Press Cracks Up When Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) Claims ‘We’d Never, Ever Engage in Voter Suppression’

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After being asked a question about keeping Obama supporters from also voting for Democrats down the ticket at a press conference in D.C., Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), a former chair of the National Republican Congressional Commitee (NRCC) said: “Well you’re talking about voter suppression and we would never, ever do anything along that line, for the record.”

The room broke into laughter during his comment! (video 1:14 mins)…

Ari at the Oxdown Gazette covered it also and notes that nearly one-quarter of John McCain’s laughably and insultingly named “Honest and Open Election Committee,” “chaired by Warren Rudman and John Danforth, has been involved in GOP voter suppression efforts or unfounded partisan claims of voter fraud. Of the 21 members of the committee, five have been engaging in these shady efforts.”

See his report for the details on those liars, hooligans, and anti-democracy champions. Transcript of the above video follows below…

MS. SMITH: In districts like the one I cover, which is held by a Republican, I would think that a strategy of the NRCC would be to try to keep those new voters who might be voting for Obama from in fact continuing on down the ballot. Does the NRCC or the Republican Party have any strategy for trying to ensure that that happens?

REP. DAVIS: Well you’re talking about voter suppression and we would never, ever — (laughter) — do anything along that line for the record. I think it’s fair to say, yeah, I think it’s fair to say we’re not going to spend any money educating them on what they need to do but that’s what you do in these kind of elections. By the way, you’ll also see in some of these areas, particularly in some of the rural areas, you’re going to see a huge vote come out in presidential years in North Carolina and states like that, this is tradition that would be voting Republican across the board. I’m just saying in terms of vulnerability of our congressional candidates, you’ve got to look at these high African American voter urban style districts and recognize that it’s not business as usual as a candidate, that you’re going to deal with an electorate that is significantly different from what you see in off years. And I just think that’s the fact.

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Press Cracks Up When Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) Claims ‘We’d Never, Ever Engage in Voter Suppression’

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  1. 1)
    Phil said on 10/16/2008 @ 3:49pm PT: [Permalink]

    (Ahem.. )

    DB08:093

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Folmar
    September 30, 2008 (916) 653-6575

    Secretary of State Debra Bowen Welcomes
    Creation of Online Voter Registration System
    SACRAMENTO ““ Soon registering to vote will be as easy as a few keystrokes, thanks to Senate Bill 381 (Calderon), which the Governor signed today. The measure will usher in the era of online voter registration in California.

    “Californians can pay bills and file their taxes online. Being able to register to vote online is the next logical step in making it easier for Californians to participate fully in their democracy,” said Secretary of State Debra Bowen, California’s chief elections officer. “This measure prevents fraud by limiting online voter registration to people who confirm their identity in a secure manner.”

    The online registration system will require registrants to provide their birth dates, the last four digits of their Social Security numbers, and the numbers from either a valid California driver’s license or identification card. The Secretary of State may require additional information if it’s necessary to establish a registrant’s identity.

    Registrants will be able to complete voter registration online using their digitized signatures that are already on file with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

    Currently in California, all voter registrations use paper affidavits. It is now possible for voters to complete federal voter registration cards online, but they must still be printed and signed before being mailed to elections officials. Elections officials need to have copies of voters’ signatures in order to verify vote-by-mail ballots and petitions for initiatives, recalls, and referenda.

    SB 381 will take effect once the state’s new voter registration database, VoteCal, is up and running, likely in 2010. Since 2002, the state of Arizona has allowed most eligible residents to register to vote online. Washington state began offering online voter registration in January.

    The last day for eligible Californians to register to vote in the November 4, 2008, General
    Election is October 20. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is October 28.

    “Yesterday California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 381, authored by State Senator Ron Calderon (D-Los Angeles), which will allow the Secretary of State to implement an online voter registration system.”

  2. 3)
    Adam Fulford said on 10/17/2008 @ 1:53am PT: [Permalink]

    This shows that the media knows full well about the Republican voter suppression efforts. They laugh into their sleeves as they give coverage to the anti-ACORN propaganda effort of democracy-hating RNC fascists, then jokingly banter back and forth over coffee about voting machines invisibly changing vote results.

  3. 4)
    epppie said on 10/17/2008 @ 5:59am PT: [Permalink]

    That’s my reaction too. It’s nauseating to think that the media are so hip to the fact that voter suppression is a reality, yet they refuse to cover it, while giving massive coverage to the bogus ACORN flap.
    But even Dems have been known to use stolen election issues as a laugh line.

    Everyone in the political/media establishment seems to know it’s happening, and everyone seems content to ignore it.

  4. 6)
    molly said on 10/17/2008 @ 5:07pm PT: [Permalink]

    One of the most disgusting videos I have ever seen. Makes me ashamed of my white brothers and sisters./*

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