House Speaker Kurt Zellers found himself in a constitutional bind on Thursday after saying that voting was a privilege, not a right.

OK, he later recanted after getting owned. But, still ... this is what we're up against.

Minnesota Star Tribune

The Maple Grove Republican made the comment Wednesday night during a local radio show, "The Late Debate." He recanted his words on Thursday, saying he had misspoken.

When you go to even a Burger King or a McDonalds and use your debit card, they'll ask you to see your ID," Zellers said sometime after 11 p.m. "Should we have to do that when we vote, something that is one of the most sacred -- I think it's a privilege, it's not a right. Everybody doesn't get it, because if you go to jail or if you commit some heinous crime your rights are taken away. This is a privilege.

Heinous crimes also seem to include brownness, poverty, and living in a high (D) registration area. But that's just me. Again, this is what we're up against - it's OK to make it difficult to vote because after all it's not really a basic right in a democracy.

Oh, and word to Rep. Zellers - I haven't been asked for my ID while using a credit card at a fast food joint in years. I guess that's because they are gobsmacked by a talking aardvark, but still, it's not customary.