365NEWSX
365NEWSX
Subscribe

Welcome

Former President Barack Obama: We need to follow John Lewis' example and fight for our democracy

Former President Barack Obama: We need to follow John Lewis' example and fight for our democracy

Jan 13, 2022 1 min, 32 secs

And in that task, we have to vigilantly preserve and protect our most basic tool of self-government, which is the right to vote.

Some of these bills we’ve seen before: legislation that would discourage voters, including racial minorities, low-income voters and young people from casting a ballot.

USA TODAY Editorial: Senate can safeguard democracy by outlawing partisan redistricting.

Now, there are bills in front of the Senate that would protect the right to vote, end partisan gerrymandering, and restore crucial parts of the Voting Rights Act.

Sadly, almost every Senate Republican who expressed concern about threats to our democracy in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection has since been cowed into silence or reversed their positions.

The Voting Rights Act was the result of Democratic and Republican efforts, and both President Reagan and President George W.

But even if Senate Republicans now refuse to stand up for our democracy, Democrats should be able to get the job done with a simple majority vote.

There are already 50 Senators who support bills to safeguard elections.

The only thing standing in the way is the filibuster – a Senate procedure that allows a minority of just 41 Senators to prevent legislation from being brought up for a vote.

Historically, the parliamentary tactic was used sparingly – most notably by Southern senators to block civil rights legislation and prop up Jim Crow.

But we can’t allow it to be used to block efforts to protect our democracy.

That’s why I fully support President Joe Biden’s call to modify Senate rules as necessary to make sure pending voting rights legislation gets called for a vote.

But legislation that ensures the right to vote and makes sure every vote is properly counted will give us a better chance of meeting those challenges.

Summarized by 365NEWSX ROBOTS

RECENT NEWS

SUBSCRIBE

Get monthly updates and free resources.

CONNECT WITH US

© Copyright 2024 365NEWSX - All RIGHTS RESERVED