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Fox: The DNC Shouldn’t Require Photo ID To See President Obama Because Democrats Oppose Voter ID Laws

On Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends First” Tuesday, host Ainsley Earhardt accused Democrats of a “double standard” because they oppose voter ID laws but also are requiring IDs as one of the security measures in effect to protect the President’s safety at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

She said:

EARHARDT: Talk about a double standard. Some Democrats say it’s wrong for some to ask someone to show a photo ID before going to the voting booth to prevent voter fraud. But apparently it’s a-okay to ask for IDs to get inside the DNC. Journalists covering the convention have to show an ID not once, not twice, but three times. ID is required at the security entrance when receiving press credentials and also for credentials covering the events for the last night which is when President Obama will be speaking. Attorney General Eric Holder has sued to prevent states from implementing the id laws claiming they are unfair to minorities.

Watch the video:

In a short space, Fox News manages to mislead in several ways. First of all, it draws a false equivalence between the constitutionally protected right to vote and admission of journalists to a private political event. Second, it equates “some Democrats” who oppose voter suppression with the security team which is the U.S. Secret Service. In fact, the Secret Service also provides protection for Republican nominee Mitt Romney and no doubt insisted on the same security measures. Finally, it attempts to tie this all into Attorney General Holder, who is legally bound to enforce the Voting Rights Act which prohibits laws which might restrict the constitutionally protected right of minorities to vote, especially in areas with a history of racial discrimination.

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Requiring photo ID at polling places would do virtually noting to protect against voter fraud, even if it were a real problem. But letting the Secret Service do its job to protect the presidential nominees used to be something even Fox News understood.