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Subscribe to RSSFrom a continuing series of articles, Who Can Vote?, a News21 investigation of voting rights in America. Read the full series. Yesterday's article dealt with varying state laws on restoring voting rights for felons (Should felons vote? In some states, it's easy. In others, impossible.), and today's article goes into the Florida situation in more depth.
By Andrea Rumbaugh
News21
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Discuss this series of stories on the Facebook page for Open Channel, the NBC News investigative blog. |
Vikki Hankins is one of about 1.5 million Floridians fighting for the vote — a right more difficult to regain under Republican Gov. Rick Scott than his GOP predecessor.
Hankins, 43, served 18 years in federal prison for selling crack cocaine. Since her release in 2008, she has completed an associate’s degree, started a publishing company and run an advocacy group for criminal justice.
Although Hankins has never voted, she said she’s earned that right. But she is frustrated and worried that regaining her rights — to vote, serve on a jury and hold public office — might not happen until she’s “50, 60 years old,” Hankins said.
Florida leads the nation in disenfranchising felons, especially African Americans. In 2010, about 520,500 African Americans — 23 percent of the state’s black voting age population — could not vote because of a felony conviction, according to The Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C., criminal justice reform group.
An estimated 5.85 million felons across the country could not vote in 2010, the last year for which The Sentencing Project has data.
Florida’s process for restoring a felon’s civil rights grew stricter last year when Scott and his Cabinet — Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam — established a five- or seven-year wait, depending on the offense, before felons could apply to have their rights restored.
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Who can vote? A national News21 investigation of voting rights in America. |
In 2007, former Gov. Charlie Crist’s first year in office, 38,971 felons regained their civil rights. Last year, Scott and his Cabinet, acting as the Board of Executive Clemency, restored civil rights to 78 people.
As of July 1, a backlog of 21,197 applicants awaited their civil rights, according to the Florida Parole Commission.
The 78 felons who regained their rights last year is “not only low — it’s shockingly low,” said Mark Schlakman, senior program director for the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University. Schlakman is running as a Democrat in the Aug. 14 primary for the 2nd Congressional District, which includes the eastern panhandle and Tallahassee area.
Scott, in a press release last year, said his policy is “intended to emphasize public safety and ensure that all applicants desire clemency, deserve clemency, and demonstrate they are unlikely to reoffend.” He denied multiple News21 requests for an interview.
While felons could have applied to restore their civil rights under Crist, who served until 2011, a backlog that began accumulating in 2001 meant many cases were not reviewed while he was in office.
In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida found through a public records request that 17,604 restoration of civil rights certificates have been returned to the Florida Parole Commission as “undeliverable.” Of these, 13,517 people have not registered to vote.
Jane Tillman, communications director for the commission, said the undeliverable certificates are mainly for felons who did not request to have their civil rights restored, but qualified under clemency rules in effect under Crist. Tillman said there might have been around 30,000 undeliverable certificates, but the commission has worked to decrease that number. Within the last three months, all 17,604 cases were put into the online database available for felons to search, she said.
Tillman said applications now are processed only if they meet Scott’s new criteria, including the waiting period.
Otherwise, the applicant is contacted and told when and how to reapply. As of July 1, there were 1,056 applicants deemed ineligible.
In 2001, the Florida Department of Corrections was sued for its “failure to assist inmates with the RCR (Restoration of Civil Rights) application process as required by law,” according to a report by the Florida Parole Commission. As a result of that suit, a state judge ordered the state to review the rights restoration of 150,000 felons. Tillman said this took about two years to process, during which time another backlog developed.
For the first time since 2003, the Florida Legislature this year gave the Parole Commission money — $350,000 annually for three years — to process applications that do not require a clemency hearing.
State Rep. Darryl Rouson helped secure that money. The St. Petersburg Democrat said he is passionate about restoring civil rights because he once battled drug addiction. His actions could have resulted in a felony conviction, but he got a second chance, Rouson said.
“I’m now 14 years, four months clean with total integrity,” Rouson said. “And, during this period of time, I’ve had to work hard to rebuild my life. And there were those people along the way who saw rehabilitation and reached back and gave me a chance.”
