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The American Spectator Senior Editor John Fund on efforts in a number of states to pass voter identification laws.
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Civil rights groups are appealing a recent ruling in Pennsylvania upholding the State's controversial voter ID law.
They claim it will stop over a million voters in the battleground state from voting.
They also say the whole idea of voter fraud is a non issue because so few cases are ever uncovered.
Are they right joining me now John fund of the national review and the senior editor of the American spectator.
And they -- the book who's counting how fractures and bureaucrats put your vote at risk.
Is there voter fraud.
You -- And what we have is the slop is collection system and industrialized country that sloppiness can created breeding ground for voter fraud let's take Pennsylvania.
It used to be if you to a few years ago Philadelphia have more registered voters have -- have adults over the age of eighteen.
We call that a clue what happens after my the F fourteen that might -- vehicle that something's wrong here -- six states -- election.
In the 1990s was thrown out by a federal judge.
Al Schmidt was a city election commissioner.
Just issued a report.
And recent problems in just 1% of the survey of those precincts in the city that -- sample found hundreds of irregularities.
So yes there's a problem.
And I think that was on -- 127 page reporting found double counting voter impersonation.
Voting by non citizens ineligible voters.
So in short anyway you can fake it to make it they did that in Philadelphia but is -- just -- No Pittsburgh -- the same problem to around the country Detroit Milwaukee Saint Louis.
Borders places in Texas.
There are lots of places were the tradition is you know did people may vote but that doesn't mean they leave politics.
Look I think we the Pew Research Center found that two million people -- on our voter registration rolls even -- -- dead now look I believe we should honor our dead.
But I do not believe -- representation without respiration.
Yes agreed are still out there let's let's talk about -- this this complaint from civil rights groups that.
-- this is really an effort to disenfranchise blacks in this country and and possibly poor Americans and keep them from getting to the polls sure.
-- what first of all many African American leaders support voter ID and 65% of African Americans in the Washington Post poll this month support voter ID.
Now the left wing critics will say.
Well 25% of African Americans lack a proper ID does anyone believe that that's just poppycock that's very patronizing.
Bottom line here's -- Pennsylvania's law did.
You have several -- you can -- you can use a government issued IB from the DMV you can use a passport military ID student ID if you don't have any votes.
You go to the polls.
And you can vote a provisional ballot and within six days you have to send in your -- provided by mail by facts -- person.
OK what if I can afford -- mail that well guess what.
You sign an affidavit that says I'm too poor to get the background documentation for an ID they'll still Contra vote and you can always vote absentee.
Even without marriage as people don't want the judge ruled Pennsylvania's law shouldn't be thrown out because he's that I can't find anybody who really would be -- -- -- -- I've read that it's a quarter of 1% of the voters who don't have -- well here's the bottom line.
All of these millions of dollars spent to -- these voter ID laws.
What if they spend -- -- small fraction of that trying to get people -- and solve the problem.
Instead they're spending -- -- lawyers like -- here's the other point that's being made by the left is that you just wanna hand that that election to Romney.
Here's a quote from one Mike Turner's -- I -- I'm pronouncing that correctly from eight Pennsylvania voter ID which is going to allow.
Governor Romney to when the state of Pennsylvania done.
What do you say to that what.
Think that was very an -- fallen inopportune.
But you know let's face it there's a partisan dimension near Philadelphia is 83% democratic.
If you reduce voter fraud and reduce the number of votes in Philadelphia.
It's gonna reduce some democratic votes so that part I'm not saying our partisan considerations here but there's Republican voter fraud that he should be cleaned up to in Kentucky they don't buy your vote with dollars it's a fifth suburban.
Which topic about that well.
It's interesting that you say that because in looking at your story on Pennsylvania.
You basically outlined how bad the Republicans control this for a long time and now -- the Democrats controlling.
I don't think anyone parties more honest -- the other but I do think one party now has more opportunity for some of its operative to cheat.
Republican machines are used to run Chicago Philadelphia -- -- Long Island they used to steal votes but they're all gone they broke up.
The machines that are left Chicago Philadelphia Detroit.
Those are democratic machines the biggest victims of voter fraud or minority reformers who want better public schools better services.
And they constantly see their hopes quashed because when they run reform candidates against the machine there -- elections are stolen right out from under them.
Interest and -- 4%.
Of Americans say yes we support voter ID laws so you are in the majority my friend thank you good to see John fund.
