Paul: Republican focus on voter ID ‘dumb’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) chided his GOP colleagues on Sunday for their “dumb” focus on voter identification laws, as he tries to broaden support for Republicans among minority and young voters.

{mosads}Appearing on a trio of Sunday shows, Paul said that he had no issue with forcing voters to show identification when they head to the polls.

But the Kentucky Republican added that the GOP was unwise to talk up their efforts on an issue that critics have decried as voter suppression.

“I want to restore votes.  It doesn’t mean that I think it’s unreasonable,” Paul said about the ID laws on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” 

“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.’ Early voting should be out there for everybody. I’m for early voting. I’m for more voting.”

Paul also talked up his efforts with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to restore voting rights to some people with a criminal history.

His comments on voter identification law comes just days after Paul said that the GOP brand “sucks,” and is stopping Republicans from getting an audience with African-American and young voters.