I want to talk to you today about memes I want to talk about the power of means
I want to talk about the power of means
I want to talk about the power of means and how memes can transform us but in
and how memes can transform us but in
and how memes can transform us but in particular I want to talk about how
particular I want to talk about how
particular I want to talk about how memes are transforming our democracy how
memes are transforming our democracy how
memes are transforming our democracy how they’re transforming the right to vote
they’re transforming the right to vote
they’re transforming the right to vote by creating a partisan feedback loop
by creating a partisan feedback loop
by creating a partisan feedback loop that’s damaging how we talk to each
that’s damaging how we talk to each
that’s damaging how we talk to each other and I want to talk about how to
other and I want to talk about how to
other and I want to talk about how to get out of that loop but let’s be honest
get out of that loop but let’s be honest
get out of that loop but let’s be honest for a minute when I said I want to talk
for a minute when I said I want to talk
for a minute when I said I want to talk about memes you weren’t thinking about
about memes you weren’t thinking about
about memes you weren’t thinking about the right to vote were you probably not
the right to vote were you probably not
the right to vote were you probably not you were thinking about those pictures
you were thinking about those pictures
you were thinking about those pictures you see in your social media feed you
you see in your social media feed you
you see in your social media feed you know it’s something cute and adorable or
know it’s something cute and adorable or
know it’s something cute and adorable or it’s provocative and it has words on it
it’s provocative and it has words on it
it’s provocative and it has words on it and the combination of the words and the
and the combination of the words and the
and the combination of the words and the picture makes you think of something
picture makes you think of something
picture makes you think of something take this for example
yeah it’s funny it’s cute this adorable
yeah it’s funny it’s cute this adorable cat who’s disappointed because Santa
cat who’s disappointed because Santa
cat who’s disappointed because Santa isn’t going to take her up as one of the
isn’t going to take her up as one of the
isn’t going to take her up as one of the reindeer you might want to spread this
reindeer you might want to spread this
reindeer you might want to spread this mean you might even switch cat for dog
mean you might even switch cat for dog
mean you might even switch cat for dog and as it spreads the more and more
and as it spreads the more and more
and as it spreads the more and more people who love this will say oh yeah
people who love this will say oh yeah
people who love this will say oh yeah right this is fantastic and if enough
right this is fantastic and if enough
right this is fantastic and if enough people under the right circumstances do
people under the right circumstances do
people under the right circumstances do it it goes viral right and so that is a
it it goes viral right and so that is a
it it goes viral right and so that is a powerful thing it and it’s powerful not
powerful thing it and it’s powerful not
powerful thing it and it’s powerful not because it’s true not because they’re
because it’s true not because they’re
because it’s true not because they’re Santa but because it appeals to our
Santa but because it appeals to our
Santa but because it appeals to our emotions it changes our thinking it’s
emotions it changes our thinking it’s
emotions it changes our thinking it’s short circuits are thinking now my
short circuits are thinking now my
short circuits are thinking now my argument to do you today is very simple
argument to do you today is very simple
argument to do you today is very simple the idea of rampant in-person voter
the idea of rampant in-person voter
the idea of rampant in-person voter impersonation fraud is a meme the idea
impersonation fraud is a meme the idea
impersonation fraud is a meme the idea itself is a meme it does the exact same
itself is a meme it does the exact same
itself is a meme it does the exact same things it transforms our thinking it
things it transforms our thinking it
things it transforms our thinking it inspires us to spread it and we have a
inspires us to spread it and we have a
inspires us to spread it and we have a debate about that and not about what the
debate about that and not about what the
debate about that and not about what the right to vote should be case in point
the President of the United States
the President of the United States before and after the election argued
before and after the election argued
before and after the election argued that there was a rampant voter fraud in
that there was a rampant voter fraud in
that there was a rampant voter fraud in fact after the election he tweeted this
fact after the election he tweeted this
fact after the election he tweeted this and many more tweets saying that over
and many more tweets saying that over
and many more tweets saying that over three million people voted illegally
three million people voted illegally
three million people voted illegally thus shifting the results of the
thus shifting the results of the
thus shifting the results of the election it has made a powerful
election it has made a powerful
election it has made a powerful statement in our society in fact it’s
statement in our society in fact it’s
