They’ve targeted Blacks, Latinos and college students. Now Texas has come up with a Voter ID law that will disproportionately affect women – the constituency they most fear will support Wendy Davis.
Women are Wendy Davis’ natural base. Her eleven-hour filibuster of an abortion bill that closed family planning clinics in Texas is the reason she has the name recognition and the political capital to make a run for governor. Anti-choice groups who have never before had to spend money opposing a pro-choice candidate are scrambling to form political action groups to run ads against her. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the man who is most likely to be her opponent, has been touting himself as the real pro-woman candidate for his success at collecting back child support from deadbeat dads. Now, Republicans have found what they hope will be a more reliable plan than trying to persuade women that Republicans have their best interest at heart:
Don’t let women vote.
Think Progress reports that as of November 5, Texans must show a photo ID with their up-to-date legal name. It sounds like such a small thing, but according to the Brennan Center for Justice, only 66% of voting age women have ready access to a photo document that will attest to proof of citizenship. This is largely because young women have not updated their documents with their married names, a circumstance that doesn’t affect male voters in any significant way. Suddenly 34% of women voters are scrambling for an acceptable ID, while 99% of men are home free.
So much for all of that macho talk, huh Texas?
So afraid of one little ole girl politician that they are willing to disenfranchise thousands of female voters. Pathetic!
You know somehow I don't think the women of Texas will take that lying down.
The suppression would be more of a problem if 100% of voters actually voted. The ones who might be impacted by the GOP antics are less likely to vote anyway. The war on women continues and, as most husbands know, women Never forget anything that someone tries to do to hurt them.
ReplyDeleteJust today, "Juanita Jean" addresses this very issue at http://www.juanitajean.com/2013/10/21/whats-in-a-name/
ReplyDeleteCome to find out, things really aren't quite as bleak for Texas women as "The New Civil Rights Movement" article would have us believe.
To quote from Juanita Jean:
"...when the Secretary of State conducted training for election judges in Austin, Texas, it was made very clear that if a woman’s driver’s license and her voter registration has the same first name, address, and DOB, she can sign an affidavit attesting that she is the same person and then she can vote a regular ballot. I know that’s a hassle that women shouldn’t have to do and we should fight it...
"Ask women to re-register to vote in the same name that’s on her driver’s license or give her the information she needs to vote a regular ballot. But, please, pretty please, don’t tell her she can’t vote. Unless she’s wearing a “Ted Cruz for God, Junior” button and then softly inform her that she’s going to hell.
"Thanks for your cooperation."
Elsie
Thanks for posting this.
DeleteI know a lady who moved to TX a few years ago. Long ago divorced in MI, lived in NC for many years before moving to TX. Somehow in the last 20+ yrs this lady has gone to the Dark Side (much to my dismay).
Due to disability she lives in subsidized housing, faithfully listens to all the RWNJs on radio and Faux Noise ... and sees no discrepancies in her lifestyle and her politics.
So I'd wondered how she might be able to vote for her TPers. But if this is HER way to be able to vote -- surely there are other sane women in TX who'll also be able to cast their ballots!
Women this shows, never change your name at the time of marriage and you will never have this problem. You don't have to change your last name.
ReplyDelete"The ones who might be impacted by the GOP antics are less likely to vote anyway."
ReplyDeleteHUh? So any woman who has ever been married and gone by a different name is less likely to vote than a single woman?
Anything to win. Down right pathetic!!! Well, they just created a monster and they will pay heavily for this nonsense.
ReplyDeletePrimogen1
I'm sure there's some decent non-woman threatened Texas men out there - but I have yet to me a single one.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, there are plenty of men in Texas who aren't threatened by women, that treat women as equals and respect them. Strong women in Texas have strong Texas men standing next to them.
Deletehedgewytch7:27 AM
DeleteI'm a Texas woman. I don't have a clue where you've looked for non-woman-threatened Texas men, but we have them in Texas. Try activities related to Democratic and pro-choice events. Avoid evangelical churches and GOP events of any sort, for sure. In fact, get involved in Wendy Davis volunteer work to help get her elected governor; that will most definitely take you into a better class of people, including menfolk who are quite secure in their manhood and who appreciate progressive women, as well.
Best of luck to you in finding some good men in Texas; we "rilly" do have them here.
Elsie
Well now we know why men in Texas want to take their guns everywhere with them -- they're a'scairt of the wimmin.
ReplyDeleteI think there are gonna be a lot of Texas men suffering from that rare Hawaiian disease....Lackanookie! At least until they remember that if Mama ain't happy, NOBODY'S Happy!
ReplyDeleteYup. GOP politics. If you can't win fair and square, cheat. This should work out well for the GOP...cough, cough. Keep it up, boys!
ReplyDeleteChanging your name is easy and they should do it anyway.
ReplyDeleteMy voter registration and driver's license are the same. Try and stop me from voting for Wendy! C'mon ladies, get your shit together and help us make Texas blue again.
ReplyDeleteThe GOP in general is so screwed. If they thought things through, the money they're wasting to stop women from voting could go toward fixing their tarnished image not only with women, but minorities, lgbt folks, etc. They're not going to make it just supporting old white men. It worked so well in the last two elections!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very dangerous strategy for women voters.
ReplyDelete