Turzai ID remark makes 'Colbert Report'
Harrisburg may be absorbed in questions over whether state government can complete its budget work by Saturday's midnight deadline, but the national media are continuing to feast on Rep. Mike Turzai's weekend remark.
To recap, Democrats pounced on a comment Turzai made Saturday at the Republican State Committee meeting in Hershey, where he was listing the accomplishments of the state House and Senate GOP for the crowd of party activists.
"Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it's done," Mr. Turzai told the gathering of party activists. "First pro-life legislation -- abortion facility regulations -- in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is going to allow Governor [Mitt] Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."
His spokesman said Turzai was referring to the bill creating a fairer playing field for all candidates, and noted that he was speaking at a partisan event. Meanwhile the national media was latching on to the quote.
Senate Democrats in turn held a presser on Tuesday, blasting the remark as showing the Republicans' true intent behind the bill -- disenfranchising enough Democrats so that the GOP presidential contender and other Republicans can be successful.
Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, offered his own remark that has gotten national and international links: "If you have to stop people from voting to win elections, your ideas suck."
Last night the hubbub over Turzai's gaffe made it to Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," where he quipped that Turzai is the "keeper of America's strategic forehead reserve." Take a look.
An astute reader also reminded me that Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, also referenced voter ID in an April interview about the upcoming elections and challenges from the right to several Republican state senators:
"There's always the discussion on, 'Are the Senate Republicans conservative enough?' " said Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, who leads his caucus' political arm. "Look at [the Senate's approval of] vouchers, voter ID ... I answer that with a resounding yes."