What do Rand Paul's patrons think of Civil Rights talk? Washington Post (blog)
National Republican strategists have to be aghast at the way Rand Paul, the newly minted Senate candidate from Kentucky, has suddenly burst into the news for appearing to oppose portions of the Civil Rights Act.
This is the worst possible way Paul could have introduced himself to the nation at this particular moment. It comes, of course, at a time when the Tea Partiers are adamantly insisting their movement hasn't been hijacked by intolerants and extremists. It comes as the GOP is trying to shake its image as a regional, culturally-backward party.
As you know, Paul set the blogosphere alight last night after defending his earlier criticism of the Civil Rights Act in a spirited exchange with Rachel Maddow . While he repeatedly denounced racism and discrimination, he seemed to defend the right of private businesses to discriminate, and to disagree with the notion that the Federal government should have a role acting as a check on that right.
The comments have attracted widespread condemnation from precincts not normally associated with the left: Politico, Joe Scarborough, etc.
![Broader problems linger for GOP msnbc.com]("http://nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/L9_bQ4noEzBuxM/6.jpg")
ReutersBroader problems linger for GOPmsnbc.comQuote or article: "The Republican Party's internal ideological battle -- a tug of war between the pragmatists and the purists -- has been on full display. Michael Tomasky: Crist goes Indieall 1,977 news articles »