statement in our society in fact it’s the justification for the convening of
the justification for the convening of
the justification for the convening of an election commission to question from
an election commission to question from
an election commission to question from the ground up how we vote in America
the ground up how we vote in America
the ground up how we vote in America today now this isn’t the first time
today now this isn’t the first time
today now this isn’t the first time we’ve had this meme of voter fraud
we’ve had this meme of voter fraud
we’ve had this meme of voter fraud impact our elections think back to the
impact our elections think back to the
impact our elections think back to the election of 2000 but don’t think about
election of 2000 but don’t think about
election of 2000 but don’t think about Florida though
Florida though
Florida though think about Missouri then Senator John
think about Missouri then Senator John
think about Missouri then Senator John Ashcroft lost his bid for re-election to
Ashcroft lost his bid for re-election to
Ashcroft lost his bid for re-election to the US Senate to the ex governor of that
the US Senate to the ex governor of that
the US Senate to the ex governor of that state Mel Carnahan there is one problem
state Mel Carnahan there is one problem
state Mel Carnahan there is one problem though
though
though Mel Carnahan had died the month before
Mel Carnahan had died the month before
Mel Carnahan had died the month before so in losing to a dead man
so in losing to a dead man
so in losing to a dead man the GOP reacted by saying there was
the GOP reacted by saying there was
the GOP reacted by saying there was voter impersonation voter fraud in
voter impersonation voter fraud in
voter impersonation voter fraud in southwestern Missouri Missouri voters
southwestern Missouri Missouri voters
southwestern Missouri Missouri voters were impersonating dead people in voting
were impersonating dead people in voting
were impersonating dead people in voting multiple times and this set off an
multiple times and this set off an
multiple times and this set off an investigation once John Ashcroft became
investigation once John Ashcroft became
investigation once John Ashcroft became Attorney General he investigated voter
Attorney General he investigated voter
Attorney General he investigated voter fraud and state legislators saw the
fraud and state legislators saw the
fraud and state legislators saw the concern about voter fraud and passed
concern about voter fraud and passed
concern about voter fraud and passed voter identification laws and they
voter identification laws and they
voter identification laws and they shorted the time that you could spend
shorted the time that you could spend
shorted the time that you could spend voting they shorted the deadline where
voting they shorted the deadline where
voting they shorted the deadline where you had to register the vote and the
you had to register the vote and the
you had to register the vote and the like all this based on the belief that
like all this based on the belief that
like all this based on the belief that there was rampant voter impersonation
there was rampant voter impersonation
there was rampant voter impersonation voter fraud but study after study
voter fraud but study after study
voter fraud but study after study academic study journal and lism study
academic study journal and lism study
academic study journal and lism study even the studies of Ashcroft’s own
even the studies of Ashcroft’s own
even the studies of Ashcroft’s own Justice Department found virtually no
Justice Department found virtually no
Justice Department found virtually no voter impersonation voter fraud so what
voter impersonation voter fraud so what
voter impersonation voter fraud so what are we to make of this mean well like I
are we to make of this mean well like I
are we to make of this mean well like I said before part of the challenge of
said before part of the challenge of
said before part of the challenge of this meme is that it creates a partisan
this meme is that it creates a partisan
this meme is that it creates a partisan feedback loop Republicans might
feedback loop Republicans might
feedback loop Republicans might literally believe that there is voter
literally believe that there is voter
literally believe that there is voter impersonation voter fraud or they might
impersonation voter fraud or they might
impersonation voter fraud or they might say this represents our views about how
say this represents our views about how
say this represents our views about how our election system is insecure and they
our election system is insecure and they
our election system is insecure and they say these are common-sense provisions
say these are common-sense provisions
say these are common-sense provisions designed to help our elections be secure
designed to help our elections be secure
designed to help our elections be secure but Democrats often see it as this is a
but Democrats often see it as this is a
but Democrats often see it as this is a power grab there is no voter fraud why
power grab there is no voter fraud why
power grab there is no voter fraud why are you trying to oppress minorities and
are you trying to oppress minorities and
are you trying to oppress minorities and the poor and then the Republicans resent
the poor and then the Republicans resent
the poor and then the Republicans resent the implicit charge of racism and the
the implicit charge of racism and the
the implicit charge of racism and the Democrats resent being called naive and
