A despicable slander

Yesterday's New York Times carried an op-ed column by representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia. According to Lewis, the new voting laws put into effect in a number of states are nothing more than racism and attempts to prevent minority voting. This is just ridiculous.

Lewis' biggest complaint is with laws that require voter identification at the polls. Lewis says it is a Republican plot to thwart minority voters and a "poll tax by another name." Maybe Lewis should visit Connecticut. We have had voter ID requirements since 2004. No one can vote without presenting a valid photo ID. This requirement is usually met with a driver's license. And the law was passed by an overwhelmingly Democrat legislature. Was this a move of Jim Crow to the Nutmeg State? No, it was simply an attempt to reduce the possibility of vote fraud. Just like the measures in other states which are essentially the same.

Lewis also complains about reductions in the early voting period in some states. The country managed to survive for centuries with voting taking place on one day only. Early voting was adopted in the hope of increasing turnout, something that did not happen. Nevertheless, even with ten days instead of twenty of early voting, no one group is disadvantaged. If a voter cannot manage to get to vote during ten days, then there is just something wrong with that voter and another ten days of expense to run early voting will not make a difference. With governments squeezed on all sides due to the Obama recession, it is no surprise that the budgets for early voting are being cut. Lewis' complaint makes about as much sense as one from someone who goes to an all-you-can-eat buffet only to be told that the meal can only last seven hours rather than ten. If you cannot eat your fill in seven hours, well...too bad.

The sad thing about current political discourse is that too many Democrats cannot have a reasoned discussion about an issue without declaring the other side racist, homophobic, anti-woman, or some other smear. Sometimes a move to fight fraud is just a move to fight fraud. Lewis and his friends should learn that basic truth.