Jessica Chiappone is also seeking that chance. She is vice president of the Miami-based Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, an advocate for education about and restoration of civil rights to felons.
Chiappone, who applied to have her civil rights restored in 2008, graduated from Nova Southeastern University law school last year but cannot apply to the Florida bar until her rights have been restored.
“It shouldn’t be this hard to become a productive member of society,” said Chiappone. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, she was convicted in 1999 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
She calls once or twice a year to check on her application. This year, she was told her case was closed because the Parole Commission couldn’t contact her. She requested it be reopened but has not heard anything.
Florida is one of three states — along with Kentucky and Virginia — where about 20 percent of African Americans could not vote in 2010 because of felony convictions, the Sentencing Project reported.
“It certainly has a racially disproportionate impact, just as the criminal justice system has a racially disproportionate impact,” said attorney Dante Trevisani, a fellow at the Florida Justice Institute, a nonprofit civil rights law firm in Miami.
But Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, conservative public policy research institute, said felon disenfranchisement is not racially motivated.
“Opponents of taking away the right of felons to vote have long said that this is racially intended and has been for a long time,” he said. “We know that’s not true because, in fact, felon disenfranchisement has been going on for centuries. It was the policy of a majority of the states even before the Civil War when African Americans couldn’t vote.”
Vikki Hankins, who is black, disagrees. While she wants to give Scott the benefit of the doubt, Hankins says she feels the changes that have so far kept her from voting may be racially or politically motivated. She says she feels she shouldn’t have to keep proving herself.
“Is this some type of ploy?” she said. “You’re using people’s situations, such as mine, to ensure that a certain amount of votes do not take place … in 2012.”
But Hankins said she is determined to make it — to vote, continue her education and have a voice that is taken seriously by her legislators.
“When I’m able to vote, I (will) feel like I am a part of my community,” she said. “It’s just that simple.”
Discuss this series of stories on the Facebook page for Open Channel, the NBC News investigative blog.
News21 is a program of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation that is helping to change the way journalism is taught in the U.S. and train a new generation of journalists capable of reshaping the news industry. It is headquartered at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Since 2006, nearly 500 top journalism students in the U.S. have participated in the landmark national initiative.
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1in4? with a felony? dam.might be more if they started snitchin.
As a native Floridian and a registered voter, why would it disturb me for a convicted felon to vote? Because they are convicted felons and because of the conviction(s) in a court of law for crimes, they should not be allowed to vote. It doesn't if mean they are black, white, yellow or sissy colored...they don't vote. End of argument.
Folks there is a saying that many of you would care to think about,"You can't take chicken manure and make chicken salad from it, no matter how much mayonnaise you mix with it". A criminal lost virtually all rights upon being convicted of a crime. Taxpayers paid for their incarceration. For you liberal bleeding hearts, deranged Democraps and others carrying this flag...go peddle your crap where someone cares what you think.
And blacks wonder why they are not trusted. There is a good likely hood (25%) of them will commit a felony act.
I'd say ALL Politicians are not to be trusted. The most ignorant condition humans have is racism. When are you folks going to get it already that we are ALL part of the human race. Skin color is irrelevant!
go pedal YOUR crime and punishment nonsense where somebody cares!
the ENTIRE POINT of jail is to separate dangerous people from society, AND to rehabilitate those who will or can!
toehrwise we may as well just murder every single one of them! (which im sure for some of you republican baby eaters would be just fine!)
IF they did their time and have proven themselves willing and able to be a contributing member of society again then they SHOULD be able to vote once again!
but thanks for using yet ANOTHER story as a chance to voice your VILE opinion about other americans!
funny too, how many of our WHITE CONGRESS PEOPLE cannot vote in any election too because of felony charges!
In the story the woman was convicted & served 18 yrs for trafficking in crack cocaine. I just googled the civil rights restoration laws of Florida. She can not be restored because she was convicted for drug trafficking. It's the same here in GA.
The way I see it, if you paid your debt to society, you paid it and you should have your rights fully restored. Why does it disturb you if a convicted felon votes? Hell, they can only vote for whoever is running for office and most of them might even vote Republican. Just think of the possibilities!