Democrats resent being called naive and
Democrats resent being called naive and we go back and forth and back and forth
we go back and forth and back and forth
we go back and forth and back and forth about this debate and then the meme
about this debate and then the meme
about this debate and then the meme changes and it re-energizes its brab on
changes and it re-energizes its brab on
changes and it re-energizes its brab on our democracy and we see different
our democracy and we see different
our democracy and we see different versions of it we see illegal immigrants
versions of it we see illegal immigrants
versions of it we see illegal immigrants accused of fake voting we see wrongfully
accused of fake voting we see wrongfully
accused of fake voting we see wrongfully registered voters voting illegally
registered voters voting illegally
registered voters voting illegally again the meme of voter fraud we see
again the meme of voter fraud we see
again the meme of voter fraud we see felons accused of wrongfully voting
felons accused of wrongfully voting
felons accused of wrongfully voting again the meme of voter fraud we see as
again the meme of voter fraud we see as
again the meme of voter fraud we see as we said before dead people accuse the
we said before dead people accuse the
we said before dead people accuse the voting but one of the things that comes
voting but one of the things that comes
voting but one of the things that comes from my own research in this area is the
from my own research in this area is the
from my own research in this area is the realization that the justification for
realization that the justification for
realization that the justification for all of these things seems to boil down
all of these things seems to boil down
all of these things seems to boil down to fears of voting and scant anecdotes
to fears of voting and scant anecdotes
to fears of voting and scant anecdotes of voting not hard proof and the other
of voting not hard proof and the other
of voting not hard proof and the other thing the thing that really disturbs me
thing the thing that really disturbs me
thing the thing that really disturbs me about this is that this discussion is
about this is that this discussion is
about this is that this discussion is happening in an era of the Browning of
happening in an era of the Browning of
happening in an era of the Browning of America demographers have told us that
America demographers have told us that
America demographers have told us that by 2040 if not before America is going
by 2040 if not before America is going
by 2040 if not before America is going to be a majority of people of color and
given these two things and one other
given these two things and one other thought that these accusations often
thought that these accusations often
thought that these accusations often target again minorities and the poor it
target again minorities and the poor it
target again minorities and the poor it makes me think that this isn’t just
makes me think that this isn’t just
makes me think that this isn’t just about politics this isn’t just about who
about politics this isn’t just about who
about politics this isn’t just about who gets elected it’s a battle about the
gets elected it’s a battle about the
gets elected it’s a battle about the identity of American citizenship who
identity of American citizenship who
identity of American citizenship who gets to be an American who gets to be
gets to be an American who gets to be
gets to be an American who gets to be seen as someone less than a full
seen as someone less than a full
seen as someone less than a full American citizen this is the debate that
American citizen this is the debate that
American citizen this is the debate that we are having when we talk about voter
we are having when we talk about voter
we are having when we talk about voter fraud now it is a classic debate this
fraud now it is a classic debate this
fraud now it is a classic debate this debate has gone on for as long as
debate has gone on for as long as
debate has gone on for as long as America has a
America has a
America has a think about the Constitution think about
think about the Constitution think about
think about the Constitution think about the beginnings of this republic the fact
the beginnings of this republic the fact
the beginnings of this republic the fact of the matter is that the National
of the matter is that the National
of the matter is that the National Constitution did not define the right to
Constitution did not define the right to
Constitution did not define the right to vote it did not define who got to be a
vote it did not define who got to be a
vote it did not define who got to be a national citizen that was left to the
national citizen that was left to the
national citizen that was left to the states and in this eighteenth and
states and in this eighteenth and
states and in this eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the early 19th
nineteenth centuries the early 19th
nineteenth centuries the early 19th century that right to vote that idea a
century that right to vote that idea a
century that right to vote that idea a full citizenship was getting given to
full citizenship was getting given to
full citizenship was getting given to white men who owned property women
white men who owned property women
white men who owned property women minorities the poor were deemed unable
minorities the poor were deemed unable
minorities the poor were deemed unable to judge their affairs well enough so
to judge their affairs well enough so
