Barack Obama is proof that Georgia needs no Voting Rights Act, Sonny Perdue argues
Gov. Sonny Perdue is positing that Barack Obama’s performance in Georgia during the 2008 presidential elections is proof enough that the state should be freed of federal scrutiny mandated by the Voting Rights Act.
Through a private lawyer, the governor has filed an amicus brief in the case of Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, which will be argued in April and is predicted to be the most important case involving race and election law that the U.S. Supreme Court has heard in years.
Read Perdue’s 36-page argument here.
The Texas lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires federal approval for any change in election law in nine states, including Texas and Georgia, and parts of seven others.
The friend-of-the-court brief was drawn up by Anne Lewis, deputy counsel for the state GOP, after Attorney General Thurbert Baker — a Democrat and an African-American — refused. Lewis, who did not charge for her services, successfully defended the Georgia law that requires voters to present photo identification.
Perdue makes two basic arguments — first, that Georgia is no longer the state that it was in 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was first approved by Congress. It was most recently renewed in 2006. Secondly, Perdue argues that Georgia has been held hostage by the behavior of local governments, over which — according to the state constitution — state government has no control.
The brief argues:
Equally important to his interest in eliminating the unnecessary hard costs incurred in obtaining the federal government’s blessing upon every single change in any law, rule or regulation touching on Georgia elections, Governor Perdue has an interest in correcting the extremely negative and totally erroneous implication of Congress’ action.
Today’s Georgia is not, as Congress suggests, a place where the state or local governments sponsor racial discrimination in the electoral process that must be curbed by the federal government. To the contrary and as the data below shows clearly,Georgia has earned the right to be free from the preclearance requirements of Section 5.
The 2008 presidential election, in which Republican John McCain carried Georgia, demonstrates Georgia’s progress, Perdue argues — although, not to be rude, most Republicans last December also pointed to U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ easy runoff victory over Democrat Jim Martin as evidence that their influence in Georgia was secure.
According to the brief:
Nothing evidences that support more clearly than comparing the votes President Barack Obama received in Georgia with the votes received by the last two Democratic Presidential nominees, Senator John Kerry and former Vice President Al Gore. In the 2008 election, President Obama received 1,844,137 votes of the 3.9 million Presidential votes cast in Georgia. Those raw numbers mean that President Obama received 47% of the votes cast in a majority Republican state with only 29% black population.
In Georgia, President Obama received a percentage vote 3.8 points higher than former Vice President Gore in 2000, and 5.6 points higher than Senator Kerry in 2004. Congress’ insistence that Georgia has “a continuing legacy of racism” in the context of the renewal of the VRA is nonsensical when an African- American candidate for President receives a greater percentage of the vote than his white predecessor candidates.
A state can escape the scrutiny of the Voting Rights Act, if it builds a record of compliance. But to do so is nearly impossible, Perdue argues:
Even if a county had a perfect record of compliance since 1965, one failure by a city or school board within the boundaries of the county will prevent the county from bailing out for another ten years. Similarly, one mistake by a city with a very small population will prevent the entire State of Georgia from bailing out.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
62 comments Add your comment
D'Vine
March 19th, 2009
4:32 pm
If it weren’t African-American INVENTORS where would we be…Let’s get educated…
BLOOD BANK
The idea of a blood bank was pioneered by Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950). Dr. Drew was an American medical doctor and surgeon who started the idea of a blood bank and a system for the long term preservation of blood plasma (he found that plasma kept longer than whole blood). His ideas revolutionized the medical profession and saved many, many lives. Dr. Drew set up and operated the blood plasma bank at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, NY. Drew’s project was the model for the Red Cross’ system of blood banks, of which he became the first director.
CARVER, GEORGE WASHINGTON
George Washington Carver (1865?-1943) was an American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave. Carver developed hundreds of products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans; his discoveries greatly improved the agricultural output and the health of Southern farmers. Before this, the only main crop in the South was cotton. The products that Carver invented included a rubber substitute, adhesives, foodstuffs, dyes, pigments, and many other products.
