Tom Tancredo: "Obama won because we didn't have a literacy test"

[oreo]

Tea Party opening speaker suggests law that kept blacks be kept from voting be reinstated | Raw Story

The opening night speaker at the Tea Party convention suggested a return to a "literacy test" to protect America from presidents like Obama -- a segregation-era method employed by southern US states to keep blacks from voting.

In his speech Thursday to attendees, former Republican congressman Tom Tancredo invoked the loaded pre-civil rights era buzzword, saying that President Barack Obama was elected because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country."

Southern states used literacy tests as part of an effort to deny suffrage to African American voters prior to Johnson-era civil rights laws.

"Prior to passage of the federal Voting Rights Act in 1965, Southern (and some Western) states maintained elaborate voter registration procedures whose primary purpose was to deny the vote to those who were not white," a website for civil rights veterans explains. "In the South, this process was often called the 'literacy test.' In fact, it was much more than a simple test, it was an entire complex system devoted to denying African-Americans (and in some regions, Latinos) the right to vote."

"Because the Freedom Movement was running "Citizenship Schools" to help people learn how to fill out the forms and pass the test, Alabama changed the test 4 times in less than two years (1964-1965)," the site adds. "At the time of the Selma Voting Rights campaign there were actually 100 different tests in use across the state. In theory, each applicant was supposed to be given one at random from a big loose-leaf binder. In real life, some individual tests were easier than others and the registrar made sure that Black applicants got the hardest ones."

Tancredo called Obama a "committed socialist ideologue," and referred to him by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.

Why doesn't he just come out and say how he really feels.

I doubt that are too many Obama voters that could tell you who the Vice President is--much less the secretary of state--treasury secretary or the attorney general's name--

They voted for Obama--they don't care about the rest. And someone who cannot tell you who the Vice President of the United States is---is illiterate & probably should not be voting in this country.

 

[Barb]

These people still pay taxes and are affected by what the government does so why shouldn't they have a say in how it works?

They aren't paying taxes if they're illiterate and uneducated. They're likely living off of other peoples' labors. Personally, I think if you're receiving any free government hand outs, food stamps, section 8, Medicaid, you should be purged from the voting rolls until you start paying your own way and contribute to society.

You might want to do a quick study on demographics before you go there. The % of people who receive the in-kind payments you mention are more likely to vote republican than democrat, as the higher % of poor are in the south (a republican stronghold), and are white (more likely to vote republican especially in the south). Black people might experience poverty at a higher rate, but they are, in number, a lower % of the people who are poor and receiving the aid you see as a disqualifier.

 

[rightwinger]

Tea Party opening speaker suggests law that kept blacks be kept from voting be reinstated | Raw Story

The opening night speaker at the Tea Party convention suggested a return to a "literacy test" to protect America from presidents like Obama -- a segregation-era method employed by southern US states to keep blacks from voting.

In his speech Thursday to attendees, former Republican congressman Tom Tancredo invoked the loaded pre-civil rights era buzzword, saying that President Barack Obama was elected because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country."

Southern states used literacy tests as part of an effort to deny suffrage to African American voters prior to Johnson-era civil rights laws.

"Prior to passage of the federal Voting Rights Act in 1965, Southern (and some Western) states maintained elaborate voter registration procedures whose primary purpose was to deny the vote to those who were not white," a website for civil rights veterans explains. "In the South, this process was often called the 'literacy test.' In fact, it was much more than a simple test, it was an entire complex system devoted to denying African-Americans (and in some regions, Latinos) the right to vote."

"Because the Freedom Movement was running "Citizenship Schools" to help people learn how to fill out the forms and pass the test, Alabama changed the test 4 times in less than two years (1964-1965)," the site adds. "At the time of the Selma Voting Rights campaign there were actually 100 different tests in use across the state. In theory, each applicant was supposed to be given one at random from a big loose-leaf binder. In real life, some individual tests were easier than others and the registrar made sure that Black applicants got the hardest ones."

Tancredo called Obama a "committed socialist ideologue," and referred to him by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.

Why doesn't he just come out and say how he really feels.

I doubt that are too many Obama voters that could tell you who the Vice President is--much less the secretary of state--treasury secretary or the attorney general's name--

They voted for Obama--they don't care about the rest. And someone who cannot tell you who the Vice President of the United States is---is illiterate & probably should not be voting in this country.

Typical right wing nonsense

Probably the same percentage who believe Iraq was involved in 9-11 or that Obama was born in Kenya

 

[Si modo]

It just cracks me up (in an ironic manner) how racist libs are.

