Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Federal Court to WA State - "Imprisoned Felons have a RIGHT to Vote"

Just when you think that the Federal Government has gone too far, the Judicial Branch jumps into the spotlight with a whopper of a violation of state's rights. From the Associated Press:

OLYMPIA, Wash. —
A federal appeals court has ruled that imprisoned felons should be allowed to vote in Washington to ensure that racial minorities are protected under the Voting Rights Act.

Tuesday's 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the 2000 ruling of a district judge in Spokane. That judge had ruled that state law did not violate the act, and dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former prison inmate from Bellevue.

The two appellate judges ruled that disparities in the state's justice system "cannot be explained in race-neutral ways."

A spokeswoman says state Attorney General Rob McKenna is weighing the state's next step.
The protection of racial minorities is of more importance than the sanctity of elections, according to the 9th Circuit Clowns. Such a ruling is as intrusive into State's Rights as it is insane. An individual should not be barred from voting based on gender or skin tone, but there are multitudes of legal and justifiable reasons why free citizens would want to bar the most violent criminal minds from helping shape our society!

At this point, I need someone to remind me why we are not immediately instituting a policy of 'tar and feather' - and I am not referring to the felons!

As a devoted 10th amendment supporter, there is nothing that makes my skin crawl more than federal "leaders" meddling in state affairs - UNLESS it is the feds meddling in state ELECTIONS.

1 comment:

  1. What are they saying?? That imprisoned felons are disproportionately racial minorities?? Is that a racist statement?? Because why does race matter or come into an issue regarding the rights of imprisoned felons to vote??

    I am just disgusted that RACE is larger than constitutional matters.

    As a Libertarian, my position would lean towards giving imprisoned felons the right to vote as an inalienable right.

    For me, it's not a race issue. However, the matter of State's right as a Libertarian causes me to believe that Washington State should be in charge of the decision - not the Feds.

    Therefore, whether or not I agree with Washington State - I resent Federal intrusion into a State matter.

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