By Jam Donaldson on Jun 8th 2010 3:45PM
When you think of a modern-day 21st century Martin Luther King Jr.,who do you think of? President Barack Obama? Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker ? Kwame Kilpatrick? (just kidding.)
Well, our favorite
confederate candidate
Rand Paul wants you to think of him when you think of great civil right leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Frederick Douglas.
Appearing on Rush Limbaugh's radio show yesterday, Rand Paul, who is in major damage control mode, is now trying to backtrack from his recent remarks, regarding the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After a storm of outrage over his comments in defense of segregationist policies in private businesses, his handlers have come up with what may be the strangest PR strategy ever.
After stating that he would not have supported the Civil Rights Act in its current form, because he believes private businesses should have the right to discriminate without interference by the pesky government, he now states that he is an idealist and implies that he should be held in the same regard as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Frederick Douglas.
Instead of uttering a giant mea culpa and slinking off to Virginia, where he would be welcomed with open arms, Rand Paul has now decided to compare himself to Dr. King and to abolitionist Douglass, both of whom fought for the rights of people who look like me. They devoted their lives to combating racism so people who look like me could go in to those private businesses that Rand Paul thinks should be allowed to discriminate against me or anyone else they choose.
Now, I've heard of reverse psychology, but this rises to Jedi Mind Trick level. As Yoda would say, "WTF?"
While Dr. King fought against Jim Crow laws and segregation and Frederick Douglass fought against slavery, Rand Paul claims his major fight is to allow restaurants to let people smoke.
Jim Crow laws, segregation, smoking - yeah, I can see how they are all the exact same thing.
Here is his op-ed from the Bowling Green Daily News:
I am unlike many folks who run for office. I am an idealist. When I read history I side with abolitionists, such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglas who fought for 30 years to end slavery and to integrate public transportation in the free North in the 1840s. I see our failure to end slavery for decade after decade as a failure of weak-kneed politicians. [...]
Segregation ended only after a great and momentous uprising by idealists like Martin Luther King Jr., who provoked weak-kneed politicians to action.
In 2010, there are battles that need to be fought, and they have nothing to do with race or discrimination, but rather the rights of people to be free from a nanny state.
For example, I am opposed to the government telling restaurant owners that they cannot allow smoking in their establishments. I believe we as consumers can choose whether to patronize a smoke-filled restaurant or do business with a smoke-free option. Think about it - this overreach is now extending to mandates about fat and calorie counts in menus. Do we really need the government managing all of these decisions for us?
They say when you find yourself in a hole the first thing you need to do is stop digging. Dig on Rand Paul, just dig on.....
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Comments: (11)
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By: Little Dickie Dydoe on 6/08/2010 4:43PM
Hey Jam,you failed to mention that the guest host on the Rush Limbaugh Show was Dr.Walter E. Williams, one of the great minds of America and a hero to millions. He is highly educated and speaks for people of all races. He's not narrow minded like you are. You could benefit greatly from reading his works. Oh, and by the way ,Dr. Martin Luther King was a Republican. Check your history.
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By: rick on 6/08/2010 6:27PM
Dr. King was not in the mindset of today's republican. Dr. King taught respect and love your fellow man This new republican is all about himself and the great almighty white race. You can use that theory about Dr. King to help you feel better but I also can believe if Dr King was alive today all of his teaching would be aganist the repubs
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By: gilesb on 6/08/2010 5:56PM
Someone needs to explain to Rand the difference between idealist and idealogue.
Oh, never mind. What's the point.
And Walter Williams is another of those types who helped get us in the economic mess we are today. So I'm pretty sure which millions LDD is referring to.
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By: terry carruthers on 6/08/2010 7:26PM
the smoke ban was instituted to mainly protect the health of the employees that have to work in a smoke filled enviroment, along with the customers health-good try though-common sense non racist tea partiers might not buy this excuse from Rand.
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By: Nathan Higgins on 6/08/2010 11:44PM
It's disingenuous to say that Paul made comments "in defense of segregationist policies". He spoke staunchly against such practices, in the Maddow interview, and said that he would not spend money at a business which practiced racial segregation.
