Comments (38)

jane wrote on October 29, 2007 2:28 PM:

His argument is that it is alright to discriminate against living black elderly voters because discriminatory condiditons in our society have caused many of them to die off.

He argues out of both sides of his mouth:

It is okay to discriminate against individual minority voters if you are not discriminating against the group.

and

It is okay to discriminate against the
group if individuals are not discriminated against. (providing fewer voting machines to the group if the resulting lines are the result of individual choices as to when to vote.)

Net and intended result: harder for the individual minority person to vote and a lower percentage of the minority group votes.

Suppressing the black vote is to subvert what he was hired to do.

High time he is fiired or resigns.

modmom wrote on October 29, 2007 2:39 PM:

APOLOGIZED FOR HIS COMMENTS? WELL WHAT ABOUT HIS ACTIONS?

MUCK NAILED IT HERE:

Bush's Legacy on Voting Rights: A Story from Ohio
By Paul Kiel - October 12, 2007, 10:32AM
In June of 2005, John Tanner, the chief of the voting rights section, wrote Columbus, Ohio's election officials to publicly assure them that the Justice Department had found no evidence of intentional African-American voter disenfranchisement in the 2004 election.

Not only was that an unprecedented move, former Department lawyers say, but the letter is another, and particularly galling, example of Tanner using the force of the Department to further Republican aims -- in this case, to hamper future lawsuits or investigations concerning the problems in Columbus.

"It really looked like the Civil Rights Division was used to run interference for Republican election officials in Ohio," former voting rights section deputy chief Bob Kengle told me.

At issue was the experience of thousands of voters in Franklin County, Ohio, in the 2004 election. Voters in mostly African-American precincts were forced to wait hours in long lines to vote. An investigation by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) found that voters often waited as many as four to five hours, some as many as seven, deep into the night. The Washington Post reported that "bipartisan estimates say that 5,000 to 15,000 frustrated voters turned away without casting ballots." The culprit, of course, was a scarcity of voting machines in those districts, one that seemed to follow a suspicious trend: "27 of the 30 wards with the most machines per registered voter showed majorities for Bush" and "six of the seven wards with the fewest machines delivered large margins for Kerry."

-snip

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004438.php

modmom wrote on October 29, 2007 2:41 PM:

Freepress.org covered Tanner's outrageous letter back in 2005:

An Open Letter to John Tanner, Chief, Voting Section, U.S. Department of Justice
July 2, 2005

An Open Letter to John Tanner, Chief, Voting Section, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Section in response to his June 29, 2005 letter to Nick A. Soulas, Jr., Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Civil Division, Franklin County:

Dear Mr. Tanner:

I was curious to find that you had “conducted an investigation into the November 2, 2004 general election in Franklin County, prompted by allegations that Franklin County systematically assigned fewer voting machines in polling places serving predominantly black communities as compared to its assignment of machines in predominantly white communities.”

Let me begin by suggesting the word “contrasted” would be more appropriate than “compared.” Indeed, the difference is literally black and white.

You praise the bipartisan nature of the Franklin County Board of Elections (BOE). But you fail to mention that the Director, Matt Damschroder, is the former Chair of the Franklin County Republican Party, and that J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio’s Secretary of State and the Co-Chair of the Bush-Cheney Re-election Committee appoints all board members as well as officers, and they serve at his pleasure. Blackwell’s actions throughout the election year were openly partisan and obviously unethical.

For example, I was at a meeting prior to the election where Mr. Damschroder informed a delegation of esteemed international election observers that he would have them arrested based on the orders of Blackwell if they crossed the 100-foot line outside the polls to observe closer to the voting site. Is that what you mean by “the spirit of cooperation?”

-snip
http://freepress.org/columns/display/3/2005/1158

freepatriot wrote on October 29, 2007 3:07 PM:

Tanner does not recant his analysis that voter ID laws actually discriminate against whites, but does apologize that his "explanation of the data came across in a hurtful way."

the problem isn't that the explanation came out in a hurtful way

the problem is that the analysis is faulty and disgusting

I don't give a shit HOW you explain it

john tanner is a disgusting piece of shit, and he shouldn't recieve ANY government job IN ANY CAPACITY

see how the explanation comes out hurtful ???

the difference is that one is statement is true, and one statement was made by john tanner

Mr Blifil wrote on October 29, 2007 3:13 PM:

That's no apology. That's the kind of reasoning my alcoholic dad and my control-obsessed mother with abandonment issues used to invoke: "I'm sorry you were hurt by what I said."

