More Alterations
Yesterday, I posted the problems I had when the comment I posted on Rep. Cantor's blog were altered by the moderator. Apparently altering things to suit the party line is a major GOP tool. The tool was used recently on a commission report investigating voter fraud. From today's NY Times:
A federal panel responsible for conducting election research played down the findings of experts who concluded last year that there was little voter fraud around the nation, according to a review of the original report obtained by The New York Times.
Instead, the panel, the Election Assistance Commission, issued a report that said the pervasiveness of fraud was open to debate.
The revised version echoes complaints made by Republican politicians, who have long suggested that voter fraud is widespread and justifies the voter identification laws that have been passed in at least two dozen states.
Though the original report said that among experts “there is widespread but not unanimous agreement that there is little polling place fraud,” the final version of the report released to the public concluded in its executive summary that “there is a great deal of debate on the pervasiveness of fraud.”
The alteration shifted the emphasis for the finding of "little fraud" to "the pervasiveness of fraud". The shift was subtle, but the replacement of "little" with "pervasiveness" is notable. Given the fact that US Attorneys were fired for not pursuing voter fraud cases against Democrats, the findings are important. Further, and just as important, the alteration indicates a determination by the GOP to ratchet up the pressure for voter identification laws, which Democrats have been fighting, and for good reason. Another report, one which this same commission refuses to release, had findings which suggest why the GOP is pushing so hard for those laws:
And two weeks ago, the panel faced criticism for refusing to release another report it commissioned concerning voter identification laws. That report, which was released after intense pressure from Congress, found that voter identification laws designed to fight fraud can reduce turnout, particularly among members of minorities. In releasing that report, which was conducted by a different set of scholars, the commission declined to endorse its findings, citing methodological concerns. [Emphasis added]
Congress should demand the release of both reports. Even if the methodology wasn't as good as it should have been, an open debate of that is far preferable to the hiding of the bad news. Sunshine can be a great restorative for a sick democracy.
A federal panel responsible for conducting election research played down the findings of experts who concluded last year that there was little voter fraud around the nation, according to a review of the original report obtained by The New York Times.
Instead, the panel, the Election Assistance Commission, issued a report that said the pervasiveness of fraud was open to debate.
The revised version echoes complaints made by Republican politicians, who have long suggested that voter fraud is widespread and justifies the voter identification laws that have been passed in at least two dozen states.
Though the original report said that among experts “there is widespread but not unanimous agreement that there is little polling place fraud,” the final version of the report released to the public concluded in its executive summary that “there is a great deal of debate on the pervasiveness of fraud.”
The alteration shifted the emphasis for the finding of "little fraud" to "the pervasiveness of fraud". The shift was subtle, but the replacement of "little" with "pervasiveness" is notable. Given the fact that US Attorneys were fired for not pursuing voter fraud cases against Democrats, the findings are important. Further, and just as important, the alteration indicates a determination by the GOP to ratchet up the pressure for voter identification laws, which Democrats have been fighting, and for good reason. Another report, one which this same commission refuses to release, had findings which suggest why the GOP is pushing so hard for those laws:
And two weeks ago, the panel faced criticism for refusing to release another report it commissioned concerning voter identification laws. That report, which was released after intense pressure from Congress, found that voter identification laws designed to fight fraud can reduce turnout, particularly among members of minorities. In releasing that report, which was conducted by a different set of scholars, the commission declined to endorse its findings, citing methodological concerns. [Emphasis added]
Congress should demand the release of both reports. Even if the methodology wasn't as good as it should have been, an open debate of that is far preferable to the hiding of the bad news. Sunshine can be a great restorative for a sick democracy.
Labels: Disinformation, vote suppression, Voter Fraud
posted by Diane at 3:28 AM
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