Don’t Ask Rand Paul Why He’s Supporting Mitch McConnell

In this Aug. 20, 2013, photo, U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, left, and Rand Paul, both R-Ky., make a joint appearance at the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Ky. McConnell is among GOP incumbents staring down ... In this Aug. 20, 2013, photo, U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, left, and Rand Paul, both R-Ky., make a joint appearance at the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Ky. McConnell is among GOP incumbents staring down a primary challenge with aggressive tactics aimed at blunting any early momentum from a tea party-backed opponent. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig) MORE LESS
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Don’t ask Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) why he’s supporting Mitch McConnell for reelection. He doesn’t want to talk about it. At least publicly.

While crisscrossing Kentucky during Congress’s two-week recess, Paul visited a community forum in Edmonton on Wednesday to speak to constituents, where he was reportedly asked why he endorsed the Senate Republican leader.

The Glasgow Daily Times described what happened next:

One constituent asked him why he came out in support of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville.

Paul declined to answer the question publicly, saying he would speak with her in private and explain his reason for supporting the senior senator.

McConnell and Paul have a complicated history and are cut from different cloths. McConnell tried to prevent Paul from winning the Senate GOP nomination in 2010, and much of Paul’s base — which is attracted to his outsider persona and unwavering libertarianism — distrusts the Republican minority leader.

In February, Paul was asked by radio host Glenn Beck why he’s supporting McConnell, who faces conservative challenger Matt Bevin in the GOP primary. Paul tried to dodge, then offered up an awkward response: “Because he asked me. He asked me when there was nobody else in the race. And I said yes.”

In a 2013 statement regarding his endorsement, Paul said: “Mitch McConnell is an important ally and a conservative voice in Washington for the people of Kentucky. The commonwealth is stronger because of his service and I look forward to continuing to work with him.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Senator Paul asked her to join him in the ladies’ room where he would whisper his support while hiding in a toilet stall.

  2. …He then leaned in, looked around and asked, “Honey, I know that’s a wig, I wear one too. Can you tell me which conditioner you use? Do you use a leave-in?” Unfortunately, before she could answer, he spotted a piece of cheese in her purse, sucked his teeth, snatched the cheese from her bag, and then scurried off down the hall leaving little droppings in his wake.

  3. SeanMalloy and PluckyInKY offered only their applications for a stand-up comedy gig, but maybe others would like to entertain an on-topic discussion as to why Dr. Rand Paul did not offer a public response…

    If the media didn’t edit answers to mere snippits to support their own agenda, he would freely share this answer publicly. And, unfortunately, if an answer requires more than a sound byte, the average media consumer can’t hold attention long enough.

    For those who don’t research things for themselves, Obama has been trying to destroy KY coal mining. Senators should work on behalf of the interests of their own state’s constituents. The candidates, from among whom he had opportunity to select, would have been marginalized as a freshman, without any influence (ie, dismembered by Reid and his machine), with respect to this important part of KY’s economic health and the interests of its residents. Not so with McConnell.

    Dr. Paul held the economic health of the state over his personal philosophical preference, because of the seriousness of the threat to KY’s economy.

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