President Obama talks voter rights at Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network convention

ANNIE KARNI

President Obama delivered the keynote speech at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Friday afternoon, where he blamed Republicans for trying to keep Americans from voting and encouraged New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote.

“This recent effort to restrict the vote has not been lead by both parties,” Obama said, speaking to a supportive crowd of about 1,600 at the Sheraton ballroom in Midtown Manhattan. “It’s been lead by the Republican party….If your strategy depends on having fewer people showing up to vote, that’s not a sign of strength. That’s a sign of weakness. And not only is ultimately bad politics, ultimately it is bad for the country."

He said it was undemocratic to force Americans to produce an ID such as a passport to vote.

“About 60 percent of Americans don’t have a passport,” he said. “Just because you don’t have the money to travel abroad doesn’t mean you shouldn’t vote at home.”


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/president-obama-talks-voter-rights-rev-al-sharpton-national-action-network-convention-blog-entry-1.1753835#ixzz2ycTitwJe