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Rand Paul: 'Trump mania' shows country swooning for celebrity over substance
The Washington Examiner ^ | August 23, 2015 | Barbara Boland

Posted on 08/24/2015 4:51:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he stands by his outspoken criticism of fellow candidate and reality show star Donald Trump because he is worried about the country succumbing to an obsession with celebrity over substance.

"My fear ... is that there are countries that do succumb to celebrity... often in the developing world, celebrities and very wealthy people will win," said Paul during a 22-minute pre-taped interview posted on the web site of NBC's "Meet the Press." "I worry about the country because I don't believe that there's any sincerity to what [Trump's] message is."

"And even when the message is sincere, it's so garbled that now, here we have this great opponent of immigration [in Donald Trump] who's going to ship everybody home, but then he says things like 'oh yeah, but then I'm going to let them all back in,'" said Paul.

"For two months the Trump mania has been soaking up votes from many of the candidates," said Paul, who explained that Trump's appeal taps into anger at Washington.

"You can disapprove and simply have anger at Washington," said Paul. "He's tapping into the anger. But I think his message is empty anger. It's an anger without substance. Whereas I think people are rightly angry at government and angry at big government and debt. And really frankly, the biggest anger I feel ... was anger at Republicans who promised to make government smaller and then it didn't become smaller, it actually became bigger."

"So I mean the real question is, are conservatives comfortable enough to say ... Donald Trump's been against Obamacare long enough that he's not going to expand it, or will you start [to] have a suspicion that he still kind of sounds like he's for single-payer," said Paul. "I think we could be well on our way to single-payer if we elect Donald Trump."

Democrats "are applauding" Trump's front-runner status, Paul said, because polls show that Trump would do worst in a head-to-head match-up with Democrat front-runner Hillary Clinton. Some polls show Paul performing best in swing states against Clinton, he said.

Paul said he truly believes that Trump is a "fake conservative" and that he will not walk back criticism of the current Republican front-runner "because he has been on every side of every issue in the last five years."

"We have to decide whether we want sort of empty platitudes or whether we are going to look at substance," said Paul.

Arguing that voters should look at more than just anger, Paul said: "I've put forward a flat tax, I've put forward a plan to balance the budget in five years, and I've been part of an intellectual movement that's been around really since World War II, that has been fighting against large government that is all consuming and all involved in our lives."

The interview was pre-taped from Haiti where Paul, an ophthalmologist, was doing charity eye surgery.


TOPICS: Kentucky; New York; Campaign News; Issues; Parties; Polls
KEYWORDS: 2016election; aliens; amnestypimps; election2016; gop; gopestablishment; immigration; newyork; paultardation; paultardnoisemachine; randpaul; randpaulnoisemachine; randsconcerntrolls; rino; trump
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“My fear ... is that there are countries that do succumb to celebrity...”

Yes you nitwit, 8 years ago, the United States succumbed to Barry. Now go back to your pot smoking libertarian events where you can still be a celebrity, and get out of the way so Trump, Cruz, and other Patriots can fix this mess.


21 posted on 08/24/2015 5:01:39 PM PDT by Carthego delenda est
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To: Jim Noble

So does his plan to defeat ISIS. Just saying, “I’ll call it Islamic terrorism” is not a plan.


22 posted on 08/24/2015 5:01:52 PM PDT by Hugin ("First thing--get yourself a firearm!" Sheriff Ed Galt)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rand is wrong. We are fed up with the BS. I personally don’t like celebrity for celebrity sake. The only reason I know who some people are is the idiot media always reporting about them. I’d rather fish than spend the day at....well just about anywhere, other than the woods.


23 posted on 08/24/2015 5:02:07 PM PDT by paintriot (TRUMP: The 10 Billion Dollar Man- Better, Stronger, Faster!!!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Before Paul was born Kennedy was celebrity.
Clinton was voted in by pure late night propaganda. And Obama???

Where has he been?


24 posted on 08/24/2015 5:02:53 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (The Sun Never Sets on Liberal Idiocy)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
So what are you Rand?

Let's see, you supported a Washington Cartel RINO Elite Fraud over a Conservative in the Kentucky Senate race and you supported a Washington Cartel Fossil over a Conservative in the Mississippi Senate Race.

