Republican nominee Charlie Crist is thought to hold a commanding lead in the race to succeed Gov. Jeb Bush, so it's surprising that he went out of his way to endorse an issue long a favorite of Democrats: automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences. As in many states, Florida currently requires those stripped of their right to vote apply to have the right restored, with each applicant individually reviewed. The Tampa Tribune reported the story.
It isn't clear this change wouldn't require a constitutional amendment in Florida, but even less clear is Crist's motivation for his apparent change of heart, as The Florida Masochist observes:
I'd call it election year pandering rather than a conversion. How many votes does Charlie think this will get him in November?
And for those so worried about ex-felons civil rights, how about the civil rights of those who were harmed by these men or women? I'm sure some of these ex felons took the lives of people. How do we restore civil rights to the dead?I guess the dead can't get back their life, but their killers can get their right to vote returned to them. Tell me if thats justice Mr. Attorney General?
Read the whole post at link above. It's hard to argue that Crist isn't pandering, but it seems an odd position to stake out in a campaign where is he considered safely ahead. There are legitimate arguments about the procedure itself, but no one can deny it has been a major cause for Democrats in recent years - some of them even advocate allowing felons to vote while STILL IN PRISON.
Obviously, Democrats see felons as a potential major new constituency. What we have to wonder is how Charlie Crist sees them.
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