The Banshee of the Right – Ann Coulter – has come out of her cave once again, bellowing that because young people between the ages of 18-25 voted overwhelmingly for President Obama they should be punished and the Congress should repeal the 26th Amendment to do so.
The 26th Amendment was adopted on 1 Jul 1971, limiting the minimum voting age in America to no more than 18, in response to young Americans being drafted into military service during the Vietnam War. It was widely felt that if young men were old enough to fight and die for their country, they were old enough to vote in its elections. And who was the first American President to put forth this socialistic idea of allowing the young to vote? President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
During his 7 Jan 1954 State of the Union address President Eisenhower said, “For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America. They should participate in the political process that produces this fateful summons. I urge Congress to propose to the States a constitutional amendment permitting citizens to vote when they reach the age of 18.” – Read more: State of the Union Address: Dwight D. Eisenhower (January 7, 1954) — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/t/hist/state-of-the-union/166.html#ixzz155JtcX4S
So, almost 40 years after its adoption Coulter now puts forth the idea that young Americans are too stupid to vote, simply because they’re not rushing in droves to vote for the likes of John McCain and Sarah Palin?
Coulter says, “Adopted in 1971 at the tail end of the Worst Generation’s anti-war protests, the argument for allowing children to vote was that 18-year-olds could drink and be conscripted into the military, so they ought to be allowed to vote.
“But 18-year-olds aren’t allowed to drink anymore. We no longer have a draft.”
The point Coulter misses on the draft was made by President Eisenhower, “For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America.”
Did you catch that Ann? “… have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America.” That would mean during a draft. Your statement that we no longer have a draft is either a deliberate lie or you’re just too stupid to know that every young man in America is required – by law – to register for selective service. That would of course be for moments when “… in time of peril” to be “… summoned to fight for America.”
Coulter continues her reasons for repeal, “Eighteen- to 26-year-olds don’t have property, spouses, children or massive tax bills. Most of them don’t even have jobs because the president they felt so good about themselves for supporting wrecked the economy.”
Just one more lie from the Banshee, “…the president they felt so good about themselves for supporting wrecked the economy.” I’m sorry? Did they vote for President Bush? The economy was already well off the road and in the ditch before President Obama was sworn into office. But, when you’re a right wing banshee who cares about trifling little facts like that?
The Liberty Tree 