Abby Phillip Mocks Republican Argument Olive Garden Has More Security Than Elections: ‘Ain’t a Constitutional Right’ to Eat Pasta

CNN star Abby Phillip has no problem with Americans being required to show ID at Olive Garden. But when it comes to federal elections, it makes her want to hurl.

The anchor made her feelings clear during a Saturday segment on Table for Five, where Phillip reported Olive Garden was requiring customers to provide ID to buy its “Never Ending Pasta Pass.” Phillip said Republicans have “seized” on the announcement to push for the SAVE America Act, which would require ID to vote in federal elections.

She then played a handful of clips of right-wing lawmakers and pundits griping the Italian-ish food chain has a stiffer verification process than the U.S. Government. Phillip quipped about it after.

“I love me some pasta and salad. However, it ain’t a constitutional right, as last I checked, to be able to go into an Olive Garden and buy and eat as much pasta a you want,” Phillip said. “However, voting is.”

Her public proclamation she is a pasta lover drew some chuckles from the panel. She continued by saying, “Voting is the one thing that everyone who is a citizen has a right to do without impediment, period.”

Phillip’s comments follow President Donald Trump calling on Republican lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act for months. The legislation has stalled multiple times in the Senate, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday Trump’s “patience is running out” with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) over it.

Table for Five panelist Kmele Foster said he understood where Phillip was coming from and that he was not worried about mass voter fraud. But he said Democrats are wrong to dismiss calls for voter ID completely.

“This actually resonates with plenty of people, like showing your ID to do something basic,” he said. “I go to pick up my kids from daycare, I show my ID. There are so many times a day where I have to do that, it’s not an unreasonable request.”

Still, he said Republican have bad messaging on the issue as well. Foster said they would have been better off calling it the “Common Sense Voting Act.”

Watch above.

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