Rand Paul slams Cliven Bundy's racist rant

[Vanguard101]

Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Dean Heller on Thursday both denounced as “offensive” and “racist” Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy’s recent comments about African-Americans.
“His remarks on race are offensive and I wholeheartedly disagree with him,” Paul said in a statement, according to Business Insider.

“Senator Heller completely disagrees with Mr. Bundy’s appalling and racist statements, and condemns them in the most strenuous way,” Heller spokeswoman Chandler Smith said in a statement.
Both Paul and Heller have previously defended Bundy, the Nevada rancher who is in a standoff against the federal government. Heller has referred to his supporters as “patriots.”
But on Thursday, The New York Times reported Bundy using the word “Negro” and wondering if blacks were better off as slaves.
“They abort their young children, they put their young men in jail, because they never learned how to pick cotton,” Bundy said over the weekend, according to the Times. “And I’ve often wondered, are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy? They didn’t get no more freedom. They got less freedom.”
Appearing on “CBS This Morning” on Thursday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he hadn’t seen Bundy’s comments. The Republican called Bundy a “side story” in the greater issue of how the federal government deals with public and private land.
Fox News host Greta Van Susteren on Thursday released a statement on her official blog: “Let me make this plain: I condemn what Cliven Bundy said about African Americans.” Van Susteren has devoted significant time on her program to the Bundy issue, interviewing both Paul and Carol Bundy, Cliven’s wife.

“Morning Joe” co-host and former GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough on his program Thursday morning slammed Bundy and Republicans who have embraced him. He said that Bundy is demanding “a right that no other rancher in America has.”
The host appeared to be equally upset with conservatives that have championed Bundy over the course of the past few weeks. “There’s nothing conservative about this man,” Scarborough said. “This is where nihilism about the federal government gets you in trouble every time.”
Comparing Bundy to George Zimmerman, Scarborough continued: “They basically pick their friends based on who their ‘enemies’ are. In this case, a lot of people in conservative media have raced to this guy’s defense. They must be feeling very exposed this morning.”
Mo Elleithee, communications director for the Democratic National Committee, took to Twitter to criticize Paul for what he thought was a slow response. “So @SenRandPaul took 12 hours to condemn Bundy’s racist rant. 12 hours. I dunno about him, but my outrage was pretty instant,” Elleithee wrote.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), chair of the DNC, also condemned Bundy’s comments on Twitter, writing: “Cliven Bundy’s comments are abhorrent and should be condemned immediately by all sides.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus denounced the remarks, saying in a statement: “Bundy’s comments are completely beyond the pale. Both highly offensive and 100 percent wrong on race.”
The chairman also said in separate comments that he doesn’t anticipate that the statements by the Nevada rancher will have any impact on Las Vegas’s chance to host the 2016 Republican National Convention.
“The convention decisions are made in pretty much a vacuum,” he said on the “Coffee and Markets” podcast. “No matter where you fall on this issue, with regard to this land out in Nevada, I don’t think it has anything to do with whether Las Vegas is a worthy place for a convention.”



http://www.politico.com/story/2014/0...#ixzz2zoYOPvvB

[twomp]

The media would LOVE to tie Rand Paul to anything remotely having the word race in it. If they could, they would call him a racist for attending an Indy or NASCAR event because it has to do with "races."

[cajuncocoa]

The media would LOVE to tie Rand Paul to anything remotely having the word race in it. If they could, they would call him a racist for attending an Indy or NASCAR event because it has to do with "races."

And that's why we shouldn't worry so much about the media. (I know, I know....gotta get elected). But when we worry what the media will say, instead of standing for what's right (in spite of what Bundy has said....remember, his words are NOT the issue here) we give them the power to assure that we will never succeed.

[twomp]

And that's why we shouldn't worry so much about the media. (I know, I know....gotta get elected). But when we worry what the media will say, instead of standing for what's right (in spite of what Bundy has said....remember, his words are NOT the issue here) we give them the power to assure that we will never succeed.