to judge their affairs well enough so that they did not deserve the full set
that they did not deserve the full set
that they did not deserve the full set of citizenship I call this the ideology
of citizenship I call this the ideology
of citizenship I call this the ideology of exclusion but at the same time all
of exclusion but at the same time all
of exclusion but at the same time all the way from the Declaration of
the way from the Declaration of
the way from the Declaration of Independence where we talk about all men
Independence where we talk about all men
Independence where we talk about all men are created equal to today there is also
are created equal to today there is also
are created equal to today there is also an ideology of inclusion the idea that
an ideology of inclusion the idea that
an ideology of inclusion the idea that we are all capable of voting so we see
we are all capable of voting so we see
we are all capable of voting so we see over history a long struggle to make our
over history a long struggle to make our
over history a long struggle to make our elections to make citizenship more
elections to make citizenship more
elections to make citizenship more inclusive and so we come to the point
inclusive and so we come to the point
inclusive and so we come to the point today where our laws say the right to
today where our laws say the right to
today where our laws say the right to vote should not be based on who you are
vote should not be based on who you are
vote should not be based on who you are other than if you’re a citizen so how
other than if you’re a citizen so how
other than if you’re a citizen so how does the meme of voter fraud relate to
does the meme of voter fraud relate to
does the meme of voter fraud relate to all that the mimo voter fraud stirs up
all that the mimo voter fraud stirs up
all that the mimo voter fraud stirs up the debate between inclusion and
the debate between inclusion and
the debate between inclusion and exclusion not because of what the laws
exclusion not because of what the laws
exclusion not because of what the laws say on their face but because we worry
say on their face but because we worry
say on their face but because we worry about the effects of the laws we worry
about the effects of the laws we worry
about the effects of the laws we worry that too many people will be wrongfully
that too many people will be wrongfully
that too many people will be wrongfully dissuaded from being able to vote and it
dissuaded from being able to vote and it
dissuaded from being able to vote and it stirs up this debate about who is a
stirs up this debate about who is a
stirs up this debate about who is a threat and who is not a threat in them
threat and who is not a threat in them
threat and who is not a threat in them to American democracy now the other
to American democracy now the other
to American democracy now the other problem is that it distracts us from
problem is that it distracts us from
problem is that it distracts us from real problems about American democracy
real problems about American democracy
real problems about American democracy consider there is vote-buying there is
consider there is vote-buying there is
consider there is vote-buying there is voter intimidation there are problems
voter intimidation there are problems
voter intimidation there are problems with registration given and
with registration given and
with registration given and equated registration rolls and looseness
equated registration rolls and looseness
equated registration rolls and looseness in the registration process
in the registration process
in the registration process there’s worries about Russian hacking
there’s worries about Russian hacking
there’s worries about Russian hacking that we have to deal with as a democracy
that we have to deal with as a democracy
that we have to deal with as a democracy the meme of voter fraud seems to
the meme of voter fraud seems to
the meme of voter fraud seems to distract us from all of those real
distract us from all of those real
distract us from all of those real problems and make voter impersonation
problems and make voter impersonation
problems and make voter impersonation voter fraud a concern despite the fact
voter fraud a concern despite the fact
voter fraud a concern despite the fact that there is no evidence there is
that there is no evidence there is
that there is no evidence there is virtually no evidence of such fraud it
virtually no evidence of such fraud it
virtually no evidence of such fraud it distracts us from another thing – it
distracts us from another thing – it
distracts us from another thing – it distracts us from the fact that we all
distracts us from the fact that we all
distracts us from the fact that we all want to live together in this democracy
want to live together in this democracy
want to live together in this democracy but to live together in this democracy
but to live together in this democracy
but to live together in this democracy we have to reason about our democracy
we have to reason about our democracy
we have to reason about our democracy and so the meme of voter fraud the fear
and so the meme of voter fraud the fear
and so the meme of voter fraud the fear of the illegal voter who no one can find
of the illegal voter who no one can find
of the illegal voter who no one can find makes us worry about whether our
makes us worry about whether our
makes us worry about whether our identity is a threat whether it be more
identity is a threat whether it be more
identity is a threat whether it be more conservative folks worried that their
