Voter ID Will Put RWDs In Tricky Position
Of the three ballot initiatives that voters will decide upon this fall, the generally thinking is that they favor Republicans and will drive up conservative turnout- and I think it’s fair to say they will all pass. These would be the first ballot initiatives to get the okay from voters, should they get majority support.
One of the initiatives voters will decide upon is a law to require voter identification at the polls. Throughout the country, voter ID is generally popular and there is no reason to believe it is any different in Mississippi. As it was the Mississippi Republican Party that spearheaded the signature drive, we know where the GOP stands and this is certainly a good issue for them.
But with the Democratic Party, we will likely see far less unity. The Black Caucus members have been, and will be, opposed the initiative and certainly won’t lose anything with their constituents because of that position. The questions lie with the group known as rural, white Democrats. Certainly, many RWDs represent safe districts, but many also make up what will be the 2011 legislative battlegrounds this fall. They will likely have no choice but to support the initiative. I suspect many will try their best to remain silent.
The Mississippi Democratic Party has no official position on the issue on their party website, but Obama for America Mississippi- the DNC campaign arm who is working very closely with the Mississippi Democratic Party this year- took the time to compose six tweets on Tuesday (in case you missed the first five) against voter ID.
They generally looked something like this: “Unnecessary, expensive and intrusive voter restriction in a time of fiscal crisis—read about the cost of photo ID laws. http://OFA.BO/UQsv2g.”
Two questions remain: Will the party officially take a position on the issue? Will Democrats in competitive districts buck their party?
Guess “Honesty is the Best Policy” is not part of the demo mantra. “Vote Early – Vote Often” is.
What’s a RWD?
Rural, white Democrats
It is a simple item. If you are conservative you vote for Voter ID, if you are Liberal you will vote against it. Love to See how the Bobby Moaks and Cecil Browns of the world feel
on this issue, I think we all know since they are both ‘born again’ liberals they dare not support it for fear of alienating the Black Caucus.
There have been many votes on Voter ID, I wish the people of this state would check the
“roll call” on the issue and how Legislators have voted in the past.