Rand Paul claims he would have marched with Martin Luther King Jr., but would have been against the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for which Dr. King marched. He's a states' rights guy. But we understand well the code language here. States'
rights meant that states did not have to adhere to federal laws such as desegregation, a right in the Declaration of Independence. "All men are created equal."
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Judith, Rand will be digging his way out of this one for the rest of his political career. This is exactly why Libertarians don't win elections.
And then this morning Rand (named after Ayn Rand, I assume?) criticized Obama for being "Un-American" by putting his "heel on the throat of BP." WOW!! Obama has been too RESTRAINED in his criticisms of BP - as even conservatives have noted.
I bet the GOP - and especially Mitch McConnell - is feeling a tad uneasy about having this loose cannon on their ship now. Rand Paul could be the gift that keeps on giving. Even - or ESPECIALLY - if he wins the KY senate seat!! It just doesn't get any better than this.
In the time since the Regan years, I have wondered when the next battle for the soul of America would take place. I don't think that white people are having such a big issue with their insecurities with the growning number of minorities everywhere and their birth rate not keeping pace.
There is less a reason for racist to hide their insecurity fuel feelings. There are uncompetitive people and they settle on the easiest and most accessible explination for either not earning what they are worth or for people passing them by in life.
White people aren't used to having to account for 'white privilege'. They are under the impression that the legislation of the 60's has run its course and is no longer needed. They seem to want to believe that somehow things have gone far enough and is signified with Obama being in office.
It isn't that this element in America society has necessarily grown... were that the case, the Tea Bags would not be headed for what I hope is irrelevance. The folks who were so anti-Clinton has found a new target to rant and blame for their shortcomings.
Some parts of this country are really out of step with the rest of the US. Kentucky is one of those places and like Texas, they could care less that the rock under which they live is turned over and is in the light.
I would love to see what areas of the brain is firing in the heads of people like Rand Paul.
Rand Paul voiced what is at the heart of most conservative thought. He just happened to be honest enough to speak it.
Heres a 'gem' from William Buckley in 1957. It is in reference to segregation.
"the central question that emerges... is whether the White community in the South is entitled to take such measures as are necessary to prevail, politically and culturally, in areas where it does not predominate numerically? The sobering answer is Yes – the White community is so entitled because, for the time being, it is the advanced race."
Did you hear the latest from Newt Gingrich? He is the latest to compare the Obama administration to the Nazi's. It is in his most recent book, and when asked about it on a Fox News show, he stood by it.
These guys are creeps.
John - Do you actually think Rand can win the seat? He got some 18,000-22,000 votes less than both of the Democrats. Regarding BP, that's just ridiculous. This guy is real radical. Yet, the Tea Party is behind him and they say that their movement is not racist. Yeah, right! By the way, I think McConnell was initially behind the other Republican. But he did jump on Rand's bandwagon. It is just amazing how Republicans refuse to come out and condemn one of their own. Here is Senator's Kyl's response: "I think the two of them (Rachel and Rand) were having a bit of good time having a debate like you had at 2 a.m. in the morning when you're going to college, but it doesn't have a lot to do with anything." Why do these guys delight in shaming themselves?
Mark - I think we have to be careful about categorizations such as "white people," as all white people are certainly not behind what Rand purports. White people elected President Obama as president. But generally speaking, I think that you have a point in that "white privilege" is often not even dealt with as it is typically quite insidious. I live in one of the most segregated places in the U.S: Michigan.
In a debate at Oxford James Baldwin eviscerates Buckley. Regarding that statement, Buckley took it and quite a few others back. The problem is the deep seated reality held that there are people who are inherently better than others. Here is James Baldwin at Oxford.
I pray that he's marching to a "different drummer" than the majority of America.
The implication of his remarks is detestable.
You remind me of a roomie in college who would always ding me for such broad categorizations. Part my misuse of such statements is due to laziness on my part as well as effect.
Not that either is an adequate defense, but I am jus' sayin'...
Yeah, I think he's way out in left field, Kelly. He also wants to do away with the American with Disabilities Act.
Mark - I appreciate you.
Milton Friedman from 1962. Looks like he had a leg up on Glen Beck.
In his 1962 book “Capitalism and Freedom,” Milton Friedman, the right’s most influential economist, equated the Fair Employment Practices Commissions — created to prevent workplace discrimination — with “the Hitler Nuremberg laws.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/weekinreview/23tanenhaus.html
I am no fan of Milton Friedman, Zorro. Thanks for the link. They're always appreciated.
Many influential people in business and people on the right are big fans of Friedman. Ronald Reagan, for example and Allen Greenspan, for example. The timing of the origins of the conservative movement have never made practical sense to me. By that I mean the ideas if the New Deal were working great at the time. The motivation of the Conservative movement does not appear to be a reaction to something that was failing. It seems to more more of a reaction to something that was succeeding. To me, it seems that the real reason why Conservatives are anti-governemt is that people can vote and therefore have power over government. Without some government involvement, people have no power over business. For example, would segregation have had a dent in it if restaurants, theaters, retail stores and real estate enterprises could discriminate? At its core, small government conservatism is not about freedom. It is about building a ruling class that can't be challenged.
That is a very thoughtful comment, Zorro. Thank you. It also makes it even sadder that those people who were screaming about socialism for the past two years are actually working in opposition to their own self-interests. Thanks again. Great comment. If you're on Facebook do friend me. There are often very interesting discussions that I would love your participation. You will see my name and face. But something tells me that you're not even on FB. Am I wrong?
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