If you were going to make the argument that Alabama Democrats are out of touch with your average Alabamian, most people would agree with you, but some might also argue that Democrats have a chance to be relevant again soon in the state.
Um … maybe?
But if somebody would have told you at the beginning of this legislative session that Alabama Democrats would be opposing legislation that would increase penalties for rioting, looting, property destruction and attacks on first responders, you would have thought they were nuts.
Anyone who made those arguments would have been treated like a right-wing crank, and they would be dismissed as trying to create a caricature of the Alabama Democratic Party by tying it to the most extreme elements of the national left.
But, it’s true.
Not only are they doing that, but the leadership of the Alabama Democratic Party is also spending its time in the legislature making arguments in favor of voter fraud and people voting in multiple states during the same election.
Keep in mind — at least six people did this in 2018.
This bill by Blackshear would ban an individual voting multiple times but in different states in the same election. Blackshear says at least six individuals did this in Alabama in 2018. Stresses one instance is one too many.
— Sean Ross (@Sean_comms) March 17, 2021
The arguments they are using are perplexing.
Maybe it’s “voter suppression?”
Blackshear asks Forte if an individual has the right to vote more than once in an election. Forte ducks the question and claims the bill is voter suppression.
— Sean Ross (@Sean_comms) March 17, 2021
Maybe it’s “Jim Crow?”
Givan says not allowing people to vote more than once in a single election is disenfranchisement.
— Sean Ross (@Sean_comms) March 17, 2021
Maybe voter fraud isn’t a big deal?
Says not only should this not be a Class C felony, but we should look at existing voter fraud laws and downgrade the penalties.
— Sean Ross (@Sean_comms) March 17, 2021
Maybe we don’t need to stop people from cheating?
Hall directly questions whether it is "necessary" to prohibit individuals from voting multiple times in the same election.
She then admits she's asking for a change in the bill that won't alter her vote.
— Sean Ross (@Sean_comms) March 17, 2021
This should be a national embarrassment.
Alabama Democrats are advocating for voter fraud out loud and on purpose.
As I said, at least six people did this. Who are they fighting for here?
They could have just argued that Republicans are trying to make this an issue when it shouldn’t be.
But maybe Republicans knew Democrats would jump on this and embarrass themselves?
And they did, gleefully, with both feet. Multiple times.
The absurdity of these positions should not go unnoted. It should be a huge deal.
They are vacillating between arguing that voter fraud is not an issue and then arguing that if we enforce voter fraud laws the Alabama prison system would become overloaded with people who are voting illegally.
That’s right — if we start enforcing voter laws or even, dare I say, increase the penalty for violating voter laws, too many people will go to prison.
And you really have to wonder who this is for. Who is the constituency for the party that advocates for more voter fraud and more rioting?
The answer of course is no one, but these elected officials fight on in the battle to embarrass themselves and their party.
Just remember this the next time they tell you that the Alabama Democratic Party is a serious organization on the cusp of a rebirth.
They are not. They do not deserve to be, and at this rate, they never will be relevant again.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.
