GOP officials ponder how to help, and tame, Rand Paul

Even as national Republican officials seek ways to limit damage from Rand Paul's unorthodox remarks, the Kentucky Senate nominee raised more eyebrows Friday by defending the oil company blamed for the Gulf oil spill. Those comments, on top of Paul's earlier suggestion that businesses should have the right to turn away racial minorities, sent gleeful Democrats into full attack mode while top Republicans pondered how to calm things down.

High-ranking Republicans from Washington have quietly reached out to Paul and his aides, trying to start healing the breach and to nudge him toward greater campaign discipline, said three GOP operatives close to the situation.

The three, who would speak only on background to avoid antagonizing Paul and his supporters, disagreed on how the initial exchanges have gone. A Washington-based Republican official, who has spoken with Paul's campaign advisers, said the harsh national reaction to the nominee's MSNBC interview on Wednesday "was like a wake-up call" to his inner circle.

"They know they messed up" by allowing liberal show host Rachel Maddow to draw out Paul's thoughts on the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the official said. Paul told Maddow he abhors racial discrimination, but he also suggested the federal government shouldn't have the power to force restaurants to admit minorities against their will.

There were signs late Friday that Paul was getting the message. His campaign canceled his scheduled appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," accusing reporters of being obsessed with the civil rights flap.

"They just want to keep beating this same dead horse," said campaign manager David Adams. "We're finished talking about that."




http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011918090_apusrandpaul.html

Poor lil weepublikkkans are so afraid of questions

Reporters will be all over him every time he tries to sneak out.

"Racist GOP proven to be once again, Racist." They have to shoe in an out of control racist running on their ticket!!! :rofl:

You let Reagan scream out "welfare queen" as he campaigned.

You let Lee Atwater weave his magic via openly cheating in elections to get your candidates in office.

You let the Bush Crime family use everything from Willie Horton to fixing two elections to have power in Washington.

You quietly stood by as Tom Tancredo frothed at the mouth and screamed, "Illegal" as he created a wave a hate in this country that hasn't ebbed.

You hid under the covers as people were stranded, starved, became displaced and died in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita. You said nothing as Bush the younger took a vacation and entertained folks like Lance Armstrong as people suffered in true "let them eat cake" fashion.

You constructed and nurtured the Teabag movement. You stood silently by as your group of unruly followers attacked sitting Congresspersons on their way to a vote. You said nothing when they sat there across America holding racist signs advocating for the violent overthrow of the POTUS and the government.

You went around parading the fact that you want to revive Confederate History Month. You especially went out of your way to bury the most violent and disgusting aspect of that era: slavery.

And now when Rand Paul openly promotes your Southern Strategy, you try to shut him up?

Say it isn't so.

Where's your cojones? Don't back down from your "honest convictions". Stand up tall. Say what you really feel.

I think he will soon find that without government intervention a whole lot of things fall apart.