# Florida Congressman Demands Gov. Rick Scott ‘Immediately Suspend’ Voter Purge **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 25, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092 "2012-05-25T19:13:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/21 "2012-05-29T00:58:47Z")
This is deeply sad and depressing. To think that there are democrats in Florida who are still legally able to vote after what happened in 2000. What’s taking Florida so long to purge these illegal voters from the voter lists? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/22 "2012-05-29T01:56:19Z")
The problem I see is that, if you think you aren’t allowed to vote, you may be disinclined to cast a provisional ballot. Maybe out of protest, and maybe because you’ll hear the term and think your vote is useless. I am actually starting to believe that Republicans, despite the facts, really think this is an issue. They can’t fathom any other reason why they would lose the Latino vote. ---
**Author:** ![JBGUSA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/258eb7/32.png) [@JBGUSA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBGUSA)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/23 "2012-05-29T02:53:36Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > This is deeply sad and depressing. To think that there are democrats in Florida who are still legally able to vote after what happened in 2000. What’s taking Florida so long to purge these illegal voters from the voter lists? Some are so PC that they don’t mind felons or fraudsters voting. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/24 "2012-05-29T03:02:46Z")
> [@JBGUSA](#): > > Some are so PC that they don’t mind felons or fraudsters voting. Cite that there are any? The Bush Admin and its DoJ spent two terms looking nationwide for cases of ineligible voters voting and could not come up with a dozen. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/25 "2012-05-29T13:26:32Z")
**JBGUSA** , your posts to this thread are incomprehensible. They might as well be in Mandarin. Except the last one, where you got utterly whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/26 "2012-05-29T14:11:21Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I am actually starting to believe that Republicans, despite the facts, really think this is an issue. They can’t fathom any other reason why they would lose the Latino vote. **Are** they losing it? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/27 "2012-05-29T21:58:42Z")
> [@JBGUSA](#): > > Some are so PC that they don’t mind felons or fraudsters voting. Can you provide, within the next 30 days, 10 accurate and verifiable cases of illegal vote tampering in Florida in the last election? Not someone saying the numbers don’t add up but no data, not someone saying “But… ACORN!!!” Actual fraudulent voting that was documented to have occurred. I am willing to bet you can’t, because there is no such thing. It also seems that the folks who created this list didn’t cross reference it against a listing of those who petitioned to get their voting rights restored (which, interestingly enough, was made MUCH more difficult in Florida just last year… hmmm). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/28 "2012-05-29T23:25:47Z")
I think it’s pretty clear by now that RWs/Pubs place little to no civic value on voter turnout as such. They seem to have internalized [the narrative of the late Paul Weyrich:](http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x428116) > [@Paul Weyrich](#): > > How many of our Christians have what I call the goo-goo syndrome? Good government. > > They want everybody to vote! > > I don’t want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people, they never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. > > As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as voting populace goes down. Anyone care to argue that Pubs/RWs in general have **not** adopted this attitude? Or that it is a defensible one? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/29 "2012-05-29T23:39:24Z")
> [@JBGUSA](#): > > Some are so PC that they don’t mind felons or fraudsters voting. Citation quite very badly needed. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/30 "2012-06-01T03:23:59Z")
[Justice Department Demands Florida Stop Purging Voter Rolls](http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/justice_department_demands_florida_stop_purging_voter_rolls.php?ref=fpa) and in the spirit of good news for democracy: [Fla. limits on voter registration drives blocked](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/31/2826038/fla-limits-on-voter-registration.html) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/31 "2012-06-01T04:05:57Z")
[Check this out:](http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/91-Year-Old-WWII-Veteran-Accused-Of-Ineligible-Voting.html) > [@](#): > > A 91-year-old World War II veteran, who faces losing the right to vote after state officials flagged thousands of people who may be ineligible, is now getting backup from two South Florida congressmen. > > Bill Internicola, Congressmen Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) and Alcee Hastings (D-Miramar) announced Tuesday they will send a letter to Gov. Rick Scott protesting the voting purge. > > \ > > Internicola, who was born in Brooklyn, said he served in the Army for almost four years and was rewarded with the Bronze Star and the Chevalier Legion of Honor from France. > > “I am glad that somebody took an interest in this, and I hope it does some good,” he said about the case. > > The state has not commented specifically on it. > > Internicola received the letter from the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office days ago. > > “We have received information from the state of Florida that you are not a United States citizen yet you are registered to vote,” Deutch read from the letter. “You have 30 days to act on this notice or be removed from our voter rolls.” > > Deutch said the letter told Internicola he could request an administrative hearing to prove his citizenship. > > Internicola, who said he had voted in Florida for the past 15 years, was flabbergasted. > > “I really don’t understand it,” he said. “To me, it is like an insult.” > > Internicola has yet to hear back from the elections office but said he filled out the necessary information and sent a copy of his discharge paper. Well, it’s understandable. “Internicola”? That’s not a real American name, that’s some kinda too-elaborate madeup porn name! ---