A racially disproportionate impact ? YOU DO THE CRIME , YOU DO THE TIME . Don't you just love how the Blacks are always grumbling about their big numbers in jail !!!!!
Geee, I'm pretty certain you can't legally own a firearm (for life) if you are a convicted felon, we should change this too , let the Brothas have guns too !!!
You can get your gun rights restored after some crimes. If you serve all your sentence & wait 8 yrs in FL, 5 yrs in GA. You have to do an in person interview with the clemency board. Any domestic violence, drug trafficking or violent crime you can forget it.
Sounds about right!!! I guess someone will claim "racism" because so many Blacks are Murders, Petty Criminals and/or Drug Dealers. You do the Crime you do the time. Blacks do a majority of the most violent crimes in the U.S. so yes they are the largest prison population. Bring back "Capital Punishment" in all States and that percentage will dramatically be reduced. I guess O'Bama will want this changed so more illegal voters can try and vote him back for another disastrous 4 years. If that happens, I'll be looking for another holiday.
When 1 in 4 Black Americans, of voting age, have a felony conviction I would say race plays a big part in the conversation.
It is just not the conversation you want to have because facts are facts and man they are NOT pretty in this instance.
Felons should not vote no matter what color they are and that my friend is the law.
When you are convicted of a felony, of any kind, in a court of law in any state in America you loose the right to three things.....
One in four BLACKS cannot vote because they are CONVICTED felons. Remove the word black and they still cannot vote. Then it would be a mute point huh?
Loosing your right to vote because you are a convicted felon is the point of the article and race is the motivator and catalyst.... so race and racism is important..... unless your sticking up for felons here?
So the headline shows us what, exactly? That a "news" organization can help drive the wedge of racial discord of the people, by changing the story that ALL felons in Florida cannot vote, to just pertaining to blacks.
Enough already. We're f-upped enough without the extra "help".
Big whoop
...apart from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and all of their loyal followers - who cares, really?
Thank you, MSNBC, for yet another pointless news article about race; er, black people and how everyone else is supposed to feel sorry for them
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
This news is definitely going to hurt the Dumocrats....one of their biggest voter bloc - criminals and prisoners and families thereof. Vote Dumocrat, you just might get an unearned freebie from them. The Repubs will actually hold you accountable and you dont like that at all. Just speaking facts.
All-That-Is
"I'd say ALL Politicians are not to be trusted. The most ignorant condition humans have is racism. When are you folks going to get it already that we are ALL part of the human race. Skin color is irrelevant!"
This has nothing to do with race, it's criminals who can't vote. Just maybe we wouldn't have half the race issues in this country if the media didn't try to make everything into a race issue.
...funny...I just read an article recently about a member of the NAACP being convicted of the felony (10 count indictment - found guilty) of voter fraud.
...ya just can't make this stuff up...
Did you know under Virginia law that stealing $200+ from a business is considered Grand Larceny and would nab you a felony? Stealing a dog is also considered a felony (not a cat though...weird, huh?).
Do you really think someone should lose the ability to vote for the rest of their lives because they stupidly took $200 from a store when they were 18? Sure they should be punished, but forever?
However, THIS is what happens if yo are a FWW (felon while white). From the Los Angeles Times and numerous other sources:
Convicted felon gets $104-million whistle-blower reward
Voting again probably never enters into his thought processes.
Sandie- That's because he turned SNITCH for the IRS. There's a lesson here, turn on your brother and sister criminals and maybe you can help make things better for everyone, and even yourself. And what if he doesn't vote? Good, he's a FELON, he shouldn't ever be allowed to again, period.
Notice there's no talk about skin color in my opinion above... You should try it sometime.
When you stop thinking about what races should be given special treatment, it's amazing how much simpler AND FAIR things become.
If this woman wants to vote, she should repay EVERY PENNY PLUS INTEREST her court costs, and some punitive damages since some of the people she helped sell dope to no doubt got sick/died and didn't pay the hospital costs from her sale of dope.
Let's say, $3,000,000 in fees, and she can vote again, ok? Sounds GREAT. Glad we could have this chat.
