Regarding Obama promoting Voter ID in Kenya...

[alp227]

Last edited Fri Jun 28, 2013, 02:13 AM - Edit history (2)

I'm noticing right wing sources highlighting this part of a White House fact sheet about "U.S. Support for Strengthening Democratic Institutions, Rule of Law, and Human Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa":

Civil society and independent media play a critical role in any vibrant democracy. Across sub-Saharan Africa, the United States supports efforts to ensure civil society organizations and independent media can organize, advocate, and raise awareness with governments and the private sector to improve political processes, transparency, and government performance. Examples include:

In Kenya, the $53 million Yes Youth Can program empowers nearly one million Kenyan youth to use their voices for advocacy in national and local policy-making, while also creating economic opportunities. In advance of Kenya’s March 2013 general elections, Yes Youth Can’s “My ID My Life” campaign helped 500,000 youth obtain National identification cards, a prerequisite to voter registration, and carried out a successful nationwide campaign with Kenyan civic organizations to elicit peace pledges from all presidential aspirants.

USAID has more info here describing "Yes Youth Can" as " a national government campaign" organized by "the bunges across Kenya."

WeeklyStandard.com (not linking there to avoid traffic to RW sites) quoted WH press secy. Jay Carney from Aug. 2012: "...on the voter ID case, I can tell you that, as you know, this administration believes it should be easier for eligible citizens to vote -- to register and vote. We should not be imposing unnecessary obstacles or barriers to voter participation."

Well? Guess what, right wingers? Obama's 2012 campaign has done SIMILAR OUTREACH back home while Obama's Justice Dept went to court to fight such voter ID laws:

Field workers for President Obama’s campaign fanned out across the country over the weekend in an effort to confront a barrage of new voter identification laws that strategists say threaten the campaign’s hopes for registering new voters ahead of the November election.

In Wisconsin, where a new state law requires those registering voters to be deputized in whichever of the state’s 1,800 municipalities they are assigned to, the campaign sent a team of trainers armed with instructions for complying with the new regulations.

In Florida, the campaign’s voter registration aides traveled across the state to train volunteers on a new requirement that voter registration signatures be handed in to state officials within 48 hours after they are collected.

And in Ohio, Mr. Obama’s staff members have begun reaching out to let voters know about new laws that discourage precinct workers from telling voters where to go if they show up at the wrong precinct.

(New York Times, 4/30/12)

Sorry right wingers, Obama is NOT the clueless hypocrite you're trying to paint him as.

[frazzled]

1. I think you're pretty mixed up about this

First, the US doesn't control Kenyan laws. And you are confusing "registering to vote" with voter ID laws that require people showing up at the polls to produce ID.

You have to present some kind of identification to register to vote in most every state in the US as well, and have ever since I first began to vote (in 1972; and I have had to register in four different states). Thus for instance in my current state:

What forms of identification may be needed when I register to vote?

Two forms of identification with at least one
showing your current residence address is
needed when you register in-person. If you
register by mail sufficient proof of identity is
required by submission of your driver's license
number or State identification card number. If
you don't have either of those, verification by
the last 4 digits of the your social security
number, a copy of a current and valid photo
identification, or a copy of a current utility bill,
bank statement, paycheck, government check,
or other government document that shows your
name and address will be required. A person
may also demonstrate sufficient proof of
identity by submission of a photo identification
issued by a college or university accompanied
by either a copy of the applicant's contract or
lease for a residence or any postmarked mail
delivered to the applicant at his or her current
residence addressafter you registered, contact your election
authority.

http://www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformation/pdf/registervote.pdf

Please, this "everything America does is suspect and bad" has to stop. To get Kenyan youth to be able to participate in their elections is a worthy cause.

[alp227]

2. quote from the USAID link

"Without a national ID card, Kenyans cannot get a job, open a bank account or vote."

Kenya's laws seem to be like what's being enacted in Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania, and other US states w/Republican governors.

[DevonRex]

6. We can't change Kenyan law but we can help young people there

get the ID. They can't even work without it much less vote.

[Ms. Toad]

3. That is pretty much the extreme

A quick sampling here shows that a utility bill, government issued check, or last four digits of social security number are pretty much the norm.

Ohio requires no identification at all to register - and, frankly, I was quite surprised that so many states do have an identification requirement since demanding identification at registration is just as much of a barrier to voting as when the identification is required at the polls.

