Rand Paul: 'I am Running For President'
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Louisville, Kentucky (CNN)For Rand Paul, it's all led to this moment.
Since riding the tea party wave into the Senate in 2010, Paul has carefully built a brand of mainstream libertarianism -- dogged advocacy of civil liberties combined with an anti-interventionist foreign policy and general support for family values -- that he bets will create a coalition of younger voters and traditional Republicans to usher him into the White House.
The test of that theory begins Tuesday when the Kentucky senator is expected to make official what has been clear for years: He's running for president.
"I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government," Paul said on his new website.
A formal announcement will come at a rally in Louisville and he'll immediately hit the campaign trail, swinging through New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada -- the states that traditionally vote first in the primaries and caucuses
His wife, Kelley, and former Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma will be among the speakers introducing Paul at the rally Tuesday.
So far, Paul joins only Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as a declared candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. But the field is certain to grow in the months ahead with Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham and others eyeing a campaign. Marco Rubio, a Florida GOP senator, is expected to launch his campaign next week.
For now, the nomination is up for grabs with no clear front-runner. Paul came in third place at 12% in a CNN/ORC International Poll of Republicans. Bush led the pack at 16% while Walker came in second at 13%.
Ron vs. Rand Paul
Paul, the son of former Texas congressman and three-time presidential hopeful Ron Paul, will build on his father's legacy as a candidate eager to bring civil liberties to the forefront of the national dialogue. He's already used his perch on Capitol Hill to draw attention to those issues, including a 13-hour filibuster two years ago blasting the Obama administration's drone policies and a lawsuit against the National Security Agency's phone metadata collection effort.
What's the difference between Ron Paul and Rand Paul?
What's the difference between Ron Paul and Rand Paul? 01:46
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But Paul, 52, will split from his father in one important way: his approach to the campaign. Where Ron Paul often focused on creating a libertarian movement, Rand Paul is planning a more strategic, less purist operation that could have a hope of competing in a general election.
The elder Paul will be at the rally on Tuesday, though he's not expected to be a public face for his son's campaign. He'll attend the event as a "proud papa," a source close to the senator said.
Elected in 2010 with strong tea-party support, Rand Paul quickly rose to national fame in part due to his father's back-to-back White House runs in 2008 and 2012, but also because of Rand Paul's willingness to fight fellow Republicans.
He engaged in a war of words with Chris Christie two years ago over national security and federal spending and, more recently, he's taken swipes at Jeb Bush over issues like Common Core and medical marijuana.
Still, Paul has carefully worked to form inroads with establishment Republicans and other factions of the party's base. He's done so by becoming close political allies with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and backing mainstream candidates who competed against libertarian opponents during last year's midterms.
He's also tried to make peace with national security Republicans, taking nuanced positions that try to shed an isolationist label while still showing his apprehension toward foreign intervention. Last year, for example, he supported limited airstrikes against ISIS but vigorously fought against arming Syrian rebels.
While he bills himself as a conservative realist, Paul still tries to wear the mantle as the Republican most reluctant to take the country into war.
War's 'unintended consequence'
"I can tell you there will be one loud voice in our party saying, think of the unintended consequence," Paul said in Iowa two months ago. "Think about what we're going to accomplish and whether it will work before we go to war.' I promise you that will always be something I take very, very seriously."
The cautious foreign policy dance has drawn criticism from his father's supporters, who say Paul has become too moderate, and from hawkish Republicans who fear he wouldn't go far enough as commander in chief to tackle problems overseas. Democrats and some Republicans, meanwhile, have accused him of flip-flopping and pandering to donors.
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On Tuesday, the Foundation for a Secure & Prosperous America -- a hawkish group from the right -- released a $1 million television ad buy against Paul's foreign policy, which hits the airwaves nationally on cable, as well as in the key early states that Paul will visit this week.
"Rand Paul is wrong and dangerous," says the narrator in the 30-second spot, arguing that Paul doesn't understand the threat of Iran's nuclear program. The ad ends with an image of a nuclear bomb detonating.
