As the primaries wound down in Wisconsin, House Representative Glenn Grothman took the opportunity to plant his foot firmly in his mouth. The member of congress let out a little detail in his remarks about who he believes will win the November presidential race in his home state:
“I think Hillary Clinton is about the weakest candidate the Democrats have ever put up. And now we have photo ID, and I think photo ID is going to make a little bit of a difference as well.”
A republican official specifically indicating that the implementation of voter ID laws helps their candidates. How wonderfully candid! It has been an open and obvious secret what these laws have always meant, but it’s still refreshing to hear someone just come out and claim their party’s ridiculous policies.
These comments were not ignored by twitter, nor were they by Martha Laning, who is the chair of Wisconsin’s democratic party:
“Well there it is – If you can’t win Wisconsinite’s votes the fair and square way, you impose voter id to gain an advantage so you win,” she stated on Facebook.
Voter ID laws have been a controversial topic across the country. We have seen the GOP attempt to pass these policies in the name of stopping voter fraud. The reality is voter fraud is almost nonexistent and ID laws do nothing but help republican parties as they further disenfranchise lower class voters.
One of the most controversial and blatant forms of voter oppression took place in Alabama late last year. After they had implemented the requirement of an ID to vote, a widespread closing of DMVs in primarily African-American counties took place soon thereafter. Although the order to close these buildings was eventually overturned, it’s another stain on the government of Alabama who has a long history of tinkering with the state’s vote.
Here are some of the reactions of those who witnessed the comments on twitter:
@igorvolsky @thinkprogress Wisconsin GOTP has become so entitled & shameless Grothman thinks voter suppression is a perfectly valid thing?
— ?A Personal Opinion? (@SableViews) April 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/justin_kanew/status/717825591169261569
Actions like these reek of desperation and make a party look weak and dishonest. It is our right as Americans to vote and that should not be withheld by the creation of a straw-man in voter fraud. It’s no wonder people become jaded with the political process when the officials preaching liberty are the ones who suppress it the most.
Featured image by Darren Hauck/Getty Images
