Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Sunday said that while he supports Voter ID laws, he thinks it’s “dumb” for Republicans to emphasize such legislation.
On “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd asked Paul about his previous comments about voter ID laws. In May, Paul said that Republican emphasis on voter ID law was “offending people,” but a few days later he clarified that there’s “nothing wrong with” voter ID laws.
On Sunday, Paul walked the line on the issue again.
“I don’t think there’s a problem with showing your ID. But I do think there’s a problem with Republicans saying, ‘Hey, our big issue for the campaign is going to be voter ID.’ Because what it creates is, in a lot of African-Americans, understandably, remember the ’40s and ’50s in the South,” he said. “And they remember suppression of the vote. And they equate that.”
Paul said that he tries to downplay voter ID laws and talk about how he wants to help more people vote.
“I say, ‘I want more people to vote. I’m for enhancing vote.’ And I actually sponsor a bill with Harry Reid that would restore voting rights to people who had youthful, nonviolent crimes, that served their time.”
But he made it clear that he does support voter ID laws.
“It doesn’t mean that I think it’s unreasonable. I just think it’s a dumb idea for Republicans to emphasize this and say, ‘Oh, this is how we’re going to win the election,'” Paul said.
Watch the interview via NBC:
