Former Md. Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) pushed back against Howard Dean and Chris Matthews on Wednesday night's Hardball when the topic of voter ID laws came up and the liberal duo pushed the tired meme that such laws were Republican plots to disenfranchise poor and minority voters who tend to be Democrats.
Ehrlich countered that such laws were common sense measures to establish a voter's identity and thus protect every voter's franchise. The former Republican congressman also noted that for all their bluster about how photo ID requirements supposedly stifle constitutional rights, NBC studios require a valid government-issued photo ID to visit and appear on air.
You can watch the relevant portion of the segment in the video below.
Update (16:16 Eastern): Here's a transcript of the video:
MSNBC’s Hardball | Oct. 8, 2014
Former Gov. HOWARD DEAN (D-Vt.): But I really do think it makes a lot of difference in the execution of the election whether you can veto some of these voter repression laws that conservative legislators are going to pass. That kind of stuff makes a great deal of difference and I do think it matters who the governor is in terms of party in the presidential election.
Former Gov. BOB EHRLICH (R-Md.): The voter oppression laws, actually making sure you are the person you say you are with regard to photo identification, it’s oppression in this country today? Wow, that shows you where the Democratic Party is today.
DEAN: Since there was never a problem in the last 20 years.
CHRIS MATTHEWS, host: Governor Ehrlich, we have got Republican leaders in Pennsylvania. Leaders of the legislature, party leaders who have said openly that the reason they like these new suppression rules, these new rules is they get more votes. They could get Mitt Romney elected. They believe it has electoral punch to it. They say so. They say so.
EHRLICH: The United States Supreme Court has voted 6-3 that voter photo ID is constitutional. Chris, this is the franchise –
MATTHEWS: I’m not saying it’s unconstitutional, I’m saying it’s politically motivated.
EHRLICH: Why do you want to fool around with it? Chris, to come see you in the studio I have to produce my photo ID. Why is it controversial, it’s crazy?!
DEAN: This is just a means of taking away voter – old people in nursing homes don’t have photo IDs, how are they supposed to do this?
EHRLICH: It’s a base Democratic… Wow.
MATTHEWS: Governor, you know what we’re talking about. You’re just playing this game.Let me ask you this. A 75 or 80-year-old person lives in a rowhouse –
EHRLICH: Chris, it’s just common sense. These statutes—
MATTHEWS: who lives in a rowhouse in Baltimore, what ID card do they have that's government issued? What ID card do they have? They don't drive a car. So what are you up to? You’re screwing them out of a vote.
EHRLICH: Chris, these statutes are constitutional. And all the statutes by the way, contemplate situations where the very few people do not have photo identification can –
DEAN: Does that explain why there’s no –
EHRLICH: Give me a break!
DEAN: -- more early voting in Ohio or does that explain why they’ve taken away Sunday voting? Does that explain why they’ve reduced polling places in minority neighborhoods? I don’t think so.
EHRLICH: And ten years ago, Howard wasn’t even talking about this. Suddenly there's a need for two weeks of voting. It’s just sort of this populist deal the Democrats give when they’re in trouble and this cycle the Democrats are in trouble.
DEAN: The need is for every person to have the right to vote. Any party that thinks they can win the election by taking away their right to vote is not a party that’s going to win for much longer and I’m looking forward to that.
MATTHEWS: Gov. Ehrlich, I have to ask you one last question. Do you think restrictive voting laws are better for Republicans?
EHRLICH: They’re not restrictive voting laws. I just want to make sure people that actually vote--
MATTHEWS: But are they better for Republicans?
EHRLICH: They’re better for the people, for the country, because your franchise is protected.
