I will never understand the argument behind claims of racism for asking someone to show an ID.

Via The Hill:

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell (R) blasted his own party Thursday, saying a new voter identification law in North Carolina punishes minority voters.

The retired four-star general criticized the bill signed earlier this month by North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) just minutes after the governor introduced him to the stage at a CEO forum in the state.

“What it really says to the minority voters is … ‘We really are sort of punishing you,'” Powell said, according to The News and Observer.

The law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature would require voters to show government identification when voting, shorten early-voting days, cut off same-day registration and end a program to preregister teens who would be eligible to vote by Election Day.

“I want to see policies that encourage every American to vote, not make it more difficult to vote,” Powell said.