For more information on Carver, click here. For a cloze (fill-in-the-blank) activity on Carver, click here.
CRUM, GEORGE
The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum. Crum was a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a diner complained that the fries were too thick. Although Crum made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer. The customer, surprisingly enough, was happy – and potato chips were invented!
For more information on George Crum and potato chips, click here.
DORTICUS, CLATONIA JOAQUIN
Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus was an African-American inventor who received many patents. He invented an apparatus for applying dyes to the sides of the soles and heels of shoes (patent # 535,820, March 19, 1895), a machine for embossing (contouring the paper of) photographs (patent # 537,442, April 16, 1895), a device that helped develop photographs (patent # 537,968, April 23, 1895), and a leak stopper for hoses (patent # 629,315, July 18, 1899).
DOWNING, PHILIP B.
The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. Downing, an African-American inventor, patented his new device on October 27, 1891 (US Patent # 462,096).
DREW, CHARLES RICHARD
Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) was an American medical doctor and surgeon who started the idea of a blood bank and a system for the long-term preservation of blood plasma (he found that plasma kept longer than whole blood). His ideas revolutionized the medical profession and have saved many, many lives.
For more information on Dr, C. R. Drew, click here.
GAS MASK
The gas mask was invented by Garrett Morgan, an African-American inventor. Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army. For more information on Garrett Morgan, click here.
GOODE, SARAH S.
Sarah E. Goode was a businesswoman and inventor. Goode invented the folding cabinet bed, a space-saver that folded up against the wall into a cabinet. When folded up, it could be used as a desk, complete with compartments for stationery and writing supplies. Goode owned a furniture store in Chicago, Illinois, and invented the bed for people living in small apartments. Goode’s patent was the first one obtained by an African-American woman inventor (patent #322,177, approved on July 14, 1885).
LATIMER, LEWIS H.
Lewis Howard Latimer (1848-1928) was an African-American inventor who was a member of Edison’s research team, which was called “Edison’s Pioneers.” Latimer improved the newly-invented incandescent light bulb by inventing a carbon filament (which he patented in 1881).
For more information on Lewis Howard Latimer, click here.
MAILBOX
The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. Downing, an African-American inventor, patented his new device on October 27, 1891 (US Patent # 462,096).
McCOY, ELIJAH
Elijah McCoy (1843 or 1844-1929) was a mechanical engineer and inventor. McCoy’s high-quality industrial inventions (especially his steam engine lubricator) were the basis for the expression “the real McCoy,” meaning the real, authentic, or high-quality thing.
For more information on Elijah McCoy, click here. For a cloze activity on McCoy, click here.
MORGAN, GARRETT
Garrett Augustus Morgan (March 4, 1877 – August 27, 1963), was an African-American inventor and businessman. He was the first person to patent a traffic signal. He also developed the gas mask (and many other inventions). Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army.
For more information on Morgan, click here.
POTATO CHIPS
The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum. Crum was a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a diner complained that the fries were too thick. Although Crum made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer. The customer, surprisingly enough, was happy – and potato chips were invented!
For more information on George Crum and potato chips, click here.
RILLIEUX, NORBERT
Norbert Rillieux (March 17, 1806-October 8, 1894) was an African-American inventor and engineer who invented a device that revolutionized sugar processing. Rillieux’s multiple effect vacuum sugar evaporator (patented in 1864) made the processing of sugar more efficient, faster, and much safer. The resulting sugar was also superior. His apparatus was eventually adopted by sugar processing plants all around the world.
For more information on Rillieux, click here.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL
Garrett Augustus Morgan (March 4, 1877 – August 27, 1963), was an African-American inventor and businessman. He was the first person to patent a traffic signal. He also developed the gas mask (and many other inventions). Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army.
For more information on Morgan, click here.
WALKER, MADAME C. J.
