Fox News reported that Vice President Kamala Harris faced considerable online backlash for requiring government-issued IDs at a campaign rally.
Critics voiced that this requirement was contradictory to her public opposition to voter ID laws, sparking a wave of comments from conservative figures on social media.
Harris' rally, which was held in Arizona on Friday, saw attendees needing to present a government-issued photo ID matching their RSVPs to gain entry. This procedural move came despite her well-known stance against voter ID laws, which she has previously criticized as racially discriminatory.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined Harris at the event hosted at the Desert Diamond Arena, located 15 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix. The rally, announced on July 30, had its location only disclosed the day before the event. Invitations were circulated by the Arizona Democratic Party through email just a day before the Friday event.
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were abuzz with individuals calling out what they viewed as Harris' inconsistency. Fox News Digital noted several conservative commentators and public figures reacting strongly to the ID requirement.
Actor Kevin Sorbo questioned the rationale behind the requirement, highlighting the stark contrast between the policy at the rally and Harris' stance on voter ID. Political commentator Gunther Eagleman and journalist Nick Sortor echoed similar sentiments, pointing out the apparent contradiction in her policies.
Fox News Digital reached out to Harris' campaign for a response, but there was no immediate comment on the issue. This lack of clarification may have further fueled the online criticism.
In a 2021 interview with Soledad O'Brien, Harris articulated her concerns about voter ID laws, emphasizing the hurdles they create for rural communities. She pointed out the logistical challenges of photocopying IDs in areas without readily available facilities like Kinko's or Office Max.
Harris further elaborated in a 2020 opinion piece, arguing that voter ID laws, along with other measures, have historically been used to suppress the voting rights of minority communities. She noted that such laws disproportionately affect Black, Latina, Asian, and Indigenous people.
The campaign rally's procedures required attendees to have RSVP confirmations and matching government-issued photo IDs. This is a standard security measure for many high-profile events, though it clashed with Harris' political stance.
Critics saw the ID requirement as hypocritical, arguing it contradicted her efforts to reduce barriers to voting. The stipulation that only those on the RSVP list with matching identification could enter the rally particularly drew ire.
The event itself aimed to bolster Harris' campaign presence, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's participation signaling broader political support. However, the procedural aspect overshadowed the rally's intended focus.
To summarize, Vice President Kamala Harris' Arizona rally faced scrutiny for requiring government-issued IDs, clashing with her opposition to voter ID laws. The online backlash displayed sentiment across the political spectrum, emphasizing concerns over perceived hypocrisy.
