"This is an intentional attempt to break a system that was working. It defies common sense."

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/09/30/20759056-justice-department-targets-ncs-voter-suppression-law?lite

Justice Department targets NC's voter-suppression law
By Steve Benen
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Mon Sep 30, 2013 1:04 PM EDT
17

It was about a month ago that Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department is taking Texas to court over the state's discriminatory voter-ID law, relying on what's left of the Voting Rights Act. It seemed like only a matter of time before Holder made a similar announcement targeting North Carolina.

And that's exactly what happened this morning.

The Justice Department is suing North Carolina over that state's . The lawsuit takes aim at provisions that limit early voting periods and require a government photo ID as an illegal form of discrimination against minorities at the ballot box, according to a person briefed on the Justice Department's plans. [...]

Attorney General Eric Holder announced the case at a Monday news conference in Washington. It marks the third time this year that the Justice Department has taken action to enforce portions of the Voting Rights Act since the high court voted 5-4 to gut the law's centerpiece, a system that required states with a history of discrimination to seek pre-approval from the federal government before making any election changes.

The DOJ's lawsuit was a foregone conclusion because of the scope of the new North Carolina statute. The scope of the voter-suppression law is extraordinary -- state Republican policymakers, led by Gov. Pat McCrory (R) imposed voter-ID restrictions never needed before in North Carolina, narrowed the early-voting window, placed new restrictions on voter-registration drives, made it much harder for students to vote, ended same-day registration during the early voting period, and made it easier for vigilante poll-watchers to challenge eligible voters.

Barbara Arnwine, president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said during the legislative fight, "This is the single worst bill we have seen introduced since voter suppression bills began sweeping the country."

As with the Texas litigation, Holder is asking a federal court to block the state from implementing its voter-suppression measure and re-impose requirements that changes to North Carolina's voting laws be cleared by the Justice Department.

Update: A transcript of Holder's remarks this morning is now online. My favorite line, in reference to the state law: "This is an intentional attempt to break a system that was working. It defies common sense."

[FSogol]

1. K & R. n/t

[Rex]

2. "This is an intentional attempt to break a system that was working. It defies common sense."

One could say that is the GOP Modus operandi. The faster that party sinks into oblivion, the faster the country can start working toward a more equal and productive society.

[Barack_America]

3. It wasn't working for the GOP.

And therefore must be destroyed at any cost.

[Rex]

6. I believe they are going to destroy the country due to their

inability to acknowledge that the POTUS is just trying on enforce a law that was passed by them and was created by a right wing think tank (The Heritage Foundation) and used by Mitt Romney, then Republican governor.

In short, I think their racism is going to destroy our country.

And that makes America suck.

[KittyWampus]

4. did you see the old voter test blacks had to take in Louisiana? Mind twistingly difficult.

It was worded in such a convoluted way.

edit- wish I'd bookmarked that thread.

[Rex]

5. I DID!

My jaw dropped. The party of racism is alive and well.