Last night Rand Paul appeared on Rachel Maddow and he defended the practice of segregating lunch counters. This post is mostly a re-hash from last night, but it’s such a hot issue it’s been on MSNBC all day long.
You should looky here:
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Remember Chris Hightower (here, here, here)? Yeah. That scandal pales in comparison to accepting discrimination at lunch counters on the basis of race.
Rand Paul is done. There’s no way a business or PAC can contribute to him without being considered racist. Businesses and individuals can’t put up signs without risking the racist label. It’s a hot mess.
Will Mitch McConnell show up at the unity rally after this mess? Does he, too, support the right of business to discriminate on the basis of race?
P.S. Here’s this from Joe Sonka. It’s Rand Paul’s campaign manager, David Adams, sitting all alone at a lunch counter:
Wonder how Rand Paul feels about admitting he supports segregation today?
Ben Smith has an update. Rand Paul told Fox News it’s just the “loony left” out to get him. And he says he stands against “institutional racism.” But supports the right of businesses to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race.
He can’t explain it away. That’s his position.
Meanwhile, this is the statement Jack Conway’s campaign is releasing:
“Kentucky’s people are hurting and I’m running to stand up for Kentucky’s families. Rand Paul is running for a narrow political philosophy that has dangerous consequences for working families, veterans, students, the disabled, and those without a voice in the halls of power. Kentucky voters have a choice between Rand Paul’s narrow philosophy and our campaign to create jobs, cut the deficit, and bring accountability to Wall Street and Washington. We are reaching out to Democrats, Independents and Republicans across Kentucky to ask them to join our campaign and stand up for Kentucky families.”
I think a tremendous opportunity for netroots fundraising is being ignored. And the opportunity to stand up specifically in support of the Civil Rights Act – to address Paul directly… well… same boat.
U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth just released a statement:
“The comments by Senate candidate Rand Paul opposing the Civil Rights Act are simply appalling, and make it abundantly clear that he has no place holding public office in Kentucky in the 21st century. Our Commonwealth was the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to establish a Commission on Human Rights dedicated to ending discrimination and we have worked hard to show the nation that Jim Crow laws are a distant part of our history.
Rejecting the fundamental provision of the Civil Rights Act is a rejection of the foundational promise of America that all men and women should be treated equally — a promise for which many Americans have lost their lives.
Leading is not hypothetical debating; it’s about solving real problems. It is the job of a Member of Congress to represent the needs of every one of their constituents, not to allow businesses to segregate or discriminate against them.
Rand Paul has already embarrassed Kentuckians in the eyes of the world. The Commonwealth deserves better because we are better – and I call on Mitch McConnell and my other colleagues in the Kentucky Congressional Delegation to join me in condemning his despicable views.”
Glad to see John stand up.
24 responses so far ↓
1 Rod // May 20, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Good for Conway that the attacks have started. With the recent poll and the small number of undecideds, Conway will need to raise twice as much than Paul to spoon feed the lefty castor oil down the throats of KY voters that are sick of the Obama adjenda.
2 Belknap Banquo // May 20, 2010 at 12:44 pm
First, I notice that Conway doesn’t play the race card here. Smart. Secondly, he does start by saying that “Kentucky’s people are hurting…” You’re GD right they’re hurting, Jack, because people all over America are hurting and President Obama is banging Republicans as obstructionists as if they have any power whatsover in DC with current numbers. Good Lord, a 59-41 Republican majority in the Senate is something any Republican President would kill for, so quit the bullshit already. That’s what November will be about . Defend your party, Jack. And, don’t worry, your partisans will forgive you when your car screetches to a stop and makes a hard-right turn to carry your racist, backwater, hillbilly state. And, Mr. Paul, get off the cable shows and get your ass back home and quit acting like some GD professor. You ain’t no shoe-in.
3 Strangeite // May 20, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I hope that the Conway press release is simply the first round.
Jack MUST speak quickly, forcefully and clearly that he supports the Civil Rights Act and finds it abhorrent for Paul to suggest that businesses be able to discriminate based upon race, sex, gender, religion or sexual preference.
Forget this wishy-washy crap about narrow philosophies.
I can’t attempt to be funny on this issue. This is too important and he had damn well better say something stronger. And soon.
4 starrymessenger // May 20, 2010 at 12:59 pm
huey long is the nation’s best and worst democrat? huey long is the nation’s best
and worst Democrat in FDR’s eyes???
5 starrymessenger // May 20, 2010 at 1:00 pm
rand paul = barry goldwater
he is not the “kingfish”…!!!
6 starrymessenger // May 20, 2010 at 1:06 pm
rand paul WANTS each
small business to be under
less “regs” and quite successful.
to now recover from the wall street
crashes, we need more small businesses!!!
this applies to ALL the communities in
our great melting-pot vast & wise
most multi-cultural nation!!!
barry goldwater, yes…
7 Belknap Banquo // May 20, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Now that Al Sharpton has once again been given a DNC expense account to fly to racist Arizona, will Mr. Yarmuth denounce the Democratic Party bankrolling of a blatant anti-Semite and race-baiter? I’ll hold my fucking breath.
8 Marion County Line // May 20, 2010 at 1:25 pm
“Obama ajenda” — that’s some Tea-bonics right there.
9 Belknap Banquo // May 20, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Let’s make it simple for Paul and David Adams. Blacks are a protected class, BY LAW, and it’s not the same thing as a Jewish card club having to let Nazis sit in on a Bridge hand, or the Tartan sewing circle having to let those those tard ass Plaids join in. I’m getting a fucking headache.
10 Buster Brown // May 20, 2010 at 1:48 pm
James Clyburn was brilliant on Andrea Mitchell just now.
11 ChristopherM // May 20, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I love my Yarmuth! Way to call out this nutjob embarrassment!
12 Buster Brown // May 20, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Belknap Banquo
You just don’t get it … this country is dynamic not static. Civil rights for gays is not settled law. Civil rights for Iranians, Mexicans, women – is NOT settled law.
The last thing a dynamic (opposite static) country needs is a Talibanic-Teabaggers in charge of writing laws & voting on laws who will vote against the equal rights of ALL people.
Rand claims to be for smaller government but at the same time supports government forbidding a gay man marrying a man he falls in love with.
Rand claims to be for smaller government but wants laws taking away a woman’s choice – when it is NOT even government’s business to know if the woman is even pregnant let alone, have any business knowing what she chooses to do with that pregnancy.
I will be blunt, Rand Paul is a kook. A kook who will take the Sarah Palin cue in from now on only allowing interviews with Frightwing media who ACCEPT the teabagger’s notion of discrimination.
The fact is, Rand Paul has proven that the white hoods were replaced by teabags hanging off of heads – and the faces reveals are repulsive.
13 Belknap Banquo // May 20, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Buster Brown, does Jack Conway support gay marriage? Do all gays? Does one’s position on that matter of contract determine whether one hates gays? Hell, this would be one boring ass fucking world without gays, but I’m not going to let you put me in a PC box because I HATE PC more than just about anything, and we all need to quit being such PUSSIES about differences of opinion. As for civil rights for Iranians and Mexicans, what the fuck you talkin’ bout Willis?
14 starrymessenger // May 20, 2010 at 2:53 pm
there ought to be no bias as to ethnicity
or race, there should be a basic fairness.
all who are citizens have rights, all who are
into FDr defend his four freedoms and our
founding fathers liked the way john locke
defined things, and thusly we are whigs…
15 Buster Brown // May 20, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Belknap Banquo
Try processing complete sentences.
I wrote, “Rand claims to be for smaller government but at the same time supports government forbidding a gay man marrying a man he falls in love with.”
As for the Civil Rights of Iranians, Mexicans and women – um… try paying attention to current events. The Frightwinged media has their fearmongering, warmongering campaign to discriminate against Iranians & Mexicans going on … & on … & on … & on.
16 Belknap Banquo // May 20, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Buster, I don’t know where to start..so I won’t.
17 SA // May 20, 2010 at 3:27 pm
What is amazing is how libertarians dont understand that the civil rights act was possible the single most important “liberty” legislation in american history. It afforded liberty and freedom to blacks that previously didn’t have it.
This is where libertarianism meets its logical fallacy. and its adherents are exposed for what they really believe
18 Belknap Banquo // May 20, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Actually, SA, the 14th Amendment should have been enough, except that America allowed the shroud of apartheid to take over Dixie for a hundred years, until brave blacks and civil rights volunteers of all colors and creeds took to the streets to make it real with legislation. Bull Connor was a Democrat…just sayin’.
19 JoeJ // May 20, 2010 at 10:58 pm
I gotta say that even though I don’t fully support Democrats, the Republican party stinks to high heavens. McConnel, Rand Paul, and all the rest are racist bigots.
20 Will // May 21, 2010 at 12:26 am
Jesus Christ, Rod–it’s spelled “agenda.”
Not surprised the Conway campaign is ducking the issue and thereby validating the racist apologists (such as some of those who chimed in above me), considering who Jack’s handlers are. But I can’t say I’m not disappointed and embarrassed by his transparent silence. I’m glad Yarmuth is taking a stand and not being a gaping pussy like our esteemed AG. No wonder John has no interest in running for U.S. Senate…he has half a brain.
21 jake // May 21, 2010 at 12:30 am
Jack woke up and started chapping serious ass late in the day.
His last statement was pretty good stuff. And his appearance on WHAS11 was niiiice.
22 Will // May 21, 2010 at 7:58 am
Good to hear, Jake. I’m out of town and very appreciative of your blog–it’s my link to the Commonwealth now that the C-J’s website is a dense bamboo jungle of obnoxious advertisements.
Keep up the good work.
23 Kenny Myers // May 21, 2010 at 9:58 pm
No, Conway does not support gay marriage and believes 100% that marriage should remain between a man and a woman. This isn’t something Jack should be focused on though because someone could equate gay “rights” with true civil rights.
24 TominNH // Sep 18, 2010 at 8:24 pm
A person who does not support the laws of the United States OR Supreme Court decisions has NO BUSINESS being a United States Senator!! Here’s hoping this decrepit candidate is soundly DEFEATED!
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