America rejoiced when the White House announced it would re-open for tours after cuts to funding from sequestration. But in a blatant display of irony, visitors to President Barack Obama’s home must show a government-issued photo ID to enter, but not to vote.
Tours of the White House resumed after a seven month hiatus, with the first official tour given to tourists yesterday. But for visitors looking to head inside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., they must show valid, government-issued photo ID.
“All guests 18 years of age or older will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification … . All foreign nationals must present their passport,” it states on the White House’s ‘Tours & Events’ page.
This criterion is particularly ironic given the fact that the man living inside the White House adamantly opposes voters showing photo ID before heading the the polls.
“This administration believes it should be easier for eligible citizens to vote, to register and vote,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in July. “We should not be imposing unnecessary obstacles or barriers to voter participation.”
But not so much for those looking to tour the taxpayer-funded White House.
Since the United States Supreme Court deemed Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional, states likeTexas and North Carolina have begun to put voter ID laws in place.
The Obama administration, though, has struck back against these two states, filing lawsuits on the grounds that voter ID laws “disproportionately impact Hispanic and African-American voters.”
But don’t forget that ID if you want to tour the White House, America.
Via: Red Alert Politics
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