Have 25% of black Floridians considered not throwing their votes away by committing felonies?
Or, for that matter, have Floridians in general considered not throwing their votes away by committing felonies?
Because Welfare check is not enough, but they proffer to be delinquent instead to look for a job. The bling Bling and the pinks cars are not cheap, so the easy way to be frivolous is stealing or trafficking drugs. Most rappers promote violence , delinquency , drug abuse , is par of a culture Hip Hop , that is taking young African Americans to the cliff. 20 % of African Americans do not work whyle the average of American is 11%.
When you get convicted of a felony you should lose your right to vote. They knew that BEFORE they commited the crime, this is not "news" except to the race baiters of MSNBC and MSN. They spend all of their time trying to rile people up because "someone doesn't have a photo ID', or "they are felons and can't vote". I say "great" on both of these, no ID no vote, felony conviction, no vote! And by the way you can't get a liquor license if your a felon either, when are they going to start the rant, "that also is discrimination"? This topic is laughable.
hey inbredvirginia, keep your racism to yourself!
yep, all blacks are on welfare cause you say so..
nevermind, and do continue fooling yourself that its just people of color when the MAJORITY OF FOLKS ON WELFARE ARE RURAL WHITE PEOPLE!
after all, its only a frickin FACT!!!!!
some people are just not educated enough to understand the priveledge of their skin. that means TOO STUPID to see it.
believerof, you have to take in consideration the percentages of the population of course they're going to be more whites because there is 5 times more whites in the country. Blacks are 13% of the population, whites are 69% by the percentages they're more blacks than whites on welfare.
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
@believerof
Stop quoting 1990 Statistics and use something 21 years more current:
The percentages those on welfare by race as of 2011 are listed below in descending order by percentage.
Black-39.8%
White-38.8%
Hispanic-15.7%
Other-3.3%
Asian-2.4%
How about people should think about their actions first, no matter your color? It has nothing to do with black and white..
Exactly. I should have included that in my original comment.
What purpose of public safety is served by denying the right to vote to those who have served their sentences? Upon release from prison, why arethey less than any other citizen/ What do you accomplish by continuing to punish people beyond their just sentence? Is any of this intended to get these people quickly back into society or are we intent on keeping them under perennial punishment? Hmmmm....
Being a citizen of the United States entitles one to certain rights, among them, the right to vote. However, it also entails certain responsibilities, such as following the law. Why should we allow those who do not follow the law to make the law?
If felons are to get the franchise back, it ought to be on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the ex-cons who get the vote truly are ex-cons.
I agree, gmcbaha. "News" stories like this ALWAYS seems to HAVE to turn on RACE!!!
Why doesn't this author just say that ONLY blacks in FL w/felony records can't vote? What about whites, Asians, Latinos, Native American, short people, thin people, blonds, brunets, diabetics, tall people, cancer sufferers, those under age 50, people with minor children, women going thru menopause, people who have dentures, people who have tattoos, those over age 20, people who live in apartments....ARE PEOPLE IN THESE GROUPS WHO HAVE FELONY RECORDS DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN FL, OR IS IT JUST BLACK PEOPLE?
What IF 1 in 4 people in FL who wear dentures, have a felony record in FL, & are disenfranchised?
O, excuse me, that's not worthy of a "story," bcz it's not about RACE!
Try this on for size: If you are so stupid that you (1) commit a felony, and (2) get convicted, then you are too stupid to vote intelligently.
It is fact that over 50% of convicted felons released from prison will commit another crime and get caught only to be sent back to prison. That is those that got caught, imagine the ones who got smarter and now know hot to commit crimes without being caught. Offenders are the dumbest people in the world regardless of color.
how about if you are so perfect as to have never made a mistake in life, we'll talk?
you wanna know why its about race? when you can justify to us, the difference in the prison population of minorities versus their percentage in society, we can talk about it.
go ahead and tell me why if blacks are only 11 percent of the general population, that theyre over half of the prison population?!?
see if you can answer without sounding racist! i DARE you!
Just more BS race baiting by MSN it's getting where there is 1 a day lately.
believerof, it's not like not committing a felony is hard to do...