**Author:** ![Oldeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oldeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oldeb)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/32 "2012-06-01T16:49:28Z")
[Florida voter purge may not stop despite Federal demand.](http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-01/news/os-doj-strikes-down-voter-purge-20120601_1_voter-purge-voter-registration-national-voter-rights-act) The DoJ sent the letter to Florida Secretary of State Detzner. Detzner says it’s up to the counties if they want to keep up the purge. Seminole and South Florida counties have both said they are going to continue. Mike Ertel, the Elections Supervisor of Seminole County, has said he absolutely will continue until he receives an injunction ordering him to stop. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/33 "2012-06-01T16:59:39Z")
This is a very, very worrisome development. What if Florida flips the DOJ the bird and claims some “state’s rights” justification? The DOJ takes them to court? How long will that take? If Florida insists on proceeding, and the election is held under this cloud, how will we ever sort out who legally won? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/34 "2012-06-01T17:08:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This is a very, very worrisome development. What if Florida flips the DOJ the bird and claims some “state’s rights” justification? The DOJ takes them to court? How long will that take? If Florida insists on proceeding, and the election is held under this cloud, how will we ever sort out who legally won? That’s precisely the sort of situation that usually results in an injunction to cease and desist until the legalities are definitively settled. If they still don’t follow the order… well, that’s why federal agents carry guns, not walkie-talkies. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/35 "2012-06-01T17:33:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And who is giving out this “walking around money”? IME, get-out-the-vote drives might offer a free ride to the polls, that’s it. Are you seriously denying the existence of walking-around money? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/36 "2012-06-01T17:35:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Are you seriously denying the existence of walking-around money? I am demanding **JBGUSA** provide a cite for what he’s talking about. Demanding that is the Dope way, and so is providing it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/37 "2012-06-01T17:38:36Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [Justice Department Demands Florida Stop Purging Voter Rolls](http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/justice_department_demands_florida_stop_purging_voter_rolls.php?ref=fpa) > and in the spirit of good news for democracy: > > [Fla. limits on voter registration drives blocked](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/31/2826038/fla-limits-on-voter-registration.html) I agree. The judge didn’t block the parts of that law I find extremely valuable: voter registration drive workers have to register with the state, and affix identification numbers on the backs of all applications they handle. As long as that requirement survives – and it has – I am happy. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/38 "2012-06-01T17:57:54Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I am demanding **JBGUSA** provide a cite for what he’s talking about. Demanding that is the Dope way, and so is providing it. Well, yes… if someone makes a claim you doubt. If someone makes a claim to you know to be true, but don’t wish to acknowledge, then you might also demand a cite, under the theory that it’s far easier to type the word “Cite?” than it is to actually go out and get a cite. So we (or at least I) sort of hope than when someone says “Cite?” they are asking because they genuinely either doubt the truth of the assertion or wish additional details. Someone who demands a cite for the purposes of denying what he knows to be true anyway is not, in my opinion, doing things the Dope way. So that’s why I ask you, incredulously, if you were genuinely unaware of the practice of handing out “walking-around money.” But to the extent you were, [here is a good overview from Slate.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/10/whats_street_money.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/39 "2012-06-01T18:08:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Are you seriously denying the existence of walking-around money? > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I am demanding **JBGUSA** provide a cite for what he’s talking about. Demanding that is the Dope way, and so is providing it. **Bricker** , you may want to take a second quick look at the initial exchange. BG clearly recognizes the traditional concept of WaM (loosely paying for gas, food, etc. for registration drives conducted by party officials) in his post, but is reacting to the contention that people are receiving cash for votes. Not that it never been an issue, but so far from current reality that BG was right to call for a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092/40 "2012-06-01T18:10:06Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > **Bricker** , you may want to take a second quick look at the initial exchange. BG clearly recognizes the traditional concept of WaM (loosely paying for gas, food, etc. for registration drives conducted by party officials) in his post, but is reacting to the contention that people are receiving cash for votes. Not that it never been an issue, but so far from current reality that BG was right to call for a cite. Ahhhh… My mistake, then. And it’s a fair point – the phrase has been used to refer to either of those kinds of activites. I’m sorry. My bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-congressman-demands-gov-rick-scott-immediately-suspend-voter-purge/623092.md?page=3)