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Rand Paul, telling the truth — If we use “gaffe” in its proper, Kinsleyan form, that's what U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul issued to NPR yesterday, and that's what he defended on Rachel Maddow's show last night. He told the truth about his stance on the Civil Rights Act.
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Ben Smith's Blog, The Moderate Voice, Hit & Run, Outside The Beltway, The Fix, Firedoglake, The Huffington Post, Little Green Footballs, Mediaite, The Corner on National …, Liberty Pundits Blog, Riehl World View, The Daily Dish, DISSENTING JUSTICE, Newsweek Blogs, Taylor Marsh, The Other McCain, Page One, FrumForum, Raw Story, The Mahablog, Wonkette and National Review
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Rand Paul may not be a racist, but he is an extremist — Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy — It's safe to say Rand Paul's first few days as the Republican nominee for the open Senate seat in Kentucky are not going well.

Rand Paul On Civil Rights Controversy: I Shouldn't Have Talked To Rachel Maddow [UPDATED] — See new updates below. — The morning after he declined to endorse the totality of the Civil Rights Act in his much-discussed appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show, Dr. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) …

Exclusive: DeMint Says He Disagrees With Rand Paul On Civil Rights, Needs To ‘Talk To Rand About His Positions’ — Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) endorsed anti-government extremist Rand Paul (R-KY) in the Kentucky US Senate primary, funneling money and resources for his successful campaign.

Paul: I Support the Civil Rights Act — Reacting to an avalanche of criticism over his perceived views of the Civil Rights Act, Rand Paul's campaign issues this statement today: … Sphere It!
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Think Progress, MyDD, The Reaction, The Rachel Maddow Show, TPMDC, Daily Kos, Below The Beltway, AMERICAblog News, The Awl and Wonkette

Paul blames ‘loony left’ for civil rights focus — Rand Paul lashed out at the “loony left” for pressing him on his view of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in an interview with Laura Ingraham this morning. — “I've never really favored any change in the Civil Rights Act,” he said.
Discussion:
Salon, Page One, Firedoglake, Newsweek Blogs, TPMDC, The Moderate Voice, No More Mister Nice Blog and Barefoot and Progressive

Rand Paul Made Same Racial Comments in 2002 — Rand Paul's appearance last evening on Rachel Maddow wasn't the first time he made comments about racial discrimination. — In a May 30, 2002 letter to the editor of the Bowling Green Daily News about the Federal Fair Housing Act …

Paul won't back repeal of 1964 act — Rand Paul just put out a long statement that seeks to put to rest the controversy over the 1964 Civil Rights Act, but it continues to avoid discussing his central complaint with the bill, the way in which it regulates private businesses:

Rand Paul spox: Fed gov't should bar businesses from discriminating — A spokesman for Rand Paul just clarified to me that the candidate does, in fact, believe that the Federal government should have the power to ban private businesses from discriminating based on race.

Rand Paul is No Barry Goldwater on Civil Rights
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Washington Monthly, Erick's blog, Right Now, Mother Jones and The American Conservative

Paul Calls Maddow Appearance ‘Mistake,’ Civil Rights ‘Settled’ — By: Daniel Foster

Rand Paul And “The Hard Part About Freedom.”
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias, The Plum Line, The Anonymous Liberal, Crooks and Liars, Washington Monthly and Townhall.com

GOP lawmaker blasts Mexican pres. comments as inappropriate — Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blasted Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday, calling the visiting dignitary's remarks on Arizona's recently implemented immigration law “inappropriate.” — Earlier Thursday …
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Senate Democrats predict financial regulations victory — Sen. Dick Durbin said Thursday that Democrats will have the 60 votes needed to end debate on Wall Street reform. — Washington (CNN) - A day after failing to get the 60 votes needed to end debate on a controversial financial regulations bill …
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Bill to Overhaul Financial Rules Clears Hurdle in Senate Vote

Critics weigh Blumenthal's words — “I wore the uniform in Vietnam and many came back & to all kinds of disrespect. Whatever we think of war, we owe the men and women of the armed forces our unconditional support.” — The occasion was the Stamford Veterans Days parade: Nov. 9, 2008.
Discussion:
The Plum Line, The Day newspaper, Hot Air, Outside The Beltway, Washington Post, Beltway Confidential, Daily Ructions, The Daily Caller, Liberty Pundits Blog, JONATHAN TURLEY, Weasel Zippers, Ben Smith's Blog, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Colin McEnroe, Moonbattery, Taylor Marsh and Weekly Standard
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The New Free Speech Movement — Today is Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, a completely made-up satirical “holiday” dedicated to the concept of drawing Mohammed cartoons, as a way of making a statement about freedom of speech. — Not everyone agrees with this idea, however.
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Scientists Fault Lack of Studies Over Gulf Oil Spill — Tensions between the Obama administration and the scientific community over the gulf oil spill are escalating, with prominent oceanographers accusing the government of failing to conduct an adequate scientific analysis of the damage …
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EPA demands less toxic dispersant
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Associated Press, Recent Updates …, Mother Jones, Emptywheel and Climate Progress

Salahis Stopped by Secret Service Near White House Last Night — The Salahis were stopped by the U.S. Secret Service last night at around 8 p.m. ET during the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon as their stretch limousine ran a red light and seemed to be trying to turn …


A Tax Hike Conservatives Can Love? — I'm in general suspicious of claims that such-and-such a means of enhancing revenue is something that conservatives would be willing to embrace. Oftentimes people reach the conclusions that conservatives might support this or that by the erroneous method …
Discussion:
FrumForum

Bring it on: Pelosi predicts ‘for sure’ that Dems will win House — Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a message for Republicans this fall: Bring it on. — A buoyant Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday basked in the Democrats' special-election triumph while bashing Republicans and expressing confidence …