This country should go one further, you need a certain IQ level to vote and also a certain Income level , so they don't just elect people that tax us working folk so THEY get their welfare, food stamps etc.... Our founding fathers never thought there would be soooo many LEACHES out for themselves, and I'm not talking about us middle and upper middle class WORKERS !!!
Because they commit more crimes, not racist just fact. Go to DOJ web site & look at the stats.
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
OK mods, has he repeated it enough to be banned yet?
I dont think i would want a former crack dealer deciding my politicians or being a juror for my trial....good show florida
So you are okay with convicted drunk drivers voting and serving on juries? How about tax cheats that get to vote for prosecutors and judges? Thgey may not be convicted felons but what is the difference? At what point do we restore people to full standing in society? Are you certain you aren't being a bit smug? Have you heard about that little thing called taxation without representation?
Well if they are convicted felons they lived in a jail, ate food, and slept in a bed free of charge. I have to work for all that stuff, so they had their free ride at my expense. They can pay taxes to make up for a decade or two before they get to vote.
Drunk drivers hurt only themselves, until they hit or kill someone, in that case they usually get a manslaughter charge which i think is a felony. So there ya go.
kyle75088, I doubt whether all the felons denied voting rights are crack dealers. I am sure some were convicted for serious consequences of drunk driving, tax evasion and a lot of other crimes. Bottom line is that felons, regardless of the crime lose the right to vote...as it should be.
Thankfully, Texas does not have such restrictions. I had a drug problem in my 20's and was convicted of possession of less than a gram of amphetamine. A felony here and in most states I think. I had always held full time employment, paid income taxes, property taxes, sales tax, etc. Never committed any other crimes against anyone else. I've been out for over over five years, had full time employment for the same employer the entire time, married now, working on kids, bought a house, rebuilt my life. I hear people making a statement that "felons should never vote", but no one has explained the logic behind their belief.
what about crack users who plea bargain down from felonies? what about any felony people who plea bargain down and get to vote? probably more whites than other races allowed to - that is the core of the problem - the more money you have, the lesser tha charges or better pleas - and why are they not getting to vote - remember this is the state that handed the presidency to Bush in 2000 - the GOP does not want blacks voting because the vote for Democrats
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
One question we need to ask ourselves, how many of these criminals ever bothered to vote before they were convicted, my guess is, not many.
Black America, put the joke back on whitey, quit committing crimes!
Sort of funny that people still even think that their "vote" means anything. All that is decided by the 1 percenters!
felons should not be allowed to vote in any state... ever.
N i G g e r s are too stupid to vote, they only vote for other n i g g e r s . They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
So the obvious response to this article is: black Democrats are behaving despicably in Florida and there is still a huge Crime Culture in the black community that has to be destroyed.
People around the world call us violent because of the black murder rate.
They call us violent because of the hideous mass murders that occur far too frequently. They are rarely done by Blacks...
Nope, the rare mass shootings account for a tiny part of the overall murder rate.
Chicago alone is on pace for 50 times the total of people killed in that Colorado shooting.
Every night in black neighbhorhoods around America, young black people get shot to death. But it only makes the national news when there's 10 people killed or there's a big shooting. If enough shootings in black neighborhoods pile up over time, then it makes the news, like Chicago has.
By the way, blacks have made a lot of progress on lowering the murder rate since the 70's-early 90's. It's just still too high.
Blacks commit 51% of single victim murders & 22% of multiple victim murders. Source DOJ web site.
All the hood wearers came out to play on this thread today, LOL. All the Amerikkkans. In full force. Have fun klanspeople! Apparently this is the only enjoyment in your sad, small lives.
The two most commonly heard words on my police scanner are "black male", crime just seems to be in their blood, and the only thing that can get them out of this way of life is something you cant force upon them at gunpoint, education, I guess stealing is just easier than studying.
"Crime seems to be in their blood?" Please tell me what scientific/medical journal THAT piece of excrement came from?
1 out of 4 is a convicted felon and you dont see this as a problem?
Steve-2081387
"1 out of 4 is a convicted felon and you dont see this as a problem?"
Obviously it's a huge problem, but a convicted felon not being able to vote is the least of my concerns.