When we allow the government to become active outside of it's established powers (in order to enforce morality in the private sphere), where does the government stop claiming new powers? Now we have an unconstitutional Drug War. Now it is much easier to enter foolish wars because Congress no longer needs to debate whether to declare a war. How many sectors of the economy is the government taking over right now? It's more than banning smoking. We are becoming subjects.
It's not racist to question the proper role of government. It's unfortunate that people are so quick to make false accusations rather than listen and discuss honestly. Disagree with Paul's policies, but at the very least be honest about it and don't make things up.
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By: MSPEGGY on 6/09/2010 1:54AM
THE MANS ELEVATOR (BRAIN OR LACK THERE OF) IS STUCK IN THE BASEMENT. IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT IT WILL NEVER REACH THE FIRST FLOOR. IT AMAZES ME THAT HE GOT THIS FAR.
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By: steve on 6/09/2010 8:24AM
The author of this article is a race baitor,just like Jesse Jackson,Al Sharpton(who I kinda like) Boyce Watkins and others. They do more harm to their race than good by relying on ignorance and rhetoric to inflame their readers,rather than educating them on the facts.
Rand Paul wants the government out of our lives. He doesn't think the government should have the power to tell us what to do,where to go,what to eat. Is that so bad?
He thinks the war on drugs is bad for our society,Black folks should too. Most of the Black guys in prison are there for drug related offenses.
What has Obama done to help this situation?
Nothing. What is he going to do? Nothing,just like he has been told to by the men with real power(his White Lawyer buddies).
Rand Paul doesn't think we should be in the Middle East fighting these stupid wars...Obama has sent more troops there than Bush ever did,and that's a fact. What happened to "We're going to bring the troops home within 18 months"? The White guys that run Exxon and BP told him to quiet down,cause that ain't gonna happen til they say it is,which is never.
I remember Congressmen Charles Rangle of NY complaining about all the Black folks having to serve over there,where is he now?
These Black leaders like keeping their people down,it's easier to control them that way.They should be telling their people to be EQUALS. To leave the government housing(3 generations is enough time to get out of temp housing) to get off the government free food,stop having babies without a family structure being in place first.
Simple stuff.
Black people need to step up to the plate themselves, and stop waiting for a pinch hitter to do their part for them. If you want to be treated as equals,then just be equals.
ps. Please don't start spouting off percentages that you don't understand as a way of justifying failures,it REALLY makes you sound stupid.
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By: mike4ever on 6/09/2010 7:18PM
First of all you state you want government out of your life. Do you work? or do you get social security? Do you have insurance or do you get medicaid through the state. Do you have enough money to buy food or do you get food stamp.
All of these things are through the government and who do you think fix the roads you ride on everyday. Or stay behind companies to do right by you. Do you think your lights, water and heat is free? What about your clothes, homes, you can never ever do without the government in way or another.
Look at the oil spill and the governors of those states cried less government and see what you have now a big mess and a cry eveyday for more government.
Do you think medical service is free for everyone if you go to the hospital, think not, someone in the end have to pay for it. Everybody is fortunate enough to have a job that pays million of dollars and still can afford health insurance. There are a lot of elderly people who have to eat dog food to survive because it is cheaper than people food. Think before you talk about what the president has done or not done. He will never be able to do anything right in eyes of people like you and it is a shame that along with the rest of the people who know that he have helped them a lot, people like you get to enjoy the same benefits also. I know you will not give anything back because the first thing you will say is you deserve it for having a black president.
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By: Rene on 6/09/2010 9:12PM
Your just as out of touch with what black people need to be doing then your friend Rand Paul. You don't want to hear the statistics because they are real......the percentage of whites on welfare with fatherless homes, and whites on foodstamps is well above blacks then what you want to believe I work for a Human Services agency I know the statistics. But stay in your fairytale land like your friend Rand Paul and you'll keep sounding just as stupid as he does.
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By: Jeannette on 6/09/2010 10:50PM
Paul is a slim-ball. He feels that Blacks should be banned from private establishments, and now he is trying to back pedal his way out of it. He is a racist, and he chose to go on Rush's show to say, I'm not racist. Was Rush wearing his white hoodie at the time? I hate it when people try and use pshycology on me. You too are racist. Considering your talking points, you are obvious. Save that nonsense for those that will believe you, because no one is buying your garbage here.
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