Rand Paul, the Tea Party's rising star from Kentucky who won the state's GOP Senate primary this week, says criticism of his views on the Civil Rights Act and other pieces of anti-discrimination legislation are "red herrings" and Democrats' attempt to "trash" his campaign.
"When does my honeymoon period start? I had a big victory," Paul told George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" today. "I've just been trashed up and down and they have been saying things that are untrue. And when they say I'm for repealing the Civil Rights Act, it's absolutely false. It's never been my position and something that I basically just think is politics."
Paul's comments came amid a firestorm of criticism sparked earlier this week when he appeared to question the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which he said went too far in banning discrimination by private companies.
In an interview Wednesday with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, Paul was asked whether he believed private businesses should have the right to refuse service to African-Americans.
"Yes," Paul said. "I'm not in favor of any discrimination of any form. … But I think what's important about this debate is not written into any specific 'gotcha' on this, but asking the question: what about freedom of speech? Should we limit speech from people we find abhorrent? Should we limit racists from speaking?"
His comments drew a range of criticism, including a rebuke from the White House Thursday, with press secretary Robert Gibbs telling reporters, "a discussion about whether or not you support those I don't think has a real, shouldn't have a place in our political dialogue in 2010."
Republicans also seemed to distance themselves from Paul's views. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele made it clear the GOP supports the Civil Rights Act, whatever its Senate nominee in Kentucky says.
Paul has said he doesn't believe the government has the right to tell a private business who they have to serve but insists he has not -- and has never -- called for a repeal of the law.
"If you want to bring up 40-year-old legislation, why don't you bring me on with Sen. [Robert] Byrd, and we'll talk about how he filibustered the Civil Rights Act," he said of the 92-year-old West Virginia Democrat. "Make him, call him to task for something he actually did as opposed to calling me to task for something they insinuated that I might believe that's not true.
"What is going on here is an attempt to vilify us for partisan reasons. Where do your talking points come from? The Democratic National Committee, they also come from Rachel Maddow and MSNBC."
Paul's political philosophy, which is shared by many members of the Tea Party movement, emphasizes a more limited role of the federal government in U.S. business and society.
Earlier this year, for example, Paul told the Fox Business Channel that he believes government agencies should reduce their regulation of the energy industry. "Get the EPA out of our coal business down here, get OSHA out of our small businesses. We need to restrain government to let small businesses create jobs," he said.
Paul affirmed the comments on "Good Morning America," saying that he finds the Environmental Protection Agency's recent regulatory initiative on greenhouse gas emissions, independent of Congress, "particularly galling."
"I think that's a regulatory commission run amok and I think we need to have congressional oversight," he said. "I don't think regulatory agencies should write regulations without approval of the people through their representatives. And I stick to that and that's absolutely my point of view."
The Kentucky Senate candidate also criticized the Obama administration's treatment of BP in the wake of the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Sheppard should love this guy, bringing up Sen. Byrd 40 years ago.
But as for the question of when his honeymoon starts.. Probably the same time Obama's did. Which was never(He was already decreed a terrorist and foreigner well before he won his primaries.).
Manic Progressive: A liberal who violently swings from anger at politicos to despondency over them.
Out Of Context theatre: Ron Paul has repeatedly said he's not a racist. - Destructinator XIII on why Ron Paul isn't racist.
Not only that, but "honeymoons" aren't granted to candidates who've yet to win the general election.
When ballots have fairly and constitutionally decided, there can be no successful appeal back to bullets.
—Abraham Lincoln
People pray so that God won't crush them like bugs.
—Dr. Gregory House
Oil an emergency?! It's about time, Brigadier, that the leaders of this planet of yours realised that to remain dependent upon a mineral slime simply doesn't make sense.
—The Doctor "Terror Of The Zygons" (1975)
"If you want to bring up 40-year-old legislation, why don't you bring me on with Sen. [Robert] Byrd, and we'll talk about how he filibustered the Civil Rights Act," he said of the 92-year-old West Virginia Democrat. "Make him, call him to task for something he actually did as opposed to calling me to task for something they insinuated that I might believe that's not true.
As I recall, Sen Byrd apologized for his actions during that debate in his autobiography published about 5yrs back. "Shameful" and "Regretful" are a couple of the comments Byrd makes, and he went on to state that it is a battle he is glad he lost.
*eyes Paul the Lesser* So, you want less EPA and less OSHA/MSHA? I'm sure Don Blankenship will be donating a couple million to your election fund, after he's done trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the Congressional hearing
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
The honeymoon starts when you join the real world, ya dumbshit. Taking public issue with the civil rights act? ADA? I know you're a crazy libertarian, but you're supposed to keep the craziest shit between yourself and your staff. At least until you're elected President.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
-George Bernard Shaw
Flagg wrote:The honeymoon starts when you join the real world, ya dumbshit. Taking public issue with the civil rights act? ADA? I know you're a crazy libertarian, but you're supposed to keep the craziest shit between yourself and your staff. At least until you're elected President.
