MEMPHIS, May 10 (UPI) -- Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., is attempting to dial back Republican rhetoric surrounding voter ID laws, telling the New York Times the GOP needs to avoid further alienating minorities.
"Everybody's gone completely crazy on this voter ID thing," Paul said yesterday.
The Senator's comments come after meeting with a group of black pastors at a Republican National Committee meeting in Memphis, where they discussed the inevitability of voter suppression, intended or otherwise.
Paul acknowledged that the debates surrounding the issue took on a racial tone, and said it behooves Republicans to be sensitive not to offend, again calling his GOP colleagues "crazy."
"I think it's wrong for Republicans to go too crazy on this issue because it's offending people."
According to the Times, Paul is the only ranking Republican to buck the party line on voter ID legislation. Colin Powell and former RNC chairman Michael Steele have also spoken out against voter ID laws.