Exactly WE shouldn't but Rand Paul should tread lightly on this subject. It's okay to disagree with what he said but still agree that the government is over reaching yet again. Hopefully he can do this without throwing meat to the dogs.

[dannno]

Have they released any audio recordings on these statements? Bundy said he was slandered by the NYT reporter.

[Danke]

Have they released any audio recordings on these statements? Bundy said he was slandered by the NYT reporter.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post5504166

[Mr.NoSmile]

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post5504166

That, pretty much. Though, brief aside, I did like the title of a Washington Post article that read "Rand Paul and other Republican leaders distance themselves from Bundy" or something to that effect.

[IndianaPolitico]

Come on Rand! Did you actually listen to them?

[Brian4Liberty]

Hold on one cotton pickin' minute (read that in old man voice)... I haven't had a chance to keep up with this story, but one thing I read earlier made it sound like this NYT reporter who heard the comment almost immediately called Rand Paul's office for a statement on Bundy's statement? There is no doubt they are using this to smear the Tea Party and associated politicians.

Knowing that their strategy is to smear Rand, he really doesn't have much of a choice but to react strongly to these types of contrived "outrages". Cultural Marxism, distraction and dirty politics are afoot.

[Mr.NoSmile]

Hold on one cotton pickin' minute (read that in old man voice)... I haven't had a chance to keep up with this story, but one thing I read earlier made it sound like this NYT reporter who heard the comment almost immediately called Rand Paul's office for a statement on Bundy's statement?

Where'd you read that?

[Brian4Liberty]

Where'd you read that?

Wish I had a link. I was in a rush, and was scanning several news articles. Couldn't even tell you which website it was.

I'll try a Google search...

Update:
If you read the original article, the first thing the original article says after the Bundy quote is a quote from a Rand spokesman. Contacting Rand's office and connecting him to this was obviously top priority for them.

A spokesman for Mr. Paul, informed of Mr. Bundy’s remarks, said the senator was not available for immediate comment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/us...west.html?_r=0

[Brian4Liberty]

And the very next article from the same NYT "reporter" referenced Rand. This is the source of the whole story, and it is clear that a primary agenda here was to connect this to Rand.

Second headline:

After Supporting Rancher, Paul Denounces Him
Rand Paul Condemns Cliven Bundy’s Remarks on Blacks

hxxp://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/us/politics/after-supporting-rancher-paul-condemns-his-remarks-on-blacks.html

This is pretty much like a reporter asking someone "do you still beat your wife", and when the answer is "no", the next headline is "After wife beating question asked, Joe denies beating his wife" or "Joe stopped beating his wife."

[angelatc]

Exactly WE shouldn't but Rand Paul should tread lightly on this subject. It's okay to disagree with what he said but still agree that the government is over reaching yet again. Hopefully he can do this without throwing meat to the dogs.

Rick Perry seems to have a handle on it:

The Republican called Bundy a “side story” in the greater issue of how the federal government deals with public and private land.

[specsaregood]

Rick Perry seems to have a handle on it:

Maybe Perry can invite Bundy out hunting at "Niggerhead".

[CaptUSA]

Yep. This is all about discrediting the Tea Party - and Rand with it. I understand what Bundy was getting at, but damn people... We have to understand the world we are living in. Words will be used by these people.

[angelatc]

Yep. This is all about discrediting the Tea Party - and Rand with it. I understand what Bundy was getting at, but damn people... We have to understand the world we are living in. Words will be used by these people.

It is probably just me but I think it is social suicide to assert that black people were better off as slaves. I don't think anybody actually believes that, do they?

Oh well. We knew they were coming after Bundy, and that they would probably win. But I sure did not see the racism card being trump, that's for sure.

[dannno]

It is probably just me but I think it is social suicide to assert that black people were better off as slaves. I don't think anybody actually believes that, do they?

I personally think I disagree, I think I would rather be on welfare in the ghetto than living on a slave plantation but if you look merely at the incarceration rate of black males as well as the extreme cyclical poverty a good debate could be had.