Responding to the ad, Paul's adviser Doug Stafford said the attack is "false" and demonstrates that the "the Washington machine is worried that our message is resonating." He added that Paul, who's largely been silent on the Iran deal, will oppose any deal that doesn't guarantee Iran gives up its nuclear ambition.
Paul is actually running for two offices at the same time, trying to hold onto his Senate seat while also running for president. Kentucky's election laws say candidates can't appear on a ballot twice, but with reluctant support from McConnell, a Kentucky powerhouse, the state's GOP will likely change its presidential preference vote from a primary to a caucus. That would allow Paul to get around the rule.
His interest in the Oval Office has never really been a secret. Shortly after the 2012 presidential election, he started crisscrossing the country to paint himself as a nontraditional Republican eager to court voters who don't typically live and vote in red areas.
He spoke at historically black colleges and universities, as well as Democratic strongholds like inner city Detroit and the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on criminal justice reform and civil liberties, two issues he believes can bring more people into the Republican Party.
Ferguson
As one of the few national Republicans who went to Ferguson, Missouri, Paul frequently boasts that there is no "bigger defender of minority rights in the Congress" than himself.
But those efforts could prove futile if he can't get beyond controversial comments he made in 2010, when he questioned parts of the Civil Rights Act, especially provisions that place restrictions on private property.
He's steered clear of such hot-button issues more recently. Last week, for example, he was one of the few Republicans who didn't weigh in on religious freedom laws in Indiana and Arkansas that critics argued would allow businesses to discriminate against ? and lesbians.
Paul has also worked to maintain a following that includes a large swath of young voters who he partly inherited from his father. Heavy on tech and social media, his political team has opened an office in Austin, Texas, and will soon establish one in the heart of Silicon Valley. Like clockwork, Paul frequently holds up his phone during his stump speech and declares that what people do on their smartphones is "none of the government's damn business."
His nontraditional style is complemented by Paul's wardrobe. The senator is known for wearing blue jeans with boots and a blazer when he's on the trail, and during the winter, he opts for a turtleneck and sport coat rather than a tie.
But in his quest to become a national figure, Paul's comments have come under scrutiny and some of his statements have led critics to question whether he's ready for prime time. Earlier this year, Paul, an ophthalmologist, lent credibility to theories that vaccinations cause mental disorders, and last fall he caused a stir when suggesting that people could catch Ebola at cocktail parties.
And while he's not media shy—he's given hundreds of interviews in the past year alone—Paul can get short-tempered with reporters. He shushed a female interviewer in February, and last fall he blew up at a reporter who asked a question about foreign aid to Israel.
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Rand Paul is a slave to Israel and Israel firster, he wants to cut funding to the United Nations if they keep passing resolutions condemning Israel.....? him
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The Republicans running for prez so far all suck
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So far he has my vote
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kingblaze84 wrote: »The Republicans running for prez so far all suck
He is the only candidate talking about stopping the unfair imprisonment of minority people. -
typically Id say ? this dude but he is pro-legalization. so if he could make that happen, Id vote for him but chances are he'd do nothing in the white house so IDK.
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kingblaze84 wrote: »The Republicans running for prez so far all suck
He is the only candidate talking about stopping the unfair imprisonment of minority people.
That's a plus in his favor but what plan does he have to actually get that in action? I haven't heard a solid one yet. And also, he's not the only one talking about that, Jeb Bush also said something similar -
Black_Samson wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »The Republicans running for prez so far all suck
He is the only candidate talking about stopping the unfair imprisonment of minority people.
Like he means it.
How you gon be for smaller govt, while telling city govt's how to police?
That is double speak.
And you fell for it.
Listen when these people talk they will tell on themselves often times within 3 sentences.
All politicians speak double.
the federal government can tell state police forces how to police if it is found that local policing violate the law
I fell for nothing so far the philosophy of rand Paul is closer in line with my values that's it. -
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Rand Paul probably DOES mean it. it's just, as you point out, there are some problems with the concept.Black_Samson wrote: »Like he means it.
How you gon be for smaller govt, while telling city govt's how to police?
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I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is. -
kingblaze84 wrote: »I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is.
