Pennsylvania TownHall -- Where the Voice of Pennsylvania is Heard!

Freindly Fire

Election Fraud Rampant

by Chris Freind

I am not a wealthy man, but I have recently acquired twenty two "domiciles" throughout Philadelphia. My real estate prowess has afforded me a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of our citizens.

I can vote twenty two times.

You see, I have staked out prime locations, from under the Walt Whitman Bridge to a culvert on Cobbs Creek Parkway to a burnt out shell at 7th and Diamond. Yes, technically, habitating at these locations makes me "homeless", but I much prefer the term "voter enfranchised". When you have such a love of democracy, how can anyone have a problem with people who want to vote more than just once? (Of course, I do have standards. Despite being commonplace for decades, dead people should not be able to vote. At least not more than once.) Let's be honest, though. The system is rigged to discourage our illegals immigrants from widespread participation, and that simply has to change. We could greatly increase their involvement in the democratic process if the ballot were printed in Spanish, with at least one bi-lingual poll worker at every voting booth. Failure to do so results in the continued disenfranchisement of America's fastest growing demographic class. How American is that?

******

Thanks to Governor Rendell, who vetoed legislation requiring voters to show proper identification, election fraud is rampant. By definition, allowing people to vote who are not properly registered is disenfranchising those who play by the rules and cast a ballot the right way. Every vote that is illegally cast nullifies the vote of a law-abiding citizen. We even have illegal immigrants voting throughout the country. Think about that! Citizens from other countries are very possibly deciding the outcomes of American elections.

One only has to look to Florida in 2000 to see a real-world example. President Bush won by a mere 537 votes out of 5.8 million cast. As Governor of Texas, the Spanish-speaking Bush has always been popular with Hispanics, particularly Florida's Cubans. Given that Florida has a large illegal immigration population, it is not unrealistic to think that at least 537 illegals voted for Bush over Al Gore---the difference in determining the Presidency of the United States that year. But since we have so many "sanctuary cities"---places where it is prohibited to ask one's immigration/citizenship status--- there is no way to determine who is an American citizen, let alone who is validly registered.

Rendell's rationale for vetoing the bill? It would create voting problems for the homeless, the poor, displaced victims of natural disasters, and those without access to valid ID.

Good thing, because as everyone knows, the Keystone State experiences so many natural disasters. Such is life when your state is located right in the middle of Hurricane Alley. And as far as "easy access" to an ID, it must be extremely difficult to produce a passport, a valid driver's license, a utility bill, an employee ID, or even a paycheck or government check. The Governor's spokesman at the time stated that Rendell was concerned that "…identification requirements [might have] discouraged people from voting and eventually disenfranchised people."

Under that rationale, why have rules at all? Why do the right thing?

Why do we put up with such garbage, and where is the Republican legislature? Why isn't anyone taking the show on the road, making Rendell defend his position on an issue where an overwhelming number of voters are in disagreement with him? It is painfully obvious what the true motivation is: the vast majority of non-registered voters who actually vote do so with Democratic leanings. They are part of the Democratic base, and as such, voting for them must be obstacle-free if the party is win statewide elections.

Having no identification requirement for voters, let alone citizenship verification, is one of the most disgraceful blows to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that Americans could enjoy the confidence of voting in free and fair elections.

It is a racist and disenfranchising practice that must end in order to preserve our freedom.

Christopher Freind can be reached at CF@TheBulletin.us