conservative folks worried that their
conservative folks worried that their identity is being supplanted by another
identity is being supplanted by another
identity is being supplanted by another or more liberal folks worried that the
or more liberal folks worried that the
or more liberal folks worried that the conservative folks are coming after them
conservative folks are coming after them
conservative folks are coming after them we all get trapped in our fears but then
we all get trapped in our fears but then
we all get trapped in our fears but then we forget that what the likelihood of an
we forget that what the likelihood of an
we forget that what the likelihood of an event happening because we fear it has
event happening because we fear it has
event happening because we fear it has no relation whatsoever to the actual
no relation whatsoever to the actual
no relation whatsoever to the actual likelihood of that event happening we
likelihood of that event happening we
likelihood of that event happening we also forget that concerns about security
also forget that concerns about security
also forget that concerns about security of our elections and some concerns about
of our elections and some concerns about
of our elections and some concerns about making sure everyone is included in our
making sure everyone is included in our
making sure everyone is included in our elections are actually both essential to
elections are actually both essential to
elections are actually both essential to an effective American democracy and we
an effective American democracy and we
an effective American democracy and we also forget that it’s the politicians
also forget that it’s the politicians
also forget that it’s the politicians who have been running this system for a
who have been running this system for a
who have been running this system for a long time ever since America has been
long time ever since America has been
long time ever since America has been created in those state legislatures the
created in those state legislatures the
created in those state legislatures the politicians defined the rules about who
politicians defined the rules about who
politicians defined the rules about who gets the vote and they
gets the vote and they
gets the vote and they these tactics like gerrymandering poll
these tactics like gerrymandering poll
these tactics like gerrymandering poll taxes literacy tests to figure out who
taxes literacy tests to figure out who
taxes literacy tests to figure out who is their electorate and it takes us away
is their electorate and it takes us away
is their electorate and it takes us away from the way democracy is supposed to
from the way democracy is supposed to
from the way democracy is supposed to run which is that the electorate we the
run which is that the electorate we the
run which is that the electorate we the voters figure out who are politicians
voters figure out who are politicians
voters figure out who are politicians who are elected officials should be the
who are elected officials should be the
who are elected officials should be the meme of voter fraud puts us into this
meme of voter fraud puts us into this
meme of voter fraud puts us into this partisan feedback loop where we’re
partisan feedback loop where we’re
partisan feedback loop where we’re fighting each other and we go out to
fighting each other and we go out to
fighting each other and we go out to vote in order to continue that fight
vote in order to continue that fight
vote in order to continue that fight rather than solve the actual problems in
rather than solve the actual problems in
rather than solve the actual problems in our democracy this distraction that
our democracy this distraction that
our democracy this distraction that happens because of this meme is in peril
happens because of this meme is in peril
happens because of this meme is in peril lling us all but there’s a way out there
lling us all but there’s a way out there
lling us all but there’s a way out there is a way out of this feedback loop and
is a way out of this feedback loop and
is a way out of this feedback loop and what I want to share with you are my
what I want to share with you are my
what I want to share with you are my three fall thoughts on how to break out
three fall thoughts on how to break out
three fall thoughts on how to break out of the effects of the meme of voter
of the effects of the meme of voter
of the effects of the meme of voter fraud first of all and probably most
fraud first of all and probably most
fraud first of all and probably most important we have to remember that means
important we have to remember that means
important we have to remember that means work because they short-circuit our
work because they short-circuit our
work because they short-circuit our reasoning we’d rather believe that Santa
reasoning we’d rather believe that Santa
reasoning we’d rather believe that Santa exists then confront the truth that you
exists then confront the truth that you
exists then confront the truth that you have to buy those presents yourself in
have to buy those presents yourself in
have to buy those presents yourself in the same way the meme of voter fraud
the same way the meme of voter fraud
the same way the meme of voter fraud puts our fears in front of us whether
puts our fears in front of us whether
puts our fears in front of us whether they’re conservative or liberal fears
they’re conservative or liberal fears
they’re conservative or liberal fears rather than allowing us to focus on the
rather than allowing us to focus on the
