Rand Paul hits back at Christie over surveillance

Associated Press ^ | Jul 29, 2013 12:03 AM EDT | Erik Schelzig

[Olog-hai]

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul hit back at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the two Republicans’ ongoing spat over national security.

Christie last week criticized Paul’s opposition to warrantless federal surveillance programs, saying it harmed efforts to prevent terrorism. Paul told reporters after speaking at a fundraiser outside Nashville on Sunday that Christie’s position hurts GOP chances in national elections, and that spending priorities of critics like the governor and Rep. Peter King of New York do more to harm national security.

“They're precisely the same people who are unwilling to cut the spending, and their ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme—give me all my Sandy money now.’” Paul said, referring to federal funding after the hurricane last year. “Those are the people who are bankrupting the government and not letting enough money be left over for national defense.” …

[driftdiver]

Rand has a good point.

[nathanbedford]

Could Rand Paul have said instead, "there precisely the same people who are unwilling to close the border?"

[nathanbedford]

Could Rand Paul have said instead, "they're precisely the same people who are unwilling to close the border?"

[LS]

That would have been nice. Paul is THIS CLOSE to being “the” candidate who would unite a large swath of conservatives and non-interventionist Dems, but he has to have just a little more common sense about what foreign threats are in fact real.

[txrefugee]

The rule should be that if your state hasn’t supported the GOP in the last three elections, you are not eligible to be the nominee because your state won’t help you win. That any politician from either coast should be flapping their gums giving advice is ludicrous.

[Dr. Sivana]

Could Rand Paul have said instead [ . . .]

Well, he could have said it either way, and both would sound the same. (Good that you aught yourself before someone else did.)

[Sirius Lee]

he has to have just a little more common sense about what foreign threats are in fact real.

I agree, but on the other hand, he is the loudest proponent of shutting off military aid, or foreign aid of any kind for that matter, to the muzzies.

[LibLieSlayer]

A boot to the nuts... I like it!

[muir_redwoods]

preaching national security while favoring open borders is like preaching modesty while favoring public nudity.

[Walrus]

Can anybody here remember the last time the AP reported on a disagreement between two Democrats?