Free Republic

White People Won't Vote for Blacks, Congressman Charges By Nathan Burchfiel CNSNews.com Correspondent October 14, 2005 (1st Add: Includes details about Voting Rights Act)(CNSNews.com) - The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday urged his Capitol Hill colleagues to extend and strengthen the Voting Rights Act in order to "level the playing field" because, U.S. Rep. Melvin Watt said, "white people ... will not consider voting for an African American candidate." Watt, a Democrat from North Carolina, made the remarks at a Washington hearing held by the National Commission on the Voting Rights Act. The commission, a project of...

Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2005 - A new report released today, the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, underscores the importance of providing access to the ballot for Asian Americans with limited English proficiency. The report, "Sound Barriers: Asian Americans and Language Access in Election 2004," details the barriers faced by Asian Americans who voted during last year's elections. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost three million Asian Americans turned out to vote on Nov. 2, 2004. The report, released by NAPALC and its affiliates, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles, the...

Harry Belafonte, Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi join arms during Saturday's march.Joey Ivansco/AJC John Terrell's left leg still ached from hip replacement surgery. He wobbled on his cane and lagged behind many of those walking in Saturday's "Keep the Vote Alive" march. Unlike many, the 53-year-old native Atlantan didn't carry a sign supporting reauthorization of the historic legislation that ensured the right to vote for many people, especially African Americans. Instead, Terrel had memories of his childhood, when it was dangerous for young black men to demonstrate for an end to segregation and to win a guarantee...

As is routine in life, many of our most bitter arguments are about something other than what we're arguing about. So it is with voter ID. Black Democrats simply cannot be arguing on merit against a system that asks voters to positively establish their identity at the polling place. And they aren't. They're arguing for the right to be aggressors today — as they were in ruthlessly conspiring with white Democrats to rid the Legislature of Republicans — and victims tomorrow, entitled to safe seats under U.S. Justice Department protection. Retaining that power over Republicans and white Democrats requires extending...

CHICAGO - (KRT) - Until President Bush and top Republicans reaffirm their support for the Voting Rights Act, they should stop courting black voters and showing up in black churches, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said Sunday. Dean, speaking in Chicago at a Rainbow PUSH Coalition conference, also labeled the Fox News Channel a propaganda machine and sharply criticized the Republican Party, which he said has yet to support re-authorizing certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act that expire in 2007. "I think it's hypocritical for the Republicans to pretend to reach out to the African-American community unless they...

The gig is up. After nearly a quarter century of mischief-making at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Chairman Mary Frances Berry is on her way out the door. Few government officials in the nation's history have managed to hold on to power for so long or wielded it as autocratically and in pursuit of such radical aims as has Dr. Berry. But this week, President George W. Bush finally did what he should have done three years ago: He replaced Berry as chairman of the 47-year-old civil rights watchdog group, naming Gerald Reynolds as the group's new head. My...

AUSTIN, Tex., Jan. 16 — The United States Supreme Court refused on Friday to block Texas from using a Republican redistricting plan in its Congressional elections this year. Republicans pushed the new map through the Legislature last year after months of partisan fighting that included Democratic lawmakers twice leaving the state to prevent a quorum. The justices rejected an emergency appeal that sought to stop the state from using the new boundaries this year. Congressional Democrats say that the new map dilutes minority voting strength, but the court has yet to decide whether to hear that argument. "The elections will...

By KELLEY SHANNON Associated Press Writer AUSTIN Dominance was the magic word for Texas politics in 2003. Republicans dominated the political landscape as they made deep budget cuts, placed limits on civil lawsuits and pushed through a GOP congressional redistricting plan despite the protests and road trips of Democrats. ”Texas politics? Year of the elephant,” summed up Tony Proffitt, a veteran political consultant who was an aide to the late Democratic Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. The GOP already held all the statewide offices and had the edge in the Texas Senate before the 2002 elections. With a sweeping victory, Republicans...

Attorney asks why Justice Department approved map associated press An attorney representing Texas congressional Democrats in a federal redistricting trial has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to explain how it arrived at its decision to uphold a Republican redistricting plan. Attorney Gerry Hebert sent a letter to the Justice Department on Saturday saying he has heard from people within the agency that Civil Rights Division lawyers investigating the Texas map had recommended it not be allowed. But he said political appointees at the department overruled them. A Justice Department spokes woman on Saturday declined to comment and could not...

