On Tuesday's MSNBC Live, News One Now managing editor Roland Martin -- a former CNN contributor who is now a recurring MSNBC guest -- charged that the Republican party is the "greatest threat to democracy" in America and even invoked Civil Rights Movement-era racism as he likened Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte to a Virginia "segregationist" from the past.

As MSNBC host Ali Velshi introduced the segment to discuss the Voter Integrity Commission, he suggested that there is little voter fraud as he began:

Most secretaries of state, most politicians, and you have said to me that the problem in this country with voting is too little of it, not too much of it. We don't actually have a problem with a whole lot of dead people voting or people voting in multiple states. Best I can come up with is a handful of examples, you know, per election. What is this about?

Martin claimed that he does not "align with any party" as he immediately tore into Republicans:

This is about pure politics. Russia is not the greatest threat to democracy in America -- it is the Republican party. I got lots of friends who are Republicans, lots of folks who are Democrats. I don't align with any party. But when you look at what Republicans are doing not just with this commission, but what they have done over the last 10 years, it is clear voter suppression.

<<< Please support MRC's NewsBusters team with a tax-deductible contribution today. >>>

A bit later, the left-wing commentator added: "This is the mantra of the Republican party to suppress votes in order to win. It is shameful and despicable, Ali."

Toward the end of the segment, after complaining about several examples of Republican-led actions on the voting system, Martin invoked the era of racial segregation:

It was a guy named -- his last name was Smith -- a segregationist in Virginia -- he wouldn't even have a committee meeting, Ali, during Civil Rights Movement. Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia congressman, won't have a single hearing on the issue of voter integrity in the House because he doesn't want to address it.

Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Tuesday, July 11, MSNBC Live: