Perhaps the worst person to lead the crusade against the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would be those members who contested the results of the 2020 election using false "voter fraud" rumors.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) took to Fox News to blast his displeasure about the voting rights bill, saying that it would "threaten our democracy."
Cruz claimed that "the first bill" proposed by Democrats was HR1, which is false. The number, HR1 is given to the House Speaker for bills she wants to highlight. It doesn't mean it is the first actual bill. The first bill that Democrats passed was HR 335, "To provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces." It was passed on Jan. 22. The second, HR 1319 was the stimulus bill that Cruz and all other Republicans opposed.
Nancy Pelosi’s #HR1, better known as the Corrupt Politicians Act, is a profound threat to our democracy and to our… https://t.co/GCGvc0t8b5— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1616072633.0
He falsely claimed that "automatic voter registration" would result in "millions of illegal immigrants" being registered to vote. If voter registration was automatic, presumably this would be going off of Social Security numbers that aren't given to undocumented people. "Undocumented" means there are no government documents, like Social Security cards.
What HR 1 would actually do is stop fake voter fraud bills states are passing based on the fraudulent claim that Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Republicans oppose it because they oppose any legislation that helps more Americans vote.
In an argument before the Supreme Court March 3, lawyers for the Arizona Republican Party argued that allowing every American the right to vote "puts us at a competitive disadvantage relative to Democrats. Politics is a zero-sum game, and every extra vote they get through unlawful interpretations of Section 2 hurts us."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) admitted as much in a Senate floor speech in 2019.
"Just what America needs, another paid holiday and a bunch of government workers being paid to go out and work for, I assume, our folks—our colleagues on the other side, on their campaigns," McConnell said. "This is the Democrat plan to restore democracy? A brand-new week of paid vacation for every federal employee who would like to hover around while you cast your ballot?"
As McConnell said in the first part of the statement, it isn't a "brand new week of paid vacation," it makes Election Day a holiday since lawmakers made it on a Tuesday, which is a workday for many Americans.
The lies about the bill prompted many to attack Cruz and other Republicans who continue to use their power to take away American's ability to remove them from power.
See the tweets below:
@tedcruz That “profound threat to our democracy” is you! We know you support disenfranchising voters, you gave us p… https://t.co/UlSRgPNld3— Richard (@Richard) 1616077415.0
LMAO the HR 1 bill is designed to allow VOTERS the right to elect the public SERVANTS they choose. The gerrymandering you desire is designed to make voting difficult for those who vote against the right, it's why you're paranoid Teddy.
— Ron Skorstad (@ron_skorstad) March 17, 2021
HR 1, is to allow more people Access to voting, it's the right thing to do. But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you Mr. Cancun.
— Marion (@paw1028) March 17, 2021
Isn't trying to restrict voting rights, canceling a person?
— Gina Tucker (@romey415) March 17, 2021
how could I ever be surprised that my senators @tedcruz & @JohnCornyn spent all day tweeting about immigration & st… https://t.co/n69MUf8Dkl— Meghan Ross (@Meghan Ross) 1616031301.0
Something to consider, there aren't 10 Senate Republicans who can be counted on to support voting rights, by voting to end a filibuster.
What a damning indictment of the party once led by freedom fighters like Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt Eisenhower, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.
— Phil Frady (@pfrady) March 18, 2021
It protects voting rights which is why the GOP opposes #HR1
— METRIC SYSTEM = TOOL OF THE DEVIL (@chichester) March 18, 2021
Expanding voting rights is the opposite of a threat to democracy
— Exo (@DATguy_Danimal) March 18, 2021
only a Republican would see voting rights as a threat
— Zach Alan (@AlanW63278588) March 18, 2021
You sound stressed Ted, maybe a trip back to Cancun would help?
Listening to a party whose actively curtailed voting rights for decades through gerrymandering, voter ID, closing polls, one polling station for large black communities is pretty on brand for the GOP.
— Hank Scorpio (@predicterer) March 18, 2021
Imagine thinking protecting our constitutional voting rights is an attack on Democracy.
— Jake Van Santen (@JakeVanSanten) March 18, 2021
The threat to our democracy and to our republic is YOU.
You and your cronies who helped incite the Jan 6th attack. You and your cronies who hate women, minorities, immigrants, voting rights, justice, and truth.
— Jenn X (@groovychick1973) March 18, 2021
It's almost funny when you're accidentally correct. #HR1 is to protect the citizens' voting rights from corrupt politicians. You just admitted that all the republican efforts at the state level are attempts to keep people from voting since y'all can't win when all people can vote
— Pam Schexnider (@pmseverydamnday) March 18, 2021
@LeaderMcConnell @tedcruz @KevinMcCarthyTV This is what you are causing fyi. Apparently ya'll don't want equal vot… https://t.co/dGJsSfw1O4— Sax ♠️Team Sihtric ♠️ (@Sax ♠️Team Sihtric ♠️) 1615945867.0
Ted Cruz & Mitch McConnell tell SCOTUS Section 2 of Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional
This is a truly extreme position
They want to kill what's left of VRA so Republicans can enact unlimited # of new voter suppression laws pic.twitter.com/t5k5vYxt3h
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) March 1, 2021
