Chuck Rocha Defending Illegal Alien Voting

Chuck Rocha pictured right, wearing cowboy hat

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

In Maryland 11 cities have passed laws allowing non-citizens to vote in elections.  Democrat Party strategist Chuck Rocha was on Fox News to defend the decision of those cities, and when the constitutionality of allowing non-citizens to vote in American elections was brought up he said that the document (U.S. Constitution) once said women could not vote, and blacks could not vote.

Chuck Rocha is an idiot, and apparently has not read the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Constitution never said that women or any minority group could not vote, and in fact in parts of the country women and blacks were voting prior to the passage of the 15th and 19th Amendments (of which were ratified with the intention to guarantee the privilege to vote for former slaves and women).  In Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution the manner of holding elections was given to the States (though Congress is allowed to pass legislation if necessary to alter such regulations) and it was the policy of most of the States to limit voting to certain groups or individuals.  But, as the United States matured, and expanded westward, many of those old standards were being challenged, until finally voting was extended to all citizens, regardless of sex or the color of one's skin through amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

However, what Chuck Rocha did not address is that while he was dead wrong when he claimed the Constitution once disallowed blacks and women to vote, it does specifically articulate that non-citizens cannot vote . . . four times.

In the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments, the following language is used:  "The right of citizens of the United States to vote..."

Personally, I am not a fan of the word "right" being used in those amendments, because I believe voting is not a right, but instead is a privilege of citizenship.  If that is the case, then two more sections of the Constitution are brought into play.

Article IV, Section 2: "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of the Citizens of the several States."

Amendment 14, Section 1: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States."

Again, the word "citizens" stands up firm, front and center, as a requirement to vote.

How can a country withstand the slings and arrows of a foreign invasion if they allow the foreign invaders to vote in their own elections?

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. -- George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary