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Rick Scott Is Determined To Disenfranchise Floridians

April 26, 2018 - 10:45am

Yesterday the 11th Circuit, by a vote of 2-1, gave Rick Scott a stay of Judge Mark Walker’s order to implement a new clemency program.

Rick Scott is DETERMINED to keep a large group of Floridians disenfranchised.

I guess Scott doesn’t believe in second chances.

Never mind that Rick Scott and Hospital Corporation of American (HCA) received a second chance.

The federal government allowed HCA, the company Scott founded and ran, to pay a record-breaking fine, and allowed it to continue operating. HCA didn’t have to wait a minimum of five years before operating again, you know, to make sure they had learned their lesson.

Rick Scott and HCA defrauded the government. 

If Rick Scott wants to make sure that folks “keep their noses clean,” why didn't HE make sure HCA's stayed clean?

Gee. I guess what is good for the goose, is not good for the gander.

What exactly is Rick Scott afraid of? That those voters won’t vote for him?

Trust me, there are a lot of voters who aren’t going to vote for him NOW.

His Jim Crow-era clemency rules are designed to keep a segment of Florida’s population from participating in the political process AFTER paying their debt.

Just like Rick Scott's HCA paid ITS debt. A whopping one.

Rick Scott claims he wants to make sure returning citizens are rehabilitated.

Maybe, just maybe, if they aren’t rehabilitated, it’s a problem with our criminal justice system. Has Rick Scott looked into improving that?

Of course not. You see, Scott wants to control the outcome of his campaign for U.S. Senate. He wants to ensure people who may not vote for him AREN’T able to vote at all.

He isn’t concerned about the rehabilitation of ex-felons. He is concerned about winning a U.S. Senate seat.

Rick Scott may as well require voters to count the number of bubbles in a bar of soap, before they can vote.

I’m sure he would, if he could, so I guess I'd better not give him any ideas.

Leslie Wimes, a Sunshine State News columnist, is founder and president of Women on the Move and the Democratic African American Women Caucus, www.daawc.com. Follow Leslie on Twitter: @womenonthemove1

Comments

Thank you Ms Wimes for finally addressing this subject. Whenever any citizens rights are infringed we are all diminished. The right to vote is a fundamental citizens right. The current system comes out of the Jim Crowe era, using an attempt to protect the right to vote to restrict it. Any person who has no voice in the process that rules them is a subject not a citizen. In fact, we fought a revolution over it, over taxation without representation. The most important rights to protect are those we disagree with because if we don't protect them we can't expect anyone to protect ours. If government can create a exception to our rights, the next exception may be you.

Thank you Ms Wimes for finally addressing this subject. Whenever any citizens rights are infringed we are all diminished. The right to vote is a fundamental citizens right. The current system comes out of the Jim Crowe era, using an attempt to protect the right to vote to restrict it. Any person who has no voice in the process that rules them is a subject not a citizen. In fact, we fought a revolution over it, over taxation without representation. The most important rights to protect are those we disagree with because if we don't protect them we can't expect anyone to protect ours. If government can create a exception to our rights, the next exception may be you.

Rein your followers in Leslie.... Al Sharpton is not the phoney savior or prophet to follow in this battle; His presence always ignites and enflames ALL concerned, and he leaves destruction in his path. "His way" is not the way to accomplish 'change'; Al couldn't "hold a candle" to "MLK's" or "Ghandi's" methods of accomplishing 'change'...

The rights restoration process needs to be reformed. Automatic restoration is NOT the answer. Nor is the long and painful process currently in place. As for controlling the vote this November .... Any politician will try to do whatever they can. My concern is interference by an outside influence. Not the Russians... the Rev. Al Sharpton. I really don't care if he's trying to emulate the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Dr. MLK's cause was a national issue. This one is a localized issue which the state is trying to fix. Rev. Sharptons' presence promoting one point of view will make changing the process contentious. Low key involvement is one thing, But Al Sharpton doesn't understand low key. Being OVER THE TOP only bolsters his facade and eventually enriches his war chest.

I'm FOR restoring voting rights to ex felons. It amazes me the number of no votes the survey shows. Here's MY thought. And this has nothing to do whether I'm on either side of a political fence. Which I'm not on either side. Once paroled, a convicted felon must work, and stay out of trouble for 5 years. After that period, his or her voting rights would be restored. If they commit another felony after that period, then they lose their right to vote forever. As a humane society, we owe everyone, who wants it, a second chance. This has nothing to do with whether one votes Republican or Democrat. If we were all one party, it would be an Autocratic State. Seig Heil!