[frazzled]

13. Yes, Ohio DOES require identification to register

If you apply in person, you must provide:

Your name, address, county where you live, and date of birth.
Your signature or legal mark. Your legal mark can be made by using an assistive or mechanical device.
Either your Ohio Driver's License number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have a Driver's License or Social Security number, bring an alternative document that has your name and address: current valid photo identification card, military identification, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document. These documents should be accepted as proof of identity for the purposes of registering to vote.

If you register by mail and do not have a Driver's License or Social Security number, enclose a copy of one of the following that has your name and address: current valid photo identification card, military identification, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document.

http://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/vote-register

Here's the issue in the US, which is not about having to prove your place of residence and identity at the time of registration, but being required to do so at the polls, each time you vote. If you have been admitted to the voter rolls, then you should not have to show ID at the polls. Sometimes it's because you have aged and no longer have a driver's license, sometimes because you never had a photo ID--but were admitted to the polls based on SSN and proof of residency at an address. Photo IDs should not be used at the polls. But it's perfectly reasonable to ask people to prove they reside in the district and are who they are at the time of registration, whether it's with a photo-ID like a driver's license or by a utility bill or lease that has their name and address on it.

[Ms. Toad]

14. You are correct. I missed the last line on the form

(I was looking at the form, not the summary)

[Cha]

4. Pres Obama wants Gitmo Closed. It's not him that's stopping it.

•In Kenya, the $53 million Yes Youth Can program empowers nearly one million Kenyan youth to use their voices for advocacy in national and local policy-making, while also creating economic opportunities. In advance of Kenya’s March 2013 general elections, Yes Youth Can’s “My ID My Life” campaign helped 500,000 youth obtain National identification cards, a prerequisite to voter registration, and carried out a successful nationwide campaign with Kenyan civic organizations to elicit peace pledges from all presidential aspirants.

"a prerequisite to voter registration" They actually helped them out!

Not sure what you're complaining about, alp? ID cards are a "prerequisite" in Kenya to Vote so "Yes Youth Can" helped them get them. Just like I think OFA will help those peeps in the USA to get ID cards if they need them.

Next?

[Amonester]

7. ID cards also are a prerequisite in Canada & Provinces & Cities to vote.

They even are a prerequisite now just to open a bank account, or to get telephone lines installed at any new home, or apartment!

I dunno why it's so hard to get ID cards issued properly for everybody in the most technologically advanced country on this crumbling planet (US)!

A real mystery.


And haven't you heard: Obama's a dictator! He spies and he refuses to close gitmo!

[Cha]

8. Yes, I did hear something about that from paulbotHOOHA.

I swear this OP is like.. one more shit fire to put out from those who can't wait to find something bad about the Pres.. even though there's no there there.

Gitmo? Please. Promoting ID cards in Kenya? Please.

[alp227]

11. I'd just learned now about Obama doing similar voter ID awareness effort in the USA

I've edited OP to add a source I found on a DU thread from Apr 2012

[Cha]

12. thank you, alp

[DevonRex]

5. The KENYAN govt requires the ID. USAID helps youth GET the required ID.

"Promoting a Youth Focused Agenda

Bunge leaders are working at building strong relationships with local government officials as a means of promoting a youth-focused agenda. Since early 2012, the bunges across Kenya have been mobilizing youth in their counties as part of a national government campaign called “My ID My Life” to register Kenyans for national identity cards. Without a national ID card, Kenyans cannot get a job, open a bank account or vote. It is estimated that since June 2012, the My ID My Life has helped roughly 400,000 Kenyan youth to apply for an ID card. In addition, the program is supporting the development of a “Kenya Youth Think Tank” to research youth issues in Kenya with the aim of influencing policies to be more youth-friendly."
SNIP

So, Kenya says they can't do anything without them card. USAID helps youth organize into bunges (parliamemts) to get young people the cards and active in issues important to them.

http://kenya.usaid.gov/programs/education-and-youth/1497

[alp227]

9. OK i did some more research on this issue and made my OP with some more teeth.

Obama's 2012 campaign actually has done similar outreach back home. More details in OP.

[DevonRex]

15. Much, much better. It shows that the Administration is focused on community/youth

activism and organization. Even when we/they have to work within a really tough or hostile environment we/they can win if we work together. And the US can and does help the youth in other countries do the same thing.

At first it looked as though you agreed with the spin, but you DID very clearly state this was coming from RW sites and how they were twisting things. Your edit made it even more clear.

[Cha]

10. I 'splained the same thing the same thing

to alp upthread, Devon. Geeze!

[Gothmog]

16. Thanks for posting

There is some good stuff here