Posted on 05/12/2014 7:33:29 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., condemned his party's push for voter identification laws as "completely crazy" Friday, saying it's "wrong for Republicans to go too crazy on this issue because it's offending people."
The comments, delivered during an interview with The New York Times, make Paul the most prominent member of the GOP to speak out against a crusade that has energized the Republican base but alienated some of the young and minority voters the party hopes to court.
Notably, Paul disputed the political wisdom behind voter ID laws, but he did not question their substance or merit. He's previously said it is reasonable for states to require voters to present identification before casting a ballot.
The courts have put voter ID laws on hold in three states so far, with a federal court saying the rules in Texas imposed "unforgiving burdens" on... Thirty states have instituted voter ID requirements in recent years, though several laws have recently been struck down by federal and state courts.
Republicans, who have been the driving force behind the new laws, say they're protecting the integrity of elections by preventing voter fraud. Democrats, though, say there's no evidence of widespread voter impersonation or other forms of fraud. Many spy a more sinister motive, accusing Republicans of trying to depress turnout among students, African-Americans and other groups that lean Democratic and are more likely to lack a photo ID.
Paul, who has acknowledged that he is weighing a presidential bid in 2016, has urged his party to expand its appeal, and he has reached out in recent months to groups that don't traditionally align with the GOP.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I’d like to think Senator Paul for revealing his true colors well ahead of the presidential primaries.
Rand seems to push me further and further away each day. However, I must remember the source and am hopefule a FReeper will give us the truth of what was said.
That said, why is there such a push from the left against requiring an ID to vote, while an ID is required to complete a the new citizenship mandate of buying health care?
Randy’s daddy, Ron, has no problem with “open borders” and evidently neither does Randy!
Hopefully, you will climb off the Rand Paul bandstand as he's no where near a conservative and if you find out all the true Libertarian goals, you won't want to climb on board!
I'm thinking that you like some libertarian-leaning issues that agree with the Constitution, (which we are no longer living under by the way) but read up on Ron Paul's proposals, you will find much that I'm thinking you don't agree with.
Hahaha! I agree with you about the Obamacare requirement for an ID. I meant to ask rhetorically.
In all honesty, I am not on the Rand bandwagon. I’d prefer him over the GOP-elite choices, but I’d rather see an actual constitutionilist on the ballot.
Most of the most rabid gopers during primaries, were the Ron Paul followers, very young and all in favor of drug legalization!!
Ask them about other issues they agreed with Paul on and their eyes glazed over!
My response to most of the Paulites is aligned with Mark Levin’s response to them...
;-)
ditto
I knew that if this guy was even related to Ron Paul, there was something amiss with him.
Now, we cannot even address something as key as making sure votes are not cast fraudulently due to the fear we will "offend" someone.
He's trying to billclinton himself into the white house, ie triangulation
It could work too, just like it did for McCain.
Senator Rand Paul can forget about running. After all the silly stuff he has come out with, he’s done.
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