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Paul: I Would Have Voted For Civil Rights Act -- Federal Intervention Was Needed (VIDEO)


Rand Paul

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Rand Paul just can't make up his mind.

The Republican nominee for Senate in Kentucky, fresh off a much-discussed appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show last night in which he defended his past criticism of the Civil Rights Act, continued his walkback-turned-runback on CNN this afternoon by declaring that not only does he not favor a repeal of the Civil Rights Act, but that he would have voted for the landmark legislation had he been around at the time.

Wolf Blitzer asked Paul whether he would have voted for the Civil Rights Act if he was a Senator or Congressman in 1964.

"Yes, I would have voted yes," Paul said.

Blitzer later asked if a private business like Woolworth's should have had the right to segregate its lunch counter.

"I think that there was an overriding problem in the South that was so big that it did require federal intervention in the 60s," Paul said. "There was a need for federal intervention."

Paul also chided the media as being "out of control" for seizing on his Civil Rights Act comments over the last 24 hours.

"I thought I was supposed to get a honeymoon. When does my honeymoon start after my victory?"

Wolf Blitzer answered: "No such thing in politics."

While Paul told Blitzer that he would have supported the Civil Rights Act, he still seemed uncertain about the Americans With Disabilities Act.

"I have some questions about it," Paul said, before launching into a hypothetical example of a local, two-story business being required to build an elevator to the second floor for a handicapped employee.

"I think that sounds like common sense that maybe you should be allowed to give them a first-floor office," Paul said.

So you're not sure you support ADA, Blitzer asked?

"Yeah, I mean I'd have to look at it and see," Paul answered, before explaining that his office is open to the handicapped.

"It doesn't always take government for people to do the right thing," Paul said. "Sometimes government has to step in in extraordinary circumstances. But I think a lot of times that the private world can step up and do the right things. Or we can find local solutions over federal solutions. So it's not always whether you oppose something. It's about where the solution should arrive."

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Comments (12) | Join the Conversation!

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May 20, 2010 6:11 PM   

Funny stuff, next thing you know he will be saying he never said he wouldn't of supported it.

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May 20, 2010 6:20 PM   

Conway must be jumping with joy. I guess this is the best gift that he could get for winning the primary. I have a feeling there are going to be more gaffes from Paul coming in the next few months.

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May 20, 2010 6:23 PM   

Blumenthal has to love this guy as well. what does Sarah Palin think about Rand not supporting the ADA.

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May 20, 2010 7:24 PM   

"Yes, Rand, and I would have perhaps voted for you... IF YOU WERE A REAL CANDIDATE."

This guy just doesn't get it.

Either you (the candidate) are FOR something, or, you are AGAINST it. And you (the candidate) have to actually TELL your electorate which it is.

Choosing one position first, then pretending to be both for AND against both positions, and then finally winding up by reversing yourself as a damage control tactic proves only one thing...

YOU ARE A ROOKIE.

Your credibility is toast. You can take your mealy-mouthed, have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too TeaParty™ " I'm-not-a-libertarian-but-I-play-one-on-TV" candidacy and just go back to your LAND OF IDEOLOGICAL PURITY.

Libertarianism is intellectual fantasy. It's political masturbation. We live in a nation of PEOPLE. People with real problems.

"No man is an island". And no politician can escape the stain of his own character.

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May 20, 2010 9:42 PM   

The next thing you know, he'll be supporting the healthcare bill.

This guy will say just about anything right now to save his butt.

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May 20, 2010 10:37 PM   

One day in, lil' Randall is backpedalin' like a mofo.

This is going 2B fu-uh-uh-uh-un!

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May 21, 2010 1:07 AM   

Wow. I thought Paul would be like his dad--i.e., crazy, but ready to suffer for his convictions.

The son is just another pol. He's giving Mitt Romney a run for the title of phoniest flip-flopper in politics.

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May 21, 2010 8:11 AM   

What I find particularly hilarious - though unsurprising, as people like Paul rarely know what they're talking about - the 'hypothetical' Paul brought up regarding the ADA actually already exists as an exemption under the law.

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slb

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May 21, 2010 9:35 PM    in reply to zonk

I suspected as much.

And what is sad is that the interviewers almost never know enough about it themselves to challenge those things.

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May 21, 2010 8:54 AM   

The reason that we have the ADA is because "private" didn't always do the right thing. In fact, private seldom did the right thing. Public wasn't all that crazy about it either, for that matter. That's the trouble with the Pauls and their Paullowers - they absolutely refuse to recognize that there is discrimination against any minority group.

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May 21, 2010 10:08 AM   

Another thing about the ADA, many of our patriots became disabled fighting to keep our nation free. After what the sacrifice they made for us, we can't install an elevator or give them front row parking???

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slb

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May 21, 2010 9:41 PM   

"I thought I was supposed to get a honeymoon. When does my honeymoon start after my victory?"

GMAFB. How long a honeymoon did his guys give to Obama? Absolutely none! What a whiner!

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