rather than allowing us to focus on the real problems so that we can work
real problems so that we can work
real problems so that we can work together to find real answers so we have
together to find real answers so we have
together to find real answers so we have to do what short circuiting reasoning in
to do what short circuiting reasoning in
to do what short circuiting reasoning in any logic loop is in other words we have
any logic loop is in other words we have
any logic loop is in other words we have to ask why why are we afraid what is
to ask why why are we afraid what is
to ask why why are we afraid what is that is bothering us why is this me
that is bothering us why is this me
that is bothering us why is this me motivating me and then when it comes to
motivating me and then when it comes to
motivating me and then when it comes to voter fraud in particular demand
voter fraud in particular demand
voter fraud in particular demand verifiable facts to answer the question
verifiable facts to answer the question
verifiable facts to answer the question about the mean if we can start with
about the mean if we can start with
about the mean if we can start with facts we can all agree on that basis and
facts we can all agree on that basis and
facts we can all agree on that basis and then we can work together second we have
then we can work together second we have
then we can work together second we have to realize that the concerns about
to realize that the concerns about
to realize that the concerns about security of the electorate and the
security of the electorate and the
security of the electorate and the concerns about ensuring that all
concerns about ensuring that all
concerns about ensuring that all citizens get included are actually part
citizens get included are actually part
citizens get included are actually part of the same concern the
of the same concern the
of the same concern the inclusion/exclusion debate feeds off of
inclusion/exclusion debate feeds off of
inclusion/exclusion debate feeds off of that divide but it’s a false divide when
that divide but it’s a false divide when
that divide but it’s a false divide when we realize that it’s a false divide and
we realize that it’s a false divide and
we realize that it’s a false divide and we can work together to ensure that both
we can work together to ensure that both
we can work together to ensure that both concerns are answered we can get to a
concerns are answered we can get to a
concerns are answered we can get to a more inclusive election with genuine
more inclusive election with genuine
more inclusive election with genuine election integrity and finally we have
election integrity and finally we have
election integrity and finally we have to remember that the questions that get
to remember that the questions that get
to remember that the questions that get raised by the meme of voter fraud are
raised by the meme of voter fraud are
raised by the meme of voter fraud are actually questions about what it means
actually questions about what it means
actually questions about what it means to live together in a democratic
to live together in a democratic
to live together in a democratic republic what does it mean to live
republic what does it mean to live
republic what does it mean to live together in this community what does it
together in this community what does it
together in this community what does it mean to be a citizen of this United
mean to be a citizen of this United
mean to be a citizen of this United States and a with a constitution that
States and a with a constitution that
States and a with a constitution that forbids discrimination on the basis of
forbids discrimination on the basis of
forbids discrimination on the basis of race on the basis of gender on the basis
race on the basis of gender on the basis
race on the basis of gender on the basis of age when it comes to voting this is
of age when it comes to voting this is
of age when it comes to voting this is the realm of first questions and when it
the realm of first questions and when it
the realm of first questions and when it comes to inclusive elections the first
comes to inclusive elections the first
comes to inclusive elections the first question that you have to answer is are
question that you have to answer is are
question that you have to answer is are our regulations which create the right
our regulations which create the right
our regulations which create the right to vote genuinely inclusive to all
to vote genuinely inclusive to all
to vote genuinely inclusive to all citizens in such a way that we know the
citizens in such a way that we know the
citizens in such a way that we know the election is safe and fair because all
election is safe and fair because all
election is safe and fair because all citizens ought to be able to participate
citizens ought to be able to participate
citizens ought to be able to participate in this
in this
in this beautiful democracy so as I finished
beautiful democracy so as I finished
beautiful democracy so as I finished today
today
today I simply leave you with this thought I
I simply leave you with this thought I
I simply leave you with this thought I ask you to not disappoint the cat and
ask you to not disappoint the cat and
ask you to not disappoint the cat and work with me to break out of the
work with me to break out of the
work with me to break out of the rhetoric of voter fraud thank you
rhetoric of voter fraud thank you
rhetoric of voter fraud thank you [Applause]
”
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