The blog Page One Kentucky has unearthed a 2002 letter to the editor of the Bowling Green Daily News written by Senate candidate Rand Paul, in which Paul clearly outlines his views on why the government should not bar racial discrimination by private institutions.
Explaining his opposition to the Fair Housing Act, Paul writes: “Decisions concerning private property and associations should in a free society be unhindered. As a consequence, some associations will discriminate.”
In a reversal from earlier comments, Paul’s campaign said today that Paul supports the powers of the government “to insure that private businesses don’t discriminate based on race.”
Here’s the 2002 letter:
A recent Daily News editorial supported the Federal Fair Housing Act. At first glance, who could object to preventing discrimination in housing? Most citizens would agree that it is wrong to deny taxpayer-financed, “public” housing to anyone based on the color of their skin or the number of children in the household.
But the Daily News ignores, as does the Fair Housing Act, the distinction between private and public property. Should it be prohibited for public, taxpayer-financed institutions such as schools to reject someone based on an individual’s beliefs or attributes? Most certainly. Should it be prohibited for private entities such as a church, bed and breakfast or retirement neighborhood that doesn’t want noisy children? Absolutely not.
Decisions concerning private property and associations should in a free society be unhindered. As a consequence, some associations will discriminate.
…A free society will abide unofficial, private discrimination – even when that means allowing hate-filled groups to exclude people based on the color of their skin.