Aren't they more concerned why 1/4 of blacks are felons? Will letting them vote make them decide "yeah nevermind instead of raping someone then robbing the corner store for drug money I'll go read a book."
Is it any coincidence that this is an issue in a swing state that can (and has) historically determined the President?
Yes, it is just a coincidence.
Thank you, Miss Holt. It is good to hear from someone with inside information towards both the reporting of this story, and to the motivation for changing the law to begin with.
As a famous journalist once said "Correlation is not causation"
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
If the State of Florida actually prosecuted all felonious crimes as felonies instead of plea bargaining them down to misdemeanors I bet the number would be 50% to 60% instead of 1 in 4.
who's fault? and why bring it up? just stirring up crap for no reason.
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
N i G g e r s are too stupid to vote, they only vote for other n i g g e r s . They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
So in order for black Americans not to be disenfranchised we need to provide transportation to all felons whether or not they can prove who they are? Again this country is catering to the lowest of the low and our future will continue to reflect this.
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
Armando it is genralized thinking like that, that has this country screwed.Just because people mess up once,This doesn't mean they are bad people,or bad people forever.So what is your solution?If you have a felony.screw you for life?That idea would create more career criminals.How do you explaine the disspaportionate stats on black with felonies,when looking at the fact they only make up a small portion of the overall population.I live in AL. AND I CAN TELL YOU THE POLICE HERE TARGET BLACKS.While the whites commit the same types of crimes,and get off.If you are hispanic.They target hispanics here in ALABAMA TOO.CARE TO EXPLAIN??
Lay off the steroids
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
so you have never broken a law armando??????
Nope! No felonies, not even any misdemeanors. I don't understand why simply remaining within the law is so controversial.
Have those blacks and hispanics tried not committing any crimes?
I gave my solution earlier.
I have broken the law however I am not a felon. A felon has made a more serious lapse of judgment then my parking violation or spending ticket. Felons are criminals who need not be part of the law making of this country. Sorry you lost that right.
Although it was refreshing to read about a few ex-cons who have managed (through hard work) to get their lives together, this is the exception, and not the norm.
Whats so hard about waiting 2 - 5 years to be reinstated on the voting roles...unless the majority of those waiting can't seem to keep out of trouble and out of jail for that long.
The only 'victims' here are victims of their own stupidity and lack of concern for society's rules/boundaries.
They can't be trusted to vote - end of story.
What's there to trust? You either vote for one politician or another. You're either voting Democrat or Republican. I fail to see how selecting D or R becomes a trust issue.
Sorry-wishful thinking.I'M NOT A FELON,LOL!
They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
N i G g e r s are too stupid to vote, they only vote for other n i g g e r s . They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
Sorry you made bad choices.Sorry you were stupid.Sorry your whole family,method of child rearing,and inability to do anything other than blame others for your problems.Let's change the channel.
I can see most of america still is racist.
Fixed that for ya.
I can see that most of the racial stereotypes are still true, so yeah people are still going to be racist.....
I mean come on, one in four? That is ridiculous
Armando...I like you...lol.
Thanks, 4Rudie4! I do my best.
<bows>
N i G g e r s are too stupid to vote, they only vote for other n i g g e r s . They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
It starts at the top, in the White House...two of the worst racists that ever lived there.
Armando, does the same hold true for all the chicas coming here illegally to have their anchor babies?
The morons among us will classify this as racially motivated. Facts are facts and as the article stated taking away the right of convicted felons to vote predates the Civil War.
There is precedent and there is no need to tinker with it because liberals are feeling sorry, again, for their "little people" whom I describe as the working poor - black, Hispanic and white alike.
The liberal description of the working poor, in and of itself, is insulting to the very peoples they claim to care for.
N i G g e r s are too stupid to vote, they only vote for other n i g g e r s . They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
gee....i never would have guessed.what a suprise. after lbj's great society started feeding inner city minorities with welfare generation after generation thats what we got ,complete deterioration and destruction of US inner cities. if you're a felon too bad you can't vote.should have thought about you're constitututional privleges before you commited a felony.maybe al sharpton or jj can help out.bwhahahahahah!
