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August 09, 2005BELTWAY BLOGROLL
BillBlast: Toward Stronger Voting Rights
The 1965 Voting Rights Act turned 40 over the weekend, and bloggers took note of the anniversary. Some called for improvements to the law, and others called for improvements to the hostile rhetoric of the people rallying around the statute.
In acknowledging the anniversary, Media That Matters said "it is crucial that we commemorate the importance of this historic legislation but also address the flaws and discrimination that still exists in the American voting system." The blog pointed readers to more information at AlterNet and civilrights.org.
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., also addressed the topic at ConyersBlog. And Ed Kilgore, a contributor at TPMCafe, examined the dynamics of the legislative debate. Reauthorizing the statute "may be the only opportunity we'll get until Democrats retake Congress or the White House to shine a large spotlight on the shameful lapses in our system of voter registration and elections," he concluded. "It's a big and open question that should be discussed before attention to the Voting Rights Act anniversary fades altogether."
Rather than focuing on the law itselft, bloggers on the right noted with disgust the anti-Bush rhetoric of some people who marched to commemorate the law's enactment.
Sher Zieve of Conservative Tymes said "the Democrat left used this opportunity to furiously bash Bush, Republicans, conservatives and anyone else [not] in lock-step with them," while GOP Bloggers dubbed the gathering "a good old-fashioned hatefest" that was rife with race-baiting." Michelle Malkin called it the "March of the Moonbats."
The Waterglass said the hostility toward Bush from black leaders explains why he doesn't bother speaking to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: "What's the point? Between the overused rhetoric of stolen elections and endless claims of racism, it would be like trying to talk to a wall."
The Voting Rights Act is up for renewal in 2007. If the rhetoric is that harsh now, imagine what it will be like in the run-up to the next presidential election.
Posted by | 04:20 PM
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