Barrel Strength

The current media frenzy about the Arizona immigration law which might necessitate showing some form of identification is quite amazing given that it has become a routine occurrence in everyday life.  Victor David Hanson notes the following.

On the unfortunate matter of “presenting papers”: I have done that numerous times this year — boarding airplanes, purchasing things on a credit card, checking into a hotel, showing a doorman an I.D. when locked out, going to the DMV, and, in one case, pulling off a rural road to use my cell phone in a way that alarmed a chance highway patrolman. An I.D. check to allay “reasonable suspicion” or “probable cause” is very American.

This debate is completely ignoring this sorry event that took place in a town hall last year.

Earlier this week, Rep. Jim Moran (D., Va.) berated attendees at his town-hall meeting for not being residents of his district, going so far as to demand a driver’s license from one of his questioners to prove his residence. Too bad Moran isn’t equally committed to verifying the identity of people who would receive benefits under the health-care reform legislation he is supporting. While there is language in the House bill requiring that their incomes be verified, there is no requirement that their identity or citizenship be confirmed before they receive taxpayer-subsidized health benefits. I guess it is just too much to ask that the federal government check citizenship status (as private employers are required to do before hiring an employee).

This of course from a party that wants to see identification in town halls but not at polling stations!

Opponents of the law, mostly Democrats, view voter I.D. requirements as a deterrent that disproportionately affects poor, minority, and elderly voters, who more often lack the required forms of I.D.–and who also tend to be Democrats.