Why Democrats are different: Voter Rights

georgia10 at dailykos reports this morning that the wingnuts in Georgia have been stopped in an attempt to suppress minority voting by requiring voters to show government-issued ID at the polls.

The issue of voting rights illustrates a huge difference between Republicans and Democrats. Since minority voters overwhelmingly vote Democrat when given the opportunity, many Republicans see denying those minorities the opportunity to vote as an valid and essential tactic.

Here in Louisiana, we usually welcome these assaults on democracy by Republicans, because they are more effective at getting out the minority vote than most efforts Democrats put forward. Take the 1986 senate race between Republican Henson Moore and Democrat John Breaux. It's understandably difficult for Dems to sell minority voters on the benefits of voting for our guy when his voting record is not all that different from that of the Republican.

Until the Republicans do something to totally differentiate themselves. In this case, the Repubs tried to do a "purge" of voter rolls that would have significantly reduced the number of black voters in the state. All of a sudden, black voters got interested in the two-white-boy race and turned out to elect Breaux.

The same tactic can be applied to races in states like Georgia--constantly remind minority voters that Democrats don't try to take away the right to vote.

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