He's running as a Tea Party Candidate, that's actually not good advice.
Anyone watch his interview on Rachel Madow yesterday?
God DAMN it was painful to watch, he basically spent 25min saying over and over:
"I don't support Racism...But I wouldn't do Anything to stop it"
The guy is a real loon and the fact that he wont shut up about his views may doom his election.
Praying is another way of doing nothing helpful
"Congratulations, you get a cookie. You almost got a fundamental English word correct." Pick
"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan Read "Tales From The Crossroads"! Read "One Wrong Turn"!
Crossroads Inc. wrote:Anyone watch his interview on Rachel Madow yesterday?
God DAMN it was painful to watch, he basically spent 25min saying over and over:
"I don't support Racism...But I wouldn't do Anything to stop it"
The guy is a real loon and the fact that he wont shut up about his views may doom his election.
Is his opponent a Blue Dog Democrat? If so this may be the Democrats' best chance to grab a GOP seat.
El Moose Monstero: That would be the winning song at Eurovision. I still say the Moldovans were more fun. And that one about the Apricot Tree.
That said...it is growing on me.
Thanas: It is one of those songs that kinda get stuck in your head so if you hear it several times, you actually grow to like it.
General Zod: It's the musical version of Stockholm syndrome.
Isn't this the white haired guy who was seen in parties with the runners of that race-hatred fixated, paranoiac, and Fascistic Strormfront.org website? That was two years ago already.
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...' - Dr. Evil
'Secondly, I don't see why "income inequality" is a bad thing. Poverty is not an injustice. There is no such thing as causes for poverty, only causes for wealth. Poverty is not a wrong, but taking money from those who have it to equalize incomes is basically theft, which is wrong.' - Typical Randroid
'I think it's gone a little bit wrong.' - The Doctor
1) The Blue Dog Coalition is a group in the United States House of Representatives, this is a Senate Race. The proper term is Conservative Democrat.
2) Paul's opponent is current Kentucky Attorny General, Jack Conway. In his election to that post in 2008 he beat his Republican rival 60:40.
Currently Mr. Conway leads Paul in fundraising but in a May 19 poll by Rasmussen (Widely regarded as a conservative-slanted polling group) Paul led Conway 59 to 34.
Paul is toast if he doesn't stop nationlizing the debate and continues to complicate his answers. He needs to localize things and start talking about what he can do for Kentucky.
Crossroads Inc. wrote:Anyone watch his interview on Rachel Madow yesterday?
God DAMN it was painful to watch, he basically spent 25min saying over and over:
"I don't support Racism...But I wouldn't do Anything to stop it"
The guy is a real loon and the fact that he wont shut up about his views may doom his election.
Yeah, I was going to post that (go to her MSNBC page if you want to watch). Too bad most who watch Rachel are already decidedly against this clown. That shit needs to be put out nationally so him and his retarded father can be openly disgraced and shunned by everyone but the 25-30% of mouth breathers in this country who support that kind of shit.
Mr. Harley: Your impatience is quite understandable.
Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.
Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I'm very sorry... I wish it were otherwise.
"I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe.
If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other." – Frankenstein's Creature on the glacier[/size]
tim31 wrote:I just read this guy's wiki entry. He was an ophthalmologist? Man, he must have hated Fred Hollows.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is where the libertarian argument using lasik eye surgery as an example of how the invisible masturbatory hand of the free market will make health care affordable for all if you simply privatize everything. Had to hear that fucking argument one* too many times from my fucking boss.
*And one time would have been more than enough.
Mr. Harley: Your impatience is quite understandable.
Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.
Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I'm very sorry... I wish it were otherwise.
"I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe.
If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other." – Frankenstein's Creature on the glacier[/size]
What is even more beautiful is the ensuing response, the Far right are running away form this guy like he was radioactive. No one wants to comment or a saying that don't know what is going on. And the Interview is being replayed over and over around the media.
The guys election could already be over, amazing.
Praying is another way of doing nothing helpful
"Congratulations, you get a cookie. You almost got a fundamental English word correct." Pick
"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan Read "Tales From The Crossroads"! Read "One Wrong Turn"!
Crossroads Inc. wrote:What is even more beautiful is the ensuing response, the Far right are running away form this guy like he was radioactive. No one wants to comment or a saying that don't know what is going on. And the Interview is being replayed over and over around the media.
The guys election could already be over, amazing.
It is? (Rubs hands together) Excellent!
This election could be the make or break point for the Tea Baggers. I hope them and the rest of the libertarians manage to completely discredit themselves.
Mr. Harley: Your impatience is quite understandable.
Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.
Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I'm very sorry... I wish it were otherwise.
"I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe.
If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other." – Frankenstein's Creature on the glacier[/size]
