Kentucky Extremist Rand Paul is Republican Candiate for Senate

Rand Paul, son of Texas Republican Ron Paul, is the new darling of the Republican Party/Tea Bagger alliance. He is running against Democratic candidate Jack Conway.

Rand Paul seems already to bringing Republican extremism to new lows. Here are a few examples:

Kentucky Republican Rand Paul believes criticism of BP is "un-American" (from Washington Post):

Kentucky's Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul criticized President Barack Obama's handling of the Gulf oil spill Friday as anti-business and sounding "really un-American..."

"What I don't like from the president's administration is this sort of, 'I'll put my boot heel on the throat of BP,'" Paul said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America." "I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business."

And just so we are all on the same page, THIS is what Rand Paul is saying BP should not be criticized over:


Watch CBS News Videos Online

So let me get this straight. Rand Paul believes that criticism of a BRITISH oil company (yeah...BP is short for "British Petroleum") that is currently, through clear negligence, polluting the entire gulf coast of the United States of America ruining the livelihood of many American fishermen is somehow un-American? To me Rand Paul's refusal to criticize British Petroleum for it's despoiling American waters and shorelines is un-American. And I have generally been positive towards BP in the past since I have largely considered them better than companies like Exxon/Mobil, Chevron and Shell.

But Rand Paul believes that it is somehow patriotic to defend the right of a British company to ruin the livelihood of American fishermen.

But it gets worse. Rand Paul has this to say about the Americans with Disabilities Act:



And what about the safety of mineworkers? Rand Paul believes the recent deaths of mine workers in West Virginia was simply a case of "accidents happen" (From the same article):

The senate candidate referred to a Kentucky coal mine accident that killed two men, saying he had met with the families and he admired the coal miners' courage.
ad_icon

"We had a mining accident that was very tragic. ... Then we come in and it's always someone's fault. Maybe sometimes accidents happen," he said.

Seems he hasn't read much about the background of that "accident." Again we are talking negligence leading to the deaths of American workers:

Massey Energy has been fined millions of dollars for its violations of mine safety and has already settled one case where miners were killed with criminal and civil fines totaling more than $4 million...

Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine, the site of the deaths, has been cited 1,342 times for safety violations since 2005. And, 86 of those violations were for an inadequate ventilation plan that prevents the very type of explosions that caused these deaths...

According to The New York Times: “In the past two months, miners had been evacuated three times from the Upper Big Branch because of dangerously high methane levels, according to two miners who asked for anonymity for fear of losing their jobs.

“Representative Nick J. Rahall II, a Democrat whose district includes the mine, said he had received similar reports from miners about recent evacuations at the mine, which as recently as last month was fined at least three times for ventilation problems, according to federal records.”

So, Massey was well aware of the inadequate ventilation that led to the explosion that killed the miners. It will not be the first time that Massey was guilty of actions that led to death.

So Rand Paul feels BP and Massey Energy should both be patted on the back and given sympathy for the horrible "accidents" that have befallen them. And too bad about those people killed in both incidents.

And then it seems Rand Paul isn't even really sure whether he supports the 1964 Civil Rights bill that was responsible for the final end of the Jim Crow laws. From the Rachel Maddow show:



So...Rand Paul supports British Petroleum over American fishermen, big mining companies over mine workers, and racists over racial equality. I guess that sums up the Republican and Tea Bagger Party right there.

I'd say Democrat Jack Conway, Kentucky's Attorney General, is a much better option for Kentucky than Rand Paul. Here is Jack's statement on Rand "Jim Crow is Okay" Paul's anti-Civil Rights stand:

Rand Paul is promoting a narrow and rigid ideology and has repeatedly rejected a fundamental provision of the Civil Rights Act. He is focused on the Tea Party whereas I am running to be a senator for all the people of Kentucky, who are really hurting right now.

No matter how he tries to spin to the contrary, the fact is that Paul's ideology has dangerous consequences for working families, veterans, students, the disabled, and those without a voice in the halls of power. Kentucky voters have a choice between Rand Paul's ideology and our campaign to create jobs, cut the deficit, and bring accountability to Wall Street and Washington. We are reaching out to Democrats, Independents and Republicans across Kentucky to ask them to join our campaign and stand up for Kentucky families.

And here is Jack Conway's statement regarding Rand "We Love British Petroleum" Paul's calling criticism of BP "un-American":

Rand Paul apparently has a deeply held conviction that corporations should be allowed to do what they see fit without oversight or accountability. He even goes so far as to say that that criticizing corporations when they hurt taxpayers and working families - as in the case of the massive BP oil disaster - is 'un-American.'

As Attorney General, I've seen how corporations can take advantage of consumers - whether it's oil companies that gouge Kentucky customers after a series of storms or pharmaceutical companies that commit Medicaid fraud. I have a deeply held conviction that we need a senator who will hold companies accountable. We have enough senators in Washington who are looking out for what's best for corporations. My sole focus will be looking out for Kentucky's taxpayers and families.

Best of luck to Jack Conway.