A.G. Holder speaks for the President, not for the people or for the law

(author is George H. Rodriguez)

July 11, 2012

Dear Editor:

We need to set the record straight for the media after A.G. Holder’s comments at the NAACP convention in Houston, yesterday.

First, the law is not a “proposed” law as he stated. It is a law, signed by the Governor of the state of Texas. Holder may contest the law, but it is a law.

Second, Holder claims it will cost people to acquire a state issued identification and compares it to a “poll tax”. Not true, again. People who do not have a current ID will not have to pay to get one.

Third, he claimed the law is aimed at discouraging minority voters. Not, true. The law is aimed at preventing voter fraud. The law does not single out any racial or ethnic group to prevent their participation. It is for everyone. Furthermore, in states like Georgia where similar laws have been passed, the minority participation in elections has not been adversely affected.

Fourth, Holders and other claim voter fraud is a rare problem. However, if there is one illegible person who is voting, that is one person too many. Why should we ignore voter fraud simple because some think it is rare? Votes are the precious expressions of citizens’ public opinions, and they should be protected from fraud.

Finally, there is the irony in yesterday’s event because to enter the Holder press conference one had to show a photo ID. Why wasn’t he worried about the impact on minority journalists?

The Texas Voter ID law is justice and should be upheld by the Supreme Court. I am a Hispanic and I support it. 

George H. Rodriguez
PresidentSouth Texas Political Alliance