly, and female voters.)
As for siding with Craddick and the Republicans: I sat through interminable floor fights last year and a day-long committee hearing this year on the subject, and I'm afraid that Spears' comments are almost straight out of the Republican talking points.
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COMMENTS
1
Voter IDs not major problem, but reasonable
guest Feb 13, 2008 - 02:20 pm
