Voting Rights (and Wrongs)

On the 100th day of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a challenge to part of the Voting Rights Act. It's the part that requires some places, including all of Alabama, to get U.S. Justice Department clearance before making any changes to voting procedures. The GOP in Alabama has argued for years that we Alabamians have made enough progress to be removed from the chains of Section 5 of the Act. The New York Daily News editorializes against overturning Section 5 this morning by arguing that the results of the 2008 General Election...the one that saw the first African-American President elected...prove it is still needed:

"...when you examine voting patterns, it's clear not a lot has changed since the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. In Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, President Obama received only 15% of the white vote. In states not covered by Section 5, he received 47%."

Before you jump all over "those Yankees", remember that three of New York City's five Boroughs are also covered by the Act, including the Bronx where I was born. They do have a dog in the fight. But is President Obama's failure to win a larger percentage of votes in Alabama de facto evidence of racism? That's a question African-American Rep. Artur Davis obviously answers with a "no". He is, after all, running for Alabama Governor.