MICHELLE'S BLUNDER – AT 11:38 A.M. ET:  I expect that Michelle Obama will become more politically active during her husband's second term.  Indeed, we've discussed here the possibility that she may enter politics herself, although she denies it.

If she does get more active, she'll have to do a lot better than a recent speech before an African-American audience that was absolutely bizarre.  She charged that voter suppression was going on all over the United States during the recent election.  No proof offered, of course.  Now seven secretaries of state (of American states) have replied, effectively and thoughtfully, to Michelle's wild charge.  From PJ Media:

Seven Secretaries of State have released a statement criticizing First Lady Michelle Obama for her false claim that Republicans engaged in voter suppression in the November election:

Unfortunately the First Lady’s comments continue the baseless attacks that have been made upon those leaders who are simply taking reasonable steps to protect the security and integrity of elections. This past election speaks for itself.

In Arizona, a state that has a photo ID requirement, Hispanic voter turnout was the highest in the state’s history. In Georgia, African-American turnout has remained high in each election after the state adopted its photo ID requirement in 2006. In Kansas, another state with a photo ID requirement, a minuscule .07 percent of voters neglected to bring their IDs to the polls and all were given provisional ballots and opportunity to provide photo identification later.

These examples reflect what is happening in every state that is taking steps to protect the integrity of elections. No voter is impeded from voting. And more voters become engaged in their elections because they have greater confidence their votes will be counted accurately and not cancelled out by illegal votes.

That is why Americans overwhelmingly favor photo ID and other election security measures.

Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State
Ken Bennett, Arizona
Brian Kemp, Georgia
Scott Gessler, Colorado
Jason Gant, South Dakota
Mark Martin, Arkansas
Tom Schedler, Louisiana

COMMENT:  Great statement, and accurate.  One of the most amusing things about the election was that foreign observers, sent to look for "voter suppression," actually expressed shock at how easy it is to vote in the United States, and how low our standards for voter identification actually are.

Why all the whining about voter suppression?  First, it makes a great "we are oppressed" issue for the remnants of the sixties generation, which still hang on and run our major news outlets.  Second, charges of voter suppression actually drive up the number of votes in communities being "suppressed," because people get angry and defiant.  And third, there are people who profit from voter fraud, so they will always scream "suppression" at attempts to stop it.

As with so many issues, the truth is twisted by news organizations that have political agendas on the left.  Crying "voter suppression" is like crying "racism."  It's part of the routine.

December 16,  2012