Know a man by the Company he keeps! FURP

25 posted on 08/24/2015 5:04:21 PM PDT by VRWCarea51 (The original 1998 version)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It's not really that people are enamored by his celebrity; rather it's that they appreciate that his wealth uniquely allows him the freedom to fearlessly speak his mind and to advance the aspirations of millions of unrepresented conservatives, independents, and an undetermined number of Dems, and to ignore monied special interests who exert control over other candidates.
26 posted on 08/24/2015 5:04:21 PM PDT by luvbach1 (We are finished. It will just take a while before everyone realizes it.)
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To: Hildy

Well,ain’t life a bitch.The longer someone lives in Washington the more they alienate themselves from the American people.


27 posted on 08/24/2015 5:06:23 PM PDT by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rand whom?


28 posted on 08/24/2015 5:17:41 PM PDT by BobL (REPUBLICANS - Fight for the WHITE VOTE...and you will win (see my 'profile' page))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Dear Mr. Paul,

THE GOP HAS NO ****ING SUBSTANCE AT ALL! NONE! THE GOP HAS ACHIEVED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

IF A MEMBER OF THE GOP SAYS, “I STAND FOR X”, THEN YOU CAN GUARAN-DAMN-TEE THAT X WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN.

THE PURPOSE OF THE GOP IS TO ENTOMB ANYTHING THAT AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES HOLD DEAR, AND MAKE SURE THAT THING ROTS.

TO HELL WITH THE GOP, Mr. Paul, AND TO HELL WITH YOU.

F*** you very much,

Chris.


29 posted on 08/24/2015 5:19:43 PM PDT by chris37 (Heartless)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

His ‘interruption’ at the debate proved to me he has NO CLASS!

Wants everyone to know he’s the ‘smartest one in the room’ mentality by raising his hand every time the teacher asks a question..... and that rubs me the wrong way.


30 posted on 08/24/2015 5:20:59 PM PDT by LibFreeUSA
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thank you Senator Jheri Curl. Now get out.


31 posted on 08/24/2015 5:22:53 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Beware the Wisconsin Weasel - GOPe Plan B)
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To: ameribbean expat

Haha. See #31.


32 posted on 08/24/2015 5:24:55 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Beware the Wisconsin Weasel - GOPe Plan B)
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FReepers, Let's go!
Everyone needs to donate!



September is almost here.
Please contribute today!


33 posted on 08/24/2015 5:49:01 PM PDT by RedMDer (Support Free Republic and Keep FReedom ALIVE!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Accusation of “... celebrity over substance ...” from the guy who tries to be all things to all people and can’t seem to take a stand on most issues.

Rand, like many of the those foundering in the lower 40, are trying anything to get a little media attention.


34 posted on 08/24/2015 5:53:43 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I remember in 2012 Hannity was talking on his radio show and said he had a call from Rand Paul. He thought it was about emergency legislation. No. It was to advise Hannity Rand Paul wrote a hit piece on Gingrich in a newspaper and wanted everyone to know about it. Hannity was ticked. He said “I thought this was about emergency legislation!” Shortly after that I saw Rand Paul on Fox News saying to vote for his father because he can get the independents. He is pushy and rubs me the wrong way butting in at all the wrong times. Now he is criticizing the American people and thinks he knows why they are going for Trump. He has no clue at all. Mark Levin told the GOPe and Fox News tonight they they created Trump. Rand Paul does not want voter id. He cozied up to McConnell. He needs to ask himself why people are not running to listen to him after just those two things alone.


35 posted on 08/24/2015 6:02:19 PM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

These idiots don’t have a clue what’s going on and they think they’re smart enough to run the country.


36 posted on 08/24/2015 6:10:40 PM PDT by KevinB (Barack Obama: Our first black, gay, Kenyan, Socialist, Muslim president!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Substance?? Oh, is that where you tell us peon’s out here that the RNC is our only savior and they’re doing everything in your best interest and keeping us safe from the mean old Democrats when you’re all the same??? Sorry Rand, I wouldn’t vote for you if you were running for the hills........moron!!


37 posted on 08/24/2015 6:37:53 PM PDT by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: Hildy

Paul still has his cushy do-nothing gig in DC. What’s his beef? Or all the rest of them, too. They all can go back to pretending to give a crap.


38 posted on 08/24/2015 6:39:57 PM PDT by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The citizens have been screaming for border and interior enforcement for years.
The Democrats have been representing the illegal aliens.
The GOP has been representing their employers.
No one as been representing the citizen.
Trump stepped into that vacuum.

Whine all you want Rand, you could have taken up the mantle of the citizens and the rule of law, but you chose to side with Mitch McConnell and The Cheap Labor Express.


39 posted on 08/24/2015 6:45:55 PM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Donations currently being accepted for the Rand Paul whine and cheese party.
40 posted on 08/24/2015 6:52:50 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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