Rand Paul stokes feud with GOP leaders over NSA: 'We are on opposite sides'
Last week, Paul conducted a marathon speech in an attempt to halt the US government’s mass surveillance of Americans’ phone records and to derail an extension of the Patriot Act. His talkathon led to a legislative impasse on the USA Freedom Act, as the Obama administration effectively ended its bulk dragnet.
Embarking on a week-long book tour in between Senate sessions, the Republican presidential contender said on Tuesday he still thinks the Senate can “win that vote” on bulk collection.
“I think sometimes my party gets all caught up in the second amendment [the right to bear arms], which is fine, but we don’t protect the fourth amendment enough,” Paul said on CBS This Morning, referring to the bedrock protection of citizens from illegal search and seizure. “But actually I think neither party ends up protecting the Fourth Amendment enough, which is the right to privacy.”
The Kentucky senator vowed to block the reauthorization of any mass surveillance justification until the Senate votes to end part of the Patriot Act used by the NSA and other intelligence agencies to sweep up phone records. The Bush-era act is set to expire on 1 June, but lawmakers are expected to return to Washington on 31 May to try to reach a compromise.
Paul said the debate on the Patriot Act was just a start, and that a recent court ruling that found the bulk collection to be illegal had opened the door for Obama to end key parts of the Patriot Act’s spying powers through executive order.
“Here’s the thing about the president: he’s disingenuous about this,” Paul said. “The president started this program through executive order. He could end it anytime.”
Obama had previously defended the program but has now embraced changes, and the White House has criticized lawmakers for failing to back the USA Freedom Act, which would have extended Patriot Act powers but cut out bulk collection under the Section 215 provision, or come up with an alternative.
Paul’s stand has caused a headache for major players in his own party who are not opposed to the programs and even defend bulk collection. On Tuesday, Paul downplayed any ill will between him and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, also from Kentucky, who has been pushing for a two-month extension of the Patriot Act in its current form.
“I don’t think we need counseling yet,” Paul joked.
He added: “We have a very personable relationship – we are friends; we get along fine. On the NSA thing, we are on opposite sides. I do think we keep it very civil.”
Pressed on his foreign policy agenda, Paul indicated he would take less of an interventionist approach on the campaign trail, reiterating that he disagreed with the US decision to invade Iraq and become involved with Libya. He also said he fought against intervention to topple Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Pressed by Charlie Rose of CBS, Paul agreed that Islamic State was a top priority, and argued that the US should directly arm the Kurdish forces to fight the militant group. He also called for the recognition of a Kurdish nation.
“I would take a lot of the equipment that’s rotting in Afghanistan, and I would give it to the Kurds, not to the Shiite government,” Paul said. “I would tell the Shiite government that you know what? If you don’t include the Sunnis, you’re never going to win this war.”
Paul said he would like to see American embassies better secured, pointing to the 2012 Benghazi attack, which killed US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Republicans have seized on the incident to attack Hillary Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president and who served as the US secretary of state at the time of the attack.
“The thing is that people need to understand the Middle East is complicated and there are no easy answers,” Paul said. “We need to do what we do to protect American interests.”
While in New York, Paul will also appear on a host of Fox news programs, including Fox & Friends, Varney & Co on Fox Business, and Megyn Kelly’s show. He will also appear as a guest on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
On Tuesday evening, Paul will visit Strand Books near Union Square for a signing with his wife, Kelley, author of True and Constant Friends. The New York bookstore is owned by Nancy Bass, the wife of Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, a staunch critic of bulk data collection practices who helped Paul filibuster a vote to re-authorize the programs.
Paul will round out his week with a trip to Chicago on Wednesday, to Iowa on Thursday and to South Carolina on Friday.
The Guardian
