Frank Rich has an article in New York Magazine in which he "explains" why Republicans are racist. I know that Rich made his mark as a theater critic, so he is used to judging fiction, but his column is ridiculous nevertheless.
How about this: Republicans are racists because the Supreme Court may strick down section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Got it? Somehow, the Supreme Court has become an arm of the Republican National Committee. I assume that Rich has heard of the Constitution and the procedures for nomination and approval of the justices of the Supreme Court. That means that the justices are not political party members.
Then there is this gem: Republicans are racist because they are enacting all sorts of voting restrictions across America "reminiscent of the Jim Crow South". Rich, of course, does not bother to mention any of these supposed voting restrictions; I guess that is asking too much. I also assume that Rich never actually learned about the Jim Crow South; maybe they focused on teaching him self-esteem in school rather than history. The only "voting restriction" that is making news, however, is the push in many states to require photo identification at the voting booth. That's right; according to Rich, showing one's driver's license at the polls is the same as poll taxes and rigged literacy tests that were used in the South 60 years ago. Well, as I have said here many times, Connecticut polling places require voters to show photo ID. That law was passed by our habitually Democrat legislature. Does that make Connecticut Democrats racist? I will let Rich decide that one. Oh, and if one of the minority voters wants to go to the Obama Justice Department to register a complaint against the "racist" voting restrictions, he or she will need to present a photo ID before being allowed to enter the Justice Department office. Does that make Obama or Eric Holder or all Democrats racists? Again, we can let Rich decide.
The point is that the Rich article is just plain dishonest.
How about this: Republicans are racists because the Supreme Court may strick down section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Got it? Somehow, the Supreme Court has become an arm of the Republican National Committee. I assume that Rich has heard of the Constitution and the procedures for nomination and approval of the justices of the Supreme Court. That means that the justices are not political party members.
Then there is this gem: Republicans are racist because they are enacting all sorts of voting restrictions across America "reminiscent of the Jim Crow South". Rich, of course, does not bother to mention any of these supposed voting restrictions; I guess that is asking too much. I also assume that Rich never actually learned about the Jim Crow South; maybe they focused on teaching him self-esteem in school rather than history. The only "voting restriction" that is making news, however, is the push in many states to require photo identification at the voting booth. That's right; according to Rich, showing one's driver's license at the polls is the same as poll taxes and rigged literacy tests that were used in the South 60 years ago. Well, as I have said here many times, Connecticut polling places require voters to show photo ID. That law was passed by our habitually Democrat legislature. Does that make Connecticut Democrats racist? I will let Rich decide that one. Oh, and if one of the minority voters wants to go to the Obama Justice Department to register a complaint against the "racist" voting restrictions, he or she will need to present a photo ID before being allowed to enter the Justice Department office. Does that make Obama or Eric Holder or all Democrats racists? Again, we can let Rich decide.
The point is that the Rich article is just plain dishonest.
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