Republicans Seek Slow, Step-By-Step Return To Slavery

House delays renewal of Voting Rights Act

"House Republican leaders on Wednesday postponed a vote on renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act after GOP lawmakers complained..."

"We have time to address their concerns," Republican leaders said in a joint statement. "Therefore, the House Republican Leadership will offer members the time needed to evaluate the legislation."

Oh those Republicans. How they wish for the days of pre-civil rights. How they wish that all voters could be white, English-speaking, God-fearing conservatives. They're even willing to block renewal of a key civil-rights era act that helped millions of black voters vote for the first time, and continues to help them vote today.

These Republicans claim that provisions in the act that call for greater scrutiny of southern states are unfair. You know what else was unfair?

Slavery.

You know what else was unfair?

Denying black Americans the right to vote for nearly a hundred years after slavery, through Jim Crow laws, poll taxes and intimidation.

Now those things were unfair.

Nevermind that thousands of black voters were knocked off the rolls in Florida prior to the 2000 election. According to the Republican lawmakers against renewing this bill as is, that kind of stopping-blacks-from-voting stuff doesn't happen anymore in the south.

It's true. Instead, they're stopping Hispanics.

Lead crybaby, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., said:

"Its soooo unfaaaiiir WAHAAAH!! WAAAAH!!! Poor Southie Wouthie has to win permission from the Justice Department or a federal judge to change our voting rules. SO UNFAIR!!!!!!! WAAAH!!! WAAAAHHH!"

Of course, I'm paraphrasing.

So let me get this straight. War in Iraq? Congress gives it the rubber stamp. Enormous, bloated funding requests? Rubber stamp. Questionably legal wiretapping? Rubber stamp. A voting rights law that has gone uncontested for decades? Whoa, lets have a debate!!!

And Republicans wonder why Kanye West thinks George Bush doesn't care about black people?

Stop the delays, stop the proposed amendments, and renew the law that has been working perfectly well for the last 41 years. Then congress can get on to more important things. Like sponsoring another meaningless symbolic resolution stating Jessica Alba is hot AND the war in Iraq is a vital part of an ongoing war on terrorism. Can't vote against that, can you Democrats? Jessica Alba's hot, right? You Democrats aren't... gay... are you?? Oooh, score one for Rove!!