There’s been a lot of attention paid to Ky. U.S. Senate candidate’s Rand Paul’s views against the parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 barring private discrimination (such as in restaurants) on the basis of race. I am not sure what Paul’s views are on Section 5 and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, but it got me wondering: Are there any politicians currently elected to Congress who take the position that either the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Voting Rights Act of 1965 should not have been passed? In the debate over reauthorizing Section 5 of the VRA in 2006, I recall many statements from conservatives to the effect that the VRA was an important piece of legislation but it is no longer necessary; I can’t remember anyone saying it was wrong from the start.
Please drop me an email if you have an example of anyone currently sitting in the House or Senate who currently takes this position.