Never "I was wrong to say what I said and I won't say it again." It was enraging to me in my youth, and I still find myself enraged.

It's me! wrote on October 29, 2007 5:12 PM:

You know, I've seen John's face far more on these blogs than I ever did around the office when I worked for Voting!

It's you?! wrote on October 29, 2007 5:27 PM:

It's me - just wait until travel and leave behavior are examined by Congress. The one incident reported in the Washington Post is just the begining. As you know, Johnny Boy so loves to travel. And if you're real real nice, you too can travel to see exotic places on the government dime. Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, Califonia. Make a few calls while your out there. Drink some whisky. Have a good old time.

Out of leave? Johnny Boy will just let you work from the warm sands on the beach. No problemo!

judyinnm wrote on October 29, 2007 5:40 PM:

Someone needs to make note that what he said is true - a Republican is admitting that the odds are stacked against minorities living long healthy lives - this is an injustice, and it's time to do something about it. Like maybe better health care for everybody?

moondancer wrote on October 29, 2007 5:48 PM:

Nice sentiment, Tanner. Now the important part: your letter of resignation, please.

IceJustIce wrote on October 29, 2007 5:56 PM:

The sad part, Judy, is that Tanner is nominally a Dem. I checked his registration with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics. But he's obviously sold out and is carrying water for the GOoPers.

nofltwlt wrote on October 29, 2007 6:11 PM:

It is nice that he apolgized; now he must be shit-canned - good bye.

whitey ward wrote on October 29, 2007 6:24 PM:

Again we see the republikkkins eathing the shit they spread around our country. How long before we all use our last unemployment check to buy a gun and go after the GOP.?

judyinnm wrote on October 29, 2007 6:27 PM:

"Nominally a Dem", kinda like the majority in congress are nominally Dem? They claim to Democrats, but rubber stamp georgejr like the Republicans did.

judyinnm wrote on October 29, 2007 6:29 PM:

"Nominally a Dem", kinda like the majority in congress are nominally Dem? They claim to Democrats, but rubber stamp georgejr like the Republicans did.

Bobby Seals wrote on October 29, 2007 7:01 PM:

Sounds like Mr. Tanner is trying a last-ditch effort to "throw himself at the mercy" of the House Judiciary Committee. Kinda late for a mea culpa now, don't ya think??

If you live by right-wing conservative sword, you better be prepared for your career to be slain by the right-wing conservative sword. It's time for this two-faced, duplicitous charlatan and his band of cronies to be sent packing from the Voting Section, and get people with honesty and integrity back at the helm...

Power to the People!

not a r wrote on October 29, 2007 7:18 PM:

Ice is spot on - Tanner is definately a Dem. In truth, aside from his stupid comments, he acts like a democrat in much that he does.

Ken wrote on October 29, 2007 7:41 PM:

Deja Vu all over again.

In January 2005, Bush held a staged "Conversation on Social Security Reform". He claimed that Social Security is unfair to black people so they should support its abolition.

"African-American males die sooner than other males do, which means the system is inherently unfair to a certain group of people. And that needs to be fixed." -GW Bush

In fact, the Social Security Administration points out that, on average, non-whites in America actually gain the same or even more benefits from Social Security than do whites.

Ken wrote on October 29, 2007 7:43 PM:

Nipsey Russell replied with the following verse:

It shocked us both
My wife and me
That I've been dead
Since '93.

The fact is that black males who reach age 67 live, on average, to age 79, thereby earning Social Security benefits for twelve years.

IceJustIce wrote on October 29, 2007 7:48 PM:

Beg to differ, not a r. Approving the Georgia photo ID law was not "acting like a Democrat." Issuing a record low number of objections under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is not "acting like a Democrat." Forcing out the Georgia team is not "acting like a Democrat." Sending letters to Secretaries of State to try to make them purge their voter rolls is not "acting like a Democrat." Allowing the U.S. v. Ike Brown suit, to go forward, which sued a black elected official for discriminating against white people in Mississippi is not "acting like a Democrat." Going to Hawaii on the government dime is not "acting like a Democrat." Doing nothing about Ohio is not "acting like a Democrat." Running an office that black staffers refer to as a "plantation" is not "acting like a Democrat." Shall I continue?

Bobby Seals wrote on October 29, 2007 8:00 PM:

....And wearing ties with pictures of cotton on them is not "acting like a Democrat"! Don't forget that one! Dixiecrat, maybe....

