Recently, Senator Rand Paul almost singlehandedly forced the expiration of the NSA’s warrantless
surveillance.
He’s known for repeated clashes with both Republicans and Democrats in the senate and
as the son of famed libertarian Ron Paul.
But how much do we really know about this Kentucky Senator slash physician?
Who is Rand Paul?
Well, Paul spent the first part of his life growing up in Texas and studying to be an
ophthalmologist (OFF-thal-MOL-lo-GIST).
But after starting his medical practice, Paul’s political activism, as inspired by his father,
led him to win a Senate seat in 2010.
His rapid political rise was largely generated by Tea Party support, and subsequently he
formed the Tea Party Caucus within the Senate.
His time in office has been marked by criticism of NSA spying and multiple filibuster attempts.
However, his reputation has been marred by frequent instances of plagiarism in his books,
and speeches.
But what is most interesting about Paul is how atypical his ideological stances are when
compared to his Congressional peers.
He identifies as Republican but is best described as a tea party libertarian.
Paul pushes for smaller government and stronger constitutional rights.
As a fiscal conservative, he is a proponent of lower taxes and less government spending.
And like his father, he disapproved of the 2008 bank bailouts and the Federal Reserve.
His most popular positions revolve around supporting a “right to privacy”.
This is evident in his opposition to the USA PATRIOT ACT and the TSA’s invasive practices,
which he says is a victory for terrorists, not Americans.
He also protested the National Defense Authorization Act, on the basis that it allowed for the
indefinite detainment of US citizens without due process.
Socially, he is more conservative, but with a “state’s rights” slant.
Although he opposes abortion, and same-sex marriage, he believes it should be left to
the state to decide.
He also opposes the militarization of police, and says that they disproportionately target
African Americans.
However, he has been criticized for disagreeing with part of the Civil Rights Act, and voting
against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which increased protections for sexual
orientation and gender identity.
Like his father, Rand Paul openly opposes the US’s policy in the Middle East, saying
we should avoid dictating policy in other countries.
He has pointed to the rise of ISIS as a result of US intervention, and wants to lift the
Cuba embargo.
However, he is less isolationist than his father, saying we should always keep options
available to intervene.
He has also controversially suggested that Dick Cheney exploited the events following
September 11th in order to make money for his oil company, Halliburton.
All in all, Paul’s conflicting relationship with Washington has painted him as a black
sheep.
But his consistent ideological track record, as well as the general public’s distaste
for Congress, may significantly increase his appeal in the 2016 Presidential election.
We’ve got a full playlist of the 2016 presidential hopefuls on our channel.
If you want to get to know the group of them, check it out right here.
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