Republicans Fail History - Again

Example 4,897,332 that Republicans have no clue what the Constitution says, or what the founders of our country thought.

TPM brings us the story of Minnesota's State House Speaker, Kurt Zellers (R), who wants to pass a voter ID law in his state. This week he actually said, "I think it's a privilege, it's not a right."

"When you go to even a Burger King or a McDonald's and use your debit card, they'll ask you to see your ID," Zellers said during a late-night interview, the Star Tribune reports. "Should we have to do that when we vote, something that is one of the most sacred -- I think it's a privilege, it's not a right. Everybody doesn't get it, because if you go to jail or if you commit some heinous crime your rights are taken away. This is a privilege."

Zellers doesn't seem to understand what a right is - or what he's saying - since he says in the middle of his statement that voting is a right that gets taken away when you "commit some heinous crime." If only Zellers had ever read the Constitution! Then he might actually understand what he's talking about. There are some really helpful government websites that can help teach Zellers what he doesn't know - like this one.

AMENDMENT XV

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

Oh look, here's another one!

AMENDMENT XIX

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Did you think we were done? Not yet!

AMENDMENT XXIV

Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.

And another...

AMENDMENT XXVI

Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.

Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Republicans claim to love the Constitution - when they're not trying to completely change it, repeal a dozen amendments in it, or ignore it. I'm sure Zellers isn't the only Republican who would prefer to rewind the clock back to 1869 - a time when only white men had the right to vote. In fact, the President of the Tea Party Nation thinks we should restrict voting to property owners.

It's not shocking to me that Republicans don't know our history, don't know the Constitution, and don't understand what the founders envisioned. What is shocking to me is that people actually elect these ignorant clowns to represent them.