Why not increase the waiting period to ten years and then automatically restore voting rights? This, of course, assumes that the individual has completed his/her sentence, probation, made full restitution to all victims involved and, most importantly has not committed any crime (felony or misdemeanor). During this 10-year waiting period, he/she would be prohibited from purchasing, owning or possessing any type of firearm or weapon. If the felon remains “clean” for the 10-year waiting period, then rights should be automatically restored. It’s the “processing time” that is the real issue.

So al sharp ton and dems can bus in and pay for the votes! Isn’t it enough that the dems convince the dead to vote ?!

Don't you think dead folks will vote for Skelator? BTW, if he buys a senate seat will Dirty Rick sit between Lyin Ted and Lil Marco? Marco has grown a bit of a spine, showing up at the CNN libfest on Parkland and taking the heat, and now seeming to keep his nose out of Nelson vs Scott. Moderates like Nelson are in danger and in short supply. Independents are going to eat Rick and his bank account alive. Watch 1 minute of that depo and try to tell yourself he's not the slimiest thing in politics.

Just come up with a fair, honest system. It is hard to use the words fair and honest in anything having to do with Rick Scott, but hey, at least the next person might be a little better, especially if they didn't just buy the job...

Sounds like Scott and his support base fear the basic concept of one person, one vote. Wonder why.....?

Sounds like Scott and his support base fear the basic concept of one person, one vote. Wonder why.....?

To Daniel: if you are WHITE maybe you get to violate the law more than once before going to prison! Non-whites don’t get that luxury. White people get to walk into a black church, kill 9 people, then get taken to Burger King!!!

You're hilarious!! I am prior law enforcement, so cry me a river about whites getting more chances. I've seen rap sheets 10 miles long on most non-whites having been in and out of prison, and receiving probation all the time, so your supposed statistics are boring. Also, my race has NOTHING to do with this conversation or the subjrct matter. Get real.

Get a life Fool ! Can't wallow in your ancestors' victimization forever: or can you? See if you can find a little self respect...

You just might be the dumbest human being on the planet. That would be like telling Jews in Germany. Get over your grandma being gassed and cremated, at least it was not you, man up... You are a friggin' idiot...

SO, what kind of"Felony records" are acceptable to YOU, your family, and YOUR Grandma (who avoided gassing & cremation to "accidentally" become an American citizen...and breed an idiot of your caliber)....Take a look in a mirror.. (See ya at Sharpton's "Florida debacle...)

Yeah Leslie, since it was, after all, the criminal justice system's job to keep the criminals who habe not typically just violated the law ONE time, TWO times, or even just THREE times, but the crimes had to be very, very bad or habitual to lands in prison. So, enough of your pity-party liberalism over the little feelings of criminals. Also, it is a fact that criminals and illegals vote for Democrats all the time. Probably 95% of the time. For the great give-away programs and 200 chances to get back into the country, or 300 times to re-commit violent crimes. Your decision to attack Scott was juvenile.

Really, Daniel....

Yes Robert.

A felon who has paid his due to the society through the legal system , starts with a clean slate. He should have the right to vote. Period.

Only if he gets a Pardon from the States Governor.

So, you would let a convicted child molester live next door to your house with your children?

Irrelevant.

No, you're just in a life of the liberalism lie. Denial is a waste of your time.

It’s absurd to keep people from voting after they have done their time. Republican or Democrat.

Oh brother! It’s rather a wide brushstroke to say Scott is denying anyone a 2nd chance?! No where in this grunting and moaning article does it state who Scott is denying voting privilege? Is it convicted felons? That’s been the case in Florida and many states! Voting is a privilege, not a rugh sweetie! I’m not sure I believe convicted felons should vote?

Convicted felons should judge in advance of their crime(s) what all of the consequences would be. Conviction of a felony rightfully takes away voting privileges and other privileges.

You are wrong. It isn’t “many states”. Florida is one of three or four states that still employ this draconian measure. Put your partisan politics aside.

So voting is a privilege (voting is no more a fundamental right than possessing guns) but bearing arms is a constitutional RIGHT, yet convicted felons cannot have firearms. Your opinion is irrational.

So you believe they should be able to have firearms too, since they've "paid their debt to society"?

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