Madam C. J. Walker (December 23, 1867 – May 25, 1919) was an inventor, businesswoman and self-made millionaire. Sarah Breedlove McWilliams C. J. Walker was an African-American who developed many beauty and hair care products that were extremely popular. Madam Walker started her cosmetics business in 1905. Her first product was a scalp treatment that used petrolatum and sulphur. She added Madam to her name and began selling her new “Walker System” door-to-door. Walker soon added new cosmetic products to her line. The products were very successful and she soon had many saleswomen, called “Walker Agents,” who sold her products door to door and to beauty salons.
For more information on Madame C. J. Walker, click here.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/black.shtml
D'Vine
March 19th, 2009
4:39 pm
Oh, YES…there’s more…
So, if We did leave…where would you all be. IN THE DARK!
African Americans have made extraordinary contributions throughout history. These inventors took advantage of their God-given talents to create products that simplified the lives of people all over the world.
http://www.littleafrica.com/resources/inventors.htm
Tony
March 19th, 2009
4:40 pm
The Republican party is dying out and they are their own worst enemy. Because they aren’t inclusive Latino, Black, Asian, Mexicans,Gays and Lesbian are not welcomed. Young people are more involved in politics than ever and they don’t like what they see in the GOP. They know this and the only way to win is when there is low turn out. They can only steal so many elections so they are trying to do away with the Voters Right Act. The South is the last stand for Grand Old Party the rest of the country is living in the 21st Century.
Bob
March 19th, 2009
6:19 pm
D’Vine:
Who was questioning the worth of black people or their contributions in history? That is unquestionable, I thank carver for peanut butter everyday!
However, none of your copy paste job has anything to do with the topic at hand. People were discusing the voting rights law if you missed the title page. Any comments in that regard?
Matt
March 19th, 2009
9:26 pm
Let me get this straight – 100 years of lynching black people who dared to vote, and everything is supposed to be OK after less than 35 years of mostly following the rules?
Yeah, right. The Justice Dept. should tell Georgia to call back when rednecks stop flying the stars’n'bars…
The Plain Truth
March 19th, 2009
10:59 pm
To Redneck Convert As I recall,you all had control of your state and were did that get us locked in chains and working on the plantations.
The Plain Truth
March 19th, 2009
11:27 pm
Alan,guess what we love white people alot too.Lets see what you all have done for us , your ancestors enslaved us,beat us,raped our women,seperate our family,destroyed our homes,bombed our churches,hunged,shot,and beat our ancestors, and you all are still trying to this day to take our Civil Rights away. But we still love ya. Yeah Right
Lou
March 20th, 2009
8:32 am
Sonny Perdue needs to be ousted,He does not speak for the majority.Sonny is trying to be a legend in his own mind.Like rush L pistol toting rebel communist.Wake up south or you will live in Russia for sure,you will have to ask Sonny if you can go to bathroom.
Bob
March 20th, 2009
9:20 am
To plain truth: Redneck Convert was being sarcastic. At least I hope he was.
The key word in your other post is “ancestors”.
John
March 20th, 2009
10:13 am
He liberals and AA’s don’t you remember when Sonny ‘lied” and got all that crap from the rebel flag people?
WelfarefortheRich
March 20th, 2009
4:13 pm
Sonny Perdue is drinking too much koolaid. I will petition and fight this personal vendetta he tries to impose on the minority in this racist state of GA. No Way Jose…..
Voting Rights Acts 2009 and beyond.
Another ploy for the repohoes to try to suppress the minority vote. Isakson tried before Obama became president thanks to Bushinator (compliment) he signed to reinact the voting rights. I don’t care what the cost is to taxpayers and myself Georgia needs and should have the voting rights acts for another 25 years as stated in the bill….
Your morning jolt: Southern GOP governors and the Voting Rights Act | Political Insider
April 13th, 2009
9:07 am
[...] Rights Act, which means any election law must receive federal approval before it goes into effect. See an earlier post on the topic here. To continue: Riley said blacks in Alabama register to vote and cast ballots in proportions similar [...]