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Bill Clinton Compares Proposed GOP Voting Laws to Racist Jim Crow Measures

Jul. 7, 2011 9:35am Billy Hallowell

On Wednesday, President Bill Clinton spoke to young liberal activists at Campus Progress’ annual conference in Washington, D.C. During his address, the Democrat lashed out at Republicans over various proposals they are waging across the nation to address election policies. Most notably, the former president compared these efforts to Jim Crow laws, which were implemented between 1876 and 1965 to limit African American participation in elections. CNN has more:

“There has never been in my lifetime, since we got rid of the poll tax and all the voter Jim Crow burdens on voting, the determined effort to limit a franchise that we see today,” Clinton said at Campus Progress’s annual conference in Washington.

…Clinton said Republican governors and legislators are now trying to “keep most of you [young people] from voting next time.”

“They [Republicans] are trying to make the 2012 electorate look more like the 2010 electorate than the 2008 electorate,” Clinton added, referencing the dip in youth voter turnout in the 2010 elections. “Are you fighting? You should be fighting it.”

Clinton went on to criticize the GOP’s push for same-day registration and similar proposals that would not allow convicted felons to vote once their probation is concluded. This latter point was addressed with fervency, as Clinton contended that people should not be disenfranchised ”forever once they’ve paid their price.”

The former president seemed to indicate that he believes that in Florida, where Republican Gov. Rick Scott has, indeed, prevented participation from convicted felons, these moves are purely political. The reason, he says, is that most of the inmates are African Americans or Hispanics who “would tend to vote for Democrats.”

The prominent politician’s words were a clear attempt to tie current policies being put in place in various states around the nation with the horrific and racist legalities that were installed during the country’s regrettable Jim Crow era. By claiming that the GOP is disenfranchising young people and minorities, he may hope his words hold the potential to inspire people within these groups to support Democratic candidates in 2012.

These comments come one month after Rep. Debbie Wasserman, the new chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, took the GOP to task on election law. Like Clinton, but much more direct in her statements, Wasserman claimed that Republicans are pushing Jim Crow-like measures. According to PolitiFact, she said:

“Well, I mean if you go back to the year 2000, when we had an obvious disaster and – and saw that our voting process needed refinement, and we did that in (the Help America Vote Act) and made sure that we could iron out those kinks — now you have the Republicans, who want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws and literally – and very transparently – block access to the polls to voters who are more likely to vote for Democratic candidates than Republican candidates. And it’s nothing short of that blatant.”

Later on that day, Wasserman, amid criticism, admitted that “Jim Crow was the wrong analogy to use.” PolitiFact found her statements to be “false” when they were tested for accuracy and reliability. Below, you can watch her appearance where she discusses these issues on Roland Martin’s television program:

Considering Wasserman’s mistake, it is curious that President Clinton would invoke the same terminology just a month after the current DNC chairwoman did the same.

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Comments (250)

Deda1
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:55am
Funny hearing this from an accused rapist and someone who is from the party of Jim Crow laws.

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BlackCrow
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:55am
One man ONE vote is equivalent to Jim Crow laws? You must be a citizen. Cannot have had your civil rights revoked as a felon.

Could it be that felons, illegal immigrants, and drunken bums bought off by ACORN are the Democratic base? Sad state of affairs, for Democrats!

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Live 2276
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:55am
As with all things, they twist perspectives and generate images of racial divide or class envy to enrage people to their cause. Mr. Clinton is merely “feeding the beast” to get people to the polls, and there are few better than him when it comes to convincing fools to errand.

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BeingThere
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:53am
How stupid do you have to be to listen to this pervert?

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conservativeagent
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:53am
What a crock of B.S. It is getting very old the Democrackheads using this crap. You can surely see peoples party affiliations by the tactics they use. Just throw bs out there without consequences, just like Casey Anthony’s attorneys. Anything to help them continue voter fraud and stealing elections as well as our $$$$,

We need to eliminate D & R parties and go with liberal & conservative parties.

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Volsense
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:53am
Clinton is reinforcing that liberalism is definitely a progressive mental disorder and he is in the latter stages. When racial hatred and class warfare is all you have ever had, the monotony of same garbage over and over has to at some point become null and void. To a liberal, hate is a terrible thing to waste.

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gpk
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:52am
Is slick willy giving debbie the old cigar?

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jblovesAmerica
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:52am
Billy Boy-your face is very much recognizable-the rest of us need photo ID-to board a plane-to drive a car-to cash a check-to use a credit card.
and perhaps to vote-
who today does not have a photo ID of some type.
perhaps its the same folks who got sub-prime loans thanks to you and destroyed our Financial stability.

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GRAMPA-D-NH
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:52am
Clinton Legacy: Impeached intern didling seller of military secrets to the Chicoms. Oh yeah, and BJs are not sex. Yeah, that was real helpful for parents in this progressively depraved society.

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Mil-Dot
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:51am
Of course they don’t want voter ID laws. Then, they would not be able to cheat as much as they do now. If it were not for voting fraud, we would not be in as much of a mess as we are now. Dems are liars and cheats, what more is there to say?

