When music icon Cher becomes the Democratic Party’s voice of reason, we are a long, long way from Kansas. Now, after blasting the idea of flooding sanctuary cities with illegal immigrants, the “Moonstruck” star has dared to question socialist Bernie Sanders’ radical proposal of allowing incarcerated felons to vote in elections.
In a now-deleted tweet, Cher openly pondered: “Does Bernie Sanders Really Believe Ppl In Prison Who Are Murders!? Rapists!? Child Molesters!? BOSTON BOMBERS … STILL DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE!?”
Cher did not explain why she deleted her tweet; the second of its kind this month in which she allowed herself to publicly express the inner-stirrings of some non-radical thoughts. Just last week, she blasted the idea of sending illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities by tweeting: “I Understand Helping struggling Immigrants, but MY CITY (Los Angeles) ISNT TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN.WHAT ABOUT THE 50,000+Citizens WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS.PPL WHO LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE HUNGRY? If My State Can’t Take Care of Its Own How Can it Take Care Of More.”
Speaking at a CNN town hall on Monday, Sen. Sanders (D-VT), the current 2020 front-runner, actually said that voting rights should be extended not just to convicted felons who have already served time (a Democratic Party constituency, BTW) but to men and women currently sitting behind bars, which would include: murderers, kidnappers, rapists, child molesters, thieves, and terrorists, like the Boston Marathon bomber.
“Would [you] support enfranchising people like the Boston Marathon bomber, a convicted terrorist and murderer?” an audience member asked Sanders on Monday night. “Do you think those convicted of sexual assault should have the opportunity to vote for politicians who could have a direct impact on women’s rights?”
“Thank you for the question, and let me just say this: What our campaign is about and what I believe is creating a vibrant democracy,” Sanders responded. “If somebody commits a serious crime, sexual assault, murder, they’re going to be punished. They may be in jail 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, their whole life. That’s what happens when you commit a serious crime.”
“But I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy,” he continued. “Yes, even for terrible people, because once you start chipping away … you’re running down a slippery slope … I believe even if they are in jail, they’re paying the price to society, that should not take away their inherent American right to participate in our democracy.”
When CNN moderator Chris Cuomo asked Sanders to clarify if he actually meant to extend voting rights to people who have committed some of the vilest crimes on the books, the socialist from Vermont doubled-down.
“Look, this is what I believe. Do you believe in Democracy?” Sanders continued. “Do you believe that every single American 18 years of age or older who is an American citizen has the right to vote? Once you start chipping away at that, believe me that’s what our Republican governors all over this country are doing. I believe every single person does have the right to vote.”