[CaptUSA]

It is probably just me but I think it is social suicide to assert that black people were better off as slaves. I don't think anybody actually believes that, do they?

It depends on what you are talking about when you say "better off".

The assumption that spending more of the taxpayers’ money will make things better has survived all kinds of evidence that it has made things worse. The black family—which survived slavery, discrimination, poverty, wars and depressions—began to come apart as the federal government moved in with its well-financed programs to “help.” - Thomas Sowell

[CaptUSA]

Guess it's different when it's him saying this.

[Feeding the Abscess]

Usually, when Sowell and others are talking about blacks being better off under slavery than under welfare, they're talking about the stability of the family. Nobody in their right mind would honestly say that slavery, which is the equivalent to being jailed for no just cause at all, is better than welfarism.

There is a massive gulf between the two ideas, and they need to stop being conflated.

[Brian4Liberty]

Usually, when Sowell and others are talking about blacks being better off under slavery than under welfare, they're talking about the stability of the family. Nobody in their right mind would honestly say that slavery, which is the equivalent to being jailed for no just cause at all, is better than welfarism.

Good thing that never happens...

[nobody's_hero]

This wouldn't have happened if he'd been more offensive, politically I mean.

If Rand had started landing haymakers into Reid's smug cheeks from the get go, no holds barred—what with all the ethically-defunct insider deals and BLM cover-ups (talk about a wasted opportunity)—and keeping Reid and the statist media occupied with trying to build a defense around father and son Reid, then there'd be no time to keep levying attacks on Bundy.

Once again, constitutionalists delayed. Spent too much time trying to fend off attacks instead of pinning the left in a corner for just once in a $#@!ing lifetime. They built fixed fortifications on a political 'Maginot line' and the left just laughed and went around through Belgium, and now they're rolling tanks through Paris and trying to force Rand to surrender.

[klamath]

Comparing welfare to slavery is NOT the same. A person still has the freedom to get off the government slave tit a slave never had the opportunity. Using this argument kills us.

[James Madison]

Yep. This is all about discrediting the Tea Party - and Rand with it. I understand what Bundy was getting at, but damn people... We have to understand the world we are living in. Words will be used by these people.

The Tea Party is plenty good at discrediting itself, but I agree this will be used to demonize Second Amendment supporters and advocates of States Rights.

[Deborah K]

And the very next article from the same NYT "reporter" referenced Rand. This is the source of the whole story, and it is clear that a primary agenda here was to connect this to Rand.

Second headline:


This is pretty much like a reporter asking someone "do you still beat your wife", and when the answer is "no", the next headline is "After wife beating question asked, Joe denies beating his wife" or "Joe stopped beating his wife."

I think we need to seriously consider going after reporters with agendas, using their comments sections, and emailing/twittering them directly. They should be exposed.

[HVACTech]

"But on Thursday, The New York Times reported Bundy using the word “Negro”

how desperate is that? when did the word black, in Spanish become racist?

[Schifference]

Hard to keep up with the times. When I was young I was taught the term Negro was good and acceptable. Then came the term Black. I think nowadays it is African American. IDK. I had some friends that were very dark skinned when I was in nursing school. They were from Haiti. I wonder how they or a Jamaican or any dark skinned person that is not from Africa would like to be called African.

[anaconda]

Have they released any audio recordings on these statements? Bundy said he was slandered by the NYT reporter.

Great point. I hope Rand didn't jump the gun on this.

[NIU Students for Liberty]

Comparing welfare to slavery is NOT the same. A person still has the freedom to get off the government slave tit a slave never had the opportunity. Using this argument kills us.

Thank you.

[cajuncocoa]

Comparing welfare to slavery is NOT the same. A person still has the freedom to get off the government slave tit a slave never had the opportunity. Using this argument kills us.

Why are we still allowing the media to set the agenda? Bundy's words are not the reason that the man is in the news. The abuse of the BLM is why he is in the news, and that's all we should be willing to discuss where Bundy is concerned. His opinions about other issues are his business.