My interpretation of those words are that idiots voted for Obama. Libs' interpretation is that non-whites are illiterate.

Amazing.

 

[oreo]

Tea Party opening speaker suggests law that kept blacks be kept from voting be reinstated | Raw Story

The opening night speaker at the Tea Party convention suggested a return to a "literacy test" to protect America from presidents like Obama -- a segregation-era method employed by southern US states to keep blacks from voting.

In his speech Thursday to attendees, former Republican congressman Tom Tancredo invoked the loaded pre-civil rights era buzzword, saying that President Barack Obama was elected because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country."

Southern states used literacy tests as part of an effort to deny suffrage to African American voters prior to Johnson-era civil rights laws.

"Prior to passage of the federal Voting Rights Act in 1965, Southern (and some Western) states maintained elaborate voter registration procedures whose primary purpose was to deny the vote to those who were not white," a website for civil rights veterans explains. "In the South, this process was often called the 'literacy test.' In fact, it was much more than a simple test, it was an entire complex system devoted to denying African-Americans (and in some regions, Latinos) the right to vote."

"Because the Freedom Movement was running "Citizenship Schools" to help people learn how to fill out the forms and pass the test, Alabama changed the test 4 times in less than two years (1964-1965)," the site adds. "At the time of the Selma Voting Rights campaign there were actually 100 different tests in use across the state. In theory, each applicant was supposed to be given one at random from a big loose-leaf binder. In real life, some individual tests were easier than others and the registrar made sure that Black applicants got the hardest ones."

Tancredo called Obama a "committed socialist ideologue," and referred to him by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.

Why doesn't he just come out and say how he really feels.

He stated "civics literacy test." With no civics being taught in school anymore--it's really no wonder that Obama was elected. Most who voted for this empty suit have absolutely no understanding how our economy works--they don't know how the great depression began & what the consequences were, etc. etc. They do not understand the difference between capitalism & socialism--or our republic & communism--

So they bought into this.

 

[oreo]

It just cracks me up (in an ironic manner) how racist libs are.

My interpretation of those words are that idiots voted for Obama. Libs' interpretation is that non-whites are illiterate.

Amazing.

And I think you just hit that one on the nail---

Liberals on this board immediately ASSUMED that his remarks were aimed at the black population in this country--when we all know that it was the white population that put Barack Obama in the oval office.

 

[Si modo]

It just cracks me up (in an ironic manner) how racist libs are.

My interpretation of those words are that idiots voted for Obama. Libs' interpretation is that non-whites are illiterate.

Amazing.

And I think you just hit that one on the nail---

Liberals on this board immediately ASSUMED that his remarks were aimed at the black population in this country--when we all know that it was the white population that put Barack Obama in the oval office.

This seems to be a no-reality zone, though. So just cut that out already.

 

[beowolfe]

It just cracks me up (in an ironic manner) how racist libs are.

My interpretation of those words are that idiots voted for Obama. Libs' interpretation is that non-whites are illiterate.

Amazing.

And I think you just hit that one on the nail---

Liberals on this board immediately ASSUMED that his remarks were aimed at the black population in this country--when we all know that it was the white population that put Barack Obama in the oval office.

Idiots???? It's you guys supporting someone who didn't know there were two koreas. And you want to call liberals idiots??? ROFLMAO!!!

 

[beowolfe]

BTW, only idiots would think Tancredo's comment had no relation to the US' history.

 

[Zona]

It just cracks me up (in an ironic manner) how racist libs are.

My interpretation of those words are that idiots voted for Obama. Libs' interpretation is that non-whites are illiterate.

Amazing.

And I think you just hit that one on the nail---

Liberals on this board immediately ASSUMED that his remarks were aimed at the black population in this country--when we all know that it was the white population that put Barack Obama in the oval office.

Idiots???? It's you guys supporting someone who didn't know there were two koreas. And you want to call liberals idiots??? ROFLMAO!!!

Not too many black people thought there were WMD's or thought Sadaam had anything to do with 9/11.

 

[Si modo]

And I think you just hit that one on the nail---

Liberals on this board immediately ASSUMED that his remarks were aimed at the black population in this country--when we all know that it was the white population that put Barack Obama in the oval office.

Idiots???? It's you guys supporting someone who didn't know there were two koreas. And you want to call liberals idiots??? ROFLMAO!!!

Not too many black people thought there were WMD's or thought Sadaam had anything to do with 9/11.

There WERE WMDs. And, the only ones who said Saddam had anything to do with 9/11 were those in your camp.