Abortion is evil -
Rand Paul is the first republican i've thought about voting for. Not really feeling Hillary like that.
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Somebody calling me a Black republican would still be fighting words tho
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If Hilliary wins she not doing ? for your black ? . Her pandering is going to be to white women and ? . Y'all wanna talk about how Obama ain't helping y'all LOL
Wait until Hilliary comes in and doesn't even acknowledge that y'all exist, let alone have legitimate grievances. ? that I doubt I'm voting for her. -
Flat tax eh...
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cannonspike1994 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is.
Abortion is evil
So a woman shouldn't have a choice to do what she wants with her body? There's enough women out there raising kids they can't afford or didn't want to begin with. That causes society all kinds of problems, if abortion is banned under Rand Paul, then expect poverty rates and crime to skyrocket. -
If Hilliary wins she not doing ? for your black ? . Her pandering is going to be to white women and ? . Y'all wanna talk about how Obama ain't helping y'all LOL
Wait until Hilliary comes in and doesn't even acknowledge that y'all exist, let alone have legitimate grievances. ? that I doubt I'm voting for her.
I fully agree, it would take a really bad Republican (Ted Cruz) for me to even consider voting for her. I consider Jeb Bush equal to Hillary Clinton politically, so I would definitely vote 3rd party if those two go head to head. -
kingblaze84 wrote: »If Hilliary wins she not doing ? for your black ? . Her pandering is going to be to white women and ? . Y'all wanna talk about how Obama ain't helping y'all LOL
Wait until Hilliary comes in and doesn't even acknowledge that y'all exist, let alone have legitimate grievances. ? that I doubt I'm voting for her.
I fully agree, it would take a really bad Republican (Ted Cruz) for me to even consider voting for her. I consider Jeb Bush equal to Hillary Clinton politically, so I would definitely vote 3rd party if those two go head to head.
I think Bush is definitely gonna win the republican nomination (sigh). If so I might sit 2016 presidential out. I'll just head to the polls for the local stuff...
Don't sleep on Rand Paul tho dude aite for a republican -
kingblaze84 wrote: »cannonspike1994 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is.
Abortion is evil
So a woman shouldn't have a choice to do what she wants with her body? There's enough women out there raising kids they can't afford or didn't want to begin with. That causes society all kinds of problems, if abortion is banned under Rand Paul, then expect poverty rates and crime to skyrocket.
What nonsense are you talking about just because rand Paul is against abortion doesn't mean he can/ ban it.
And how is he going to be responsible for poverty and crime skyrocketing even if he did ban it . -
kingblaze84 wrote: »cannonspike1994 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is.
Abortion is evil
So a woman shouldn't have a choice to do what she wants with her body? There's enough women out there raising kids they can't afford or didn't want to begin with. That causes society all kinds of problems, if abortion is banned under Rand Paul, then expect poverty rates and crime to skyrocket.
What nonsense are you talking about just because rand Paul is against abortion doesn't mean he can/ ban it.
And how is he going to be responsible for poverty and crime skyrocketing even if he did ban it .
I don't trust any president that is against abortion, he might try some shady ? with states that support it. Also, he might appoint Supreme Court justices that are very conservative and possibly reverse the Roe vs Wade decision that made abortion legal.
And if he DID somehow ban abortion, without question it would turn America into a nation with a higher poverty and crime rate then it does now. There's a book called Freakanomics you should read.....nations without abortions often have high crime rates and worse poverty ones, while nations with legalized abortion have lower crime rates. Makes sense, if a bunch of people are having kids they can't afford and that they DO NOT WANT, then those kids are gonna end up ? up and poor as hell. -
kingblaze84 wrote: »If Hilliary wins she not doing ? for your black ? . Her pandering is going to be to white women and ? . Y'all wanna talk about how Obama ain't helping y'all LOL
Wait until Hilliary comes in and doesn't even acknowledge that y'all exist, let alone have legitimate grievances. ? that I doubt I'm voting for her.
I fully agree, it would take a really bad Republican (Ted Cruz) for me to even consider voting for her. I consider Jeb Bush equal to Hillary Clinton politically, so I would definitely vote 3rd party if those two go head to head.
