# Rand Paul's interview on Rachel Maddow - A real Libertarian meets the real world **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 20, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157 "2010-05-20T18:07:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/401 "2010-05-25T16:44:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > His best workers (female and male) will quit, and either start their own company or work for a competitor. The ho’s that remain will likely not keep him in business. So you’re saying that in Libertania, unless you’re one of the “the best,” you can be compelled to work as a glorified prostitute? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/402 "2010-05-25T16:49:36Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Oh, I get it! His maternal ancestry includes Curly, Shemp, or Moe. Knock it off. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/403 "2010-05-25T16:54:06Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Knock it off. > > [/Moderating] My apologies. I thought a little light humor was permissible in GD. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/404 "2010-05-25T16:58:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > So you’re saying that in Libertania, unless you’re one of the “the best,” you can be compelled to work as a glorified prostitute? Pretty much. One of the common conceits of the libertarian is that they are one of the elite, so such little drawbacks will never happen to them. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/405 "2010-05-25T17:04:39Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > My apologies. I thought a little light humor was permissible in GD. Humor is fine, but in touchy threads where the participants are already close to losing their cool, the particular expression of humor might need a bit of caution. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/406 "2010-05-25T17:08:14Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Humor is fine, but in touchy threads where the participants are already close to losing their cool, the particular expression of humor might need a bit of caution. Okie dokie, understood. You know how sometimes umpires warn baseball teams to lay off the beanballs? I suggest some sort of flagging of threads to indicate that the temperature has risen to the point where this sort of humor is inappropriate. Just a suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/407 "2010-05-25T17:21:07Z")
I think we should give Rand Paul quite a bit of credit for one thing. While the rest of the right wing world has been slamming Maddow for “gothcha” journalism, Paul himself was quoted later as saying the interview was fair. He then attacked the rest of the media, and especially msnbc (her station as he called it) for distorting what he said, and he did have some justification for that claim. So, while he’s pretty much a loon, I think he’s an intellectually fairly honest one. I think the TN voters are going to have a reasonably clear picture of who he is and what he stands for, which is an improvement over what you can say for most politicians, liberal and conservative. But I still hope he loses. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/408 "2010-05-25T17:31:05Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I think we should give Rand Paul quite a bit of credit for one thing. > > While the rest of the right wing world has been slamming Maddow for “gothcha” journalism, Paul himself was quoted later as saying the interview was fair. He then attacked the rest of the media, and especially msnbc (her station as he called it) for distorting what he said, and he did have some justification for that claim. > > So, while he’s pretty much a loon, I think he’s an intellectually fairly honest one. I think the TN voters are going to have a reasonably clear picture of who he is and what he stands for, which is an improvement over what you can say for most politicians, liberal and conservative. > > But I still hope he loses. I pretty much agree, with the nitpick that it’s the KY voters, not TN. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/409 "2010-05-25T17:49:14Z")
Oh, crap! Has anyone told him? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/410 "2010-05-26T19:50:21Z")
According to the [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/26/AR2010052602334.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics), Rand Paul has betrayed the party’s values, and is not a Libertarian. The party is considering running another candidate for the same senate seat in the general election. This was an interview with Vice Chairman Joshua Koch of the Libertarian party. > [@](#): > > …Koch said Paul’s views on a variety of subjects differ from the Libertarian Party, including his promised support for any measures to ban abortion and his opposition to same-sex marriage. > > “Trying to impose a national standard for that would throw the whole system out of balance, and that’s definitely not Libertarian,” Koch said… Here’s a part that I don’t get: > [@](#): > > …Koch said Wednesday that Paul has been a black eye for Libertarians because of stands he’s taken on issues, including his criticism of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. … What is this guy saying? I thought Paul’s criticism of the CRA was the most Libertarian thing he’s said. Is he saying Libertarians support the CRA, or that Paul just should have kept his mouth shut, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/411 "2010-05-26T21:12:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > What is this guy saying? I thought Paul’s criticism of the CRA was the most Libertarian thing he’s said. Is he saying Libertarians support the CRA, or that Paul just should have kept his mouth shut, or what? He’s saying that opposing the CRA got really bad press, and if people think that being libertarian means you oppose the CRA, that’ll hurt the party, so Paul should have kept quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/412 "2010-05-26T21:22:06Z")
That would make sense on Planet Libertaria, where we aree all free not to answer any questions we want. But on Earth, running for a big-time public office, some questions will be asked again and again until answers are offered. So while this guy’s complaining that Paul has betrayed Libertarian ideals, he’s also complaining in the same interview that Paul is too honestly portraying Libertarian ideals? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/413 "2010-05-26T21:34:06Z")
well, yes. He wants people to support libertarianism, and knows that people like the CRA, and you don’t get people to support your party if it’s linked with unpopular views. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/414 "2010-05-26T22:11:18Z")
All I can ask is, have _any_ of these knuckleheads ever gotten elected to anything? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/415 "2010-05-26T22:20:53Z")
No Libertarian has ever been elected to nationwide office as a Libertarian, but a number have been elected to state and local offices. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/416 "2010-05-26T22:22:14Z")
It’s certainly becoming much clearer why that is. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/417 "2010-05-26T23:30:56Z")
You guys know it’s been mentioned in this thread about 9000 times that libertarians only oppose 1 provision out of 9 or 10 of the CRA (and even that’s not universal nor is it any sort of priority), right? So quit with the “libertarians all oppose the CRA” crap. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/418 "2010-05-26T23:39:12Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > You guys know it’s been mentioned in this thread about 9000 times that libertarians only oppose 1 provision out of 9 or 10 of the CRA (and even that’s not universal nor is it any sort of priority), right? So quit with the “libertarians all oppose the CRA” crap. Hey, just explain to me what the Libertarian guy meant. Paul clearly WAS liimiting his answer to only the provisions restricting private businesses, and this guy seems upset with his answer. As I said in my post about this – I don’t understand why he was complaining about what Paul said. It did not seem to me in any way a betrayal of libertarian principles – though obviously the guy thought some other of his positions are. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/419 "2010-05-26T23:41:23Z")
The media is doing what you guys are doing here, saying “he opposes the CRA!” - so I would guess that the guy, seeing that that’s the political soundbite, decided to distance himself from the idea even though it’s an incorrect portrayal of it. Ironically, this thread started out with everyone being so dismissive of Rand’s evasive answer, but even with his non-soundbite evasive answer it still turned into the simplistic and incorrect notion that he was trying to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157/420 "2010-05-26T23:47:38Z")
How about actually reading what I wrote? > [@](#): > > I thought Paul’s criticism of the CRA was the most Libertarian thing he’s said. I said he criticized it, which he certainly did. Nowhere have I said he opposed it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-pauls-interview-on-rachel-maddow-a-real-libertarian-meets-the-real-world/540157.md?page=22)