| Today, Representative Richard Raymond fully enunciated what the debate over voter suppression is about. Rep. Raymond made it clear that his stand, along with other Democrats in the House, is about principal and a greater good.
Texas Democrats have stood up in fights like this before.
In 2003, Tom DeLay, Tom Craddick, Rick Perry, Karl Rove and others fought for mid-decade redistricting to redraw congressional districts.
Democrats stood opposed to this plan because it disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of voters.
Of course, the Republican Party either didn't care or didn't believe the argument.
Democrats had no choice. Nearly every Democrat joined together and broke quorum to head to Ardmore Oklahoma. Republicans called Democrats names. They said Democrats would pay for this in the election. They said voters wouldn't care and they said the plan was fair and legitimate.
Republican's eventually succeeded in getting their Republican maps. They disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of Texans. The Supreme Court ended up getting involved in this debate. Nearly 3 years later, the Supreme Court ruled the Republican drawn map was unconstitutional. In United States Supreme Court in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, the Supreme Court upheld a state could redistrict between censuses, but struck down Congressional District 23 as racial gerrymandering in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Democrats were proven right.
Not only did the court agree with the 52 Democrats who went to Oklahoma but Democrats have made substantial gains in the Texas House since protect your right to vote. Since 2004, Democrats have gone from less than 60 Democrats in the House to 74.
Of the 52 Democrats who went to Ardmore, only one appears to have lost a general election. That one was John P. Mabry, Jr. (Waco) who lost to Charles "Doc" Anderson in a heavily Republican district.
As one friend concisely stated, since 2004, only one non-freshman Democrat has lost in November. All in all, I'd say that's a record to be proud of.
I agree with them.
When Richard Raymond spoke passionately today about why he stands opposed to the Republican backed voter suppression legislation, he can stand knowing history is on his side. Richard Raymond and all of the Democrats working to protect your right to vote can know, Texans stand behind them in the only poll that matters. |
