McCarthy: Critics of Paul 'were wrong'

[brainstorm]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/politi...ng-158938.html

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy said on Sunday those on both sides of the aisle who criticized Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster last week were "wrong."

"You know what, I think those Republicans who criticized him were wrong," McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on CNN's "State of the Union. "And this is a place I think the Democrats were wrong, that a lot of them didn't join with him. This was an American issue that he stood up about this president and wanted an answer, and an idea of civil liberties."

McCarthy's comments referenced the Kentucky Republican's nearly 13-hour filibuster last week that temporarily stalled confirmation of John Brennan to head the CIA. At issue was the question of whether drones could be used against American citizens on U.S. soil. McCarthy praised Paul - who took heat from some prominent conservative voices, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and The Wall Street Journal's editorial page - and said the GOP should embrace "a little more of our libertarian views."

"That's a core belief of Republicans," McCarthy said of protecting civil liberties. "And I think if we embrace a little more of our libertarian views, we'll go further."

[Matthanuf06]

Amen

[oragator1]

Double amen.

[Lawdog88]

Going "farther" would be even better.

Just sayin'.

[jdrgator]

Regardless of how I might feel about Rand Paul's politics or even the points he argued, the political theater he staged was good. And yes, more folks should support it, if even symbolically, regardless of which president is in power.

But the problem as I see it is that it's not just about the presidency. That our civil liberties are being chipped away at comes as much from the co-equal branch in which Rand Paul represents as the presidency. Ignoring Congress's role is at our own peril as well.

[HungaryGator]

Protecting civil liberties is an issue that should be important to both parties....both at least claim to stand for that but all too often they have instead agreed that its fine to trample on civil liberties. The only argument has been whose civil liberties to trample upon.

[jdrgator]

Originally Posted by HungaryGator

Protecting civil liberties is an issue that should be important to both parties....both at least claim to stand for that but all too often they have instead agreed that its fine to trample on civil liberties. The only argument has been whose civil liberties to trample upon.

Good point which makes me wonder why many on the right dislike the ACLU.

[geauxgator1]

Yep, McCain keeps sticking his foot in his mouth. I hope his run as Senator is over. That's Ok though, Leslie Graham will fill the void.

[HungaryGator]

Originally Posted by jdrgator

Good point which makes me wonder why many on the right dislike the ACLU.

Because they so obviously lean massively to the Left for one...ie they don't care about the civil or constitutional rights of those on the Right when those are trampled upon.

and reason #2 is because many on the Right are all too willing to trample upon civil liberties themselves. Neither side be it the mainstream Left or Right has clean hands on this. The Libertarians do but they can't seem to gain control over either party - too many entrenched special interests on either side are driving the bus.

[jdrgator]

Originally Posted by HungaryGator

Because they so obviously lean massively to the Left for one...ie they don't care about the civil or constitutional rights of those on the Right when those are trampled upon.

and reason #2 is because many on the Right are all too willing to trample upon civil liberties themselves. Neither side be it the mainstream Left or Right has clean hands on this. The Libertarians do but they can't seem to gain control over either party - too many entrenched special interests on either side are driving the bus.

On some issues they lean left in their interpretations and focus, but I disagree that they don't care about the rights of those on the political right who've had them trampled on. They might not take cases or focus on some issues where there is disagreement (e.g. 2nd amend) but they have supported and defended people on the right throughout their history.

Constitutional a la carte, as I like to call it. Yes, I agree. We're probably all guilty of it--though some much more than others. I know I have been but I consciously try not to be.

[HungaryGator]

Originally Posted by jdrgator

On some issues they lean left in their interpretations and focus, but I disagree that they don't care about the rights of those on the political right who've had them trampled on. They might not take cases or focus on some issues where there is disagreement (e.g. 2nd amend) but they have supported and defended people on the right throughout their history.

Constitutional a la carte, as I like to call it. Yes, I agree. We're probably all guilty of it--though some much more than others. I know I have been but I consciously try not to be.

The 2nd amendment is one. They've never done anything to protect that.

When is the last time you heard of them coming out against say, speech codes on college campuses?

Did they come out against spasms of authoritarianism like banning all tobacco on UF's campus? No toys with meals (obviously aimed at McDonald's happy meals) in San Fran? No soft drinks on school campuses in New Jersey? An attempt to ban soft drinks over a certain size or salt content or sugar content in foods sold by private businesses in NYC?

Quotas or preferences based upon ethnicity?

Anything at all related to the 10th Amendment?

No. All of these are favored by the Left so the ACLU said nothing about them...or paid them lip service at best. Again, I'm not saying the Right is not equally guilty on things like the various 4th amendment problems associated with the Patriot Act (which both parties largely supported), using the federal government to coerce states which wished to decriminalize weed or which wished to allow doctor assisted suicide for terminally ill patients etc etc. Its just that the ACLU is not neutral...is not an organization which is only concerned about protecting constitutional liberties. It has a clear political bias.