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:51am
.
The stench of Blue Dress follows him everywhere………….

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- jhonjhonson1
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:42am
  Speaking of blue dresses, who let the talking poodle in?
  
  Report this comment
ThankYouFounders
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:50am
You should re-evaluate your position if you are depending on the ever important felon vote. Gotta find a way to get the rapists, murderers, and thieves to the polls because they will vote Democrat.

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Rickfromillinois
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:50am
The Republicans are against letting convicted felons vote and they want those trying to vote to have a photo I.D.. What a bunch of racists! What a bunch of evil people! Everyone knows that felons are most likely to vote for the Democrats (says something about Democrats doesn’t it). And everyone knows that Democrats have a hard time getting photo I.D.s. Just why that is I’m not sure but obviously it is true. Notice that Clinton didn’t get too far into just what is it that the Republicans want to do? That’s because to most people it sounds like common sense.

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I.Gaspar
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:50am
w.c. fields-clinton should shut up and go back to womanizing and growing his nose.
wasserman should just shut the hell up.

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kickagrandma
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:50am
bill clinton is such a filthy human being/robot.

In JESUS’ PRECIOUS NAME, I rebuke you billclinton and everything for which you stand. JESUS, please rebuke the demons that inhabit him and let them come directly to YOU for YOU to deal with them. ole slick willie will simply deflate like a pierced balloon. Thank YOU, GOD, for hearing my earnest prayer, In JESUS’ name, amen.

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dsm
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:50am
Oh Bill, here we go gop=racism. It really is getting too old to have an effect anymore.

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cntrlfrk
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:50am
Typical Race-baiting democrats.

Gotta keep those brown people in their place.

.

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IAMMADDOG
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:48am
But the Democrats WOULD NEVER try to do that would they?

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Jim in Houston
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:47am
Why should we give a flying crap what the guy with the Teflon zipper has to say? Now where in the world can people vote without showing some form of ID. I would love for one of these dirt bags to explain logically (too big a word for libaturds) how identifying one’s self will prevent legal voters from voting. It is the same old tired crap – play the race card when you have no argument.

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Cobra Blue
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:45am
All of you out there don’t worry your little heads over the Republicans on this one. They will compromise and water down their proposed legislation so fast your head will spin…They are spineless. No will to fight whatsoever. DO NOT expect anything else. Otherwise you are insane (definition – doing same thing over and over again expecting a different result.) That could be WISHING OR HOPING for a different result. And it goes double regarding your expectations of Republican politician.s

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CatB
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:45am
LOL .. they certainly do get upset when you require proof that you are who you say you are. Why it is “almost” like they support voter fraud. That couldn’t be it could it? .. remember these are the people who find “ballots” in trunks of cars after an election that doesn’t go their way.

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schillinfl
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:45am
Bill Clinton. The new Jimmy Carter.

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NickDeringer
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:44am
No, Bill, it’s all about voter fraud. ACORN has been prosecuted for it in more than a dozen states. Dems commit voter fraud 10 times more than GOP.

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- Bluefish49
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:21am
  Remember…I did not have sexual relations with that woman….if he’s talking…he’s lieing…
  
  Report this comment
thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:42am
………and we all know what a giant of a statesman little billy is….lol. Billy should shut up and go pay for a BJ. Then he should jump off a cliff so the tax payers of the US could quit paying for the protection of such a sleaze bag.

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TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:39am
What Clinton says is so insignificant to me and most I know. Hey Bill, go away, bro.

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- Divineliberty
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:47am
  The dems sttill dont remember that THEy were the ones who passed and supported the Jim Crow laws
  
  Report this comment
- HumbleCitizen
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:01pm
  Amen.
  
  Report this comment
- Oh, God!
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:47am
  Does Clinton forget that the Jim Crow laws came from democrats and that Crow himself was a democrat?
  
  Report this comment
- sWampy
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:33am
  It doesn’t matter that liberals came up with jim crow, liberals will just continue to call names, cheat and continue winning.
  
  Report this comment
- Oldphoto678
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:46am
  @Oh, God!
  “Does Clinton forget that the Jim Crow laws came from democrats and that Crow himself was a democrat?”
  
  Correct….Hardcore, extremist, consevative democrats most of which ended up becoming republiCONs.
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:59am
  Bubba is a little ignorant of history. A little, hell, a LOT!
  I wonder what’s in this for him? He never participates unless he profits from something.
  
  Report this comment
- HogansHero
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:17am
  He is just trying to unite the masses to engage in chaos. No different the what Hitler did. Sorry for the analogy, but in the case it is so very true. Check out his methods. He went after the youth and then they did a lot of his dirty work. Note that Bill and gang keep trying to tell the young adults and youth that they are the victims and they are smarter even than their parents. They are washing their minds and preparing them for battle.
  
  Report this comment
- gramma b
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:18am
  If we wonder why race relations are getting worse, here you have one of the reasons. Yes, we have people like Jeremiah Wright and the Nation of Islam. But, we also have decades of White Democrats deliberately whipping up racial resentment in order to get votes. Of course, the media has covered up for both groups.
  