 

[JScott]

You really think most republicans of any race know that much about government?

It's been proven with simple tests that Republicans know more about how the government works than Democrats. I don't care what party you belong to, I don't care if you are an independent, if you don't pay attention then please do not vote, it's the uneducated vote that is killing this country. Politicians of all parties rely on the " stupid vote" to get elected.

They they rely on you to remain stupid and keep re-electing them.

Prove this little fact of yours.

 

[FA_Q2]

A civics test would hurt both sides almost equally as both sides have ignorant voters. I would love to see a simple civics test that covered the basics of government before people could vote and would prefer that checking the box was replaced by writing in the candidate that you want to vote in. Heck, the last one would confound 90% of the voters as most just check the name next to their party and would not stop anyone from actually voting. Spelling would be an issue though. I can imagine the confusion when I go to the box and put McObama Any civics test would have to stop with the facts though, nothing that could be opinioned. Questions like how long terms are and what the 3 branches of government are. Each branches responsibilities and the like as well. I am consistently amazed at the number of people that cannot name the branches of government.

Maybe the current system in better though because I will be president in 10 years. Just you wait and see. When I legally change my name to ‘None Of The Above’ I will win the election by a landslide and no one will ever see it coming

 

[B L Zeebub]

This proposed test, do you use a similar test to join the Army, to fight and die defending the freedom and liberty of your great country and defend the stupid bastards who come up with these crass idears?

 

[Si modo]

This proposed test, do you use a similar test to join the Army, to fight and die defending the freedom and liberty of your great country and defend the stupid bastards who come up with these crass idears?

It's part of the naturalization test.

And civics USED to be required for any student's promotion into high school. That was until the libs completed their stranglehold on education so that they can dumb down America. They understand all too well the term 'useful idiots'.

Now, I don't support any requirement for being able to vote other than one being a citizen of the USA, but I certainly can understand Tancredo's and anyone's frustration with the ignorance of so many Americans of how they are actually governed.

 

[edthecynic]

Of course Obama won because the Voters were stupid.
That is why the Democratic party will never allow any test for stupidity to make one ineligible for voting. It would cost them too dearly.

Well, apparently YOU are a member of the Democratic Party!

September 13, 2007
RUSH: I want to pause here for a second. I want to talk to you a little bit about human nature. I want to talk to you about arrogance and cockiness, the feeling of superiority, feeling of being the smartest guy, smartest person in the room. Those are characteristics that apply like glue to today's Democrat Party

 

[edthecynic]

Of course Tom Tancredo is absolutely right, Obama did get elected because of the ignorant.

Dems in general couldn't win elections without the votes of the uneducated, thats all he is saying. Of course, libs see everything in racial terms so they have to spin it into yet another charge of 'racism'.

Another Democrat.

September 13, 2007
RUSH: I want to pause here for a second. I want to talk to you a little bit about human nature. I want to talk to you about arrogance and cockiness, the feeling of superiority, feeling of being the smartest guy, smartest person in the room. Those are characteristics that apply like glue to today's Democrat Party

 

[edthecynic]

Obama couldn't win if not for the uneducated vote. That is true.

What is your point?

Yet another Democrat.

September 13, 2007
RUSH: I want to pause here for a second. I want to talk to you a little bit about human nature. I want to talk to you about arrogance and cockiness, the feeling of superiority, feeling of being the smartest guy, smartest person in the room. Those are characteristics that apply like glue to today's Democrat Party

 

[edthecynic]

Just because he isn't directly racist, doesn't mean he can't be indirectly racist.

I read the article, he says Obama won due to no literacy test. Did you read it?

I think his meaning is fairly clear. An influx of uneducated and stupid people going to the voting booth to vote themselves other peoples' money is what got Obama elected.

Wow, Democrats galore.

September 13, 2007
RUSH: I want to pause here for a second. I want to talk to you a little bit about human nature. I want to talk to you about arrogance and cockiness, the feeling of superiority, feeling of being the smartest guy, smartest person in the room. Those are characteristics that apply like glue to today's Democrat Party

 

[edthecynic]

Well lets face it.........anybody knows that the Dums thrive on ignorance of the electorate. Sheeeet..........

Democrats are just coming out of the woodwork.

September 13, 2007
RUSH: I want to pause here for a second. I want to talk to you a little bit about human nature. I want to talk to you about arrogance and cockiness, the feeling of superiority, feeling of being the smartest guy, smartest person in the room. Those are characteristics that apply like glue to today's Democrat Party