Wisconsin State Journal Hits GOP for Voter Obstruction Efforts

The editorial page editor of the Wisconsin State Journal came out with an editorial hitting the Wisconsin GOP initiatives in which "Republicans keep pushing for partisan advantage."

Firstly, good job, Scott Milfred.

Defending the Wisconsin Constitution, Article III, Section 1 ought not to be a partisan exercise as the news and editorial editors of the leading GOP dailies apparently believe.

Still, a few omissions from the State Journal's news and editorial coverage of GOP voter obstruction efforts deserve mention.

1. With respect to the voter GOP's photo identification card legislation, it's misleading to state the legislation is "tied up in the courts."

GOP-crafted photo ID is permanently enjoined from taking effect because it is unconstitutional, and has been found to be unconstitutional by two different judges. No one, who is objective, seriously disputes that the GOP's voter ID is unconstitutional under Wisconsin's expansive right to vote.

Ask any constitutional law professor, besides the GOP's Rick Essenberg.

Nowhere in the editorial is the word Constitution found.

2. Yes, the Republican Party is pushing for partisan advantage. But that's a sterile description for violating the constitutional rights of Wisconsin citizens. This attack on voting is an attack on fundamental rights, the very foundation of the state of Wisconsin. No need for the State Journal's Milfred to let the GOP off so easily. Nowhere in the editorial are the words civil rights found either.

3. Finally, the Republican Party has lied about its mission, objectives, and aims of the voter obstruction program. The editorial again lets off the Republican Party by omitting the fact the GOP's elected officials routinely lie to the Wisconsin people. When someone lies over and over, it follows that the person is a liar. Seems a compelling syllogism. Nowhere in the editorial are the words lie, mislead or misrepresent found either. Corrupt is also strangely omitted.

Nice job. But as the GOP attacks Wisconsin's foundation, and the moment is gravely serious because the four GOP justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court still could render an outrageous ruling upholding the photo ID-obstruction legislation [voted in by the GOP in a straight, party-line vote], I have to give the editorial an B-minus.

On Voting—Wisconsin Constitution, Article III, Section 1

Wisconsin Constitution, Article III, Section 1:

"Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district."

Ultimately, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will weigh this fundamental right of citizens to vote against the stated policy rationale of the "Photo ID" bill (AB 7)— protecting the "integrity of our election process," as Gov. Walker alleges in a blatant lie repeated endlessly by Republicans nationwide.

The judicial process of protecting the rights of Wisconsin citizens against the temporary majority of Republicans controlling the legislature and the governor's office will offer an object lesson in how the Courts protect the fundamental rights in this state's representative democracy.

To paraphrase David Boies arguing another civil rights case on the federal level:

There are certain rights in Wisconsin that are so fundamental, so valued, that the Wisconsin Constitution guarantees them to every Wisconsin citizen regardless of what a temporary majority of Republican pukes are willing to spend $millions on to keep their party in power, irrespective of what a majority of Wisconsinites may want.