I think Bush is definitely gonna win the republican nomination (sigh). If so I might sit 2016 presidential out. I'll just head to the polls for the local stuff...
Don't sleep on Rand Paul tho dude aite for a republican
Rand Paul, for a Republican, is definitely not too bad. I do like his policies on marijuana and letting states make up their own mind on the legality of it. I won't sleep on him, and I'll admit he's better then most of the Republicans running against him.
And it does seem Jeb Bush is gonna win the nomination so far, he's winning over a lot of Latinos and he probably has Florida and Texas on lock. Hope I'm wrong. -
kingblaze84 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »cannonspike1994 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is.
Abortion is evil
So a woman shouldn't have a choice to do what she wants with her body? There's enough women out there raising kids they can't afford or didn't want to begin with. That causes society all kinds of problems, if abortion is banned under Rand Paul, then expect poverty rates and crime to skyrocket.
What nonsense are you talking about just because rand Paul is against abortion doesn't mean he can/ ban it.
And how is he going to be responsible for poverty and crime skyrocketing even if he did ban it .
I don't trust any president that is against abortion, he might try some shady ? with states that support it. Also, he might appoint Supreme Court justices that are very conservative and possibly reverse the Roe vs Wade decision that made abortion legal.
And if he DID somehow ban abortion, without question it would turn America into a nation with a higher poverty and crime rate then it does now. There's a book called Freakanomics you should read.....nations without abortions often have high crime rates and worse poverty ones, while nations with legalized abortion have lower crime rates. Makes sense, if a bunch of people are having kids they can't afford and that they DO NOT WANT, then those kids are gonna end up ? up and poor as hell.
There are too many factors that go into crime to just blame abortion for crime. It's just silly and technically a logical fallacy because correlation is not causation. Other nations like Japan make getting abortions much harder and they have a much lower crime rate than America does -
kingblaze84 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »cannonspike1994 wrote: »kingblaze84 wrote: »I'd be happy to overlook Rand Paul's Tea Party affiliation and I maybe would let slide the fact he wouldn't do much to improve America's reputation worldwide with his anti-Palestinian policies, but the guy also opposes abortion lol.....he even opposes state and federal aid to support abortions. I tried to like the guy, and while I respect him, he'll never get my vote.
I like his plan to cut the debt though, he realizes how serious 18 trillion in debt is.
Abortion is evil
So a woman shouldn't have a choice to do what she wants with her body? There's enough women out there raising kids they can't afford or didn't want to begin with. That causes society all kinds of problems, if abortion is banned under Rand Paul, then expect poverty rates and crime to skyrocket.
What nonsense are you talking about just because rand Paul is against abortion doesn't mean he can/ ban it.
And how is he going to be responsible for poverty and crime skyrocketing even if he did ban it .
I don't trust any president that is against abortion, he might try some shady ? with states that support it. Also, he might appoint Supreme Court justices that are very conservative and possibly reverse the Roe vs Wade decision that made abortion legal.
And if he DID somehow ban abortion, without question it would turn America into a nation with a higher poverty and crime rate then it does now. There's a book called Freakanomics you should read.....nations without abortions often have high crime rates and worse poverty ones, while nations with legalized abortion have lower crime rates. Makes sense, if a bunch of people are having kids they can't afford and that they DO NOT WANT, then those kids are gonna end up ? up and poor as hell.
There are too many factors that go into crime to just blame abortion for crime. It's just silly and technically a logical fallacy because correlation is not causation. Other nations like Japan make getting abortions much harder and they have a much lower crime rate than America does
Banning abortion nationwide would still increase the nation's poverty rate because it means more people having kids they can't afford to take care of. America's poverty rate now is 15 or 16%, and much higher in other parts of the world where abortion is banned.....if America banned abortion, that number would get higher without a doubt. A nation with high poverty turns into a basket case quickly.
There are already too many people having kids they can't afford, imagine a whole lot more poor people having kids and WORSE, people who didn't want the kid to begin with raising them. Basket case central.
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