State denies redistricting map drawn to harm minority blocs AUSTIN (AP) — Attorneys for the state defended a congressional district map in a federal courtroom Thursday, attempting to disprove plaintiffs' arguments that the new lines were drawn with racially discriminatory intent, violating the Voting Rights Act. Attorney Andy Taylor questioned a map drawer about the intent with which each of the 32 districts was created by the Texas Legislature. "I'm not aware of splits made to break up minority blocks," said Bill Davis, a former Republican state legislator and lobbyist who testified as the state began its case in the...

Minority activists air complaints about proposed redistricting AUSTIN (AP) — Minority activists and elected officials testified Wednesday that a Republican-drawn congressional redistricting map could hurt the political progress black and Hispanic Texans have made over many years. "I think it's probably going to set us back maybe 20, 25 years," said Deralyn Riles Davis, a black political activist from Tarrant County. "The people are going to be discouraged." Attorneys for the state say Republican legislative leaders were trying to craft a congressional map for partisan gain, and that race was not a predominant factor. They dispute claims by Democrats and...

LULAC frowns at Texas remap By Gary Martin Express-News Washington Bureau Web Posted : 11/22/2003 12:00 AM WASHINGTON — A Hispanic civil rights group told the Justice Department on Friday that a newly adopted redistricting plan in Texas would dilute minority strength at the ballot box and violate the voting rights of Hispanics. The League of United Latin American Citizens said the plan decreases the number of minority-majority congressional districts from 12 to nine. LULAC said minorities have lost their majority status in three congressional districts — in Dallas, Austin and the San Antonio-based 23rd which sweeps from Laredo to...

Redistricting petition Democrats press Ashcroft to reject plan BY MARK HELM Hearst Newspapers WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders on Thursday launched an online petition asking Attorney General John Ashcroft to reject the new Texas congressional redistricting map that could give Republicans up to seven additional House seats. "This plan clearly violates minority votes rights and any fair review would reject it quickly," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "The review of this plan is a test of whether John Ashcroft can be trusted to enforce the law fairly." Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, signed legislation that...

Redistricting one step closer BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - The family feud appears over and Texas Republicans are a step closer to having a majority in the state's congressional delegation. "The majority of the voters in the state of Texas support President George W. Bush and his policies. The majority of our congressional delegation does not, and that's just not fair," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Thursday as Republican leaders unveiled a redistricting map that would put more Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation. It likely would put more Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation, where Democrats...

<p>Civil rights groups on Wednesday appealed for a delay in California's recall election, warning of "a very real risk that the margin of victory will be less than the margin of error" of punch-card voting machines in six heavily minority counties.</p>

Please see the pdf at maldef -- it concerns the October 7th recall which Maldef is attempting to "delay" under a "voting rights act". I believe this hearing will be heard (again) this Friday. Nonetheless, the prime plaintiff is Aurelio Salazar (et al. v. Monterey County et al.)I'm posting all this in light of Busta's past in re Mecha/Aztlan. Perhaps one might see this as "coincidence"? Mr. Salazar is a self-identified "Chicano". http://www.angelfire.com/home/aureliosalazarjr/biography.html. Aurelio Salazar, Jr. is originally from Ontario, Oregon and is the youngest of three children. MEChA Central de San Diego ... This website was created by and...

AUSTIN -- Republican state officials are asking federal authorities for an expedited ruling that the Voting Rights Act does not apply to the Senate rules that prompted 11 Democratic senators to flee to New Mexico. "Our goal is to get this resolved as quickly as possible," said Texas Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz. Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, Senate Democratic Caucus chair, said Lt. Gov. DavidDewhurst's change in Senate procedure "discriminates against voters protected under the Voting Rights Act." She said the state's lawyers are "belatedly and secretly" seeking U.S. Justice Department approval. In a related matter...

Obscured by the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action and sodomy laws was a decision that might have even greater practical effect on the distribution of political power in America: Georgia v. Ashcroft, an opinion on redistricting under the Voting Rights Act. That opinion shed light on what may be the most important political phenomenon in a generation: the creation of overly packed black legislative districts. The result -- unintended by some -- has been to quickly put the U.S. House of Representatives and dozens of state legislatures firmly in Republican control.

I'd appreciate any links to documents or articles relating to Bill Clinton being sued by the NAACP over his violating the Voters Rights Act while Governor of Arkansas.

CNN just broke in and said that the GOP will not wait to find out the SCONJ decision.They will bring a petition to Federal Court (eventual destination SCOTUS) on the Voting Rights Act with regard to the 1,800 already mailed absentee ballots in NJ.