Why is it the law abiding peoples fault that 1 in 4 black Americans are felons? We should cater to this?
Hear Hear!! No one and I mean no one who commits a crime should be allowed to vote at all ever. You know what you are doing before you commit the crime so you should lose your civil rights. YOu gave them up when you decided to do wrong. I am not an American citizen, but I live and work in Florida and I have held down a full time job for 6 years and I have paid my share of taxes. I give back to the economy. I bought a house even, so therefore I also pay property taxes and yes I get that I can not vote because I am not an American citizen (yet) BUT I respect that is a right held for the American citizen. SO I think I can look at this story more objectively, and I still agree that until you have been pardoned, no vote. You have a record, no vote. Voting has become a real serious thing and if you can not take life seriously by living by and obeying the law then you sure as hell can not make a sound choice of who you think should run this country and run the American people's lives. Look at yourself, you can not run your own life and stay out from behind bars. And I also get sick and tired of people paying the racist card all the damm time. Most people are not even racist at all, just sick of being blamed for it. So stop drawing attention to yourself. I'm just saying.
And if I'm correct, convicted felons cannot legally own firearms....anyone have a problem with that?
yes.some felons i know.
<pregnant silence> Good one!
Thankfully, us non-felons CAN AND DO own firearms too! And, God forbid, if a felon breaks into my home at 2:00 AM and the alarm or dog does not scare them off first... I will (perhaps a bit sadly afterwards) be more than willing and able to use one of my very legal firearms on them! My dilemma... Colt .45 Commander, Marlin 336 in 44 Magnum, or my Remington 870 12 gauge? Choices are a GOOD thing!
Well yes... this will certainly delay the Democratic Party's Wealth-Redistribution Program after the 2012 elections.
I strongly urge all progressive and activists to do something about this injustice.
N i G g e r s are too stupid to vote, they only vote for other n i g g e r s . They should NOT be denied the right to vote because they are felons-they SHOULD be denied the right to vote because they are N I G G E R S !
First, you who ever you are,,, it is not about being a black american, it is about being a felon. IF you break the law then you have given up all your rights as an American.. Voting is something NOT owed to you.. So if you want to vote, don't break the law,, as one person said, why should he be allow one whos life it to break the law and then make laws. The laws are too leanient on criminals... They never pay for the crime only a token payment.. A person who kills another can never pay society for that crime and then if he gets out in a short time, then to vote ??? A man who rapes leaves his victim in a state of a mental mess.. He serves a few years and gets out and expects to be able to vote because he has payed society for his crime... what about that young girl whose rights were taking away from her for the rest of her life...your a felon because you chose to be.. as for the clown who is accusing who ever of being a racist, though @!$%#... you can not call people racists if they don't like what SOME of that race is doing,,, You don't even know the people you are calling racists... IF a person is a partial racist, remember, he wasn't born hating any certain people, it was instilled in him by those people he has a bitternes for...and that does not mean he is a racists... I don't think we really have any real racists here in America......as for 25% of black americans being felons, more like 50% or more..Go to work in a prison and you will change your tune...
but,who gave white people the right to kill and never pay,and make laws for the whole world?e.g.indians,africans,and muslims,laws you are all sacredly obeying.george w. got busted with cocaine,but daddy cleaned it up and he's allowed to become president.you dominate through religious brainwashing.
Jason Vorhies, what the hell are you talking about? White people kill Muslims? You obviously are out of your mind. Acts perpetrated by MUSLIM terrorists have killed thousands of white people. You defend Muslims (a religion), while whining about religion. Perhaps if you were able to form a complete sentence your posts would make sense. Furthermore, keep your shirt on, your chest is nothing to look at.
Perhaps the Jesse and Al Commission should explore why a startling number of blacks can't seem follow the law in Fla.... oh, sorry, what was I thinking... they're not here to solve problems... just leverage them to get handouts....
I guess Zimmerman couldn't get them all! Hrrrrnnnggg! Raaaawwwwrr!
holy s... 1 in 4 blacks in FLA. have felony convictions I'll stay in my hood thank you
OOPS, wrong spot