Fox host Sean Hannity criticized former Clinton pollster Mark Penn for trying to defend Democrats who voted against the Protect American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Wednesday.
Penn appeared on “Hannity” to discuss the recent passage of a Republican-sponsored bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Hannity began by asking Penn why “Democrats” are opposed to voter ID requirements for voting, or even “any other measure of integrity.” (Related article: House passes bill to block voting rights for illegal immigrants)
“Well, I think there's a more sinister reason why Democrats voted against this bill. There are about 160 million people who have passports, and generally lower-income voters have a harder time having one or getting documentation. So I think Democrats believe that this bill will take a lot of voters who are true citizens off the voter rolls. So I think they have a point. I don't think there's much of a point when it comes to voter ID and things like this,” Penn said.
“But hold on a second, Mark. There are states where you don't need proof of citizenship to get a driver's license. Once you get a driver's license, you can register to vote and don't need proof of citizenship. Now we have Joe Biden allowing nearly 11 million illegal immigrants from 180 countries, some of them our biggest geopolitical enemies and countries with ties to terrorism, into the country without vetting. We're going to open the doors and the possibilities, and there's going to be no voter ID, no signature checks. Tell me how that helps confidence in elections and the integrity of the vote. How?” Hannity countered.
“Well, if we implemented a universal ID system with Social Security numbers…”
“You want my fingerprints? You want to chip me?” Hannity asked.
“Sean, you don't want universal ID, but you want people to have that document, and a lot of low-income voters don't have it. I think there's truth on both sides,” Penn said.
The SAVE Act, introduced by Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, passed the House of Representatives late Wednesday by a vote of 221 to 198. Although a majority of Democrats voted against an amendment to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 that would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, five Democrats joined Republicans in pushing the bill through.
After the vote, Roy praised the bill's passage, saying, “America can only remain a republic as long as our citizenship as Americans remains meaningful.”
But this isn't the first time Democrats have opposed a bill banning illegal immigrants from voting. When Washington, D.C.'s liberal City Council voted in May to repeal a measure that would have allowed foreigners, including illegal immigrants, to vote in local elections, more than 140 Democrats voted against the Republican-led bill, with 52 Democrats joining in the opposition.
