Posted on 05/24/2010 8:31:57 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
Almost instantly after becoming the Tea Party’s next great hope, the Kentucky Senate nominee imploded on the national stage. Meghan McCain on why Paul is a cautionary tale for Republicans.
I’ve been intrigued by Ron Paul and his so-called revolution ever since the Texas renegade began making waves on the presidential trail in 2008—and his supporters began crashing nearly every major Republican event since he dropped out of that race. I can’t help but interpret the congressman’s cult-like, libertarian-leaning following as yet another indicator of a growing resentment of all people incumbent and in power in Washington.
So, almost by default, my fascination spills over to his son Rand Paul and his recent Senate primary race in Kentucky. Last week, the younger Paul claimed the state’s Republican nomination—thanks, in large part, to vast Tea Party support. Yet less than 48 hours later, he (now infamously) declared on The Rachel Maddow Show that, while he’s against racism and prejudice, he essentially believes that any business owner has a right not to serve a person because of his or her race, and that he would have voted against the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
To me, what’s most significant about this series of events is how quickly Paul—the Tea Party movement’s first truly notable candidate, both in name and national prominence—imploded on the national stage.
When someone runs for office, essentially, all he or she must do is answer questions about what he or she believes and why these beliefs will best serve the country. Yet anyone watching Paul’s interview with Maddow could see that he was unable to do that. Worse, he managed to confuse voters further about just where his libertarian ideals stand, raising new questions about his extreme libertarian view of how our country should be governed.
Paul’s nomination could have been a moment of triumph for the Tea Party movement, as well as for Republicans, but instead it was an embarrassment. And I felt the disappointment firsthand, given that I agree with and support numerous things the Tea Party represents. Like many Americans, I’m angered by the intense spending going on under the Obama administration. But when the movement was given the opportunity to present specific solutions and answer real questions, its leaders nominated someone who—yet again—revealed weird, racist undertones, no matter how he wants to spin it.
I respect Paul’s ideological commitment to libertarianism, of which it’s quite obvious he’s a die-hard supporter, even if there are reasons there’s no real libertarian senator. And I, too, believe that the government should stay out of people’s lives as much as possible. Yet Paul seems to be taking these beliefs to an extreme, one that’s making even fellow Republicans uneasy.
With the midterm elections fast approaching, and the 2012 elections around the corner, let’s hope Paul isn’t a canary in the coal mine, if you will, for Republicans, but a cautionary tale. The lesson is clear: If we don’t nominate formidable candidates with wider appeal and a broader message, our party is dead in the water.
Yes, Rand Paul could just be an anomaly; the next Tea Party candidate who rises to national prominence could be the answer to the movement’s prayers. Yet I believe that Paul offers a lens into the Tea Party’s broader problems. While anger over the way the country is run is valid, when it comes to specifics—and to direct, clear solutions—things fall apart.
Paul’s role within the Republican Party (if any) has yet to be determined. But one thing I am sure of is that, until we start nominating candidates who have more realistic views of the complex world we live in and stop seeing things strictly in black and white (no pun intended), we are going to continue losing elections and becoming punch lines for late-night talk-show hosts.
Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the website mccainblogette.com.
Go away! Just join the Rats already.
ROFL - I got all fired up trying to figure out how to express my disgust for this idiot, and then I read your post and realized you nailed it! Well said!
She already had her 15 minutes. Kinda reminds you of Cindy Sheehan—press only rolls her out when they need stupid, negative comment...
Guilty white America, as well as that America that has no fundamental understanding of basic property rights and true liberty, is not ready for Rand Paul’s advanced and accurate comments regarding the hugely overrated Civil Rights Act of 1964.
She needs to put the doughnuts down and shut the hell up.
WHO in the HELL is this SKANK, and what RELEVANCE does she have to the Republic??!!
However, Meghan and Rachel Maddow had not one thing to say that wasn't truly RACIST. "A White restaurant-owner choosing not to serve African-Americans"? What RACIST witches! Why didn't they use the example of an African-American restaurant owner refusing to serve White people? "Hey, my people have served White people long enough -- I'm done with that nonsense... This isn't 1960 anymore!" (And that restaurant would likely stay in business long after any White-refusing-Black business would today.)
What truly makes me sick is that these spoiled little witches don't truly recognize the bravery that it took for those African Americans back in 1960 who really did sit at that Wooltworth's lunch counter, buoyed only by their faith in God that WE were ALL His Children.
Instead by championing the fight long after it was already won, Rachel and Meghan think that some of that glory will rub off on them if only they keep talking about a past that was long resolved before they were ever even born.
What a cheap shot by these two who probably converse over pedicures.
I think all the fat has gone to her head.
Hopefully true for Juan and his ilk.
Uh, Meg. Rand Paul, problems though he may have, just won the Republican nomination for Senate from Kentucky, and it appears as though the general electorate is at least not automatically running away in terror. And Rand Paul has made a life and career for himself that doesn’t hinge on being his father’s child. Unlike some other politician’s kids I know of.
LOL! You bleached bimbo, it's the mushy-middle crap that put the federal governemnt in overdrive.
How do you get a mushy middle? By making things more complicated than they need to be.
What happened to all the progressives 'We gotta talk about race' speak. Paul's trying to talk about it, but they're all to busy foaming at the mouth.
No kidding! Some people don’t know when to keep their mouth shut!
Why is this twit published again?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2522350/posts
How the Smart Money is Betting: Rand Paul moves up 14 points in one week (Intrade)
Christian_Capitalist
May 27, 2010
Well, the early results are in from Rand Paul’s first few interviews and the Republican Unity Rally, and in one week the “Republican Rand Paul to Win” Contract has moved up 14 points, rallying from 50% to a commanding 64% lead, having moved up steadily for most of the week. Concurrently, of course, the “Democrat Jack Conway to Win” Contract has collapsed from 50% to a most recent trade of 36.5% as sellers are dumping the contract (due to differences in bid/offer spreads and what not, totals do not always equal exactly 100%).
Given the historic accuracy of the Intrade Prediction Markets (see article below), Republicans can take comfort in the fact that apparently, “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”. Despite his initial gaffes, Rand Paul’s subsequent recovery has now resulted in the arguably-smartest political odds-makers around now favoring him to win over Jack Conway by a margin of almost 2 to 1. Not bad for the first week of the General Election campaign.
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