I commend Stephanie Ruhle for covering the Texas Voter Suppression walk, allowing Beto O’Rourke and Rev. Barber to speak freely. But the misrepresentation of the poll is dangerous. Her producer needs to do better.
Stephanie Ruhle: Great coverage but that poll …
Stephanie Ruhle was great in the amount of time she gave both Beto O’Rourke and Rev. William Barber to speak. Her devil’s advocate questions allowed both Beto and Barber to enhance their answers.
Ruhle’s first question was about the optics of Texas Democratic State Legislators leaving the state. The implication is that they are not doing their jobs. The reality is that ensuring a lack of quorum is a part of their job to save our vote.
Beto O’Rourke knocked it out of the park. He pointed out that the legislators are heroes. But he goes further. He connected voter suppression to the slave wages in Texas. He reminded the nation that Texas is the state with the largest number of uninsured people. They are dying from diseases they should not die from. He could have also mentioned a failing electrical grid and water management, and much more.
“If we want to fix these things,” Beto said. “People have to be able to vote. We’re going to do our part in Texas. … We are going to be rallying in front of the State Capitol at 10 AM [CT] on Saturday. We want everyone to be there to stand up and be counted.”
Barber tells Stephanie Ruhle that Congress must act
Rev. Barber said that Democracy is in Trouble. He said if one says we see the latest attack since the Civil War, an appropriate response is necessary.
“The answer to that must be massive,” Barber said. “That is why we have to end the filibuster. … We have to pass every provision of For The People Act. … We have to have a restored Voting Rights Act.”
Barber also said inclusiveness must support immigrants, $15/hour Living Wage, and unions. He said we must have an answer from Congress, federal action. After all, that is the constitutional answer to voter suppression.
Stephanie Ruhle must flag her producer as she grossly misrepresented a Texas poll. Her words were true but they gave the wrong interpretation of the poll.
Ruhle implied that more Texans wanted the voting rules more restrictive than loosened. What she failed to point out is that 54% of Texans wanted the voting rules loosened or maintained as is. In other words, they do not support the voter suppression laws Texas Republicans are attempting to pass.
Barber points out that the Chamber of Commerce is a culprit in undermining the vote. And then he had a prescient statement.
“We say to the people in DC,” Barber said. “Stand strong. There are four things you need to deal with. Access to the poll. Gerrymandering. Ethics. And money so we are not treating corporations like people and people like things. It is time for us to treat people like people and corporations like things. And make sure we open up the ballot to everybody.”
Point taken.