This is one bit of “liberal” PC folly I strictly oppose, and consider it more serious than the scurrilous GOP accusations that House Dems put pork in the military spending bill recently.
But those same House Dems feel they have to pander, I guess, and so approved a bill giving the District one Congressional representative, and presumably, an electoral vote (plus the two to represent the inevitable senators as well).
Folks, this IS unconstitutional, disgusting as it is to agree with Kentucky’s wingnut senator, Mitch McConnell. If DC residents want to vote in federal elections or have federal representation, the Constitution is clear: the District of Columbia is supposed to revert to Maryland. We then recalculate House representation and national division of Electoral College votes from there.
Now, if Pelosi wants to try the amendment process for this, fine. I do not like the idea anyway.
2 comments:
D.C. residents absolutely deserve a vote in Congress.
FEDERAL TAXES: Like the rest of Americans, and unlike other territories like Guam, D.C. residents pay FEDERAL taxes. They actually pay the highest amount in taxes per capita in the nation. Can you imagine paying federal taxes, but having no vote on how your tax dollars are spent???
SOLDIERS IN WAR: Like the rest of Americans, and unlike other territories, D.C. residents have also fought and died in every American war stretching back to the War of 1812. Currently, they have no vote on whether or not their residents get sent to war. Think of screwed up that is alone.
DEMOCRACY: D.C. is the only capital of a democracy IN THE WORLD that is not allowed a vote in their national legislature. Even the people living in Baghdad can vote for a federal representative. In this case, Iraqis have more democracy than America.
CONSTITUTIONAL: The Constitution gives the Congress the power to do whatever it wants with the District. It’s called the “District Clause,” Article 1, Section 8: “To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District.” In 1800, Congress took away voting rights from D.C. using that power. That same power gives them the right to give it back. Conservative thinkers like Kenneth Starr (Clinton impeachment) and Viet Dihn (author of the Patriot Act) have come to the same conclusion. It is fair and will stand. A Constitutional amendment is unnecessary.
NO NET GAIN: Since Utah will also get an extra vote in Congress, there is no net gain for either party. This follows the tradition of introducing states like traditionally Democratic Hawaii and traditionally Republican Alaska at the same time.
FOREIGN POLICY: D.C.’s denial of voting representation has actually impacted America’s ability to carry out foreign policy. Rogue nations with poor human rights records argue that America cannot claim total innocence as they deny voting rights to the residents of their nation’s capital city. This has been an effective tool for countries with horrible records to continue their abuses.
I realize that it is a lot to swallow. But truly, it is time to give the residents of America’s capital the right to vote in Congress.
I don't have a problem with DC voters voting in federal elections. I just have a BIG problem with the way Pelosi is doing the process.
I already said it's unconstitutional, shy of constitutional amendment. Read what he Constitution says.
As for the "Utah representative" you point out, as charitably saying this will be "party-neutral," exactly. It's pork-barrelling, to put it bluntly; a voting measure that has to be pork-barrelled, constitutionality aside, is questionable. (And, no, this is not like the Hawaii-Alaska tradeout; at best, it's like slave state-free state "pairing" in the decades before the Civil War.
Look, if you live in the district and want to vote, short of amending the Constitution, then have Congress make you part of Maryland again. It's that simple.
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