  Report this comment
- Bluefish49
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:20am
  Remember that Glenn said they would use the “Race Card” to win the 2012 Election.
  
  Report this comment
- FormerLib
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:23am
  I guess old Bill doesn’t know what the word “literallly” means. If he really thinks Republicans LITERALLY want to re-institute Jim Crow laws, he’s either a complete idiot or an incredibly cynical demagogue.
  
  Of course, he doesn’t know what the word “is” means, either, so either choice is a viable one.
  
  Report this comment
- mils
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:29am
  Always gotta be in the lime light….
  
  He needs to sit down with someone like Beck and explain his view on this.. Be in a conservattive group that can respond and not be intimidated
  
  Report this comment
- MONICNE
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:52am
  He is 100% correct, of course.
  
  Newt (the cute) Ca’Ching!-Rich tried everything to get rid of him when he was President. Who looks like a statesman NOW?
  
  Report this comment
- Irvinemom
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:09am
  Clinton forgot to mention that Woodrow Wilson embraced the Jim Crow Laws and increased segregation, Wilson was a democrat… & I agree he needs to go back under his rock
  
  Report this comment
- smithclar3nc3
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:12am
  Sure Bill and you didn’t have sex with that woman either. They are charging Rdger clements with lying to Congress at what point do they charge Clinton….?
  
  Report this comment
- pajamash
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:29am
  Why do we keep hearing from these liberal trolls after they are out of office? Clinton, Carter, Mondale…We didn’t hear much from Ford, We don’t hear anything from either of the Bush’s. You are out of elected office….SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- fatjack
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:41am
  William Jefferson Blythe III is another POTUS that was backseat bred and welfare fed.
  
  Report this comment
- OhSuzieQ
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:43am
  TRONINTHEMORNING
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:39am
  What Clinton says is so insignificant to me and most I know. Hey Bill, go away, bro.
  
  Bye, Bye Bill!
  
  Report this comment
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:53am
  Go Home Willie, don’t need to listen to your BS too !!
  theres enough floating around with the current POS……
  
  Report this comment
- Wayner
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:58am
  My wife is from Korea…. She is an American Citizen but she doesn’t have a driver’s license. 2 weeks ago I noticed that her ID card had expired so I took her to the DMV office, had her a new one issued and paid them $10. It wasn’t hard to do. So she nor me has any qualms about showing ID to vote. So what’s the big deal?
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:13pm
  Bill, your a has been… Go play with Hillary.
  
  Report this comment
- RETIREDOLDGUY
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:15pm
  I don’t think she wants anything to do with him other than play the power game for her political ambitions.
  
  Report this comment
- paperpushermj
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:34pm
  I find the 2 of the 4 living Ex-Presidents who will not shut up and need to be in the face of the press are both Democrats. Interesting
  
  Report this comment
- MCGIRV
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:30pm
  Bill’s an jackass!
  
  Report this comment
- adastra2005
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:35pm
  Unfortunately, the audience he was addressing was likely very impressed by his statements and further ingrained their hatred for any conservative. Clinton was wrong, he lied, he spewed racist/hate . . . but his audience was likely very receptive to his message and likely feel if Clinton can speak in such vile language, they too are free to do so. And as these are activists, they will spread his message on all their campuses. AND . . . they and their friends are allowed to vote! Clinton is a nasty, partisan man who has little love for freedom, liberty and American values. Just power and money. That’s about all he cares about.
  
  Report this comment
- nptden
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:59pm
  Yo Bro! Y’all still pandering to the trash of society?. Y’all still encouraging young people to vote as many times as they can get away with it? Billy ya got your twitter on to direct the fraud?
  
  Report this comment
- avenger
  Posted on July 7, 2011 at 6:29pm
  give slick a wet cigar and a fat chick and he will be happy…
  
  Report this comment
- naed5048
  Posted on July 8, 2011 at 12:51am
  to me clinton is one of the worst presidents… is it not the democraks who have done more harm to the minority ( blacks and latinos ) than any other party? now wheres the inteligents?
  
  Report this comment
- Die Free
  Posted on July 8, 2011 at 7:32am
  It is funny that who sAy does not need a I D to vote but bill needs one for a BJ
  Wow if only it were true that the republicans made the Jim crow laws in the first
  Place. People need to be valid citizens to vote if an ID is needed than fine; it is no different
  Than driving a car.
  
  Report this comment
- dphoadley
  Posted on July 8, 2011 at 7:59am
  You Americans could consider limiting the Franchise only to those who have served in the US Military. In Israel we have limited certain social benefits to those who’ve completed either military service or some form of National Service (Usually for Religious Girls and Arabs).
  The idea is that the state grants more of its largesse to those who have served it in return.
  
  Report this comment
- smithclar3nc3
  Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:11am
  Why are Dems. so up in arms over requiring ID to vote. All it does is insure that the elections are less prone to fraud. More over does someone who doesn’t have enough responsibility to keep a valid ID need to be desiding the country’s direction.
  Or are Democrats counting on fraudulent votes and the support of useful idiots to get elected.
  
  Report this comment

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