Rand Paul Steps Away From Bundy: 'I Wholeheartedly Disagree'

[DonViejo]

DYLAN SCOTT – APRIL 24, 2014, 9:04 AM EDT

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) sought to distance himself Thursday from Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy after the latter's racially charged comments.

"His remarks on race are offensive and I wholeheartedly disagree with him," Paul told Business Insider in a statement. Bundy had openly wondered last weekend if black people had been "better off slaves" in comments reported Wednesday by the New York Times.

Paul had offered some support for Bundy's cause in earlier remarks about the rancher's standoff with the federal government, criticizing the armed federal presence.

“The federal government shouldn’t violate the law, nor should we have 48 federal agencies carrying weapons and having SWAT teams," Paul had said.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rand-paul-cliven-bundy-racist-comments

[JustAnotherGen]

1. That's what he says

But no one really BELIEVES Rand Paul - do they? I mean - Rand is just being Rand by throwing his lot in with Bundy.

[Prophet 451]

9. Damn,m you beat me to it

Rand agrees with Bundy entirely. He's just bright enough to lie about it.

[el_bryanto]

2. That didn't take long.

But it's not surprising - Rand Paul is savvy enough to know what he can't agree with. What'll be interesting is what Hannity does about it.

Bryant

[Mike Daniels]

4. Unfortunately, Hannity doesn't have to answer to anyone other than his boss

So I fully expect Hannity to double down and attack the NYT for somehow reporting Bundy's comments "out of context".

FOX News' PR to the contrary they know full well that their audience falls almost exclusively into one side of the political spectrum and they know that anyone likely to be offended by Hannity's support of Bundy isn't watching their network to start.

[L0oniX]

3. I just took a shi... uhm Rand Paul & wasted 1/2 a roll of toilet paper cleaning Rand Paul off my ...

(_ !_)

[tridim]

5. But the mooching was just fine with Rand.

Idiot.

[onehandle]

6. 50% crazy is still crazy.

Nominate him, GOP.

Please proceed.

[malaise]

7. Rand Paul is a well known racists

who has had a long association with white supremists.

Fugg him.

[TwilightGardener]

8. BWAHH--who couldn't have seen that this guy was a train wreck waiting

to happen, if given the opportunity to bloviate? L'il Curly, you latched on too soon, now you look like a backpedaling ass.

[uponit7771]

10. What he says in public, KNOWING most wingers agree with him

[Blue Owl]

11. Random attempts to look progressive and tolerant

Nice try.

[marions ghost]

12. Oops

damage control.