"Voting is a privilege."

[RedStateLiberal]

Last edited Mon Jul 9, 2012, 05:20 PM - Edit history (1)

I just heard someone on Faux News say this during a "debate" over voter id laws Repugs are using to disenfranchise voters. I understand there is a technical legal argument that voting is not a right because you have to be a certain age and it can be taken away from you for being convicted of committing certain crimes but it's NOT a privilege. A privilege is a benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most. Do they want most Americans to NOT have the ability to vote?

Every person who is eligible to vote has a RIGHT to cast their vote. This is yet another of their pathetic excuses to try to pass these egregious laws that are clearly designed to reduce Democratic votes and the privilege claim is absolutely ridiculous. It just tells me these people are pure fascists who only want citizens who vote for THEIR SIDE to have the ability to cast their vote and that's exactly what they're trying to do.

UPDATE: Media Matters has a great blog post on this segment.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/09/fox-guests-voter-id-law-defense-voting-is-a-pri/187020

[handmade34]

1. voting is a responsible...

and it is our responsibility to be educated about the process... when things start being considered privilege, that is when those things can be taken away...

[jillan]

2. o.m.g. Just when you think they cannot get more pathetic, they do.

[pinto]

3. 15th Amendment, 19th Amendment to the Constitution -

Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote

1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage.

1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[PavePusher]

20. Don't forget the Twenty-sixth. n/t

[Laelth]

4. Definitely a right, not a privilege.

Lies, lies, and more lies from Fox. Nothing new there.

-Laelth

[Tigress DEM]

5. It is a privilege AND a responsibility, but it isn't supposed to be a privilege for the FEW.

It's a "privilege" that ALL Americans should be allowed to practice responsibly, like driving a car or having children. Some people lose their privileges to basic rights by their own irresponsible behavior.

So maybe all those clowns who voted for this obstructionist, rethug Congress should have their voting rights revoked on grounds of the damage done to the nation under GW's watch?

I'm just saying...

Here is a good article which talks about it in an enlightened fashion:

Voting: A Right, A Privilege, or A Responsibility?



Tig

[loyalsister]

14. Thanks for that

It's a good reminder of how the state\federal partnership operates.
The constitution mostly only draws lines at what states can't do. Since elections determine local representation (congressional and state districts, along with county and municipal divisions), election laws and regulations are best left to states and counties.
Anyone who is concerned about the integrity of elections, get to know your county clerk.

[kiranon]

21. Voting s a right, not a privilege like driving a car. To argue the later is to invite

disenfranchisement. IMHO.

[treestar]

6. Wow they just talk off the tops of their stupid heads

What a thoughtless use of words that is. To get a job on Fox you must have to prove you are stupid and dumb.

[lpbk2713]

7. Welcome to DU, but I must disagree.

"Faux" and "News" have nothing in common.

Faux is the propaganda arm of the RNC, largely subsidized by Rupert Murdoch.

[RedStateLiberal]

8. I think we agree

"Faux News" = False News

As infuriating as it is, I watch it occasionally to monitor RNC propaganda.

[Time for change]

9. I agree

If FOX "News" thinks that voting is a privilege, then someone should ask them who they think should have the right to determine who gets to exercise that "privilege". Though I wouldn't want to hear their answer.

[hifiguy]

10. Expect Faux to repeat this ad infinitum

from here out. The fact that it is a constitutional right does not trouble the catapulters of the propaganda.

[pa28]

11. They just don't quite think it all the way through do they?

If voting is a privilege instead of a right for those who legally qualify you open up a door with some unpleasant things on the other side.

I wonder if this person would be OK with the idea of having voting "privileges" revoked due to tax arrears or delinquent child support payments.

[bemildred]

12. Wealth is a privilege, voting is a right. nt

[progressivebydesign]

13. of course they also think that healthcare is a privilege as well. n/t

[spanone]

15. bullshit.

[JHB]

16. The inFOXicated are too rage-drunk to realize they are next

I'd wish the fate of all useful idiots on them, but that would mean we'd already lost.

[closeupready]

17. Technically true or not, anyone pushing that argument turns me off

instantly. And I think it's a right, personally.

[Th1onein]

18. Yeah I heard that on a religious radio talk show, too! It's their current meme

Used to explain their suppression of votes. Sorry lying bastards.

[RedStateLiberal]

19. The name of the bonehead who said this is Jay Sekulow

Of course, Megyn Kelly parroted him by repeating the claim that "voting is a privilege." The opposition guy (didn't catch his name) gave no response to this claim but did do a great job of presenting the facts such as the minuscule amount of voter fraud and the large number of voters who will be disenfranchised by voter id laws. And, as usual, they tried to talk over him and change the subject.