IceJustIce wrote on October 29, 2007 8:17 PM:

Bobby,

The former Dixiecrats have all either become Republicans or have enough African-Americans in their districts that they would never wear ties with pictures of cotton on them. The constituents of the old Dixiecrats don't vote Democratic anymore. Black voters are the soul of the Democratic Party in the South these days.

Bobby Seals wrote on October 29, 2007 8:32 PM:

I know. I was just trying to be funny. I failed.....:(

My father carried a million IDs in his wallet, but he never lived long enough to collect Social Security. Was he minority or white? Grand prize is a trip to Tahiti on the Voting Section's dime!!

Anonymous wrote on October 29, 2007 8:47 PM:

From this hispanic - Who is this asshole? I'm from Mexico and I have granmothers that made it to their 90's. Ever since Bush became President all of these racists are out of the closet. What is happening to this country? I don't recognize it anymore. We have Lou Dobbs ranting and raving about the illigal immigrants every day and some Republican wannabe President have noting else to go on except immigration. What assholes.

IceJustIce wrote on October 29, 2007 8:57 PM:

I finally figured it out, Bobby...Tahiti, Hawaii, Cape Cod...all these places have water. Tanner and his crew probably misheard the front office when they got their assignments and thought they worked in the Boating Section, not the Voting Section.

wing and a prayer wrote on October 29, 2007 9:09 PM:

sooo, anyone think tanner is gonna still be chief end of this year? please, someone with inside info, please give me a new year to look forward to, a happy holiday season, a light at the end of this ga'damn tunnel. cant wait to watch the live stream of tanner testifying. i hope he wears that PINK TIE with the COTTON BUDS all over it. oh, he wishes he was in the land of cotton, ol' time ways no longer forgotten, look away, look away, look away voting section.

not an r wrote on October 29, 2007 10:20 PM:

Not entirely accurate Ice, but I'll leave it to you to figure out what you got wrong.

Something nobody has brought up is how Tanner keeps a copy of Chairman Mao's "Red Treasured Book" on the front of his desk so everyone sitting in front of him sees it. Talk about disgusting in a civil rights divison. Failure to produce Mao's red book on demand led to beatings an imprisonment. It has more blood as background to it than Mein Kampf. Millions upon millions died in the "great leap forward" and cultural revolution. This very book was the symbol of blind loyality to Mao. Production of the book had real consequences for citizens; if you didn't posess it, you were beaten or killed. Unlike Mein Kampf, it was more than context - it was an integral part of the repression of the civil rights of millions.

And John Tanner has it always sitting on his desk. How do you defend that one, stooges?

Cit92 wrote on October 29, 2007 11:37 PM:

DOJ alumni:
Tanner quotes "data" in his analysis of voting and dying habits. Do you guys collect data on this? What "data" is Tanner citing?

This sounds kind of like that whole "American Center for Voting Rights" ruse. GOP drafts up a report that details 'abuse after abuse' of how Dems have the system rigged. Then that dubious data leads the government to do questionable things (like implement ID requirements in Georgia) which in turn prompt the GOP to agitate more.

So what is Tanner's smoking gun data source? Can I FOIA the 'blacks die earlier' dataset? Or is he just freelancing?

[The Nazi party had a lot of data too...]

Jeanjeanie wrote on October 30, 2007 3:02 AM:

Take all your political correctness and stick it where the sun don't shine. I was a democrat for 37 years and the party and the far left have become just a bunch of crap.

Oh, sorry I'm not being political correct am I. Well to bad, I tired of the double standard the left has stuck to their rear end like something they forgot to wipe.

Oh, I sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

IceJustIce wrote on October 30, 2007 6:50 AM:

Jeanjeanie,

If you think protecting the voting rights of the most vulnerable in our society is a "double standard the left has stuck to their rear end like something they forgot to wipe," then you're as bad as Schlozman, von Spakovsky, and Tanner, and there's not much we in the Voting Section can do to make you see the light.

This is an argument straight off of Free Republic or RedState, and it doesn't even deserve an answer. Even our new Republican hires don't go that far.

Christine wrote on October 30, 2007 7:07 AM:

The government consistantly drives without a driver's license. It hits people's cars in the rear logically and intellectually and then states, "We don't have auto insurance.". "Sorry and catch me if you can!" Is it no wonder that Bush's people don't have to follow a respect of others policy making such unkind and annoying statements as made by John Tanner. The whole lot of USED CARS-POLITICIANS are unwanted. Their SUV's mind sets use too much gas to keep supporting them.

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